Fond of War Stories? Help Us Help the Veterans History Project

by Kay Pinkerton, volunteer contributor

Through the Veterans History Project (VHP), the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) invites you to listen to the stories of war.  

Straight from the warriors’ mouths. 

VHP is part of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center.  It was created by the U.S. Congress, in 2000, as an oral history archive that collects and preserves first-hand interviews of America's wartime veterans.  

The North Texas SAF team has now joined the Red Cross nationwide effort to recruit and train VHP interviewers to collect these stories.  Spearheading the Red Cross local initiative is David Barton, VHP volunteer coordinator for the American Red Cross North Texas region. 

“The Library of Congress approached us to help find people who were willing to go out and conduct interviews,” said Barton. “Our team has interviewed a number of veterans, including many who volunteer for the Red Cross.  I’ve logged, I think, ten interviews since starting this.”

Barton said a growing number of local veterans have expressed an interest in sharing their stories.  Due to the project’s popularity, his team is seeking to recruit and train more interviewers.

The Veteran’s History Project’s stated goal is to record 100,000 stories.  The Red Cross is committed to helping the organization surpass that goal.

In addition to audio- and video-recorded interviews, VHP accepts original photographs and letters, diaries, maps, memoirs, and other historical documents from World War I through current conflicts. The result is a priceless, historical archive of first-person interviews that will benefit present and future generations. 

Brown Eyes Blue

When asked about a favorite interview, Barton recalled his meeting with Dr. Jim Nicholson. 
Dr. Nicholson is a physician who lives in Greenville, Texas.  In 2011, he was awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action while serving as a Korean War marine infantryman. 

Sixty years ago. 

Nicholson was part of a four-man rifle team.  His primary job was to operate the deadly Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) portable machine gun.  Called “Nick the BAR-man” by his George Company, 3rd Battalion 7th Regiment buddies, Nicholson was reportedly outstanding at his job. 

The marines’ objective was to push back Communist North Korean and Chinese forces, thereby preventing them from forcing Communist rule upon the whole country.  

Deployed to Korea in early 1951, Nicholson saw action ranging from Operations Killer and Ripper, which were geared to destroy the Chinese Communist People’s Volunteer Army, to the infamous Punchbowl, located in Korea’s Gangwon Province.  It was there Nicholson received a tour-ending shrapnel wound. 

Dr. Nicholson published a book, which chronicled his wartime experiences, titled George - 3 - 7th Marines: A Brief Glimpse Through Time of a Group of Young Marines.  Barton read the book before his scheduled interview with Nicholson. 

 “The things he and his buddies went through.  It’s a miracle he emerged alive,” said Barton.  
He was especially intrigued about a passage in the book recounting cold-war battle in the midst of North Korea’s frigid climate. 

“The Chinese soldiers were wearing these quilted outfits,” said Barton about the book’s passage. “Whether from perspiration or a bleeding wound, the moisture – mixed with the cold - would freeze the soldiers’ uniforms.  They were so frozen, in fact, their bodies couldn’t move.  But their eyes could.  So with their brown eyes, the frozen Chinese soldiers would communicate to the marines’ blue eyes.  And the blue eyes would reply to the brown eyes.”

No words were spoken. Or needed. 

“Dr. Nicholson’s recollection of that event seemed almost poetic.  So I marked the passage and brought the book with me,” said Barton.  “When the doctor reached that point of the war in his interview, I stopped him.  ‘Dr. Nicholson,’ I said. ‘You spoke about this experience in your book…about these Chinese guys being so frozen, they could only move their eyes.  Would you mind reading it for me?’”

Barton handed the book to the doctor.  When Nicholson finished reading the passage, Barton said, “I’ve read the only way you can kill in warfare is by dehumanizing.”

The doctor nodded. 

 “So how do you account for this?,” asked Barton, pointing to the book’s passage.  “This is so intimately personal.”

“That’s a really good question,” the self-described country doctor replied.  He paused a moment.  

“I can compartmentalize.”

Volunteer or Share Your Story

Red Cross volunteer services to U.S. veterans date back to World War I and are consistent with the mission of its congressional charter. Red Cross support for the VHP demonstrates our commitment to veterans and to the historical importance of their recorded experiences.  

If you have a story to tell or know someone who does, please call 214-678-4800. Volunteers are also needed to capture the stories. Visit RedCross.org for more information.

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Happy Flag Day, From the American Red Cross

by Micaela Rosinski, intern contributor 

I love America. Our freedoms, our rights, our food…it is all amazing. But most of all, I love our flag. It would be safe to say if I could be the crazy lady in American flag outfits every day, I would be. The red, white and blue, the stars and stripes: it is great. 

As you may or may not know, there is a holiday just for the United States flag. Flag Day is celebrated June 14 and commemorates the day the flag was authorized by congress.

According to The National Flag Day Foundation website, Bernard John Cigrand, a 19-year-old teacher in Waubeka, Wisconson, encouraged students to find personal meaning in the flag and celebrate the “flag’s birthday.” Due to Cigrand’s work, President Wilson issued a proclamation on May 30, 1916, calling for a nation-wide observance of Flag Day. 


The Red Cross’ own founder, Clara Barton, held great respect for the flag. During her service in the Civil War, Barton helped raise the U.S. flag over the Andersonville grounds where she helped establish a national cemetery.

The origins of the Red Cross and Barton’s work are still visible today. The Red Cross serves those who fight to protect our flag and what it represents. Through a variety of facets, including linking military families during emergencies, providing resiliency training, and supporting wounded warriors and military hospitals, the Red Cross works to help those that serve the United States.

Today, the flag is as strong of a symbol for America as ever before. Many aspects of etiquette to protect the flag come with such a well-respected symbol. The following tips will help you display your flag with pride during upcoming holidays:

• The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
• The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should never be used for receiving, holding carrying or delivering anything.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms.

(Source: USA Flag Site)

As American summer holidays near and you fire up the grill and jump in the pool, safely, of course, take a moment to reflect on what our flag means to you. Display the flag proudly and have a great Flag Day!

For more information on Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces, visit RedCross.org.

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