Collection Description
The Veterans Oral History Program at San Diego State University was developed to collect and preserve the dynamic experiences of the campus' military-connected community. The goals of the Veterans Oral History Program are to bridge the civilian-military gap, offer a safe and welcoming venue for individual reconciliation and generate a bank of experiences for future generations to review and from which to learn about the impact of military service over time.
Through generous support of the SDSU Presidential Leadership Fund, these program goals will provide San Diego State University's military-connected students an increased sense of welcoming, support, and focus while pursuing their academic studies. Additionally, military-affiliated alumni will have an opportunity to share their experiences, in turn providing virtual mentorship for the next generation of SDSU Aztecs. This student success will lead to greater community engagement (i.e. SDSU alumni, civic agencies, private industry, etc.) as well as research opportunities to improve pedagogical methods on campus, along with identifying shifts in long-term trends of military stressors and their impact on the individual, their families, and society.
The Veterans Oral History Program consists of the following three key elements:
- Oral History Interviews: One-on-one interviews sharing and individuals personal experiences of military service.
- Group Dialogues: Small group discussions sharing the dynamic and diverse impact of military service.
- History 390W: "The Writing of War, Remembrance, and Reconciliation," a writing course offered through the SDSU History Department open to any student regardless of military affiliation.
Participation is voluntary and at no time will personal identifiable or confidential information be shared with third parties or outside agencies. Please contact us at vohp@sdsu.edu for additional information.
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- Interview with Frank Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, Retired
- Frank Roberts began his military career at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point in 1974 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1997. His twenty-three year career as an infantry officer spanned a time of significant change for the US Army as it re-positioned itself in the post-Vietnam years and during the Cold War. Frank was assigned to a number of posts in the United States and in the Federal Republic of Germany (then-West Germany) and served in a wide variety of billets beyond his infantry role to include recruiting, training, and personnel assignments. His last active duty assignment was as Professor of Military Science for the Army ROTC at San Diego State University. Following his retirement from active service, Frank spent several years working for SDSU engaging with prospective students and was instrumental in establishing the robust outreach program providing similar services to the military and veteran community.
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- Interview with Nathaniel Donnelly, Sergeant, United States Marine Corps, Veteran
- Nathaniel Donnelly served eight years in the United States Marine Corps in the infantry from 1995 to 2003. During his enlistment, he served as a Marine Security Guard in embassies in Guinea, Africa and San Jose, Costa Rica. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the initial invasion of Iraq. This interview discusses his initial training, service on Embassy Duty, experiences in combat, and life after military service., San Diego State University
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- Nathaniel Donnelly Oral History
- San Diego State University, Nathaniel Donnelly served eight years in the United States Marine Corps in the infantry from 1995 to 2003. During his enlistment, he served as a Marine Security Guard in embassies in Guinea, Africa and San Jose, Costa Rica. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the initial invasion of Iraq. This interview discusses his initial training, service on Embassy Duty, experiences in combat, and life after military service.
