Message from Senator Lugar

Dear Friends:

Honoring Those Who Served

Army Private First Class Christopher Hudson, of Carmel, died March 21, 2004 in Baghdad. PFC Hudson was killed when an improvised explosive device hit his military vehicle. He was 21.

A member of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Hudson was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. PFC Hudson leaves behind a wife and two children.

I encourage you to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers as they serve bravely in trouble spots around the globe.

Progress Report

As of March 31, 2004, I have submitted 3,002 completed interviews to the Library of Congress to be included in the Veterans History Project.

I have notified 6,416 friends and family members that these interviews have been submitted and will be publicly available.

I am pleased to announce that several new organizations have partnered with my office to participate in the Veterans History Project. I extend my appreciation to the following organizations:

I welcome these new partners to my team as we continue interviewing Hoosier veterans.

Newest Interviews Push Lugar Over 3000 Mark

The following is a press release my office issued to announce the completion of over 3000th Veterans History Project interviews in Indiana.

Veterans Program reaches important milestone in just over two years

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar announced that he has collected 3,000 oral histories of Indiana’s veterans for his partnership with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

Just over two years ago, Lugar organized a statewide effort to find Indiana veterans and include their oral history interviews in the national archives. Lugar has traveled the state promoting the program, produced public service announcements, hand delivered submission to the Library of Congress and personally conducted interviews.

“We have been fortunate to have shelves of information about notable figures from the US military, such as Generals Patton and Eisenhower, Admirals Halsey and Spruance,” Lugar added. “Histories of the average GI, the men and women who carried the burden of protecting our freedom, are sorely lacking.”

Five Hoosier veterans who participated in the program helped Lugar pass the 3,000 mark. They are: Charles Glammeyer, Princeton; Harold Sample, Greensburg; Wiley Baker, Logansport; Joe Cox, Montezuma; and Earl Habegger of Berne.

Lugar has also recruited over 190 individuals and organizations to assist him in the effort. This coordinated effort has resulted in the largest collection of materials from a single source to the Veterans History Project.

“Every time I examine the interviews we collect, I am again impressed by the level of service and devotion to duty Hoosiers have shown while wearing our nation’s uniform. I am pleased that by preserving these memories, veterans will be able to communicate to the next generation an understanding of the sacrifices and hardships involved in life in the military.”

Program Director Bev Lindsey noted the work Lugar and his partners have done in bolstering the national collection. “Senator Lugar is a shining example of taking on the Veterans History Project with total heart and soul," said Lindsey. "The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is grateful for the work of the Senator and all the people of Indiana who have participated and helped the Veterans History Project collect and preserve the precious stories of the valiant men and women who served our nation in times of war.”

The program seeks out Hoosier veterans of all branches and years of service, veterans who served in both war and peacetime, and veterans who served overseas and in the United States.

The program is also encouraging individuals who supported the war effort on the home front to participate. Participants are interviewed and the audio and/or video recordings are sent to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and are catalogued and stored for use by historians, students and researchers. Many times, veterans also choose to submit photos, speeches, books and maps with their oral histories.

“The Library of Congress estimates that 1,700 veterans die in this country each day,” Lugar noted. “That sobering fact was an important reason Congress began this program. I am pleased that I and my staff can help Hoosiers record, and preserve, these powerful oral histories.”

Individuals who would like to participate in the program can contact Lugar office at 317-226-5555 or via email at vetproject@lugar.senate.gov.

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with more than 120 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 18 million books, 2.5 million recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.5 million maps, and 54 million manuscripts.

The following are brief biographies of the five individuals who pushed Lugar over the 3,000 mark:

Charles Glammeyer of Princeton served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. This Centralia, Illinois native joined the Army in March 1943 and served for three years, finally being discharged in March 1946. Glammeyer was a Corporal and was station in England during the war.

Harold Sample of Greensburg served in the US Army for 23 years, and served in Vietnam. Sample rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and currently, Sample serves as the Decatur County’s Veteran’s Service Officer. While in service, Sample was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and other meritorious service commendations.

Wiley Baker of Logansport saw action in World War II as an eighteen-year-old in the US Army. During his nearly three years in service, from March 1943 to February 1946, this Fort Wayne native was stationed stateside as well as in the European theater and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.

Joe Cox of Montezuma served in the US Army in Vietnam. A Parke County native, Cox served in uniform from April 1965 to March 1967. Cox’s family has a long tradition of serving in the armed forces. In addition to his service in Vietnam, of the 12 children in his family, five served during World War II and three during Korea.

Earl Habegger of Berne was a Staff Sergeant in the US Army during World War II. Habegger served in the European theater, including in Germany and was assigned to a division under the command of General George Patton.

Senator Richard G. Lugar/Library of Congress Boy Scout Patch

As a former Eagle Scout, I am pleased to involve Boy Scouts in Indiana in the Veterans History Project. The Buffalo Trace Council, in southwest Indiana recently completed a Veterans History Project patch.

Scouting offers a wonderful fit for the Veterans History Project. Scouting encourages young people to become involved and play a larger role in their community. This program allows for that activity, while also offering young people the chance to connect with a different generation. This connection helps to bring history much closer to the scouts and offers them a perspective of military service that cannot effectively be gained from simply reading books.

To earn the patch, scouts must complete three interviews to be submitted to the Library of Congress. Buffalo Trace Council Scout Executive, Bob Hopper, described the Veterans History Project as “an ideal activity for the Boy Scouts of America. Our boys need to hear these stories and gain a personal appreciation for what people have done for this country. The interaction from adult to boy makes for an important learning experience. They gain so much by just doing it.”

I am proud to see scouts in Indiana joining in this important history project. It is my hope that young people around Indiana will become involved in the Veterans History Project, and I encourage other Boy and Girl Scout Councils to consider this project as well.

If you would like to partner with me, or would like more information regarding the Veterans History Project, please contact Emmy Huffman of my staff. You can reach Emmy at (317) 226-5555 or via email at emmy_huffman@lugar.senate.gov.

Highlights

Stewart McDonnell, of Michigan City, recently another interview to be included in the Veterans History Project.

Wheeler High School, in Northwest Indiana, completed several interviews to be sent to the Library of Congress.

The National Council of Negro Women, Inc.- Indianapolis Section submitted interviews with Marion County veterans to be included in the project.

The Sons of the American Revolution in South Bend, completed interviews with local veterans to be sent to the Library of Congress.

Plainfield High School submitted additional interviews to be sent to the Library of Congress.

The Monroe County Historical Society, assisted by volunteer Bud Lynch, completed 18interviews with Monroe County veterans for the Veterans History Project.

Lugar Cosponsors Legislation to Create New Military Medals

The following is a press release explaining new piece of legislation that I cosponsored to recognize those currently serving in Iraq:

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar has again cosponsored bipartisan legislation that will create new campaign medals for American soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is typical for members of the armed forces who have served in conflicts to have their service recognized with a medal. The Pentagon has proposed honoring servicemen and women who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan with the generic “Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.” Lugar and fellow supporters believe that the war fought in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve special consideration and would like Congress to authorize the creation of the Iraqi Liberation Medal.

“Soldiers who have been apart from their families, in harms way and often in very tough conditions, deserve special recognition for their sacrifice,” said Lugar, who served in the Navy from 1957-1960. “It is my hope that the men and women who become eligible for this award understand the pride and appreciation Americans have for their service.”

In the early 1990s, during Operation Desert Storm, service members received three separate military decorations for their service: the Southwest Asia Service Medal and medals from the Kuwaiti and Saudi governments. For service in Kosovo, service men and women received the NATO Service Medal and the Kosovo Campaign Medal.

Lugar signed on to a similar version of this legislation that was a proposed amendment to the $87 billion package to support the war effort and reconstruction of Iraq. That amendment was ultimately not added to the underlying bill. An identical bill has already received approval in the House of Representatives.

I hope you enjoyed this Veterans History Project Update. Best Wishes!