In Their Words - Project Components

In Their Words is an AETN Oral History Project collecting the first-hand personal experiences of Arkansas's WWII generation. The present project is comprised of four parts.

Video record the life experiences of Arkansas World War II generation individuals.
Catalog those testimonies so they can be searchable by the public.
Disseminate those searchable testimonies via the Internet, documentary film, and museum exhibit.
Empower Arkansas teachers with the tools to use AETN's collection of Arkansas World War II oral histories.

WWII veteran Thomas Bonds being interviewed

World War II veterans' truths of war and sacrifice are rapidly becoming extinct. As a society built upon the lessons of its history, an obligation exists - both to the education of future generations as well as to the World War II generation - to document their stories using the weathered voices of a generation that changed, and perhaps saved, the world.

Now, more than ever, their traits of courage, integrity, loyalty and compassion need to be recorded and remembered. Through the use of AETN's Oral History Project, capturing these stories of World War II has been greatly democratized. Minorities and women who in years past received little representation now have a unique opportunity to share their stories, for we are no longer restricted to only recognizable personalities. We can now offer a much more inclusive picture of the past.

Today AETN has rescued over 270 hours of testimony from 223 members of Arkansas's World War II generation. To learn how AETN is sharing these recorded testimonies, click on the various submenu topic links located below the Project Components heading.