Pearl Harbor survivor Ray Chavez, above, died eight years ago at age 106. His daughter, Kathleen Chavez, who also served in the U.S. Navy, told her family’s story to the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. Photo by Nara

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Major historical events like war or military service make a lasting impact on family identity, values and traditions, often reverberating across multiple generations.

Throughout the 20th century, entire families felt the effects of war firsthand, with multiple generations serving. Brothers enlisted together. A father’s military legacy inspired his children to join up. Sweethearts met and married while in uniform.

All of these are examples of stories captured by the Veterans History Project, a program overseen by the Library of Congress.

The project collects and preserves the firsthand remembrances of U.S. military veterans and makes them accessible for future generations to better understand veterans’ service and sacrifice.

These personal stories encompass letters, memoirs, diaries, photographs and oral history interviews, all offering deeper insight into the long-term impact of military service.

Volunteers also collect and record veterans’ narratives. Anyone who served from World War I to today can submit their personal story, regardless of whether they saw combat.

The collections shed light on the importance of family in military experiences. Whether expressed through heartfelt letters home, enduring family legacies of service, or the experience of serving alongside loved ones, these stories reflect profound connections.

Oldest Pearl Harbor survivor

Military service makes a lasting impression on veterans, shaping the experiences and the values that guide them through life.

Ray Chavez is one such example. He was the oldest known Pearl Harbor survivor before his death in 2018.

For most of his life, he remained silent about his experiences, but in 1991, his daughter, Kathleen Chavez, who served in the U.S. Navy during Operation Desert Storm, convinced him to return to Pearl Harbor.

That trip marked the first time he spoke openly about his service. Kathleen Chavez shared their family’s deep military legacy in her oral history for the Veterans History Project.

Not all of the stories are from combatants. During the Cold War, Jennifer McNeill rose from Army dental assistant to Command Sergeant Major at the Army Eisenhower Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia. Her collection includes a photograph of her mother sharing images of her four military daughters in uniform, underscoring how family identity and military service are closely connected.

Code Talkers

Serving in the military is a deeply personal journey, but for many veterans, it’s an experience that transcends generations.

The late Bill Toledo enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 1942 at the age of 18. Along with his uncle, Frank Toledo, and cousin, Preston Toledo, he served as a Code Talker, transmitting military messages through secret codes based on the Navajo language, which they learned while growing up in New Mexico.

In his oral history, Toledo recalled both the challenges of combat during the invasion of Iwo Jima in February 1945 and the treasured moments spent with his uncle.

“The bunch I was with, we worked together — we were always working together, helping each other,” Toledo said.

These and many other family stories of military service and remembrance are available to the public at loc.gov/vets. Contact the Veterans History Project by email at vohp@loc.gov.