SF History - Page 2

CommoGeek · 03-20-2004, 11:48

I don't know if you'll have any use for me, but let me know if I can help: typing transcripts, maintaining a database of contacts, whatever.

Edit: This has the potential to be a very large project and whatever direction it goes in is fine by me. As a support geek, I would be remiss if I didn't make a pitch for the B-Team and C-Team guys that provided back end support. We don't have a job without the SF soldiers. Period. However, a lot of work goes into getting a team into the field, so if there is room for that in this project it would be nice to include something about the support guys. Start to finish, it takes a lot of teamwork and sacrifice to get a non-SF qualified soldier qualified, trained, equipped, and deployed.

BTAR

**Roguish Lawyer** · 03-20-2004, 13:06

If you guys want to try to put something together and get it published, I can see about having one of our entertainment lawyers put a group together and do the deal for free. No promises, but one of them is the son of an SOG guy and probably could be persuaded.

**Kyobanim** · 03-20-2004, 13:53

I think we're in the process of organizing this project. Contacts are going out to see if the QPs are willing to tell the stories. Obviously it stops if we don't have the content. PMs going out today.

Solid · 03-20-2004, 13:59

I'm confident that if we can secure content, there are enough intelligent, devoted people here to ensure that something is put together. We should, however, have a team leader or at least an agreed-upon mission statement so that we all work towards the same objective. It might make sense, however, to first get the content together.

All in all, I think putting together a website would make the most sense. The content from there could then be turned into something else, like a book.

Just my .02, this entire idea is exciting,

Solid

**Kyobanim** · 03-20-2004, 14:15

PMs out

QRQ 30 · 03-20-2004, 14:33

WOW!! My intention in posting this thread in the 10th SFGA section was to document the history of an important core of the 10th SFGA -- the foerign nationals who entered SF in the fifties and sixties.

A history of Special Forces as a whole is also a worthy though very ambitious project. Drive on and I will continue to concentrate on and provide input on the DP's.

Gypsy · 03-20-2004, 17:05

If I can be of help in any way, I'd be happy and honored to volunteer my services however and wherever needed.

QRQ 30 · 03-26-2004, 09:26

Are we making any progress?
Just curious!!

03-26-2004, 10:03

We are rapidly losing people who hold important parts of SF history in their mind. I know of few of them here in Thailand, one of which is battling cancer. If their stories are to be retained, efforts have to be ongoing and rapid. I'll provide what assistance that I can, but I am busy running a business and raising a child, so I have limited time to actually record the stories. I will raise it in the SFA3 meeting to see if an effort can be made to sit down with these vets and start collecting their stories.

It will be tough. One, they are quiet professionals, and most have spent their lives not talking about themselves or what they did. Two, they are going to trust only other members of the community generally.

It can be done. It is a major project.

**Kyobanim** · 03-26-2004, 11:19

@ QRQ30 - We're getting organized and starting to send out 'feelers'. The 'enormity' of the project sinks in when you try to organize, but it won't stop us.

@Greenhat - We appreciate any assistance that you can provide. I've noticed on the few contacts I've attempted that they are hesitant to speak. I've sent them the URL of this site in an effort to quell any fears they have about opening up, if that will do it.

This is something that has to be done. As big a project as it is, it's a worthy project. What I've seen in books doesn't touch on the personal side of SF history. The history of an organization is it's people. There's been a couple of generations through the Q. Their personal stories need to be preserved for future generations.

QRQ 30 · 03-26-2004, 13:23

From a message from the SFA Museum:

Quote:

through it's displays and historical accountings that tells each of our stories and will do so long after we are gone.
Hopefully it will continue to tell generations in the future about what we ,over the years, have accomplished in our individual and combined efforts to rid the word of oppression.
One only needs to read the TAPS notices to realize that many of our individual word of mouth history is being lost each year.
Our individual and combined efforts can only be told through the Museum ..documentation and displays.

As you see some of our history is dying off. Perhaps what I envision will be impossible. As someone said these soldiers are used to being "Quiet Professionals" as well as having lived a large part of their lives "Undercover", so to speak.

What I envision is a collection of 1st Person accounts or at the least accounts from relatives or eye witnesses. The world is full of stories, let's present facts -- many more amazing than the stories.

I respect the privacy of the SF List just as I will respect the privacy of PS.com. As a result I will not present -mail addressesor URLs without first getting permission. This weekend I will darft a letter to the SFA, the Bad Toelz Chapter of the SFA, and several others who may know these individuals

**Kyobanim** · 03-26-2004, 13:39

Quote:

Originally posted by QRQ 30
From a message from the SFA Museum:

As you see some of our history is dying off. Perhaps what I envision will be impossible. As someone said these soldiers are used to being "Quiet Professionals" as well as having lived a large part of their lives "Undercover", so to speak.

What I envision is a collection of 1st Person accounts or at the least accounts from relatives or eye witnesses. The world is full of stories, let's present facts -- many more amazing than the stories.

I respect the privacy of the SF List just as I will respect the privacy of PS.com. As a result I will not present -mail addressesor URLs without first getting permission. This weekend I will darft a letter to the SFA, the Bad Toelz Chapter of the SFA, and several others who may know these individuals

Sir, we will do our best to document and preserve the Quiet Professional history and present it in an honorable manner. On THAT, you have my word.

03-26-2004, 23:11

Kyobanim (or anyone else)

Do you have an oral history format? I'm thinking that we can put together packets which can be made available at the SFA for anyone who wishes to go out and collect the accounts, and then assemble/transcribe the information.

03-27-2004, 03:17

I'd be happy to help in any way - editing, transcribing, etc.

lrd · 03-27-2004, 04:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Greenhat
Kyobanim (or anyone else)

Do you have an oral history format? I'm thinking that we can put together packets which can be made available at the SFA for anyone who wishes to go out and collect the accounts, and then assemble/transcribe the information.

GH,

I spoke with the HSMC Museum Folklorist-in-residence yesterday and he recommended using the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project as a guide.

Lisa

Edit: an excerpted version can be found at http://www.pbs.org/now/society/veterans.html#preparing