Digital Humanities

Janae Neely, J.R. Irving, Mya Kelly,
Ian Quiachon, Autumn Curnutt
Supervisor: Jason Higgins

Janae Neely

Autumn Curnutt

Mya Kelly

Grow in Creativity and Problem Solving ​
Expand Digital Fluency ​

Strengthened and expanded my skills in writing, video and audio editing​
Gained new experiences and knowledge in tasks such as transcribing interviews, creating abstracts, transcripts, and glossaries for each interview, and highlighting important moments in interviews ​
From a journalistic perspective, this experience allowed me to express my creativity through each interview and capture that interviewee's personality ​
The DCRP inspired me to have these open conversations with family members and gain this knowledge while it's still available to me ​

Overview of My Role

Responsibilities:
Conducted and facilitated in-depth interviews with Vietnam War veterans

Processed interviews for historical preservation and academic use

Communicated with veterans to finalize biographical information and legal permissions

Human Connection:
Built trust and rapport with interviewees through sensitive, respectful engagement

Listened to stories that were deeply personal—many of which involved trauma or loss

Recognized the privilege and responsibility of documenting these narratives

Key Takeaways and Reflections

Empathy & Individuality:
Every veteran’s story was distinct—even among those with similar backgrounds, in service or their upbringing

Their perspectives on the war varied greatly, shaped by personal values, context, and lived experience

This work reinforced the importance of honoring the individual humanity within historical narratives

Professional & Personal Growth:
Learned how to navigate emotionally complex conversations with care and professionalism

Gained a deeper understanding of the Vietnam War through firsthand testimony

Felt honored to contribute to preserving these voices for future generations

Why It Matters:
These interviews are more than historical records—they are acts of remembrance and respect

Preserving each veteran’s story ensures their experiences are not reduced to statistics or stereotypes

It was an honor to be entrusted with their truths