Vietnam Center & Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive News and Updates

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event with Mr. Jan Scruggs on October 2, 2019, has been cancelled. We are working to reschedule as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event with Mr. Jan Scruggs on October 2, 2019, has been cancelled. We are working to reschedule as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Posted by at 8:27 am
Labels: general news
Friday, March 8, 2013

In Memory of Dr. John Buesseler, 1920-2013

Col. John Buesseler, August 1970 - Photo by Capt. James B. Evans [va035803]

Col. John Buesseler, August 1970 – Photo by Capt. James B. Evans [va035803]

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of a great friend, Dr. John Buesseler, who passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2013. For more than four decades, Dr. Buesseler has been an important member of our community in Lubbock, at Texas Tech University, and at TTU Health Sciences Center.  Dr. Buesseler is perhaps best known as the founding dean of the TTUHSC School of Medicine. In addition to his remarkable work in that position, he also served many patients as a practicing ophthalmologist and was very active in historical preservation projects in West Texas, to include founding the Texas Aviation Heritage Foundation, Incorporated (TAHFI) and bringing the Silent Wings Museum to Lubbock. Perhaps less widely known was his essential role in the founding and success of the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University. Dr. Buesseler worked very closely with Dr. Jim Reckner, founding director of the Vietnam Center and Archive, along with many other supporters, and in 1989 they established what has become the most comprehensive archive of Vietnam War materials outside the U.S. National Archives.  As a veteran who served during World War II and the Vietnam War, both of these projects remained very near and dear to him until the end of his life.

Born in 1920, Dr. Buesseler is a member of that amazing generation of young Americans whose coming of age corresponded with the Great Depression, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the many terrible struggles that ensued in Europe and Asia during WWII. Following his service in Europe, Dr. Buesseler returned home, got married to his wonderful wife, Cathy, and they pursued a life together in medicine and teaching. In early 1970, as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves attached to the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam, he organized and conducted a study of the US military medical evacuation system (also called MEDEVAC or DUSTOFF), a program that served as the foundation for the current helicopter medical evacuation system in place throughout the United States today.

Dr. Buesseler and Dr. James Reckner at the 2011 Vietnam Center Symposium

Dr. Buesseler and Dr. James Reckner at the 2011 Vietnam Center Symposium

Arriving in Lubbock in late 1970 to assume the founding deanship at TTUHSC, Dr. Buesseler then dedicated his life to the health and well-being of his patients, the education of TTUHSC students, and to the improvement of our community. He remained very active in both TAHFI and the Vietnam Center and Archive, serving on both boards and continuing to provide extensive support, guidance, and encouragement. The legacy of these two projects alone will remain as a testament to his vision, leadership, generosity, and devotion to Lubbock, TTU, and TTUHSC. They will also stand as living monuments to the memory of our nation’s military heroes, of which he was one.

In the words of our founding director, Dr. Jim Reckner, “Time takes its inevitable toll.  The shadows daily lengthen as the shining lights of John’s generation grow dimmer and ultimately are extinguished.  By their sacrifice, they established the basis for American security and prosperity for decades.  And now they go to eternal rest.”

At the request of the family, there will be no public memorial services held. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Cathy Buesseler and their family. John gave so much of himself to us and we will be forever grateful for his friendship and for all he did for our community and nation. May he rest in peace.

Posted by at 4:15 pm
Labels: announcements,general news
Friday, November 1, 2002

Oral History Project Update

The Vietnam Archive has hired a second full-time oral historian to work in the Oral History Project. Dr. Richard Verrone is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Texas Tech University. His dissertation focused on the American policy in Laos during the Vietnam War.

Posted by at 4:34 pm
Labels: oral history
Monday, October 1, 2001

Oral History Project Update

We have added a new feature to our interviews online – Streaming Audio. Now you can listen to interviews. Just click the sound icon on the collection pages and your browser should automatically open and start playing the audio file. If that does not happen, we have instructions and links to where you can get your free copy of Windows Media Player.

Posted by at 2:51 pm
Labels: oral history
Sunday, July 1, 2001

Vietnam Archive Oral History Project becomes Official Partner with Library of Congress Veteran History Project

The Veterans History Project was created by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on October 27, 2000. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is developing a program to collect and preserve audio and video recorded oral histories from America’s war veterans, along with documentary materials such as letters, diaries, photographs, and films. The American Folklife Center also will develop online presentations of the collection as part of the Library’s National Digital Library, to make this valuable resource accessible to the American people. In July, 2001, the director of the Veterans History Project approached the Vietnam Archive Oral History Project in order to establish an official partnership between the two institutions. We accepted and will continue our work in addition to assisting with the Library of Congress Project to record and preserve the experiences of American veterans.

Posted by at 2:52 pm
Labels: oral history,vietnam archive