Campbellsville University mass communication students are writing book about Vietnam War

05/16/2014

                                                                                                                                                                May 16, 2014
For Immediate Release

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — A book honoring those from Taylor County who served during the Vietnam War is being written by mass communication students at Campbellsville University.

Your help is needed if the book is to become a reality.

If you are a veteran of the Vietnam War or know someone who is, please contact Stan McKinney, associate professor of journalism at the university, at somckinney@campbellsville.edu or (270) 789-5035.

Please include the name of the veteran and contact information.

Since classes are out for summer, if you are unable to reach McKinney by phone, please leave a message.

The book will be the third in a series written by Campbellsville University students. The first two in the “They Were Soldiers” series tells the stories of World War II and Korean veterans who live in Taylor County.

Students will begin interviewing Vietnam veterans in September.

“We want to tell the stories of our Vietnam veterans,” McKinney said. “It has been more than 50 years since the U.S. involvement in Vietnam began, and it is time that our Vietnam veterans received the honor and recognition they deserve.”

Veterans are asked to gather any photographs they might have of their time in Vietnam so they can be scanned and also included in the book.

Interviews will be conducted this fall and again in spring, McKinney said, with the goal of publishing the book in time for a special book unveiling on July 4 of next year.

“I hope that is realistic,” McKinney said. “The book about Korean veterans took about two years. With the cooperation of veterans and the hard work of my students, though, I believe the book can be finished by then.”

Copies of the book will be given to local libraries. All veterans will also be invited to the book unveiling, McKinney said, and each given a copy of the book.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.