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Individual Interviews with Others

Click on the names of Veterans and military-affiliated Students below to access their individual interviews.

Jack Accountius - Air Force  Open Close

Jack Accountius is retired Air Force. He is from Durant, Oklahoma. He is age 84 and is Caucasian. Jack’s MOS is 4625B Munitions Officer, Bomb Squad. Jack is a combat veteran and deployed to Vietnam. He served 20 years.

This interview took place in 2020.

John Allen - Marines and Army Open Close

John is a 55-year-old Choctaw Marine and Army veteran. He lives near Atoka, Oklahoma. He is also the uncle of J.W. Brese, a student veteran at Southeastern.

This interview took place in 2018.

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Gerry Van Amburgh - Army  Open Close

Gerry Van Amburgh is a retired Army service member. He is from Durant, Oklahoma. He is age 84 and is Caucasian. His MOS was that of a Combat Medic. Gerry served 10 years active duty. He deployed to Korea, Germany during the Cold War, and Sudan. Gerry is the Jr. Vice Commander of District 4, Oklahoma, for the VFW.

This interview took place in 2020.

Jerry Don Burkhalter - Army Open Close

Jerry was in the Army and went to Asia in 1974. His MOS was 15 Echo 10, and he was a Persian missile crewman with a E1 rank. Jerry is now 61 years old and lives near Atoka, Oklahoma.

This interview took place in 2018.

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Bob Cox - Army Open Close

Bob Cox is a 77-year-old veteran from Stillwater, Oklahoma. He served in the Army for 27 years. He was initially an artilleryman, later attending flight school to become a pilot. Bob served 2 tours in Vietnam, one in 1967-68 and another in 1970-71.

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Steve "Devildog" Gambel - Marines  Open Close

Steve “Devildog” Gambel is retired Marine Corps. He is from Madill, Oklahoma. He is age 69 and Caucasian. Steve’s MOS is 0341 Mortar man. Steve deployed to Vietnam and served from 1968-1971. He is a member of the Combat Vets Association and served as the Commander in 2019. His wife, also featured, is Fran “Rebel” Gambel. She is Chickasaw and age 67.

This interview took place in 2020.

Morris Neighbors - Navy Open Close

Morris Neighbors is a 92-year-old Navy veteran of World War II. He took part in 5 major battles. He lives in Skiatook, Oklahoma, and is Caucasian. Morris is a former teacher and coach.

This interview took place in 2018.

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James Patterson - Navy Open Close

James Patterson, age 53, is a Navy veteran and a graduate of Southeastern. He lives in Durant, Oklahoma, and teaches middle-school history and coaches.

This interview took place in 2018.

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J. G. Pound - Army  Open Close

J.G. Pound is a W.W. II Army veteran who was stationed in Korea. He is 93 years old. J.G. is from Kingston, Oklahoma.

This interview took place in May 2019.

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Don Robertson - Army Veteran during the Cold War Open Close

Don Robertson, a Choctaw Army veteran, is seventy-eight years old. He was stationed in Germany for three years and holds the rank of E4. Don is originally from Texas but lives in a small town in Oklahoma. Don is a staff member at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He has held different jobs, but he mentioned that he wished he had enrolled in college at some point earlier in his life. In this interview, Don offers stories about knowing Elvis, who was stationed in Germany at the same time.

Don Robertson Interview Transcription

This interview took place in 2018.

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Courtney Scribner - College Senior with Family Military Background Open Close

Courtney Scriber, now a graduate, is Choctaw. She is from north Texas. Her major is English, and she plans to be a teacher. Courtney’s brother was killed in action overseas, and she wanted to explain the importance of creating spaces to talk about military conflicts in college English classrooms.

This interview took place in 2018.

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Here is the fictional story that includes a veteran character, which Courtney references in her interview:  CScribner Fiction Story

Lynn Skocdopole - Army  Open Close

Lynn Skocdopole is a retired Army service member. He is from Durant, Oklahoma. Lynn is age 67; he is Caucasian and Cherokee. Lynn’s MOS was 11 Bravo 20P9: Scout Dog Handler. Lynn served 9 years active duty and deployed to Vietnam in 1971 to 1972. Lynn is a combat veteran.

This interview took place in 2020.