Oral History Project

In Their Words: Auburn Vietnam Veterans and Families

Oral histories preserve the personal side of military service. They capture the human experience of war. As part of the 2025 Memorial Day observance, seven veterans and two gold star families gave voice to their stories. The interviews span across the branches of service, jobs, social class, and race. These interviews are not rehearsed or edited. They are raw, reflective, and deeply human.

Personal Narratives: Sergeant James Hughley, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard H. Keeshan, Major General James E. Livingston, Corporal Ray Looney, Staff Sergeant Wilbert D. Payne Jr., First Lieutenant John Rochelle, Senior Master Sergeant Thomas L. Stofer, and Lieutenant Colonel James E. Witte

Gold Star Families: Staff Sergeant Jimmie Lee Chambers & Ms. Laquetta Gray and Lieutenant James E. Greene & Ms. Judy Greene.

Please spend time reviewing their biographies. Clicking their name will take you to a YouTube video of their oral interview.

Oral History Interviews

Sergeant James Hughley

Sergeant James Hughley was born in 1947 in Opelika, AL. Growing up in rural Alabama, he learned how to track wild game, different species of plants, and developed a deep sense of connection with nature. He is a graduate of J.W. Darden High School, class of 1965. SGT Hughley was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967 and served as an infantryman with the 25th Infantry and 4th Infantry Divisions. Recognizing his comfort in the jungles of Vietnam and keen sense of awareness, SGT Hughley’s leadership often sought him out for tactical advice. On April 29, 1968, SGT Hughley’s platoon was under heavy enemy fire and was on the brink of being overrun by the North Vietnamese Army. He made the selfless decision to call indirect and gunship fire within a dangerously close range of his position. His selfless actions destroyed the assaulting enemy force, allowing his platoon to hold the defensive position. SGT Hughley was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions under direct enemy fire. He was wounded three times and was awarded three Purple Heart Medals. SGT Hughley returned to Opelika, AL in 1969 after his two years of service in the U.S. Army.

Lieutenant Colonel James E. Witte

Lieutenant Colonel James E. Witte was born in 1941 in Toledo, Ohio. Hard work and service were introduced to him at a young age. LTC Witte’s earliest memories include living on his grandparent‘s farm while his father served in World War II. He learned to fly in high school and aviation came natural to him. LTC Witte was drafted in 1964 and served in a psychological warfare unit. He graduated from Officer Candidate School and rotary-wing flight school in 1968. Arriving in Vietnam in 1968, LTC Witte led an aerial extraction team to recover downed aircraft, soldiers, and casualties. During his second deployment in 1970 to 1971, he commanded a company on the USS Corpus Christi Bay. He would fly doctors and dentists into villages in Vietnam to provide medical assistance to Vietnamese people. LTC Witte continued to serve overseas in Iran (1978), Pakistan, Europe, Japan, and in Central and South America. He retired in 1990 after 26 years of active service.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard H. Keeshan

CW2 Richard Keeshan was born in Stamford, Connecticut. While attending Sacred Heart University, his call to service came quickly after three semesters. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969 as a helicopter maintainer but with bigger aspirations of being an aviator. Later attending Warrant Officer Candidate School and Rotary Wing Aircraft course, CW2 Keeshan became an Attack Helicopter Pilot. CW2 Keeshan deployed to Vietnam in April 1971 where he served as a scout pilot on a U.S. Army hunter-killer team. Flying the OH-6 (Light Observation and Attack Helicopter) with the 196th Infantry Brigade and the 23rd Infantry Division, he conducted high-risk reconnaissance missions and had numerous engagements with enemy forces. Notably on September 9th 1971, despite his aircrafts severe damage from enemy fire, CW2 Keeshan participated in an extraction mission that evacuated 10 soldiers from enemy territory near Khe Sanh. CW2 Keeshan returned home from Vietnam in 1972 and continued to serve in the Army National Guard until 1977.

Lieutenant James E. Greene and Judy Greene

Lieutenant James E. Greene was born in Auburn, AL in 1942. LT Greene was the oldest of four children from a family with a deep ties to Auburn and a rich legacy of military service. His father served as the Dean of the College of Veterinarian Medicine. Auburn University was always in Jim’s vision, he served as the President of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and he earned a commission from Naval ROTC in 1965. Judy and LT Greene attended Auburn University together, fell in love, and married on June 12, 1965. Together, they traveled the world until his deployment to Vietnam. During his deployment in 1969, Judy returned to her home in Dothan, AL where she used here math degree to teach school. During his deployment, LT Greene served as the executive officer of a River Patrol Force squadron. Patrol boats were subject to frequent enemy attacks on the waterways. On May 11, 1969, LT Greene was killed by enemy small arms fire.

Major General James E. Livingston

Major General James E. Livingston was born in the small rural town of Towns, GA, in Telfair County. Born in 1940, MG Livingston attended the University of North Georgia for one year. He transferred to Auburn University and completed his Bachelor of Science in Engineering. MG Livingston commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1962. He served three deployments to Vietnam. In his first deployment (1964-1965), he served as an advisor. During his second deployment (1967-1968), he commanded Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Division “The Magnificent Bastards.” On April 30, 1968, then Captain Livingston led his company in combat near the village of Dai Do to rescue another company that was surrounded by the enemy. Giving the command to “Fix bayonets,” he destroyed over 100 enemy bunkers and rejoined with the isolated company. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. During MG Livingston’s last deployment to Vietnam (1974-1975), he was a planner for the evacuation of Saigon, “Operation Frequent Wind.” MG Livingston served 30 years in the USMC, retiring in 1991. He continues to serve his community and was instrumental in the founding of the National World War II Museum and the Medal of Honor Museum.

First Lieutenant John Rochelle

First Lieutenant John Rochelle was born in 1948 in Charleston, SC but lived on five continents and in 35 states during his father’s service in the U.S. Air Force. LT Rochelle comes from a long line of military service with his grandfather serving in World War I and his father in World War II. LT Rochelle came to Auburn University in the Summer of 1966. In October, 1966 he enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman. Soon afterwards, he entered Officer Candidate School in August 1967 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served as an Ordinance Officer. LT Rochelle deployed to Vietnam in August 1968. While in Vietnam, he served as a patrol leader, forward support officer, and an assistant operations officer. LT Rochelle was selected for an early release program to attend Auburn University in the summer of 1969. LT Rochelle practices law and resides in Carmichael, California. He has three children.

Corporal Ray Looney

Corporal Ray Looney was born in 1946 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He moved to Alabama during his senior year of high school and attended Auburn University in 1964. Following his first year in 1965, Corporal Looney joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Corporal Looney volunteered for deployment to Vietnam in September 1966. He was assigned as a courier for the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division. Corporal Looney was later selected to become part of the team that coordinated recreation and welfare, including the Officer and NCO clubs for I Corps in Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant Jimmie Lee Chambers and Laquetta Gray

Staff Sergeant Jimmie Lee Chambers was born in 1933 in Columbus, Georgia. SSG Chambers joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18 in 1951. He served as an infantrymen with tours in Korea and Vietnam. During SSG Chamber’s tour in Vietnam, his wife was diagnosed with a terminally ill disease. Upon his return from Vietnam, SSG Chamber’s wife succumbed to her illness, leaving him to raise their four daughters. Like many Vietnam veterans, SSG Chambers suffered from PTSD and turned to self-medicating mechanisms to cope. Despite his struggles, SSG Chambers was known for his love for his children and grandchildren. His granddaughter, Laquetta Gray, cherishes her childhood memories with her grandfather. SSG Chambers passed away at the age of 49 after years of battling PTSD.

Senior Master Sergeant Thomas L. Stofer

Senior Master Sergeant Thomas L. Stofer is a native of Burbank, CA. Born in 1953, SMSGT Stofer joined the United States Air Force in 1971. SMSGT Stofer trained as a Reciprocating Engine Aircraft Mechanic and became a subject matter expert (SME) on the EC-121 Super Constellation Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (AWACS). He deployed to Thailand in 1973 to 1974 in direct support of the Vietnam War. As a SME, he was selected to enter Vietnam to retrieve mission critical aircraft parts in direct support for reconnaissance missions flown by the EC-121. SMSGT Stofer also served as a journalist in the Office of Information and later as a recruiter for the U.S. Air Force. SMSGT Stofer retired in 1991 with 20 years of military service.

Staff Sergeant Wilbert D. Payne Jr.

SSG Wilbert Payne is a native of Opelika, AL. Born July 13, 1950, he graduated from Darden High School in 1969. SSG Payne joined the United States Army in February 1970 as a Laundry and Valve Technician. He deployed to Vietnam from July 1970 to July 1971. During his deployment he was part of a security detail that secured Camp Baxter in Da Nang, where he experienced direct combat with the enemy. SSG Payne continued service after Vietnam as an equipment platoon sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves in Alabama. He deployed to both Germany and Panama and retired in 2001.