Virtual Footlocker Project 2.0
Supporting Vietnam-Era Veterans' Documentation of Their Military Record
The Louisiana State University School of Information Studies requests $91,430 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grants for Libraries as a planning grant under Goal 2 (Objective 2.2: Develop or enhance collaborations between libraries and stakeholders to address community needs) and NLGL Objective 1.2 (Improve community well-being through libraries and archives). For Virtual Footlocker Project 2 (VFP 2), Dr. Edward Benoit, III (Louisiana State University) and Dr. Heather Soyka (Kent State University) will serve as PIs. The VFP 2 project is a two-year planning project (August 2025- July 2027) that will develop an implementable program for LIS practitioners and Veteran Service Organizations to support Vietnam-era veterans (VeV) by creating, locating, and collecting records that document their time in service. While contemporary servicemembers have been encouraged to keep their own service records, previous generations did not have this same guidance.
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According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VeVs are defined as those who served in the Republic of Vietnam between November 1, 1955, and May 7, 1975, and those who served outside the Republic of Vietnam between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975.
Grounded in the results of a previously funded study, the project will do the following:
• Survey and analyze rich ethnographic data from Vietnam-era veterans about their service records and existing records-related needs.
• Develop and enhance collaborations around access and support across the spectrum of veterans records, such as personal, service, and medical records, between libraries, archives, veterans, and veteran service organizations.
• Identify new opportunities to connect VeVs with support, including community, library, and veteranspecific services.
Benoit, Edward, III, Soyka, Heather. “Virtual Footlocker Project 2: Supporting Vietnam-Era Veterans' Documentation of Their Military Record.” Institute of Museum and Library Services, 2025. $91,430 Funded.