Tom Applebach

Tom was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Air Force after high school. He was deployed to RAF Woodbridge in England as a weather forecaster. After he chose not to reenlist, he moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and began working as a newspaper reporter. He chose to join the Army Reserve as a teacher and, after September 11, 2001, he was deployed to Iraq to work in Civil Affairs. He now works as the Director of Veteran Affairs of Lehigh County and discusses the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.

Transcription Tabs

Index

1:23 - Introduction to Upbringing and Childhood

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Haycock Township, Pennsylvania; Korean War; Quakertown school district; Rural area; Siblings; World War II

3:56 - Childhood Hobbies

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses his upbringing and childhood hobbies.

Keywords:

5:45 - Blue Collar Family

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes the careers of his parents.

Keywords: Factory worker; Stay at home mom

6:51 - Enlistment Motivation

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses why he chose to enlist in the military.

Keywords: Air show; Higher education; Recruiters; Willow Grove Air Station

11:48 - Basic Training in Texas

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses his experience at basic training.

Keywords: Discipline; Lackland Air Force Base; Military uniforms; San Antonio, Texas

30:11 - Graduation, Technical School and England

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his technical training and then his move overseas to England.

Keywords: Basic training; Chanute Air Force Base; England Air Force Base; RAF Woodbridge; Rantoul, Illinois

40:25 - RAF Woodbridge

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his experience in England and working at a weather station.

Keywords: Air craft; Entertainment; Marriage; On the job training; Permanent Change of Station (PCS); RAF Woodbridge

44:56 - Utah Test and Training Range

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes the training at Hill Air Force Base and the differences between Hill and England.

Keywords: Cold War; Hill Air Force Base Utah; Utah Test and Training Range

52:18 - Weather Forecasters in the Military

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes how weather forecasters helped different branches of the military in their special operations.

Keywords: Family; Global Weather Central; Operation El Dorado Canyon; Special forces; Special operations; Weather forecasting school

63:12 - Reenlistment

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses why he chose not to reenlist.

Keywords: Army brat

66:14 - Transitioning to Civilian Life

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses the difficulties of transitioning to civilian life and his continuing military career.

Keywords: Army Reserve; Civil Affairs; Economy; Newspaper; Pennsylvania Army National Guard; Photography; Richard Nelson Bolles; What Color Is Your Parachute; Zoning officer

71:35 - Army Reserve

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his job in the Army Reserves

Keywords: 358 Civil Affairs Brigade; Army infantry; Officers; Undergraduate degree; Zoning officer

77:59 - September 11, 2001

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his personal experience during 9/11 and the changes that occurred within the military.

Keywords: Fort Dix, New Jersey; Ground Zero; Military uniform

83:07 - Veterans Affairs

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his work as Director of Veterans Affairs and how important it is to help veterans transition into civilian life.

Keywords: Lehigh County; Purple heart recipients; Sacrifice; Vietnam War

87:49 - Deployment

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his feelings on deployment and his misgivings on the Iraq War.

Keywords: Donald Rumsfeld; George W. Bush; Military duty; Military instructors; Military orders; Shock and awe

93:33 - Iraq War

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his pre-deployment training and his overall experience in Iraq.

Keywords: Advance team; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Kuwait; Pre-deployment training; Route Irish

100:29 - Hearts and Minds

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom describes his experiences working in Civil Affairs in Iraq and the constant stress and disconnect soldiers feel when being deployed overseas.

Keywords: Beanie babies; Boredom; Mortar attacks; Rocket attacks

109:10 - Transition to Civilian Life

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses his transition to civilian life.

Keywords: Alcohol; Military service; Shannon, Ireland; Weapons

119:24 - Military Service

Play segment Segment link

Direct segment link:

Partial Transcript:

Segment Synopsis: Tom discusses his continuing service as Director of Veterans Affairs.

Keywords: Alcohol addiction; Drug addiction; Homelessness; Mental health

powered by OHMS

Project Goals

The Veterans Empathy Project is an ongoing work in oral history focused on the military experience among U.S. soldiers and marines in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Its purpose is to bridge the gap in the United States today between veterans of foreign wars and civilians who never served in the military. Designed for scholarly research, it's meant to round out public understanding of military obligation today, in the past, and near future.

Evan.Reibsome@lsus.edu