Footnote: Vietnam War records, photos online

Footnote.com today added 27,000 photos and records to its Vietnam War Collection, which now stands at more than 100,000 photos and documents. View it free throughout February.It provides viewers with a better perspective for this often misunderstood event in US history.

“Our partnership with the National Archives has proven to be invaluable as we work to make these records more accessible,” explains Russell Wilding, CEO of Footnote.com. “Previously you were required to travel to Washington, D.C. to see these records. Now anyone can access the original records through the internet.”

Army Unit Service Awards include documents relating to Presidential Unit Citations, Valorous Unit Awards and Meritorious Unit Commendations. These were usually awarded to units going above and beyond the call of duty, and in most cases, showing exceptional valor. These documents contain: dates of service, duties performed and letters of recommendation

Army Photos feature various activities of the US Army during the Vietnam War. In nearly every case, there is a caption or description of what was happening and the names of soldiers in the photos. Everything ranging from daily duties to Bob Hope’s visits are captured, providing a glimpse into the soldiers' lives.

Justin Schroepfer, Footnote.com's marketing director, says that his father is a Vietnam War hero, but he can rarely get him to share his wartime experiences. "Going through these photos allowed me to visualize a little more what he went through and the sacrifices he made for his country,” he said.

The Vietnam War Collection at Footnote also includes:

The Interactive Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Photos of the Marine Corps in Vietnam - color
Photos of the Marine Corps in Vietnam - black and white

The online subscription site will continue to work with the National Archives to add more records.

A picture is worth a thousand words is an old adage, and these documents and photos tell a story that isn't in textbooks.

It’s imperative that we preserve and share this side of history for future generations," says Footnote CEO Russell Wilding. "We are encouraging everyone to come to Footnote.com and enhance these stories by adding their own comments, photos and documents.”

The Vietnam War Collection is free to the public throughout February.