First-hand testimony
Walk beside sailors, soldiers, Marines, and airmen as they describe frontline duty, captivity, and homecoming without polish or embellishment.
Long Held Stories
Voices of Service, Preserved for Every Generation
Experience fact-based, first-hand accounts from veterans whose lives crossed World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Each narrative is told in the author's words—raw, humble, and deeply personal—to help families, researchers, and future service members understand the cost of duty.
Long-Held Stories
From battlefields to healing, told in their own words
These narratives began as a three-hundred-page journal explaining invisible wounds to loved ones. They now stand as a forum where veterans reclaim their experiences—from Normandy hospital wards and Guadalcanal beaches to Stalag XVII-B and the Tet Offensive. Each story invites readers to witness, to understand, and to remember.
Healing through narrative
The collection began as writing therapy for PTSD and grew into a legacy that helps veterans and families process wounds that do not bleed.
Anchored at Camp Nelson
Each volume honors the sacrifice embodied by the headstones at Camp Nelson National Cemetery—our pledge that "You are not forgotten."
The Curator
The service of CW3 (Ret.) Denny Hart
A twenty-two-year U.S. Army veteran, Denny Hart volunteered at the height of the Vietnam War. His assignments spanned Europe, the 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions, the 8th Army, and the Military District of Washington. Through writing and advocacy he continues to champion veterans, their families, and the stories that shaped them.
"Knowledgeable individuals have a responsibility to understand our veterans and appreciate their service. These stories are promises made—and kept."
Denny Hart, Chief Warrant Officer Three (Ret.), U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps
Beyond authorship, Hart has organized recognition events, supported POW/MIA remembrance, and contributed to veteran programs across Kentucky. His work ensures Camp Nelson National Cemetery and its Heritage National Monument remain living classrooms for service, sacrifice, and citizenship.
1967–1990
Active duty career culminating as Chief Warrant Officer Three, Quartermaster Corps.
2014–Present
Launches A Soldier's Exposition, Anthology, and Stand Down Vietnam to capture veterans' testimonies.
Ongoing
Advocates for veterans across Kentucky and preserves Camp Nelson histories for future generations.
Featured Library
Interactive volumes and research chronicles
A Soldier's Exposition
Dive into the journal that started it all—an unreserved account of military life, invisible wounds, and a call to speak up for those still carrying the weight of war.
Read online
Open volume
A Soldier's Anthology
Veterans from across Kentucky share personal histories—from Normandy to Guadalcanal to POW marches—captured exactly as they lived them.
Heroes amongst us
Open volume
Stand Down Vietnam
First-hand testimonies from Vietnam veterans confronting combat, captivity, and the resolve required to rebuild life back home.
Ghosts from the past
Open volume
Sitting by the Firehouse Pond
Memoir vignettes from a Missouri childhood shaped by resilient mentors and the firehouse that offered shelter, discipline, and hope.
Hand-me-down memories
Open volume
Patriots of Camp Nelson
Walk row by row through more than seventeen thousand headstones and discover the inscriptions that reveal a nation's promises and sacrifices.
Living remembrance
Open volume
Veterans' Anecdotes
Letters, short stories, and reflections compiled from the anecdotes archive, preserving voice notes and family memories alongside the main volumes.
Community voices
Open volume
Multimedia Archive
Scrapbooks, photo essays, and family tributes
Explore the evolving Facets of Time archive—photo galleries, tributes, and curated anecdotes that add texture to each written account. Every artifact is captioned to spotlight the people, places, and traditions that define Camp Nelson.
Enter the ScrapbookRecent highlights include a dedicated salute to those who kept the memorial flame lit between deployments and a gallery of community remembrance events across Kentucky.
View special tribute
Stay Connected
Share a story or plan your visit
Reach out to share veteran stories, request research assistance, or coordinate speaking engagements.
Explore the national cemetery's heritage, plan guided stops, and review memorial records before you arrive to honor those interred at Camp Nelson.
Find a Grave: Camp Nelson National Cemetery
National Park Service: Visitor information
Wikipedia: Historical overview
Email to coordinate secure transfers. High-resolution scans help ensure each memory remains accessible to future generations.