West Florida News

U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today announced a new interview in the Veterans History Project Series, showcasing the service and sacrifices of veterans from Florida’s 17th District. The newest interview features Specialist 4th Class Paul Pelleschi, United States Army, who served during the Vietnam War.

“Specialist Paul Pelleschi’s story is a vital piece of our nation’s history, reflecting both the challenges and the courage of those who served during the Vietnam War. His words remind us of the sacrifices made by so many, often underappreciated, and the importance of honoring their contributions. It’s a privilege to help share his experiences and ensure that future generations understand the true cost of freedom,” said Congressman Steube.

Specialist Pelleschi served during one of the most turbulent periods in American history, and his reflections on his time in Vietnam are both poignant and powerful. “Every day there’s less and less of us. We’re at that age, and our stories need to be told. I felt we weren’t appreciated when we came home. It was the environment; it was a very unpopular war. But it’s time to know what we did, what we were asked to do, and how we did it,” he shared.

Despite the challenges, Specialist Pelleschi remains proud of his service and the men he served alongside. “I’m proud of what we did, I’m proud of the men I served with. That was a privilege…there were some wonderful men I served with…We had wonderful officers; they were with us all the time. They didn’t stay behind. They always say ‘rank has its privilege’ well they had no privilege in Vietnam. We were very privileged to have the people that we had.”

The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project (VHP), an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center aimed at collecting and retaining oral histories from U.S. veterans.

Initially started in 2000, VHP aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible personal accounts from United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand their service. Researchers rely upon VHP collections as primary sources supplementing historical texts and valued cultural resources.

Veterans from all branches who served in World War I through recent conflicts are eligible to participate in VHP.

For more information on VHP or participation details for residents in Florida's 17th Congressional district visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/ or https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp.