INDIANAPOLIS -- Our nation's veterans have witnessed and help shape history, and now they're sharing their firsthand accounts of serving the U.S. in a way that can educate and inspire people for generations to come.
The project is an ongoing effort called the Veterans History Project.
Colonel James Leonard's story is the next to be included in the Library of Congress.
On Monday, Leonard recalled his 20 years with the U.S. Army and the experiences he says he wouldn't trade for anything.
Leonard entered the ROTC program at the University of North Florida in 1976 as a way to help pay for his college courses. He never thought he'd make a career in the military.
"Even with my initial assignment, it was, I'm going to do this for three years, kind of satisfy my obligation, and see where we go from there," Leonard said.
He received his first promotion during his senior year of college. From there, Leonard's career with the Army spanned 20 years and multiple continents.
He spent the bulk of that time as a finance officer handing payroll, supplies and equipment in Germany and at the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.
A few years later, Leonard was given top secret clearance supporting NSA operations.
"My job was to disguise where the money was," he said. "My job was to make sure nobody knew what we were doing or where we were, before we did it. We didn't care if you knew when we came back. We didn't want you to know before."
Leonard received numerous awards and recognition before retiring from the Army.
"I wouldn't exchange it for nothing," Leonard said. "It's not about the money. It's about everything you can look back on and say, 'I contributed to that.'"
Leonard's interview was conducted Monday by U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana).
Click here to find out how you or a loved on can be included in the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress.
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