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Tony Schuchart, 59, of Spring Garden, meets Bill Anstine, 83, of Windsor Township, Thursday at the Oral History Luncheon at York College. Anstine approached Schuchart after learning they both grew up in Glen Rock. Schuchart, who wore his uniform to the event, was in the Navy from 1968-1972 and Anstine was in the Navy from 1942-1947.<br />&middot; <a href="http://w2.ydr.com/forms/sendPhoto.php?photo=30688">E-mail photo</a><br />&middot; <a href="http://ydr.mycapture.com/mycapture/lookup.asp?originalname=102507-km-vets-lunch-1.jpg">Order photo reprint</a><br />
Oct 27, 2007 — Why did you pick the Marines? Did you keep in touch with your family while you were in the Pacific, or while you were in California?

Glenn Bowers was eager to see his answers to those questions and more of his comments as written in a report about his military career in the U.S. Marines VMF-214, also known as the Black Sheep Squadron.

Thursday, the 86-year-old Dillsburg resident thumbed through a book about his military experiences as documented by York College junior Jeff Beck, 20, of Woodbine, Md.

Several months ago, students from the college met with area veterans, conducted interviews and collected orals histories, photographs and other factual evidence and compiled the information in a book.

Bowers, along with several other former soldiers, gathered in the 1770s room at York College, where oral history students presented the books to veterans they had profiled.

"We got along famously," Bowers said of Beck.

"He had a lot of good stories," Beck said.

The reports were collected verbatim and presented in a transcript form, said York College oral history specialist Sandra Prueitt. "That's one of the interesting aspects of oral history."

She also said many students and their veteran subjects form lasting friendships.

The York College class works with the York County Heritage Trust to document the historical documents about the veterans.

"It's a wonderful partnership," Prueitt said.

Copies of the

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students' reports will be submitted to the Library of Congress, said York County Heritage Trust Assistant Librarian/ Archivist Josh Stahlman.

Several veterans said they appreciated the student interest. Long Island, N.Y., resident Heather Murphy, 21, is a senior at York College. She profiled Tony Schuchart, 59, of Spring Garden Township. He served on the U.S.S. Richmond K. Turner during his time in the U.S. Navy in the late 1960s to early 1970s.

"I thought it was really nice a person of Heather's age was interested in somebody of my era," Schuchart said.

He was eager to review Murphy's accounting of his career. "I'm going to read it tonight."