U.S. Rep. Greg Steube Announces Veterans History Project Interview Featuring Private First Class David Endean, United States Army
SARASOTA – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R‑Fla.) today released the latest installment in the Veterans History Project Series, honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans from Florida’s 17th District. The interview features Private First Class David Endean, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army from September 25, 1968, to September 25, 1970.
“Private First Class David Endean’s service during the Vietnam War is a testament to the courage, perseverance, and camaraderie of our men and women in uniform,” said Rep. Steube. “Through intense combat and heartbreaking loss, his reflections are a moving account of a soldier’s experiences in war. We are honored that he shared his journey so that his fellow citizens may pay tribute to his legacy. Sadly, not all who served in Vietnam were met with the respect and care they deserved when they returned home. PFC Endean’s story reminds us why honoring and preserving the history of our veterans is so important.”
In his interview, Endean reflects on the physical and emotional toll of combat, the lasting brotherhood forged with fellow soldiers, and the challenges of returning to a country that didn’t always understand or appreciate their service. “Try going to work one day and carry a 70-pound backpack,” said Endean.“Now imagine walking around with it all day, knowing at any moment you could step on a booby trap or be ambushed. Try doing that for a year. That was our life.”
He also shares how his service deepened his faith and taught him lifelong lessons in discipline, respect, and commitment—values that carried over into his civilian life and career in electrical engineering.
Please click here to watch the full interview.
Be sure to check Congressman Steube’s YouTube channel in the future for upcoming interviews.
The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.
Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate. For more information on the VHP, please visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.
If you live in Florida’s 17th Congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.
