The Team
Meet the team of faculty and students who have worked on the Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project.
Dr. Sarah King, Associate Professor of History
Dr. King is an Associate Professor in the Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy at USC Aiken. She is a historian of the US in the 20th century with a research specialization in the Vietnam War. Since 2020, Dr. King has taught a range of US history classes at USCA, ranging in focus from the 1960s and the Vietnam War to popular culture, African American history, the US since 1975, and digital history. Dr. King’s work on the project focuses on preparing students to conduct the interviews via historical study and oral history training; discussing the project with Vietnam veterans the wider Aiken community; and leading the writing of each veteran’s biographies and interview summaries. Dr. King holds a BA from the University of Toronto, an MA from the University of Waterloo, and a PhD from Binghamton University.
Dr. David L. Morris II, Associate Professor of Emerging Media
Dr. Morris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Emerging Media at the University of South Carolina Aiken. He specializes in visual communication, media production, and emerging technology. Through his teaching and research, Dr. Morris explores how media can preserve stories, shape understanding, and connect audiences across generations. His work with the Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project brings together his expertise in communication and digital storytelling to help document and share the powerful firsthand experiences of those who served. Dr. Morris holds a BA from Wright State University, an MA from the University of Memphis, and a PhD from the University of Oregon.
Lauren Lucas
Lauren Lucas continues her work on this project, serving as the Student Producer for the VVOHP’s first two years. Lauren is an Emerging Media major with dual minors in Professional Writing and Studio Arts. She is part of USCA’s class of 2027 and is originally from Lexington, South Carolina. Lauren was drawn to the Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project because it combines her interests in media production and storytelling with a meaningful opportunity to preserve the personal experiences of those who served. She values the chance to apply her communication skills to a project that deepens historical understanding and honors veterans’ voices.
Palmer McCay
Palmer McCay is the Oral History Student Researcher for the the project’s second and third years. A History major with an International Relations minor, Palmer’s work on the project is inspired by his grandfather’s twenty-year career in the US military, including time in Vietnam during the war. In addition to conducting interviews, Palmer has contributed to the interview question list, recruits veteran participants, and, with Dr. King, co-writes the section summaries and bios for veterans. In December 2025, Palmer was awarded a prestigious Magellan Scholar Award that supported his work on this project in spring 2026. In summer 2026, Palmer is also working on the project’s digitization. As Assistant Digital Archivist, Palmer writes works with digital files, captioning and adding metadata to each document in the digital archive. Palmer’s hometown is Edgefield, South Carolina. He plans to graduate from USCA in May 2027.
Luke Aldridge
Luke Aldridge was the Oral History Student Researcher for the project’s inaugural 2024–25 year. His interest in the project began while taking Dr. King’s Vietnam War class alongside a Vietnam veteran. Luke subsequently undertook oral history interviews with Vietnam veterans as part of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, out of which this project grew. In addition to conducting interviews, Luke helped write the original interview question list, recruited the first year of veteran participants, and co-wrote all the section summaries and bios for those veterans. Luke won two prestigious Magellan Scholar Awards that supported his oral history work. Luke grew up in Clover, South Carolina. He graduated in May 2025 with a major in History.
Spencer Weaver
Spencer Weaver is the Lead Digital Archivist for the project. Spencer scans, formats, and edits all documents that are part of the digital archive, which will soon be available at the bottom of each veteran’s page. He began working in this role in summer 2026. Spencer is trained in archival methods and also works at the Gregg-Graniteville Library at USCA. Spencer is a double major in History and Emerging Media. He plans to graduate in May 2027.
Jack Shaffer
Jack Shaffer is the official Transcriber for the Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project. Jack diligently edits each transcript to capture the video interview in line with transcription best practices. These edited PDF transcriptions will soon be available for each veteran underneath their video on their individual page. Jack brings training on transcription from the Smithsonian Institute to his work. He began working in this role in summer 2026. Jack is a History major with a minor in Political Science. He plans to graduate from USCA in May 2027.
Gary Moorehous
Gary Moorehous is Veteran Liaison for the Vietnam Veterans Oral History Project. Gary is responsible for coordinating with the Lead Digital Archivist to collect and return veterans’ documents for digitization. Gary works closely with veterans who have materials they would like to share, transports them to the digital archive team, and ensures their safe return. Gary’s work on the project is inspired by his grandfather’s service in Vietnam. He began working in this role in summer 2026. Gary is a History major; he plans to graduate from USCA in May 2028.