Take me back to the Oral History landing page.

Jan Staggs - Cold War Era

Jan Staggs had already earned a Master's Degree in Industrial Relations when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in March, 1966. Following basic training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, he was sent to Ft. Carson where he learned personnel work on-the-job. He and his wife Francie were then sent to Okinawa, where he cut personnel orders for junior enlisted personnel. Following his tour in the Army, Jan returned to Illinois and spent the rest of his professional career working for the state of Illinois, most of that time as executive director of the Illinois Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.

Interview Links

Feature Excerpt

First Impressions at Ft. Polk

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Early life and military experiences in Okinawa in 1967-68

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Photos

Caption

Private Jan Staggs during his basic training days at Ft. Polk, Louisiana in early 1966.

Where:

Ft. Polk, Louisiana

When:

1966

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Jan Staggs, in khakis and ‘steel pot’ while stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado with the 5th Infantry Division in late 1966. He and wife Francie lived off-post.

Where:

Ft. Carson, Colorado

When:

1966

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Specialist 5 Staggs was stationed in Okinawa in 1967 when this photo of he and Francie was taken. They enjoyed their tour in Okinawa, thankful that Jan had not been sent to Vietnam.

Where:

Okinawa, Japan

When:

1967

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Jan received this State of Illinois certificate from Governor Jim Edgar in April 1994 in recognition of his work with the state’s Job Training Coordinating Council.

Where:

Illinois

When:

1994

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Jan Staggs received this letter from Gov. George Ryan on the occasion of his retirement from the Illinois Occupational Information Coordinating Committee in May, 1999.

Where:

Illinois

When:

1999

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo

Caption

Jan Staggs stands next to a sign for the 5th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colorado during a recent trip in 2016. He was stationed there for five months in 1966, learning personnel duties on-the-job.

Where:

Ft. Carson, Colorado

When:

2016

Ownership:

Narrator's Photo