RAPID CITY, S.D. – More than 500 photographs taken by a South Dakota soldier during the Vietnam War are now part of the South Dakota State Archives, preserving a unique firsthand record of the conflict.
The collection was donated by Vietnam veteran Harry Knapp, a Webster native who served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1968. The donation includes more than 500 color slide photographs, military documents, period uniforms, and the camera Knapp used while serving in Vietnam.
Knapp served with the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion and earned two Bronze Stars for meritorious achievement during combat operations.
State Archivist Chelle Somsen says the collection will help future generations better understand the experiences of South Dakotans who served during the Vietnam War.
Officials say the photographs and records provide a rare visual look at military life during the war and will be preserved for researchers, veterans, students, and the public.
