Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Dennis Pennenga Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: Air Defense Command
- Location of Service: Biloxi, Mississippi; Newburgh, New York; San Antonio, Texas
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/114951
Like many young men who join the military, Dennis Pennenga went through a difficult period of adjustment during boot camp. Dealing with the physical training regimen was hard enough for someone unused to it, but then he also had to learn how to live in a barracks with other men--and how to deal with a bully as well. Pennenga built himself up to the point that he was doing 25 chin-ups and 90 push-ups at a time, and soon he was running track for the Air Force, placing 2nd in the 300 meter steeple chase in 1961. As a direct consequence of his Air Force experience, Pennenga continued running after his service, switching to distance running and eventually running his best marathon time, 2 hours 52 minutes, at age 40 in the 1982 Newsday marathon.
Interview / Recording
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PlayFirst days in boot camp; thinking he might not make it. 00:03:38.0 - 00:04:30.0
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PlayDealing with a bully in the barracks. 00:09:05.0 - 00:10:24.0
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PlayRunning track for the U.S. Air Force; placed 2nd in 1961 for Air Force Worldwide in the 300 meter steeple chase. 00:18:30.0 - 00:20:09.0
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PlayTraining for the Boston marathon backed by the Air Force; mistakes made in his training regimen. 00:20:10.0 - 00:21:50.0
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PlayContinuing to run marathons after his service ended; running a sub-three-hour marathon at age 40. 00:22:20.0 - 00:23:01.0
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PlayWorkout regimen while in the Air Force, 1961. 00:36:46.0 - 00:37:29.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Dennis Pennenga Collection
Names
- Ward, James C.
- Middle Country Public Library
- Pennenga, Dennis
Home State
- New York (State)
Headings
- - Pennenga, Dennis
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: Air Defense Command
- Location of Service: Biloxi, Mississippi; Newburgh, New York; San Antonio, Texas
- Dates of Service: 1960-1964
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran competed in track for the Air Force and served in ground to air communications.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2018-09-20; 2018)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2018-09-20; 2019-04-19)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [15 items] -- Photograph (collected 1943-1982)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/114951
Cite as
- Dennis Pennenga Collection (AFC/2001/001/114951), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video