INTERVIEWS

From the depths of the South American jungle in Jonestown, Guyana, to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and finally to the resting place for many of the deceased at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland, California, the repatriation and identification of the 918 deceased required the tireless work and coordination of hundreds of military and government personnel across two continents.

This section gathers interviews, statements, and oral histories from those involved with the Jonestown mission in any capacity. These interviews provide context into the complex—and often emotional—logistics behind the operation. 

The current managers of this site are greatly indebted to the work of Dr. Preston Jones, a professor of history at John Brown University and the creator of this project, for many of the interviews on site.

Interview subjects are organized according to their respective military branch or government agency. All interviews are transcribed and link to a video and/or audio recording if available.  

Disclaimer

As this project discusses a historical event that involves complex and confusing memories, interviews on this site will occasionally contain errors. The managers of this site have added contextual notes and links to additional resources to help contextualize and correct errors. As always, a comprehensive understanding of Peoples Temple and Jonestown necessitates the examination of as many perspectives as possible, cross-referencing records, and approaching each individual account with careful consideration of its context and limitations.