Falls Church History Buff Made Career of His Interest

American history has always been an interest of Falls Church resident Albert Tyas, especially the history of the nation’s military.

With a family member in every conflict involving Americans from the Civil War to Vietnam, Tyas, 39, pursued a masters degree in Military History (Post-1945) to better understand the sacrifices his family made.

“I felt bad that I didn’t serve, but they were all drafted,” Tyas said. “I’ve heard the stories from my grandfather, and now I get to understand what he went through.”

Tyas, a recent graduate of the American Military University, has worked at the Library of Congress for the last 15-years cataloging mostly history books. Tyas said he chose the online university because it fit his work and life schedule and allowed him to focus on history, specifically, the Cold War era and nuclear powered submarines.

The stories of war Tyas heard from his father and uncle, both veterans of the Vietnam war, impacted him — but not as much as seeing the affects the war had on them physically. His uncle was exposed to Agent Orange and died years after returning home. Tyas said his father also died years after his return from the war from another illness. His desire to learn more about the American military prompted him to attend the online institution.

“I always thought about getting my masters but thought my undergrad grades, finances and the GRE would hold me back,” Tyas said. “I may go back in a year to get a certificate in Navy studies.”

With his expanded education in military history, Tyas has become the talk of the office with coworkers stopping by his desk asking for help categorizing books. On his desk, a book on military air power has intrigued his fancy more but not enough to push his love for naval power to the side.

“I have an interest in nuclear submarines that I just can’t get rid of,” he said.