Richard K. Rogers details his career in the United States Air Force and his reentry into civilian life. In particular, Rogers, a fuel specialist, discusses his choice to enlist rather than be drafted, the coping mechanisms he used to get through boot camp and the challenges he faced when he was discharged. Rogers also comments on inequalities in VA…
SFC Rebecca E. Wood discusses her career in both the Army Reserves and National Guard. In particular, Wood details her decision to enlist at seventeen, being bullied out of joining the AIr Force, being offered a nursing position in the Navy, and her eventual decision to join the Army instead. Wood also commments on Basic Training in South Carolina,…
SFC Raney Wiseman details his career in the United States Army, and his varied assignments throughout his time in the service. In particular, Wiseman comments on his deployments to Iraq during Operation New Dawn, as well as his work with border control agents and other interdepartmental organzations like the State Police and ATF. He also discusses…
Ret. Lt. Col. Randy Singleton details is 36 year career in the United States Army. In particular, Singleton details his reasons for enlisting, the many places he visited, working with NATO forces during the Cold War, living away from his family, the people he served with, and his return to civilian life once he retired.
Ralph Dinn details his experiences in the United States Army. In particular, he discusses his basic training experiences, the skills he was taught, coping with homesickness, his involvement in the VFW and the American Legion and the good they do for Veterans.
R.D. Whitaker discusses his childhood and his experiences during the Vietnam War. In particular, Whitaker comments on his family, being drafted, how his faith helped him through battle training, his eventual position as rifleman, the terrible food, the reasons his re-enlistmentment was denied, and how he lives with PTSD. Whitaker also shares his…
Penny Bowling-Messer served in the Army, from 1992-1998, first as a medic and later as an oral technician. Bowling-Messer describes her experience in the US Army, including the good times she had and the memories and friends made.
Patrica Stevens recounts her time in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman. In particular, Stevens comments on her time in basic training, her first impressions of the Naval base in Whidbey Island, Washington, and what it was like to participate in the revovery effort after the San Francisco Earthquake in 1990.
Nicole Keller details her time in the United States Navy. In particular, she discusses her decision to enlist on a whim, her reasons for choosing the Navy, her experiences in boot camp, the countries she visited, and life on a naval vessel. She also discusses her decision to leave service for the sake of her son and her use of the GI Bill to get…
Monique Johnson details her time in the United States Navy, and the hardships of being deployed. In particular, she comments on what it was like to ship out, the difficulties of Basic, the struggles of being on her own, and what it was like to be a woman in a position of power in the Navy. Johnson also discuesses her transition back into civilian…
Michael Williams details his time in the United States Navy. In particular, Williams discusses his upbringing, his decision to join the Navy, his transition into basic training, and his combat experiences. He also discusses reintergation into cilvilan life and shares his advice for people who are getting ready to retire from the service.
Michael Weir discusses his service in the United States Navy. In particular, Weir comments on continuing the family tradition of Naval service, his time in basic training, being away from his family, his positions as a corpsman and a resuce swimmer, and the cultural differences he experienced with each deployment.
Michael Navalta Jr. recounts his time in the United States Army. In particular, Navalta comments on his specialized education, infantry training, and pushing his limits. He also discusses his deployments, the dangers that came with them, SERE training, and the medals he was awarded.
Micheal Morris discusses his time in the United States Air Force. In particular, Morris commetns on being an aircraft electrician, his deployments and the many places he traveled to while enlisted. Morris also details the awards and citiations he earned, and, shares comments on how his service helped him in his civilian job.
Micheal Jones details his time the Air Force during Vietnam. In particular, Jones comments on his struggle between serving or moving to Canada, his reluctance to go overseas, being stationed in the states, and the impacts of seeing his friends suffer PTSD and chemical injuries. He continues by explaining his easy transition back into civilian life,…
Micheal C. Roy details his time in the United States Naval Reserves duing the Vietnam War. In particular, Roy covers his reasons for joining the Navy, being stationed on a WWII destroyer and the state the ship was in upon arriving, being an engineer on the USS Kitty Hawk, as well as being in he Gulf of Tonkin during the conflict. Roy also discusses…
Matthew Kenney details his childhood and his time in the United States Army. In particular, Kenney discusses his childhood mentors, enlisting, basic training in Oklahoma, being stationed in Djibouti, the friendships he made, and how the men would pass the downtime. Kenney concludes with his thoughts on reintergrating after a deployment.
Matthew Hodge discusses his time in the United States Navy. He comments on his childhood, enlisting in the Military to stay out of trouble, and choosing the Navy because of family. He also discusses being stationed in Conneticut, what is was like to be a machinist on a submarine, his deployment to the Persian Gulf, and his transtion back into…
Martin Baumgardner recounts his time with the National Guard. In particular, Baumgardner comments on the difficulties of being away from family, his choice in the National Guard, the high expectations of his leaders, being a member of Airborne, his position as a combat engineer, and his transition back into civilian life after the service.
Ret. Lt. Col. Marcel T. Schmidt details his twenty-three year career in the Air Force. In particular, Lt. Col. Schmidt recalls memories of his father in Vietnam as a child, and comments on getting a masters degree before enlisting and his experiences while serving in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Schmidt also comments on staying in…
LTC Brian Sweeney recounts his impressive career in the United State Army. In particular, Sweeney comments on his Special Forces training and breaking his ankle at Ft. Benning, which led to a switch to the Infantry. He also comments on not being picked for Delta Forces, training ROTC students at University of Kentucky, and being deployed to Bosnia…
In the interview, Lorrie Lamphier describes her background of where she was born and grew up, and the years of enlistment and her branch. Lamphier also discusses the reasons she enjoyed basic training, and comments on her role as a guide on bearer (or guidon bearer), which helps lead the troops in formation. She shares details on where she was…
Lester Baker discusses his childhood, and his time in the Navy. In particular, he details his responsiblities while enlisted, going to A school, and the places he was stationed.
Lee R. Prather explains his reasons for joining the Navy at the age of seventeen. He details some of the memorable missions he was involved in, and how he passed the time on a ship. Prather also discusses his return to civilian life and how the country treated him when he returned.
Lawrence Broome discusses his time in the Air Force. In particular, Broome comments on the relationships he made, how he stayed in touch with family, the challenges of facing combat, and the regrets he has about his retirement.
Kyle Hubbs discusses his choice to enlist in the Army, his time and his experiences during his time in service, the life lessons he took from his enlistment, and the things about the military that he misses. (Interview missing)
Kenneth Sterns Jr. discusses his time in the United States Army, the difficulties of basic traning, what the service taught him, and his opinions on the current military.
This interview covers Ken Dryer's reasons for joining the military, his experiences as a soldier at home and while deployed, and his response to several different areas of his time in the Army. Dryer moved a lot as a child but knew at an early age that he wanted to serve his country and add his name to a family history of soldiers. During his…
Keith Dinsmore discusses his time in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. In particular, he comments on his being drafted, his time in basic training, and the politics of war.
Katie Gilley discusses her life in the Marine Corps, her basic training experiences, and her work in broadcasting and print media. In particular, Gilley discusses the people she met while working in Vietnam, female Marines, discrimination in the Marines, and life after the military. She also comments on the GI Bill, starting a family, and shares…
Joshua Walker discusses his time in the Marine Corps., his experiences and the losses he endured. In particular, Walker comments on the impacts of losing soldiers to IEDs, the meaning of brotherhood, his work ethic, his thoughts on the healthcare system for veterans, and, he provides advice to potential soldiers wanting to enlist.
Josh Alexander shares details on his time in the military. He provides motivations for joining the United States Army, the training he received, and his early experiences in the Army before proceeding into his experiences from being deployed to the Middle East during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Interview topics also include reintegration after his…
Joseph Meyers recounts his decision to enlist, his time in basic training, and his deployment to Iraq. He discusses his drill instructors and thier teaching methods, his job as an engineer, creating boobytraps, being deplpoyed to Iraq, and running convoy operations. He explains the pain of losing a fellow solider and the impact it had on him.…
