Joe Jenkins recounts his time in the United States Army. In particular, Jenkins recounts his time as a Staff Sergeant, basic training, his deployment to Iraq, his work with interpreters, and the hardships of combat. He also discussed his reentry into clivilian life, and his thoughts on people who are currently joining the military.
Joe Kerns recounts his time in the United States Marines during the Vietnam War Topics include his trainings and MOS, his treatment when he returned home, and his regret of not re-enlisting.
Joel Hennings discusses his time in the Air Force, including his experiences during basic and pilot training and his eventual retirement from military service.
John Barnett details his time in the United States Army. In particular, he comments on his decison to enlist, basic training, adapting to military life, and his deployments. Barnett also discusses his return to civilian life and his thoughts on Veteran benefits.
John E. Owens details his early life, his decision to enlist in the Army, and his choice to transfer to the National Gruard after 9/11. Owens shares interesting stories from basic training and his deployment to Iraq. Interview conversations also include comments on being an authority figure during conflict, the weight of holding the lives of men in…
John H. Spaulding discusses his time in the Army, his intial try out for the Marine Corps. and his eventual deployment to Vietnam. In particular, Spaulding addresses the horrors of war, his unfriendly welcome home to the United States, and his reintegration back into civilian life.
John Plecity Sr. shares stories from his service during World War II. In particular, Plecity discusses joining the war in 1943, why he choose the Army Air Corps, his military training, and how it was luck that he was sent to Germany rather than Japan. He recounts his time on reconnaissance missions, the struggles of fighting in the desert, his…
Jon Ralls details his childhood, attending basic training in Illinois, survival training, the loneliness of deployment, his thoughts on the VA, and his time as a firefighter.
Jon S. Hooper discusses his time in the United States Navy. In particular, Hooper comments on his time in the Perisan Gulf during Operation Southern Watch. Hooper shares stories about life on aircraft carriers, details his wartime experiences, and comments on his transition back into civilian life and the memories of his time in the service.
Jose A. Cisneros discusses September 11, 2001 as he experienced it while being deployed on a submarine. He also discusses, through his own experiences, the psychological effects of being deployed under the sea for extended periods of time. He shares additional details on how both he and other Navy service members handle deployments aboard a…
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.…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
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 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.
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.
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.
