Kevin O'Leary served in the U.S. Army and USAF Reserves from 1990 to 2015. In his interview O'Leary discusses his reasons for joining the Army, basic training, and his role as a T.O.W. missile gunner in the first Gulf War. O'Leary elaborates on his experiences with the environment in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and portions of Iraq. He also describes his…
Darwin Streets discusses his service record during the Korean War. He discusses his early life of growing up on a farm in Athens, Ohio, and how his life changed when he got drafted to war at the young age of 18. Streets goes over how he trained for war, the hardships of being in combat, and comments on the way his service shaped him into the person…
Dr. Kevin Hub discusses the state of education in his district and the state as a whole. Topics include budgets, relationships with teachers and educational organizations, pensions, and the current political climate. An overall view of the district is also given, including number and condition of school buildings, educational programs, curriculum…
Timothy Gruber details his time in the United States Army. In particular, Gruber comments on his deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, being injured and awarded a Purple Heart, as well as coming home and dealing with PTSD. He also comments on being honorably discharged because on the complications he experienced with PTSD.
Dan Gros recounts his time in the United States Army. In particular, Gros comments on his experiences during basic training, his deployment to Somalia, and his role as a Sergeant. He also discusses the good and bad that came from his service and the comforts of home that he missed most.
Tim Anderson discusses his time in the United States Army, and his life afterwards. In particular, Anderson comments on basic training and being deployed to Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. He also discusses his education after the Army, his path to becoming a teacher, teaching high school, and his use of military styled classes.
Christopher Rechtin details his time in the United States Army and his return to civilian life. In particular, Rechtin comments on his choice to enlist, his time during basic training, and his feelings before deployment. He also shares his experiences during his deployment to Iraq, and comments on how the war changed him. He also discusses his easy…
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.
Shannon Memminger discusses his career in the United States Army. In particular, Memminger comments on his choice to enlist, and his experiences and observations within the confines of race, gender and culture. He also shares his thoughts on the military industral complex and how the military has become more like a business.
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.
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.
George N. Ausby details his time in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. In particular, he comments on the process of being drafted, his training to become an engineer, race relations during the Vietnam War, and the hardships of being in a jungle combat zone. He also discusses his return home, the reception he received, and how he found a…
Crystal Benbow discusses her time in the United States Army and her reintergration back into cilvilan life. In particular, Benbow comments on her reasons for enlisting, her experiences in basic training, and her deployment to Iraq. She also explains how the G.I. Bill helped her become a nurse, and she details how her military service has helped her…
James Barnhill discusses his time in the United States Army during the Cold War. In particular, he comments on his being stationed in Germany, the things he loved about living there, the types of cars, the food he enjoyed, and the pressures of being in the Army. He also details what he believes cilivians should know about military life.
Jeffery Beaty recounts his service in the Army. In particular, Beaty recounts his early life, leaving home at eighteen, the culture shock of basic training, and life during his deployment.
Courtney Johnson discusses her service in the Army, why she enlisted, and what is was like to be a woman in the military. She details how the drill instructors were younger than her, the lack of privacy in the barracks, her work in the chemical unit, her promotion to an Operations Officer, her being stationed in Alaska, where she struggled with…
Baxter Mallory details his life in the Army and the work he does with helping Veterans transition. In particular, Mallory details his time in the 82nd Airborne, breaking his ankle, and how his personality changed after enlistment. He also discusses his ideas for helping returning service people heal from their mental and physical battle scars.
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…
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.…
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…
James D. Gaither Sr. details his service in the Army during the Vietnam War. In particular, Gaither discusses his experiences in basic training, his Infantry and Artillery training, his first combat experiences in Vietnam, and how casualties were handled in the war zone. He also comments on his re-entry into the civilian world after he was…
Holdbrook MacArthur details joining the military as an older recruit, the positions he held, and the challenges he faced. He also discusses being an immigrant who enlisted, his transition after being discharged, the classes you are required to take, and the path of service he took on after leaving the Armed Forces.
Angel Lewis discusses his enlistment in the Army, his thoughts on serving, his job and position while enlisted, as well as the best and worst aspects of life in the service.
Ryan Adkins discusses his combat experiences in the Army. In particular, he details his experiences in combat, how his views of combat changed over time, and the friendships he created. Adkins also comments on the accountability they depended on, the struggles of seeing danger in every situation, the difference in gender roles in combat, and being…
Sargeant First Class Jerry Klontz details his career in the U.S. Army. In particular, he shares stories from his time during active duty, which included deployments to combat zones in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Klontz also shares his personal feelings about service and the impacts it has on service men and women.
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.
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.
Ret. Master Chief Daniel Brindley details his twenty-five year career in the United States Army. Brindley faced an early discharge for an injury, but he re-enlisted three years later. In particular, Brindley discusses what it was like to serve during the Cold War, his time in Panama during the Noriega Regime, his deployments to the Middle East…
Jeffrey Lynes details is life from childhood to his military career. In particular, Lynes comments on his mentors, the role religion has played in his life, his decision to attend West Point, life at West Point, and the Army Aviation Branch. Lynes also details the ins and outs of having to stay calm under fire, what its like to be a helicopter…
Danny Cline discusses his time in the Army during Vietnam. In particular, Cline comments on being drafted, going to boot camp, being shipped to Vietnam, trying to handle the stress of being in a combat zone, the process of desensitization in a war zone, and the reception he received when he returned home.
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.
PFC Eric Alexander Poynter recounts his time in the United States Army. In particular, Poynter comments on his time in basic training and the friendships he developed while enlisted. He also shares his advice for those who are currently thinking about joining the Armed Forces.
Amanda Cummins discusses her time in the United States Army from the perpective of being female. In particular, Cummins, who is married to a Sailor, discusses juggling family life and solidering, her Afghanistan deployment, coping with life after deployment, and her views on how Veterans are treated.
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.
Sargeant Christopher Petzke discusses his experiences in the United States Army. In particular, Petzke comments on his deployment to Iraq, his reasons for enlisting, and how he juggles the military and a family of nine.
Timothy R. Tillett details his time in the Army National Guard. In particular, Tillett comments on his time in Iraq, his experiences as a transport driver, and the ways his views on the military and war changed over time.
Jesse D. Allen discusses growing up around the military, his decision to join the Army and his experiences while enlisted. In particular, Allen details his time in the Middle East while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Allen discusses the good and bad expereinces of war, the scars he brought home with him, and how he has worked to live with…
James Wooley discusses his time in the service, adjusting to military life, Veterans Adminstration healthcare, veteran reintegration, as well as the challenges that Veterans face with pharmaceutical abuse and addiction.
Joyce Smith covers her life up until her time in the military. She discusses her relationship with her mother and father and how it differed growing up, when compared to today. She talks about her life in the Army and how it shaped her into who she is today, as well as provided her with her beautiful children. Finally, she discusses why she would…
In this interview, Vernon Miniard, Superintendent of the Monticello School System, discusses his family and background, his time working for Blue Diamond Coal Co., as well as his time in the military and education. He also discusses school boards, problem
In this interview, Roy Camic, Superintendent of Boyle County Schools, discusses his personal and educational background, his military service, and positions held prior to becoming Superintendent. He also comments on his reasons for wanting to become super
Fred E. Darling was an EKU faculty member, track coach, supervisor of the athletic tower, assistant dean of men, and the intermural sports director. In this interview, Darling details his career and the reason why he voluntarily ended his coaching position to devote himself to teaching full time.
Donald Smith is a veteran of World War II and the Vietnam conflict. He was commissioned in the US Army and retired in 1964 with the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Military Police Corps. He obtained bachelor's and master's degrees from EKU and became the Registrar in 1976. He retired from EKU in 1985. This interview is a survey of his military…
Henry Franklin Pryse, a Kentucky native, served as the Director of Community School Relations and the Placement Director at EKU. In this interview, he recalls his early life, education, and US Army and Air Force service record. He also discusses his interests in sports and his professional baseball career, which spanned from 1939 to 1948.
J.W. "Spider" Thurman was born in 1917 in Rhea County, Tennessee. He moved to Benham, a coal mining camp in Harlan County, Kentucky. In this interview, he recalls his military experiences and his duties as a physical education officer in the Air Force and US Army. He also reflects on his years spent in athletics in Kentucky and his job at EKU. He…
In this interview, Mr. Luke Keith, publisher of the Sentinel Echo, discusses his background, early life, and his role as the publisher of the Sentinel Echo. He is the husband to Margaret Keith.
In this interview, Nancy Botts discusses Barren County and the life and public service career of her boss, County Judge Executive Dale Burchett. She comments on Burchett's background and the issues the county faces, such as problems with the ambulance service, and fire and roads departments, the lack of a housing program and the pains of county…
