Andrew Mencin discusses his twenty year career in the Air Force, and his current service in the Reserves. In particular, he discusses his path to becoming a leader, the ways he helped his people prepare for deployments, the mental struggles of deployments, and his experiences with other cultures.
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.
Barry L. Graham disscusses his choice to enlist in the Air Force, his service experiences, and his eventual return to civilian life. In particular, Graham discusses the skills he learned in the military while working on an engine line.
Benton D. Shirey discusses his time in the United States Navy. In particular, Shirey comments on his time in the Medical Corps, his training, how it effected his family life, the Reagan Era military, and what it was like to serve during the Cold War. He also discusses his thoughts on the difficulties of returning to civilian life, and the services…
Blake Pennington details his service in the United States Marine Corp. Discussions cover his entire career in the military, from enlistment to separation.
Brian Sheets details his time in the United States Army. In particular, Sheets details his enlistment, his time in basic training, and his deployment to Afghanistan. He also comments on his mental health struggles during and after enlistment, while also sharing his views on the PTSD crisis that many soliders grapple with after service.
Brian w. Gayheart discusses his time in the United States Army. In particular, Gayheart details his experiences during deployments and combat missions, shares his thoughts on being a crew member on a M1A1 tank, and, he traces his eventual path to higher education.
Caitlyn Wills discusses her twenty year career in the United States Air Force. Interniew topics include, but are not limited to, her decision to join the Air Force, how she survived basic training, working in Intelligence, being stationed in New Mexico, and her intergration back into civilian life. She also discusses her work in the private sector…
Cherise N. Haney discusses her time in the United States Air Force, her position as a MP, and what it's like to get deployed. In particular, Haney discusses being a MP for Detainee Operations, rocket attacks, being female in the military, and the gender discrimination she faced and how it impacted her place in authority. She also discusses the…
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…
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…
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…
Dan Edwards discusses his time in the United States Air Force. In particular, he comments on his time during basic training, his deployment during the Vietnam War, and the racism he witnessed during his service. He also details the skills he picked up that help him perform well under pressure, and, explains his reluctancy to join groups like the…
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.
Daniel Roten discusses how life struggles pushed him to enlist in the Air Force. Roten then details the friendships he created, the little things he missed from civilian life, and his memories from serving. Roten also gives his opinion on the needs of Veterans and the Veteran Affairs Department, including some of the changes that should be made.
Captain Darcie Cunningham discusses her twenty-four year career in the Coast Guard. Interview topics include, but are not limted to, gender discrimination, sexual harrassment, and her views on how the Veterans Affairs Department handles mental illness in its veterans.
David R. Vickers details his childhood and his reasons for enlisting in the Army. In particular, Vickers comments on his decison to enlist, his work in the EKU ROTC program, being stationed in Vietnam, and what it was like to be in the military during the Cold War. He also discusses how his faith was a factor in his war experiences and details how…
Dennis Sinnett discusses his childhood, his time in the United States Navy, from enlistment to his final rank as a Captain. As a naval pilot, Sinnett comments on the different types of aircrafts he flew, as well as his experiences during deployment and the pressures of combat.
Don Rogers discusses his time in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He details his travels, his job as a naval fireman, his experiences returning home after the war, and his career at an Army Weapons Depot.
Donnie Burdine details his early life in Kentucky, his troubled early years, and his enlistment in the Air Force, which was suggested by a judge. In particular, Burdine comments on his choice to work as an engineer, being stationed in Korea, friends while stationed abroad, his readjustment back to civilian life, and his opinions on war and the VA.
Dylyn Daughtry discusses his military service in the United States Army. In particular, Daughtry comments on his time in basic training, his deployments to Kuwait and Afghanistan, the cultural differences of the people he met, the difficulties of staying in touch with family, and entertainment during his deployments. He also discusses being injured…
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.
Glenn Rogers discusses his experiences with being drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. In particular, Rogers comments on being injured, his experiences with Agent Orange, as well as his expereinces as a Prisoner of War and the effects it had on him after he returned home.
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.
In this video interview, James B. Vires discusses his time in the United States Marine Corps. In particular, Vires comments on basic training, his deployment to the Middle East, and encountering Sadaam Husein's torture chambers in Abu Ghraib Prison. He also explains his feelings of being lost after discharge, details the benefits of spending more…
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.
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…
Jamie Peerce details his time in the Marine Corps. while being stationed in Panama. Peerce also comments on how the military helped him become a better police officer once he left service.
Jason David details his time in the United States Air Force. In particular, David comments on his time in basic training, and the differences in service during the pre and post 9/11 eras. He also discusses the difficulties of staying in touch with family before technology innovations of the mid-2000s.
Jennifer Chapman, is a Jefferson County, KY native and a member of the National Guard. In this interview she discusses the reason she joined the military. She also describes her experience and her attitudes of women in the military.
Jesse Clark discusses his childhood, and his time in the Air Force. In particular, Clark comments on his role models as child, his reasons for enlisting, and his experiences while enlisted.
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…
Jim Distler discusses his enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. In particular, Distler details his experiences during basic training, his reasons for enlisting, his occupation as a radio operator, and his life after the service. He also gives his opinions on the military and civilian life after enlistment.
Jimmy Thanh Doan details his time in United States Marine Corps. In particular, Doan comments on being a first generation immigrant, his parent's reaction to his enlistment, his time in basic training, and how he developed a service oriented mindset to adapt.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Mark Measel enlisted in the Navy in 1980, at the age of 18. His journey as a submarine radioman in the Navy spanned multiple continents and countless countries. As a submariner, he was stationed on both coasts of the United States. Measel's service ended in 1986, at the age of 24.
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…
