Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ed Sykes tells the remarkable story of his unbreakable bond with his compatriot Dave Dinan and the unrelenting and ultimately successful task of recovering his remains from the jungles of Vietnam.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in six hours, Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez saved 8-plus men while enduring 7 major gunshot wounds, 28 shrapnel wounds, and major bayonet slash wounds. Hear his Medal of Honor story from President Reagan and the man himself. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystu...

On this episode of Our American Stories, historian David McCullough brings generational talent to those studying the wild realities of America's independence. After all, no one has ever lived in the past, but in the present. At the National Archive, McCullough names and thanks his own teachers, and hands down the important right way to teach and study our history. Support the show ( https://www.ou...

On this episode of Our American Stories, just moments before the biggest fireworks display in American history, President Ronald Reagan spoke in front of the Statue of Liberty aboard the USS John F. Kennedy. Reagan understood the profound nature of what the founders did back in 1776. We take you back to New York Harbor in 1986. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support...

On this episode of Our American Stories, ...and a reflection on the sparrow she tried to kill for tapping on her window. Our American Stories' regular contributor Leslie Leyland Fields, tells this heartwarming story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Moses Browning invented the mechanism used in virtually all modern pistols, created the most popular hunting rifles and shotguns, and conceived the machine guns introduced in World War I. Here's his story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listen...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice of his guide to understanding the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. The book is  Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases . Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/do...

On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1964 World Series the St. Louis Cardinals played the mighty NY Yankees. On the pitcher's mound for the Cardinals was Bob Gibson and his catcher was Tim McCarver. Here's Jeff Bloodworth, a professor of American history at Gannon University and a Jack Miller Center fellow, with the story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/dona...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on February 3rd, 1943 the  USS Dorchester  sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic within 20 minutes—it was the single deadliest loss of American troops in a convoy in our nation's history. But in this tragedy, there was also heroism and selfless acts of faith. Craig Du Mez of the Grateful Nation Project tells the story...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the "Nostalgia Awakens" is a Star Wars action figure exhibit from enthusiast and museum curator Jarrod Roll. He's here to share the story of how Star Wars toys revolutionized movie merchandising, licensing, and even how children play. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate S...

On this episode of Our American Stories, since the company’s inception in 2005, Liquid Ass has been a popular product amongst pranksters across the world. The two-pack on Amazon currently has an unprecedented 36,000-plus reviews with a 4 1/2-star rating! [BTW: Read the ratings if you want a good laugh.] So who goes about creating such a spray? Well, a teenager, obviously. Here to tell the st...

On this episode of Our American Stories, a mass shooting took place on November 7, 2018, in Thousand Oaks, California, at the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-western bar frequented by college students. 13 people were killed. Tyler Spady is here to share his story of survival and hope. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Wilkes Booth wasn't the only famous member of his family when he assassinated President Lincoln—his brothers were also famous in their own right. Here’s Christopher Klein with the story of how the city of Boston embraced the Booth brothers after their family name became synonymous with the events of April 20th.   Support the show...

On this episode of Our American Stories, on January 29, 1774, Benjamin Franklin was called to appear in Britain before a select group of the King's advisors—in an octagonal-shaped room in a Palace called 'the Cockpit'. Though Franklin entered the room as a dutiful servant of the British crown, he left as a budding American revolutionary. This event ultimately pitted Franklin against his son,...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mark Metcalf is best known for his role as the sadistic ROTC officer Douglas C. Neidermeyer in the 1978 comedy Animal House. He is also known for playing the role of “The Maestro” on the hit sitcom Seinfeld as well as for his recurring role as “The Master” on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mark's life story is as lar...

On this episode of Our American Stories, John Lincoln Clem was just 12 years old when he picked up a drum and marched into battle becoming the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history. Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of  John Lincoln Clem: Civil War Drummer Boy,  tells the remarkable story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the sho...

On this episode of Our American Stories, The History Guy tells the story of one of the most extraordinary David vs. Goliath tank battles of WW2, which involved a little American M8 armored car and Hitler's enormous King Tiger tank. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, our next story has been considered one of the most spectacular and best-corroborated UFO close encounters of all time. Ashley Hlebinsky is here to tell the story. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Mariam Ibrahim lives in Virginia—but her story begins far from there and under very different, and dire, circumstances. Here she is to tell her remarkable story of survival and freedom. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

On this episode of Our American Stories, the late historian Stephen Ambrose tells a short story from his terrific book  The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, the subject of FDR’s relationship with Joseph Stalin during WWII is for many observers, a puzzle. How could the leader of the free world and the face of American capitalism have had a working relationship—let alone something resembling a friendship—with a person who embodied the complete opposite? A brutal, ruthless, totalitarian dictator...

On this episode of Our American Stories, William Wrigley, Jr. was a brilliant businessman, but his ingenuity was outshined by his love for his wife. Here's the story of how he made his fortune and then spent it on the one he loved. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Pat Boone got engaged on a Saturday and married the next day (by his high school principal)—at 19! Here he is with the story of how he balanced fame and fortune with faith and family. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate ) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

On this episode of Our American Stories, despite being generally liked by the fraternity he was rushing, some boys' parents expressed their dismay at Eric Motley wanting to join the group. His would-be fraternity brothers put their enjoyment and reputations on the line to fight the unjustified hate. Here he is to tell his story.  Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate )...

On this episode of Our American Stories, Harry S. Truman was never supposed to be President—but that's exactly what happened when Franklin Roosevelt passed away following a stroke in the early days of his fourth term in office. Here's the story of how a man who grew up in rural Missouri went from the farmhouse to closing out WWII and building the world that would exist afterward.  Suppo...