Veterans Chronicles

Charles Temple Jr. was a skilled craftsman by the time he was a teenager and when he joined the U.S. Navy near the end of World War II his skills were put to immediate use. Temple served aboard a refueling ship that was deployed to the Pacific and arrived there in the spring of 1946. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Mr. Temple explains the process of refueling aircraft carriers, battleshi...

Bill Dawson joined the U.S. Navy shortly after World War II. His first choice was submarine duty but the Navy had other plans. Dawson and other sailors were chosen as part of the new Naval Combat Demolition Unit, known informally as "frogmen". Their job was to clear mines and other booby traps to allow U.S. forces to land on enemy shores - from Normandy to the island-hopping campaign in the Pacifi...

R.V. Burgin joined the U.S. Marine Corps because "it's the best that Uncle Sam had." Serving in the Pacific, Burgin saw action as a mortar man and as a leader of his unit at New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Burgin describes the fierce combat at all three battles, how he adjusted to what the Japanese were doing, and the admiration he has for the Marines h...

Whitey Johnson was a farm kid from Minnesota who had the chance to fly a crop duster when he was a teenager. The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he stood in line to join the U.S. Army Air Corps. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Johnson describes his excitement at being assigned to the Flying Tigers, serving on the Shanghai Raids and his heart-pounding drama of being shot do...

Harry Miller was so intent on joining the Army in World War II that he found a way to enlist at the age of 15. He soon found himself and his tank battalion at the Battle of the Bulge. Miller tells us about the battle, the bitter cold, and the capture of a Nazi tank that led to a lengthy effort to make sure his unit got credit for it. Miller also discusses his little known assignment following the...

Retired U.S. Army Major Jeff Struecker served our nation in two very different capacities, both as an Army Ranger and as a chaplain. In this vivid and gripping oral history, Struecker shares his experiences in Operation Just Cause in Panama and in the Persian Gulf in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. He then walks us through his moment-by-moment memories of leading his task force to rescue...

Ten years ago, on February 27, 2011, America's last World War I veteran passed away. Frank Buckles was 110 years old. Four years earlier, we visited with Mr. Buckles to learn his story. In this special edition of "Veterans Chronicles" narrated by Greg Corombos, you'll learn about the determination of Mr. Buckles to join the Army despite not being old enough, the reaction in Europe when the America...

James McEachin joined the U.S. Army before turning eighteen, fascinated with the idea of being part of answering Uncle Sam's call to join the United States military. During his years in uniform, McEachin experienced the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces and deployed to fight in Korea in 1952. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Mr. McEachin describes his first combat experience and what i...

Mae Krier grew up in North Dakota during the pain of the Great Depression. Shortly after the war, she went to visit Seattle. While there, she learned of a very good job for Boeing, working as a riveter on the wings of B-17 bombers. Later, she also worked on B-29 bombers. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Krier shares what it was like to be an original "Rosie the Riveter," how the men in th...

James Pierce joined the U.S. Army National Guard as he finished high school in the spring of 2001. Within months, America was at war and Pierce eventually served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Pierce describes his duties in both countries and details the devastating injuries he suffered when an Afghan police officer became a suicide bomber targeting America...

George Walsh learned to fly before he learned to drive. He then served as a Navy dive bomber pilot in the Pacific theater of World War II. He shares his memories of service from critical battles such as Iwo Jima and Leyte. Walsh is also a longtime historian about the dive bombers and a tireless advocate for dive bombers getting their due credit for their critical role in winning the Battle of Midw...

Bill Bonelli joined the U.S. Army Air Corps prior to Pearl Harbor, strongly suspecting that the U.S. would soon be at war against Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Before long, while stationed in Hawaii, he witnessed and survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Bonelli also describes his service as a B-17 pilot in Europe, the types of targets he was assigned, and the important change he made...

In November 1965, U.S. Army helicopter pilot Bruce Crandall defied orders and flew an unarmed chopper into enemy fire 22 times to evacuate dozens of wounded American soldiers. His actions would later lead to him being awarded the Medal of Honor. On this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Col. Crandall discusses his Army career, his mindset in repeatedly facing enemy fire to rescue his injured broth...

Over his 36 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Brigadier General George Bartlett went from enlisted man to officer, fought in three wars, and did other work vital to U.S. interests during the Cold War. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Bartlett describes serving as a bombardier, gunner, and navigator in the Pacific theater of World War II. He also tells us about his service in Korea, two tour...

Andrew Coughlan was already interested in military service. The 9/11 attacks cemented his decision even further. A member of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, Coughlan was deployed to Iraq on September 11, 2003. Less than a year later, his life would change forever. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Coughlan details the deadly challenges of serving in Iraq from one of his very first...

For our final podcast of 2020, we bring back the story of a U.S. Marine who was willing to sacrifice his own life to save his brothers. It's a story you can't miss. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kyle Carpenter deployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2010. Just before Thanksgiving, he was nearly killed after falling on a Taliban grenade to save his fellow Marines. In our conversation, Kyle describes t...

As we pause for this holiday season, we remain grateful for those who have served to protect our freedoms. And we once again bring you the story of an American servicemember who went far above and beyond the call of duty. Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Thornton shares his story of service from the Vietnam War. Thornton tells Greg Corombos about the challenge of SEAL (BUD/S) training and his actions f...

In 2007, Brian Flom nearly lost his life after being hit by shrapnel from an enemy rocket attack in Iraq. As he recovered over the next six weeks, Flom's primary goal was getting back to his unit and rejoining his brothers in arms. After returning home from Iraq, Flom's wife began to notice changes and urged him to get evaluated for post-traumatic stress. Medication only made things worse but Flom...

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Don Mates shares his vivid memories of combat on Guam and Iwo Jima. In amazing detail, Mates tells us why he really joined the Marines, what battle was really like, the close friends he made, and the vicious fighting against the Japanese at Iwo Jima. Don't miss this powerful oral history from one of the most critical battles in the Pacific during World War II.

Bernard Nolan joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II out of his deep fascination with flying. Within just a few months, Nolan was trained as a co-pilot and flying the first of his 33 bombing missions over Europe. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Nolan describes what it was like to carry out bombing missions while under heavy German anti-aircraft fire. He even tells us about on...

U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Major Scott Huesing takes us through his experience leading his Marine ground forces during the fight for Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Maj. Huesing discusses his early days in the Marines and as an enlisted man during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He then describes the process of becoming an officer and the personal and tactical skills it...

U.S. Army veteran Roger Hill graduated from West Point and earned a Bronze Star in Iraq during some of the worst fighting of that war. Later he served in Afghanistan and ended up battling the enemy and his own chain of command. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Capt. Hill takes us into the harrowing action in both theaters of war and he details the actions he took when given orders to rele...

Wisconsin Air National Guard TSgt. Sonia Buchanan first joined the Army National Guard and became an early member of a trailblazing program that helped special forces learn critical tactical information from the people of Afghanistan. Joining the Army National Guard in 2008, TSgt. Buchanan soon found herself making history as part of the first Cultural Support Teams. Buchanan explains how she trai...

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Paz Gomez shares her story of trailblazing military service in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Captain Gomez shares the story of her career, from being one of the few women in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, to her story of survival at the Pentagon on 9/11, to making history when she was named the commanding officer at Port Hue...

Retired U.S. Air Force CMSgt. Jo Keller joins us to discuss her 26 years of service. Chief Keller describes serving as an aeromedical evacuation technician in Iraq, the Balkans, and Saudi Arabia, among other assignments. Chief Keller also walks us through the horrible day in 1996, when Al Qaeda attacked the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, where she was stationed at the time. She describes her own i...