Richard Camp, retired Marine Corps Colonel, veteran of Vietnam, and esteemed military author and historian discusses his experiences in Vietnam which heavily influenced his life. A recipient of the Purple Heart, Colonel Camp was a Marine Corps officer for 26 years and served as a company commander in Vietnam. He has done much work in historical preservation through several positions such as the Deputy Director for the U.S. Marine Corps History Division. He is the author of ten books, including h...
Nov 13, 2014•37 min
Former Army ranger Steve Maguire was a decorated and successful infantry officer, commanding a 9th Infantry Division battalion reconnaissance platoon in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. Maguire's life would change forever in November 1969, when an exploding Viet Cong mine severely wounded him, leaving him blinded for life.
Oct 23, 2014•37 min
After graduating from high school in 1946, Lieutenant General Bernard Trainor enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, and then was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant after his graduation in 1951. In December of that year, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Division, 1st Marines in Korea as infantry platoon commander. Following his time in Korea, General Trainor served as executive and commanding officer aboard the USS Col...
Apr 23, 2014•30 min
Colonel Glenn Frazier ran away to join the U.S. Army at age 16 and was stationed in the Philippines during the Second World War. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the war came to him. In April 1942, Colonel Frazier and the Philippine and American troops were forced to surrender to the Japanese, beginning Frazier's experience as Prisoner of War in several Japanese POW camps. Frazier marched north in the Bataan death march and spent three years of his life as a prisoner of war. His story is on...
Mar 26, 2014•37 min
Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha grew up in a family strongly committed to military service, which would inspire him to follow his family's legacy and leading him to become one of his generation's great heroes. In September 1999 Romesha enlisted in the U.S. Army, and after being deployed to Germany, Kosovo, and South Korea, he volunteered to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Here he served as section leader of Bravo troop until his unit was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. R...
Mar 05, 2014•42 min
As a decorated veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, General Ed Rowney's military career continued to flourish following his time on the field. Rowney commanded troops in all three wars, and was appointed the US Representative to Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and maintained this position under the presidencies of Nixon, Ford, and Carter. While studying in Poland he had the opportunity to attend the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which inspired him to enter the military -- he sensed that g...
Feb 05, 2014•43 min
U.S. Army veteran John Marr was a paratrooper of the 507 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. Colonel Marr parachuted into lower Normandy the morning of D-Day, and upon landing he saw action almost immediately. He took part in the Battle of the La Fiere Causeway, and would eventually lead Company B of the 507 during the Battle of the Bulge as part of Operation Varsity.
Dec 16, 2013•37 min
Colonel Ed Shames continues his story as one of the first Paratroopers in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Part 2 of the episode follows the Allied invasion of France on the night of D-Day, beginning with Shames' landing in the town of Carantan, a German command center.
Nov 20, 2013•43 min
Veteran of the famed 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne division, Colonel Ed Shames saw some of the greatest action in the European theater of World War II. In this two-part episode he recounts his experiences training and fighting as a Paratrooper in the US army, including his role in the historic Allied invasion of France on the night of D-Day.
Nov 20, 2013•43 min
Decorated Ace Fighter Pilot James B. Morehead saw action in both the Atlantic and Pacific regions of World War II. Nicknamed Wildman for his daring attacks, he downed eight enemy planes, earning two Distinguished Service Crosses - second only to the Medal of Honor. He attributes much of his aerial success to his passion for hunting, which gave him the knowledge and skills to complete his missions.
Oct 28, 2013•37 min
Army veteran of the 85th Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Newcomb "Newc" Eldrege saw action as a ski trooper during World War II. His role in the Battle for Mount Belvedere would earn him the Purple Heart Award, in addition to two Bronze Stars. His experience as a skier as well as his training at Camp Hale in Colorado helped prepare him for contact with the enemy during the final assault of Italy.
Oct 16, 2013•37 min
Shelby Westbrook, veteran of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, flew 60 missions over 12 countries in Europe during World War II. He was stationed in Italy to fly with the 99th Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. His service as a combat pilot eventually earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross along with several other awards, as well as his promotion to First Lieutenant. He spent a total of four years active in the Army Air Corps and six years on reserve.
Sep 30, 2013•36 min
This episode of Veterans Chronicles profiles two of the U.S. military's most distinguished veterans. Major General John K. Singlaub was a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Singlaub joined the OSS and worked with French resistance fighters as a parachutist behind German lines during World War II, which was influential in his role as a founding member of the CIA. Colonel Harvey "Barney" Barnum, U.S. Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam was the 4th Marine to receive...
Sep 18, 2013•46 min
Army Veteran Richard Falvey was a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment during the Second World War. As part of the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, he received his wings after rigorous training in 1942. He saw some of the greatest action of the war, taking part in the airborne assault the night before the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day. After suffering a minor injury in Bastogne, he returned home after the war ended in Europe in 1945.
Sep 04, 2013•37 min
Francis Sanza, better known as "Jeep", had a first-row seat for many of the momentous moments of American military history as General George S. Patton's personal jeep driver during his campaign across Europe during World War II. His connection to General Patton was so lasting that, to this day, he still signs his checks "Jeep."
Jul 23, 2013•29 min
Jerry Coleman is best known as the All-Star second baseman for, possibly, the best teams in baseball history - the New York Yankees of the 1940s and 50s - where he played alongside Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and other baseball legends.Yet, the achievement he is most proud of is as a Marine Corps aviator, and as the only Major League Baseball player to see combat in both World War II and the Korean War.
Jun 05, 2013•36 min
Jack Jacobs is among the most highly decorated veterans of the Vietnam War, being awarded two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and our nation's highest military award - the Medal of Honor. He is currently a military analyst for NBC/MSNBC.
Apr 16, 2013•37 min
In this episode, host Gene Pell speaks to Elaine Danforth Harmon, one of the original WASP pilots of World War II. This groundbreaking group of women are considered the first female pilots in U.S. military history, and were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service during the Second World War.
Apr 02, 2013•37 min
In this two-part show, Veterans Chronicles profiles two veterans of our Greatest Generation who served during World War II.Ralph Griffiths joined the Marine Corps in 1944 at the age of 17, participating in the epic Battle of Iwo Jima. He served with each of the men made famous in the legendary two flag-raisings atop Mt. Suribachi - the second of which was immortalized in Joe Rosenthal's photo, the most famous photo of the war. He was wounded by the same shell that killed flag-raisers Michael Str...
Mar 19, 2013•52 min
James Hafer is one of the few men to have participated in the entire eight-days of battle in the defense of Outpost Harry, one of the toughest fights of the Korean War, taking place just before the cease fire. There, he and his comrades withstood constant enemy attacks, with more than 120,000 artillery shells landing on their area throughout the battle.
Mar 05, 2013•52 min
Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. was squadron commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group in World War II - best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. During combat, he would shoot down an advanced German Me-262 jet and a FW-190 fighter. He would go on to become a professor at New York University and President of Bronx Community College.
Feb 14, 2013•34 min
A two-tour veteran of Vietnam, "Doc" Bahnsen earned a reputation as one of the hardest-fighting and bravest officers of the war, commanding soldiers on the ground and in the air. Among his many decorations were the Distinguished Service Cross, five Silver Stars, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and two Purple Hearts. He would serve in the Army for 30 years, where he would become celebrated for the development of gunship techniques and tactics. He is the author of "American Warrior: A Combat M...
Jan 30, 2013•43 min
Joseph Vaghi served as Beachmaster on the Easy Red Sector of Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. As Beachmaster, he was a "traffic cop" of sorts, directing men and materiel from their landing crafts onto the beach then inland. His fascinating account is straight out of "Saving Private Ryan," and LCDR Vaghi would later be featured in Ken Burns' documentary "The War."
Jan 11, 2013•41 min
In this episode of Veterans Chronicles, host Gene Pell speaks with Sgt. 1st Class Ronald E. Rosser, Medal of Honor recipient of the Korean War. Joining the Army in 1946 for a three-year enlistment at the age of 17, Rosser re-entered the service after his brother was killed in Korea, requesting to be sent to the front lines. He received the Medal of Honor for actions taken in an assault on an enemy fortified position as a forward observer with his company's lead platoon on January 12, 1952.
Aug 23, 2012•37 min
This special edition of Veterans Chronicles features two veterans whose military service helped to launch them into careers in entertainment. Pat Sajak has become a household name as host of "Wheel of Fortune," though he earlier served in the Army in Vietnam as a DJ with AFRN. Keni Thomas was an Army Ranger in the Battle of Mogadishu, and has since gone one to a successful career as a country music recording artist.
Jul 28, 2011•37 min
Sgt. Fernando Franco was one of 60 "warrior citizens" of the Army Reserve to take his re-enlistment oath at a special ceremony at the National Archives as part of the Reserve's 103rd anniversary. Franco had earlier served in Iraq, and was in charge of detainee operations at Camp Bucca.
Jul 18, 2011•6 min
This special episode features four veterans of the elite, but forgotten, 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) - the only all-black Ranger unit in U.S. Army history - which saw action in the Korean War. Guest hosted by Paul Berry, the men speak of training, deployment, and combat, as well as the bonds of brotherhood built among elite soldiers whose story has never been fully told.
Jul 13, 2011•37 min
Maj. Barry Periatt, an Army Reserve Soldier and a Purple Heart recipient, was one of the Soldier Heroes who was honored at the 2011 Army All-American Bowl Game in San Antonio, Texas. The annual event brings together the nation's top-ranked high school football athletes as well as decorated Soldiers who have served in support of Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Jul 13, 2011•6 min
This week's guest is retired U.S. Army Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, a recipient of the Silver Star for actions while serving with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. A combat medic during the war, Kanaya's story was featured in the acclaimed HISTORY documentary, "WWII in HD."
May 18, 2011•58 min
James Warner was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and awarded his Naval Flight Officer wings in January, 1966. A year later, the young officer was ordered to Vietnam, where he flew more than 100 missions in his F-4 Phantom.On October 13th, 1967, Lt. Warner??s plane was shot down over enemy territory, beginning nearly six years of imprisonment at the hands of the North Vietnamese, spending much of his time in the notorious Hanoi Hilton complex. In this episode, Capt...
Mar 22, 2011•46 min
