Gloria Harnett Kerzner was just weeks shy of her 18th birthday when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Like most other Americans, she wanted to help the war effort. The U.S. Navy created the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES, in 1942 replace the tens of thousands of Navy personnel who were deployed to Europe and the Pacific. Gloria was eager to enlist. But she had to wait until she was 20 years old to join. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Kerzner shares memories...
Oct 12, 2022•34 min
Japanese-Americans were largely forbidden from serving in the Pacific theater in World War II over concerns about their loyalty in a war against their ancestral homeland. But a small number of soldiers did serve there as interrogators and translators and played a pivotal role in thwarting Japanese plans and saving American lives in several critical locations. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," author and historian Bruce Henderson discusses his new book "Bridge to the Sun: The Secret Role ...
Oct 05, 2022•53 min
Elliot Ackerman knew at a young age that he wanted to be in the military. He wanted to serve his country and he wanted a job where it was imperative to succeed. After completing the ROTC program at college, Ackerman was commissioned as a a Marine Corps officer in 2003. The next six years would bring five tours of duty between Iraq and Afghanistan. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Ackerman takes us inside the Second Battle of Fallujah in 2004 and what it was like to be the tip of the spe...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr
When Cecil Phipps joined the U.S. Army, he signed up for overseas deployments so he could see the world. Before long, the U.S. would be at war in Korea and Phipps would be among the first troops there. He arrived in August 1950 and would stay there for more than three years - most of that time as a prisoner of war. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Phipps describes the rapid U.S. advance into North Korea, the shocking arrival of Chinese forces into the war, and his capture by Chinese for...
Sep 21, 2022•48 min
Ralph Gastelum grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and never experienced much of a winter before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. His first real winter would be spent in Korea in some of the most bitterly cold temperatures that American forces have ever experienced - at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Sgt. Gastelum, takes us along as he recalls the Inchon Landing. He also explains what urban combat was like in those early days and along the front lines in more rura...
Sep 14, 2022•39 min
Darrell Utt joined the U.S. Army just days before Iraq invaded Kuwait in the summer of 1990. Over the next decade, he would become a Green Beret, an Army Ranger, and a sniper. He also served in the Balkans during the late 1990s. After 9/11, Utt was deeply disappointed that his unit was not sent to Afghanistan. Instead, it become one of the most highly-regarded detachments of special forces in the Iraq War. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Utt describes flying into northern Iraq under he...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr
Reef Kelly was in the mountains of Arizona getting a Christmas tree when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Before he finished high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He wanted to be a Naval aviator, but that dream was denied during training. Instead he became a tailgunner on a bomber crew. But Reef Kelly would be part of one of the most unique and unknown missions of World War II in the Pacific. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Kelly explains how after the two atomic b...
Aug 31, 2022•25 min
Jim Sharp grew up in Kansas and joined the Army in the spring of 1950. Just a few months later the United States would be at war in Korea and so would Mr. Sharp. As a member of the 1st Cavalry Division, Sharp was quickly sent to the front and saw a great deal of intense action over the coming months. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Sgt. Sharp describes what combat was like in the Korean War, both while shooting and in brutal hand-to-hand combat. He also explains how he escaped capture ...
Aug 24, 2022•43 min
Jeremy Stalnecker joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996 and received his commission three years later. Soon the U.S. would be at war and Stalnecker not only found himself in the midst of it but among the very first forces entering Iraq during the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Capt. Stalnecker describes the beginning of the invasion, from taking the berm separating Kuwait from Iraq to weathering a brutal sandstorm to fighting determined ...
Aug 17, 2022•51 min
Nigal Miller grew up on the West Virginia side of the Ohio River and chose to serve his nation as a U.S. Naval aviator. He received his wings in 1961 and subsequently served three tours of duty in the Vietnam War aboard three different aircraft carriers. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," CDR Miller explains the exhilaration of landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier and why why he thinks the F-8 Crusader was the finest fighter plane of its generation, superior even to the Soviet MiG. ...
Aug 10, 2022•36 min
John Wuethrich became fascinated by flying at a young age by listening to his father's stories of flying B-24's in the European theater of World War II. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps, Wuethrich went through Navy flight training but was eventually assigned to helicopters. He flew UH-1's at first but would pilot the CH-46 during his tour in Vietnam in 1969. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Captain Wuethrich explains the missions he flew to deliver troops and supplies and to evacuate t...
Aug 03, 2022•36 min
Matthew Shillingburg's family has been serving the U.S. in uniform since the War of 1812. His grandfather was at Pearl Harbor during the attack, and his father trained Navy SEALs. So service runs deep in the family. But while he also served, Shillingburg charted his own course, choosing the Army over the Navy and spending time in military intelligence among other duties. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Shillingburg explains why he picked the Army over the Navy and his fascinating servi...
Jul 27, 2022•36 min
Robert "Doc" Werner joined the U.S. Navy at age 16 when his friend's mother forged his own mother's signature. His goal was to see the world by sailing around on a ship. Instead, he served as a Navy corpsman attached to U.S. Marines In Vietnam and received three Purple Hearts due to injuries received in devotion to serving with those men. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Werner vividly describes the job of a a Navy corpsman, walks us through each of his injuries - including the time he ...
Jul 20, 2022•37 min
Louis Schott was in Washington, D.C., to play in a college hockey game when he learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He instantly knew his life was about to change. In less than two years, he was an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and headed to fight in the Pacific Theater. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Col. Scott takes through the horrific amphibious landing of Marines on Peleliu, the vicious fighting that took pace there, and the injury that took him out...
Jul 13, 2022•24 min
Last week, America lost the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II when Hershel "Woody" Williams died at the age of 98. A few years ago, we had the honor of speaking with Woody and hearing the story of his courageous service. When he first tried to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, Williams was rejected for being too short. By the end of the war, Williams was honored for playing a critical role in helping U.S. forces win the costly battle on Iwo Jima in February 1945. In this e...
Jul 06, 2022•44 min
After discovering that college was not a good fit, Travis Mills joined the Army and became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He then went on three tours of duty to Afghanistan. On his third deployment, in April 2012, Mills was severely injured by an improvised explosive device and required the amputation of all four limbs. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Mills walks us through the intense combat he saw in Afghanistan, his vivid memories of his injuries and recovery, the ment...
Jun 29, 2022•45 min
Vincent Speranza was born to immigrant Italian parents in New York City. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Speranza's father stressed to his boys that they were Americans and that America must not lose the war. He was quite a bit more conflicted over the prospects of his sons fighting against Italy. Once old enough to serve, Speranza was assigned to the U.S. Army infantry but eventually moved to the airborne. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Speranza details how he joined the 101...
Jun 22, 2022•36 min
Victor Vizcarra was enthralled by military aviation from a very young age, as he and his father tracked his older brother's service as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Years later, it was Victor's turn as a pilot in the F-100, F-105, and F-4. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Vizcarra takes into his service in Vietnam, including the first-ever attack on enemy SAM (surface-to-air missile) sites in 1965. He also shares the story of having to bail out of his ...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 11 min
Tom Rice grew up in the military community of Coronado, California, and joined the U.S. Army in November 1942. He then went through the rigorous training for airborne troops at Camp Toccoa and Ft. Benning. He was assigned to the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division and would see action in three major campaigns in the European theater of World War II. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Rice takes along on his jump into Normandy on D-Day and his first combat against the Germans. ...
Jun 08, 2022•38 min
As we prepare to mark 78 years since the D-Day invasion, we are blessed to have veterans who can share their stories of that fateful day. Iowa native Henry Langrehr joined the U.S. Army as s senior in high school and volunteered for the 82nd airborne because it paid better. In the early hours of June 6, 1944, Langrehr joined thousands of other paratroopers jumping into the pitch black skies over Normandy in to secure bridges in advance of the amphibious landings on the beaches that morning. In t...
Jun 01, 2022•40 min
As the nation prepares to pause for Memorial Day, we honor all who have given their lives in defense of the United States. And we remain committed to remembering their stories of service and those of all who have served. This week on "Veterans Chronicles," we take a very rare break from our conversations with our veterans to discuss why it is important for all veterans to consider writing or telling their story of service to our nation. Our guest is Monica Mohindra, director of the Veterans Hist...
May 25, 2022•36 min
Terry Bucklew was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Initially trained in communications, Bucklew accepted many different assignments on his lengthy deployment to Vietnam - from field wireman to door gunner to running night ambushes. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles", Bucklew offers his raw history of service in Vietnam, including how he woke up inside a body bag and his frustrations with the rules of engagement, which Bucklew says prevented a decisive U.S. victory....
May 18, 2022•43 min
Paul Austin never really thought about being an aviator as a kid, but one day he saw a Fly Navy recruiting sign and the rest is history. Austin would spend nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy and find himself on the brink of nuclear war in Cuba and serving two tours in Vietnam. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Capt. Austin explains how he instantly loved flying and quickly became very good at it. He also takes us into the heart-pounding moments of being in his plane and just moments away fro...
May 11, 2022•38 min
Jack Ensch served three years in the U.S. Army but would spend decades as an aviator and officer in the U.S. Navy. As a "backseater" in an F-4, Ensch served four tours in Vietnam but he will forever be linked to two major events in 1972. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Ensch walks us through the dramatic May 1972 mission in which he and his pilot successfully shot down two Soviet MiGs. He also details being shot down three months later, being taken prisoner, and suffering unimaginable ...
May 04, 2022•50 min
Harry Isabel, Jr. was 16 years old when when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, By mid-1944, he was trained and on a ship to fight in the Pacific theater of World War II. He did not know it at the time, but Isabel and his unit, the "Fighting 69th," were on their way to the Battle of Saipan. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Isabel walks us through the many challenges of the amphibious landing on Saipan and what he saw when he finally got to the beach. He also describes an early close en...
Apr 27, 2022•36 min
David Yorck was born in Germany during World War II and came to the United States in 1950. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps, he was immediately sent to Vietnam for the first of multiple tours. He would serve there as a platoon commander, company commander, and in an intelligence role. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Col. Yorck walks us through the horrors of combat, his frustrations with the system, and how his role changed with greater responsibility. He also tells us about the Mar...
Apr 20, 2022•37 min
Edward Byers became fascinated with the military - and Navy SEALs in particular - through books and movies in his younger years. He joined the U.S. Navy and, just a few months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, began SEAL training. His service would then bring him face to face with our enemies on multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Byers takes us through the mentally and physically grueling experience of BUD/S training to become a SEAL and his d...
Apr 13, 2022•35 min
P.J. Dahl was enthralled by flying from a young age, devouring any book he could find on the Red Baron and other early legends of the air. So when he had the opportunity to become a pilot in World War II, Dahl jumped at the chance. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Dahl takes us into his P-38 cockpit in the Pacific Theater, walks us through his multiple kills of Japanese planes, and the harrowing mission that very nearly cost him his life near the Philippines.
Apr 06, 2022•31 min
Ralph Goldsticker, Jr. was 20 years old when he joined the U.S. Army following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. After trying to become a pilot, Goldsticker became a bombardier aboard a B-17 bomber and deployed to to the European theater. In this edition, Goldsticker takes us from training to his first mission and from his assignments on D-Day to the end of the war. He also shares a remarkable story that took him to Russia and even the Middle East in the midst of the war....
Mar 30, 2022•27 min
Frank Pomroy and many other U.S. Marines suffered greatly at the battle of Guadalcanal - both from the conditions and from the difficult fighting against the Japanese. But more intense fighting awaited Pomroy on the island of Peleliu in 1944. In this second part of our feature on Mr. Pomroy, he explains why he could have avoided the battle, the harrowing efforts to take Bloody Nose Ridge, staring down Japanese tanks, and more.
Mar 23, 2022•37 min
