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TSgt Paul 'Bud' Haedike, B-17 Bombardier, World War II
Paul "Bud" Haedike was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. Before long, he was assigned as a bombardier on a B-17 bomber crew. From the final months of 1944 until the end of the war in Euro…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
T/5 Buck Winters, U.S. Army Engineers, WWII
Roger "Buck" Winters was a recent high school graduate working at a tool factory in Texas when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He immediately wanted to quit his job and join t…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
LCDR Lou Conter, WWII, Pearl Harbor, Last Survivor USS Arizona
On April 1, 2024, LCDR Lou Conter, U.S. Navy (Retired) died at the age of 102. He was the last living survivor of the USS Arizona, which was sunk by the Japanese during the attack on Pearl Harbor on …
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Chris Alvarez, U.S. Navy SEAL, Afghanistan
Chris Alvarez grew up knowing he wanted to serve and that he wanted to serve with the best. After being convinced to join the Marines once he was old enough, a high school teacher who had served in t…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
CPT Kelly Elminger, U.S. Army, Iraq, Afghanistan, Paralympian
Kelly Elmlinger was a three-sport athlete in high school. She excelled in cross country, basketball, and track. After considering military service, she decided to keep playing sports at the next leve…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
Thomas 'Drago' Dzieran, Political Prisoner, U.S. Navy SEAL, Iraq,
Thomas "Drago" Dzieran grew up in Communist Poland. He realized he was being fed lies and propaganda as a boy when he got in big trouble at school for asking simple questions about the government. As…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
SFC Earnie Savage, U.S. Army, Vietnam, Ia Drang
In the early 1960's, the U.S. Army developed a new way of moving troops into and out of strategic locations. It was called Air Cavalry and operated under the theory that moving forces by helicopter w…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
CMDCM Leon Walker, Jr., U.S. Navy, Attack on the USS Stark
Leon Walker, Jr. grew up in a family full of Army and Marine Corps veterans. He tried to enlist in the Marines but the recruiter didn't want to be bothered on his lunch hour. Within minutes, Walker j…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
CMSgt Melvin Jenner, USAF, WWII, Berlin Airlift
Melvin Jenner was already in the Michigan Air National Guard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After joining the U.S. Army Air Corps and undergoing training for a bomber cr…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
Cpl. Patrick Finn, USMC, Korea, Chosin Reservoir
Patrick Finn fibbed about his age in order to join the U.S. Marine Corps a bit earlier than he should have. He served honorably and was ready to end his service before the Korean War ever began. But …
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago