Serving one’s country and supporting one’s family can often go hand in hand. That was definitely the case for Joseph Riggs, who started working to provide for his family at just 15 years old after his father died. It did not take long for Joseph to turn his attention to the U.S. Marine Corps after America’s entry into World War One, and the young man was sent overseas to fight.
Read MoreDeath is an inescapable tragedy of any war. In many cases, the servicemen and women who make the ultimate sacrifice are young and would have had a full life ahead of them. David Brown Jr. was one of the thousands of young men who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War when he was killed in the Quảng Tri province in Vietnam.
Read MoreFor many veterans, their service and association with the United States military is complete when their duties in a particular conflict are finished. But this was decidedly not the case for Mel Cooper.
Read MoreHarry Charles Miller enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on December 13, 1940, from Roanoke County, Virginia. Miller started his time in service as an aircraft mechanic on B-18 and B-17 bombers in Puerto Rico, along with subsequent assignments near the Panama Canal Zone and the Galapagos Islands.
Read MoreOn November 25, 1941, Jimmie was enlisted into the Air Corps; however, he would not remain in this position for long.
Read MoreWhile twentieth-century conflicts like World War II and the Vietnam War remain embedded in the American cultural consciousness, the Korean War has often been described as “forgotten” for its relative lack of representation and acknowledgment despite costing the lives of 36,914 American servicemen and an estimated 2,661,509 Korean civilians.
Read MoreDuring World War Two, many young men found themselves going straight from high school to war. These seventeen and eighteen year olds were exposed to some of the war’s most ferocious fighting before they could even legally buy a drink back home in the States. Othel Emery was one of these young American men.
Read MoreIrvin and Zouie Little Thunder share the story of so many 20th century Native children who were subject to cultural erasure, abuse, and distance from families so key to their resilience. They share the story of entering the U.S. military while experiencing unequal freedom and citizenship, fighting for the country that so often fought their existence.
Read MoreJoseph Burns’ legacy may easily have been lost to history had it not been for his steadfast, lifelong friend.
Read MoreRobert K. Aaker served in the US Army Air Corps in World War II, stationed in England. Robert was a flight engineer and technical Sergeant with the 734th Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group, flying missions out of Old Buckenham, England.
Read MoreEntering into the Second World War provided new job opportunities, from weapons manufacturing to military service. One American who took advantage of these chances was Robert S. Bacca, who, along with taking part in New Deal projects, also served in World War II as an Air Corps pilot.
Read MoreAs Walter Arthur Beck grew into his young-adult days, he pursued what many young American men wanted to or were forced to do, which was enlisting in a desirable branch of the United States Military during the Great War. For Walter this was the Coast Guard. Walter set out for “the great adventure,” as many young men did across the globe.
Read MoreAs the Great War continued on and the United States decided to enter the conflict, many men across the country registered for the draft, including Ralph Frederick Jerome.
Read MoreBradford Bowker started his service in the Navy on October 15, 1940. In his early military life, just around the time before World War II, Bowker was a lieutenant in the Philippines helping build / rebuild airstrips in unsafe distance from enemy fire and territory. Bowker later made the rank of rear-admiral for the Seabees.
Read MoreMaster Gunner James Ralston Orris was a remarkable American. Serving his country in the Great War in the United States Army, he continued his contribution to this country by learning and educating others on the studies of Chemistry.
Read MoreWhile in the Navy, Lon Egbert took the role of a lithographer and handled all the printing needs abroad two ships during his service from 1968-1972 on the USS Mount McKinley and the USS Blue Ridge. As a lithographer, Lon was trained to use a variety of machinery from offset presses to cameras that documented the ship’s journey.
Read MoreMaster Seargent Michael Wetzel committed his entire military and private sector career towards helping others by communicating the latest information through a variety of means. First working as a legal affairs clerk, and then a broadcaster, Mike spent nearly 25 years serving his country both overseas and at home.
Read MoreThroughout his time of service, Timothy Klibbe was awarded the Airborne Wings, Army Commendation Medal, and the Iraq Expert Infantry Badge, among other accolades.
Read MoreIn Section T2 at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Rolf Wagschal lays beneath a headstone adorned with the Star of David, an indication of his Jewish faith that may have encouraged him to fight during World War II.
Read MoreIn 1942, Dorothy L. Starbuck joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) and was stationed at Lowry Army Airfield in Colorado. There she acted as a commanding officer to a company of photo analysts. The creation of WAAC was a defining moment in gender roles in the United States. Women worked in hundreds of fields, like military intelligence and cryptography.
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