Veterans Archives: Preserving the Stories of our Nations Heroes
In a world where storytelling has been our link to the past since the days of cave drawings, there exists a timeless tradition. It's the art of passing down knowledge, and for Military Veterans, it's a crucial piece of their legacy. Join us on the Veterans Archives Podcast, where we dive deep into the heartwarming and awe-inspiring stories of those who served, no matter when or where.
Here, Veterans get the chance to be the authors of their own narratives. Through guided interviews in a relaxed and safe environment, they paint their experiences with their own words and unique voices. The result? A memory card in a presentation box, a precious gift they can share however they please.
But that's not all. These stories find a secure home in our archive, a treasure chest of experiences for future generations to explore. The best part? It's all a gift to the Veteran – our way of saying thank you for their service.
Tune in to the Veterans Archives Podcast, where history, heroism, and heartwarming tales come to life.
Veterans Archives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please visit our website for more information. www.veteransarchives.org
Episodes
136 episodes
Running Toward Service: Michelle Boulter’s Path
What if the structure you craved as a kid became the engine of your entire life? Michelle Boulter takes us from dirt roads in Otsego, Michigan to ROTC drills, blistering Louisville barracks, and the jolt of basic training that taught her to lov...
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46:46
From Navy Decks To School Fields (Bill Taft)
A quiet act of bravery can change the course of a life. For Bill Taft, it started with a decision to enlist rather than be drafted, a choice that led from Navy hangars and base gyms to school hallways, football sidelines, and a wrestling room h...
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49:10
He Didn’t Want To Go To War, But He Went And Led Men (David Dargo)
A seven-acre childhood with backyard goalposts, glass oil jars at a full-service station, and pickup baseball games—Dave’s life started in motion and never really stopped. That momentum carried him from Delta Airlines to a draft notice, from Fo...
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2:08:35
Growing Up Midwest, Leading America’s Soldiers (Jim Vetter)
A snowy drive, a borrowed Camaro, and a Christmas party recruiter set everything in motion. From a one-stoplight town in Wisconsin to Fort Knox, Jim Vetter charted an unlikely path: split-option enlistment, tank crew at 18, and a meteoric rise ...
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1:06:18
A Soldier’s Road: From Istanbul To Afghanistan (Louis Goldstein)
A quarter-mile high school hallway, a foreign exchange year in Istanbul during 9/11, and a “beer man’s kid” from Minnesota don’t usually add up to route clearance in Helmand—yet that’s exactly where Lewis Goldstein’s path led. We sit down with ...
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1:35:26
From Lawn Darts To Hellfires: Childhood Chaos Meets Army Aviation (Jerry Binning)
A quiet Midwestern start. A detour through tank trails. And a cockpit view of the night the Gulf War truly began. We sit down with Jerry Binning to chart the improbable arc from Charlotte, Michigan to Fort Hood’s heat, Fort Rucker’s flight line...
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1:38:51
Sea Stories, Second Chances
A Detroit-area rebel who ran to Florida at fifteen didn’t just find his way—he found the ocean. We sit down with Tim Kirn to trace a life that arcs from a crowded Michigan home to the steel decks of the USS Nimitz, where a Hollywood film crew r...
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35:03
From orphanage to paratrooper to POW: Gino D’Ambrosio’s century of grit and grace
A century of memory folds into a single living room as we sit with Gino D’Ambrosio—paratrooper, POW, Detroiter—to hear how a glider drop before dawn and a quiet morning in Berlin shaped everything that came after. He takes us from St. Vincent’s...
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42:37
From Detroit to the Army: Ray Brennan's Journey
Ray Brennan's journey through mid-century America captures an era when neighborhood connections formed the bedrock of community life. Growing up in Detroit during the 1940s and 50s, Ray paints a vivid picture of Catholic parish life, neighborho...
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1:26:38
The Extraordinary Life of Jim Lynch
Jim Lynch's life journey unfolds like a living history book of post-WWII America. From his childhood in Brooklyn during wartime blackouts to his enlistment in the newly-formed Air Force at just 17, Lynch's story captures the spirit of a generat...
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1:03:44
Navy Corpsman: From Combat Medic to Civilian Life (Kevin Martin)
Kevin Martin's story is one of transformation, resilience, and the enduring search for purpose that defines the veteran experience. As a Navy Corpsman who served in Afghanistan's dangerous Helmand Province, Kevin offers listeners a candid glimp...
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1:05:41
Ranger Rick's Wild Ride (Rick Burroughs)
From the opening moments when Charles "Ranger Rick" Burroughs reveals his childhood abuse at the hands of his stepfather, to the triumphant reunion with his son after a 45-year separation, this conversation captures the extraordinary resilience...
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1:43:31
Sailing Through Time: A Navy Veteran's Journey (Gary Scott)
From the biting winter cold of Great Lakes Naval Training Station to the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean, Gary Scott's naval journey shaped not just his military experience but the foundation of his civilian career. When faced with Vie...
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34:55
From Naval Service to Veteran Advocacy: Carmencita Pinckney's Journey
A powerful conversation with Carmencita Pinckney reveals the journey of a remarkable woman whose life has been defined by service—first in uniform, and now as a tireless advocate for fellow veterans.Born on a Navy base to a Vietnam vete...
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47:11
The Electronics Technician Who Became an Electrician (Bobby Rindom)
What does it mean to shoulder adult responsibilities before you've even finished high school? Bobby Rindom takes us through his remarkable journey from a childhood marked by instability to finding purpose and stability through military service ...
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1:28:40
From Desert Storm to African Shores: A Michael Scott's Journey Through Combat and Chaos
Michael Scott's military journey spans decades and continents, weaving through pivotal moments in world history. From witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall to clearing minefields in Desert Storm, his story captures both the extraordinary exper...
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2:14:18
Breaking Barriers: From Nuclear Reactors to Corporate Leadership (John Broschak)
"Leadership is born of respect, competence, and how you treat other people," reflects John Broschak as he traces his remarkable path from nuclear submarine officer to energy executive. His story begins in a blue-collar Pennsylvania town where a...
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1:43:21
Tactical Wisdom: David Dorrier's Journey from Air Force to Entrepreneur
What happens when a military veteran who's spent decades teaching others to communicate finally learns to truly communicate himself? David Dorrier's journey from the shores of Long Island to Air Force logistics specialist, radio broadcaster, an...
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1:47:43
From Vietnam to Veterans: A Marine's Journey Through War and Healing (Mike Omstead)
The weight of war doesn't end when the boots leave foreign soil. In this deeply moving conversation, Marine Corps veteran Mike Omstead takes us through his remarkable journey from the streets of Detroit to the jungles of Vietnam and back again....
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53:39
Family, Food, and Freedom: A Greek Immigrant's Journey (Art Arvanites)
Art Arvanites's story begins in the shadow of World War II, where as a young boy in a small Greek village, he witnessed German occupation forces take his father, leaving his mother to raise five children alone. Barefoot and without basic school...
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2:00:25
From Ecuador to Michigan: Jose Alvarado's Journey
Jose Alvarado's remarkable life journey spans continents, cultures, and challenges that have forged him into a man with powerful wisdom to share. Born in Ecuador in 1957, Jose's childhood transformed when his mother moved the family to New York...
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1:12:28
Finding Purpose After Service: Steve Conaway's Journey
Some of life's most significant opportunities emerge from our greatest setbacks. Steve Conaway's journey from Air Force service to successful entrepreneurship proves this in remarkable fashion.When Steve enlisted in 1968, he sought educ...
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1:09:52
From College to Navy: Michael Spayde's Journey
In this candid and insightful conversation, Michael Spayde takes us through his remarkable journey from 1970s "country kid" to accomplished Navy veteran. Unlike many who enlist straight out of high school, Michael's path was anything but tradit...
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1:28:11
From Drill Weekends to Disability: Susan McCain's Path Through Military and Civilian Life
In this deeply personal conversation, Susan McCain takes us on a journey through her life as a Michigan Army National Guard combat medic, special education teacher, and eventually, a proud advocate for women veterans. Born in Mount Clemens in 1...
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1:34:16
100 Years of Hard Work, Service, and Love: the Story of Louis Tippit, Jr.
The remarkable century-long journey of Louis Tippit Jr. unfolds through vivid storytelling that transports listeners from the hardscrabble poverty of Depression-era Missouri to the Pacific battlefronts of World War II and beyond. Born in a cypr...
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44:42