William ‘Bill’ Koc: Learning to Fly

2024-07-21T21:32:59-05:00

William “Bill” Koc was born in the city of Stickney, IL in October 1946. Bill was one of twelve children (being #3 himself). He remembers always being surrounded by family.

William ‘Bill’ Koc: Learning to Fly2024-07-21T21:32:59-05:00

Donald McCollough: The Art of Firefighting

2024-07-21T21:14:10-05:00

Donald W. McCollough, born near the small town of Jewett, Illinois, was the middle child of a family of eight.  His parents, Harold and Ethel, worked on a farm that grew sugar cane. 

Donald McCollough: The Art of Firefighting2024-07-21T21:14:10-05:00

Jerome and Richard Corcoran: A Band of Brothers

2024-06-25T22:26:45-05:00

The Corcoran brothers grew up on the far south side of Chicago in a family of 11 children. Jerome (Jerry) was number 9 and Richard (Rich) was number 10 of 11 children. There were seven boys and four girls in the family.

Jerome and Richard Corcoran: A Band of Brothers2024-06-25T22:26:45-05:00

Daniel ‘Sarge’ Syniar: ‘A Million-Dollar Wound’

2024-06-25T22:23:59-05:00

Sarge was on patrol in Vietnam walking point with his M-60 down a narrow trail. A tracer round whizzed, cracked, past him to his right. He immediately rotated his body to the left when a second round hit him in the chest exiting through his back just missing his lung.

Daniel ‘Sarge’ Syniar: ‘A Million-Dollar Wound’2024-06-25T22:23:59-05:00

Richard Hanson: Learning lessons in a war zone

2024-06-11T22:35:39-05:00

Lessons learned in a war zone can last you a lifetime, assuming you make it home alive.  Sergeant Dick Hanson learned quickly that taking pictures from the turret of a tank on the front lines of Korea can get you killed. 

Richard Hanson: Learning lessons in a war zone2024-06-11T22:35:39-05:00

Jerome Koutny: Heading into the tunnels

2024-06-11T22:29:35-05:00

Jerome Koutny was sent to Vietnam as an infantryman and then volunteered for one of the more dangerous jobs as a tunnel rat, looking for the enemy by going into their tunnels.

Jerome Koutny: Heading into the tunnels2024-06-11T22:29:35-05:00

Richard Shannon: ‘God was with me’

2024-05-14T20:11:30-05:00

This story begins with a young boy from the southside of Chicago. As he lies in his bed, looking at the church steeples just outside his bedroom window, he dreams of one day becoming a Catholic priest.

Richard Shannon: ‘God was with me’2024-05-14T20:11:30-05:00

James Duhig: ‘The luckiest SOB alive’

2024-05-14T09:33:47-05:00

When James stepped off the plane from Vietnam and his feet touched the ground in Hawaii, he got on his knees and kissed the ground. He remembers thinking to himself “you are the luckiest SOB alive”.

James Duhig: ‘The luckiest SOB alive’2024-05-14T09:33:47-05:00

Dennis Mitzner: Dedicating a life of service to his country

2024-05-14T09:32:22-05:00

Dennis' first deployment came in 1968, in Turkey on the Black Sea Coast. He was responsible for monitoring missiles and spacecraft.  There was only one adversary when he was first deployed; there were two at the end of his service.

Dennis Mitzner: Dedicating a life of service to his country2024-05-14T09:32:22-05:00

Bill Holic Jr.: Riding the waves

2024-05-14T09:27:41-05:00

Guantánamo Bay, Cuba/Bermuda/ Pearl Harbor/San Diego/Norfolk/ Vietnam — Fortunately, Bill Holic, Jr., liked to travel and travel he did. Thirty years in the Navy certainly gives him the title of “lifer”. 

Bill Holic Jr.: Riding the waves2024-05-14T09:27:41-05:00

Mike J. Ryan: We were always on guard

2024-05-08T08:08:55-05:00

Mike was recognized for serving as an Army Sergeant from July 1967 to July 1969, serving a year in Vietnam as part of the Combat Infantry Division. Mike received a Purple Heart for an injury he suffered during his service. 

Mike J. Ryan: We were always on guard2024-05-08T08:08:55-05:00
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