The desire to fly has been at the heart of nearly everything Rodney Franklin has done in his life, including graduating college, becoming an Air Force fighter pilot, a pilot instructor, and even air taxi operator in Hawaii.
Joseph (Joe) Inserro was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island until the age of 10. From there, his family moved to Cicero, Illinois and he settled in Elmhurst, Illinois which he considers his home town.
For some, service is a choice; for Doug Vines, it was a calling woven into the fabric of his family. Guided by an unwavering sense of duty, he followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle, trading a college campus for the jungles of Vietnam in 1969.
William A. Trader (“Bill”) was born on July 17, 1943, in Louisville, KY. He grew up in Philadelphia, attended and graduated from Philadelphia’s Central High School in 1961. Bill was a three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball, and baseball.
Tom Messenger’s story is one of service and selective adventure. From his time as a Flight Engineer in Vietnam to serving a U.S. President and becoming an author, Tom’s journey is a testament to his resilience and spirit.
Surprisingly, James Phillips didn’t get the nickname “Hop” in the service, as many do. He’s had it since childhood. Growing up on a farm in Mazon, Illinois, where they had ponies, his favorite TV show was Hopalong Cassidy.
Edward Bosic, age 8, and family had just finished Sunday dinner at home. His mother sent him to the nearby ice cream store for dessert. As soon as he entered the store its owner asked, “Did you hear what happened? We got bombed?”
The DMZ -- demilitarized zone -- on both sides of the 38th Parallel ceasefire line was created at the end of the Korean War by pulling back the respective forces 1.2 miles along each side of the line. Located within the DMZ is the “Truce Village” of Panmunjom.
Ken "Burgy" Burmeister was 19-years-old when he moved up his draft number in August 1969 to choose service in the Army, following in his father's footsteps.
If variety is the spice of life, then Bob Baron can tell you, his life has been very spicy. Bob describes himself as a “war baby”, born in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, the second of four boys.
The small black-and-white photograph has faded with time, but now it means even more to Frank Gillie Jr. He picks it up carefully and holds it reverently in his cupped hands, as he shows it to me.
A Navy veteran, Ricardo would admit that he could host tours of several European capitals based on his vast experience during “Med cruises” on the carrier USS Intrepid (CVA-11).
Mike Collins learned a few things about helping others while growing up as the eldest of nine children — lessons that helped him in the Air Force, in law enforcement, and through community service.
According to Robert Smith, no matter what job you had in the Army, you were a soldier. When they needed you to pick up a rifle, that’s what you did.
Ever wonder how someone gets interested in or decides to sign up to serve? For Jim Schlegel, he recalls hearing about Dr. Tom Dooley. Dr. Dooley was on board a ship that transported North Vietnamese Christians out of the area.
Once he realized he was being drafted, Michael followed the lead of a few friends and auditioned for the Air Force military band. They didn’t have an opening then, so he started basic training at a temporary base in Amarillo, Texas.
Imagine a family of eleven children reared on the near west side of Chicago which sent all the men, brothers and brothers-in-law alike, into service of our country. This is the Latham family legacy.
Dr. Richard Lee was sure of one thing as he shipped out for Vietnam in May of 1969. “I knew I was going to die,” he says with the calm, matter-of-fact assurance of a seasoned clinician accustomed to facing hard truths.
Colonel (Retired) Dennis Shea embodies citizenship. Dennis’s military story begins as a freshman at Depaul University. Freshmen were required to participate in ROTC.
Growing up as the youngest in his family, Donald “Don” Ramsbottom learned how to leverage speed and agility to excel. These traits proved invaluable during his service in the Vietnam War.