Veterans Chronicles

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Veterans Chronicles brings America’s military heroes to life through raw, first-person stories. Veterans recount the battles and moments that shaped their lives, from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan. Powerful, personal, and deeply human, Veterans Chronicles preserves history one voice at a time. Learn more about Veterans Chronicles https://heliosmedia.us/veterans-chronicles/

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Lt. Jason Redman, U.S. Navy SEAL, Afghanistan, Iraq

Jason Redman learned love of country and the importance of service at a young age. His grandfather was a decorated World War II veteran and his father served during the Vietnam War. Before finishing high school, Redman enlisted in the U.S. Navy with one goal in mind: becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Redman tells us about the unexpected health challenge he faced in boot camp before he could pursue his dream of becoming a SEAL. He then walks us through Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, why so many give up during Hell Week, and another very difficult part of training where many candidates wash out. Redman then takes us on his 2005 deployment to Afghanistan and explains how it got off to such a devastating start. He also explains how his mounting frustrations led to some poor decisions that could have proven very costly. Then, Redman details his 2007 deployment to Iraq and describes the enemy ambush that badly wounded him. And he reflects upon the important life lessons he learned from his service and recovering from devastating wounds.

35 min
25 MAR

Richard 'Dick' Ramsey, U.S. Navy, D-Day, Iwo Jima, Okinawa

Dick Ramsey's family had it tough lduring the Great Depression. He quit school when he was 15 years old and started working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a pipefitter. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he started helping to build battleships. In 1943, Ramsey joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned as coxswain on the USS Nevada. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Ramsey takes us through training to the Nevada's involvement in the D-Day landings in Normandy, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He also reveals several very close calls while in the Pacific and reveals the immense honor given to the USS Nevada and then quickly taken away. Ramsey also shares how the Nevada survived the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor long before he came aboard and how he and his shipmates stayed close for decades after the war.

31 min
18 MAR

Maj. Geoffrey Ball, USMC, Afghanistan, Abbey Gate Terrorist Attack

On August 26, 2021, an ISIS-K terrorist attack killed 13 American service members and wounded many others at Abbey Gate outside Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. Scores of Afghan civilians were also killed and wounded. Nine of the American service members killed that day were U.S. Marines from G Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. Their company commander was then-Captain Geoffrey Ball. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Major Ball takes us through the chaos the company found when it arrived in Afghanistan on August 19. He tells about the heroic efforts of his unit and many others to establish as much order as possible among the many thousands of people desperate to reach the airport and leave Afghanistan before U.S. forces withdrew. Major Ball then walks us through the terrorist attack and the horrific toll it inflicted upon his company. He also shares what impact the explosion had on him and the details the amazing work of his company's Navy corpsman and other medics to save and stabilize those who were badly hurt. Finally, Ball tells us, in detail, about the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice at Abbey Gate, who they were, and what he appreciated about each one of them.

36 min
11 MAR

SGM Mike Elmore, U.S. Army Special Forces, Afghanistan Horse Soldiers

Mike Elmore was born in Illinois into a family with a legacy of military service. He joined the U.S. Army in 1987 with no immediate intention of pursuing special forces. But he loved the idea of a new challenge, passed selection and qualifying, and earned his Green Beret. By the time of the 9/11 Al Qaeda terrorist attacks, Elmore was part of Operational Detachment (ODA) 595, a group that would later become known as the Horse Soldiers. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Elmore walks us through qualifying and explains why being mentally tough is just as important as physical toughness in Special Forces. He also explains how his ODA's training in the months leading up to 9/11 turned out to be perfect prepartion for the fight against the Taliban. Elmore takes us up into the Afghan mountains, explains how he and others in his detachment worked alongside Afghan General Abdul Dostum and elements of the Northern Alliance, how he adjusted to the small horses needed to navigate the mountains, and what combat was like approaching Mazar-i-Sharif. He also explains the huge advantages of U.S. air power in their mission and some of the challenges involved in coordinating those air strikes.

35 min
4 MAR

Bob Boeke, U.S. Army, World War II

Bob Boeke was 16 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Nearly two years later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as part of a program to help get a college education and become an officer. But the program soon closed down. After basic training, Boeke was assigned to an intelligence and reconnaissance unit within the 86th Infantry Division. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Boeke tells us about intelligence and reconnaissance training, finding and removing German mines on the Normandy beaches, dealing with German mortar fire on the way to the front, and what he experienced after getting to the front lines. Boeke also shares how he and other recon soldiers scouted out whether the Germans had evacuated the villages they came to or whether they had retreated, how he got across the Rhine, and horrors he witnessed at Dachau. You'll also find out how Boeke ended up in the Pacific at the end of the war. Finally, we'll learn how the 75th anniversary of D-Day helped to reunite Boeke with the girlfriend he had to leave in the 1940's and how they tied the knot all these years later.

35 min
25 FEB

SFC Michael 'Rod' Rodriguez, U.S. Army Special Forces, Afghanistan

Michael "Rod" Rodriguez was born into a family with a rich legacy of military service. His father and grandfather both served during wartime. Rod decided he wanted to serve after watching what the U.S. military accomplished in Operation Desert Storm. Within months of enlisting in 1992, he was off to Somalia. A couple of years later, Rodriguez decided to pursue Army Special Forces and then became a sniper and a medic. All of that prepared him well for three deployments in Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Rodriguez tells us about his early deployments to Somalia and Haiti, what qualifying was like for Special Forces, and how he heard the news of 9/11. Rodriguez also takes us to Afghanistan, as he shares the story of how he treated a young Afghan girl who was clearly being abused. He also shares what it was like treating the wounds of his fellow soldiers and how he was seriously injured by a series of explosions on his final deployment. Finally, Rodriguez details how he finally decided to get treatment for his injuries and the important work he is doing today to honor those who served in the Global War on Terrorism.

36 min
18 FEB

MSG Steve Bleigh, U.S. Army Special Forces, Afghanistan, Iraq, Gulf War, Somalia

Steve Bleigh is the son and grandson of Army veterans. He joined the U.S. Army in 1986, fully expecting to be an infantryman throughout his service. When he returned to civilian life eighteen years later, Bleigh had spent 14 years in Army Special Forces and was a veteran of Afghanistan, Iraq, the Gulf War, and the conflict in Somalia. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, MSG Bleigh tells us about his service in the Gulf War with the 82nd Airborne Division and the lessons he learned there that helped the rest of his years in uniform. Then he talks about selection and qualifying for Special Forces, being deployed as a weapons sergeant in Somalia, how he responded when the mission in Somalia turned deadly, and training to be a medic after returning home. Following the 9/11 Al Qaeda terrorist attacks, Bleigh and ODA 595 were among the first U.S. units to set foot in Afghanistan. Now often referred to as the Horse Soldiers, the unit teamed up with elements of the Northerrn Alliance to force the Taliban from power. Bleigh reflects on the toughest fighting in Afghanistan and being one of very few medics on the ground there. Finally, he details his two tours in Iraq, including the initial invasion and the early, successful hunt for key enemy figures. He then describes a very different second tour, one marked by relentless enemy IED's and maddening rules of engagement.

36 min
11 FEB

SSG Dominick Critelli, U.S. Army, World War II, Battle of the Bulge

Dominick Critelli was born in Italy and came to the United States as a child. He was 20 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and launched the U.S. into World War II. Critelli became an airplane mechanic as part of the U.S. Army's 95th infantry Division. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Critelli tells us what the toughest part of basic training was for him and how his sergeant handled his complaint. He also shares what it was like arriving at Utah Beach not long after D-Day operations and the moment of engineering inspiration that took place that day and likely saved many lives. Critelli then details his role at the Battle of the Bulge, including how he flew over American soldiers, who were surrounded by the Germans, and dropped ammunition, weapons, food, and other supplies to help them hold those positions. Finally, Critelli, who is 104 years old, shares his secrets to longevity and his long love of playing the saxophone. He recently played the national anthem on his soprano sax at a National Hockey League game.

27 min

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Veterans Chronicles brings America’s military heroes to life through raw, first-person stories. Veterans recount the battles and moments that shaped their lives, from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan. Powerful, personal, and deeply human, Veterans Chronicles preserves history one voice at a time. Learn more about Veterans Chronicles https://heliosmedia.us/veterans-chronicles/