Gold Star Stories

GoldStarStoriesUSA.com
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Personal Journals

Gold Star Stories shares powerful, unfiltered conversations with the families of fallen service members—spouses, siblings, parents, and children. These are stories of love, loss, and legacy told by those who carry them. We don’t skip the hard parts. We honor them.🎙️ Hosted by a Gold Star sibling📲 Follow us on TikTok: @GoldStarStoriesUSA📅 New episodes every weekGold Star Stories is empowered by Veterans Collaborative, making your donation tax-deductible. Help us grow this mission by visiting GoldStarStoriesUSA.com and clicking “Donate.”If you’ve lost someone—or want to understand what service and sacrifice truly mean—this podcast is for you.

  1. Honoring PFC Joseph "Dimps" Marquez

    May 23

    Honoring PFC Joseph "Dimps" Marquez

    A mother and a grandfather. One loss. Two vantage points. In this first-ever dual-interview episode of Gold Star Stories, Nick Letendre sits down with Kristen Giordano and Joe Giordano to honor Private First Class Joseph Marquez — known to the people who loved him as "Dimps." Joey was killed in a training accident in Yakima, Washington on April 25th, 2022. He was 19 years old and had been in the Army less than a year. Kristen — Joey's mother — shares the dimples that gave him his name, the boy who'd rather watch the Yankees with her than go out with friends, the migraine call the night before he died, and the work she's doing now to make sure no Gold Star family feels alone. Joe — Joey's grandfather, twenty years in the Army with twelve of them at West Point, and the man Joey was named after — remembers the day an eight-year-old boy stood on a riverbank watching helicopters and decided he was going to fly. He walks us through the rollover, the notification, and what it means to be a Gold Star grandfather standing quietly behind his daughter. Say his name: Private First Class Joseph Marquez. 🎖️ HONORING:PFC Joseph "Dimps" MarquezU.S. Army, 88M / 92F cross-trainedKIA April 25, 2022 — Yakima, Washington ⏱️ CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro02:25 Meet Kristen — the dimples, the light03:49 A family of service04:32 Joe's story — the West Point helicopter day05:41 The shattered leg that almost stopped him06:08 Basic, AIT, and the BWI airport surprise07:02 "Kez, get off your phone"09:09 The last call — "Love you too, mama"15:40 Joe explains what happened in the desert17:14 Telling Alexis21:51 The secret-mission denial23:29 The funeral and the unit that came home with him24:10 TAPS, the 5K, and the JM 42 Foundation29:18 The Woody Williams Memorial30:48 Why Joe doesn't lead with "Gold Star grandparent"31:40 The toast33:00 Thank you 💛 SUPPORT THE MISSION:🌐 GoldStarStoriesUSA.com☕ BuyMeACoffee.com/GoldStarStories💵 Cash App: $GoldStarStories 🎗️ LEARN MORE / GET INVOLVED:JM 42 Foundation — supporting active duty service members, first responders, and their familiesWoody Williams Foundation Gold Star Families Memorial Monument — Millsboro, Delaware 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW GOLD STAR STORIES:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon Music 📲 FOLLOW US:TikTok: @USAGoldStarStoriesWeb: GoldStarStoriesUSA.com A special thank you to our supporters: June Letendre, Jackie Mullins, Danielle Metal, Terry Mullins, Edie Howard, Bob and Pat Scott, Mary Jo Stoy, and Helen Krupp. If this episode moved you, share it. Tell someone his name. That's how he stays here. I'm Nick Letendre — check in on your people, live with purpose, and always, always say their names. #GoldStarStories #SayTheirNames #JosephMarquez #GoldStarFamily #GoldStarMom #GoldStarGrandparent #ArmyStrong #FallenHero #MilitaryFamily #VeteranSupport #Yakima #ArmyAviation #TrainingAccident #LegacyOfService #RememberTheFallen #MilitaryPodcast #GriefAndLove

    34 min

  2. Feb 28

    Honoring CPL. Nick Arvanitis - Kim LaShomb's Story

    Episode Title: Kim LaShomb | A Gold Star Sister’s Story Featuring: Kim LaShomb Honoring: Cpl Nicholas Nick Arvanitis, U.S. Army (KIA Iraq, October 2006) Kim LaShomb is a Gold Star sister and a veteran who has carried her brother’s loss for nearly two decades. In this episode, she shares who Nick was before the uniform, what changed after deployment, how the notification unfolded, and what it looks like when a sibling becomes the point of contact and the steady one in the moment that breaks a family. This is Nick’s story through the voice of the person who knew him best. Topics Covered Nick’s life before service: sports, music, wrestling, and personalityWhy he chose the 82nd AirborneThe impact of deployment and the silence that followedNotification and the weight placed on siblingsCommunity response, remembrance, and keeping a legacy alive Important Note About Audio Due to an error in Riverside, there are moments where it may sound like Kim is being cut off or talked over. This is not intentional. We edited the episode as carefully as we could, and we’re working to prevent this issue in future releases. Thank you for listening, and thank you for honoring Nick.

    48 min

  3. 10/27/2025

    Gold Star Stories Vietnam - Honoring CPL Thomas Steven Hickman - Scott's Story

    In this episode of Gold Star Stories, we share the life and sacrifice of Corporal Thomas Steven Hickman, a young soldier from Loogootee, Indiana, who served with courage and heart during the Vietnam War. Told through the voice of his younger brother Scott Hickman, this story reflects the love, loss, and resilience of a family forever changed by war. As time passes, stories like Steve’s risk being forgotten — but through Gold Star Stories, we’re making sure their names remain spoken and their legacies live on. ⚠️  AI & Visual Disclaimer While this episode focuses on the audio story, accompanying visuals shared online include AI-assisted recreations used to enhance storytelling. Some scenes may not be historically or visually accurate. With limited surviving photos and resources, these recreations help illustrate moments that would otherwise be lost to time. Gold Star Stories operates on limited means, often working with only a few affordable AI generations and restored family photos to tell each story. With your support, the quality of these episodes and documentaries can grow exponentially — helping us restore real images, capture new interviews, and preserve even more voices from America’s Gold Star Families. 🎖️ Support the mission: Visit GoldStarStoriesUSA.com Your tax-deductible donation through Veterans Collaborative helps us record, restore, and remember. Say their name. Remember their story. Honor their sacrifice. #GoldStarStories #Vietnam #GoldStarFamily #SayTheirNames #Veterans #Legacy #DocumentaryPodcast

    11 min

  4. 10/18/2025

    Honoring SPC Joey Graves - Kevin's Story

    Some stories begin long before a uniform. In this episode of Gold Star Stories, Kevin Graves remembers his son, Specialist Joseph A. “Joey” Graves—a California kid who loved golf, pranks, and looking out for the underdog. After 9/11, Joey chose the Army’s Military Police, earned his wings, served in Korea, then deployed from Fort Hood to Iraq. On July 25, 2006, during a convoy near Sadr City, a well-planned ambush took his life at 21. You will hear the knock at the door no parent wants, a community lined in flags, and the long road from shock to purpose. Kevin shares the last hug before deployment, the procession to Golden Gate National Cemetery, and how grief became motion—a memorial golf tournament that is now in its 20th year, a foundation that gathers survivors and funds scholarships, and a gym that carries Joey’s name so students see it every day. This is not a story about how someone died. It is about how a father keeps love working in the world. If this mission matters to you, please consider supporting our work so we can keep recording and preserving these stories. Donations are tax deductible through our partnership with Veterans Collaborative. Learn more at GoldStarStoriesUSA.com. #GoldStarStories #SayTheirNames #JosephAGraves #ArmyMP #SadrCity #IraqWar #ServiceAndSacrifice #LegacyLivesOn #California #MilitaryFamilies

    1h 26m

  5. 10/10/2025

    Honoring CPL Ben Kopp - Jill's Story

    A mother’s love, a son’s calling. In this Gold Star Stories interview, Jill Stephenson shares the life and legacy of her only child, Corporal Ben Kopp—an athlete turned Army Ranger whose True North formed after 9/11. Jill walks us through three deployments in two years, the call no parent wants, the race from battlefield to Walter Reed, and the hard truth that followed. She also tells how Ben’s written wish to be an organ donor saved four lives, including a family friend’s—proof that courage can outlive the body. We talk about honoring final wishes, a Black Hawk flyover back home, and Ben’s resting place in Section 60 at Arlington. If this mission matters to you, help us keep these stories alive at GoldStarStoriesUSA.com.

    58 min

  6. 10/04/2025

    Honoring Private Karl Sellner - Rad's Story

    Private Karl Jacob Sellner was the kind of son who lit up every room — a prankster, musician, and loyal friend with a heart for service. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Karl followed his grandfather’s footsteps into the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer. He trained hard, got married, and served proudly at Fort Riley, Kansas. But behind his smile were struggles with addiction, marital strain, and the weight of his own expectations. Weeks away from an honorable discharge, under daily watch in the barracks, Karl died by suicide. In this episode, his father Rad Sellner sits down with host Nick Letendre to share Karl’s story — the laughter, the love, and the loss that reshaped their family forever. Rad also opens up about his mission to bring a Gold Star Family Memorial Monument to Pittsburgh through the Woody Williams Foundation, giving families a sacred place to remember and be seen. This is a story of resilience, grief, and purpose — a reminder that not all battles happen overseas, and not all heroes fall in war. 💛 Say Their Name: Private Karl Jacob Sellner Timestamps : 00:00 – Nick’s introduction & Gold Star Stories mission 00:47 – Remembering Private Karl Sellner 03:00 – Growing up in Pittsburgh 08:00 – The perfect storm: marriage, addiction, and pain 10:00 – The knock at the door 14:00 – How the family carried on 18:00 – Building the Gold Star Monument in Pittsburgh 25:00 – Life after loss: identity, healing, and awareness 38:45 – Remembering Karl’s laughter and love Support the Mission: Gold Star Stories is now fiscally sponsored by Veterans Collaborative, allowing your donations to be tax-deductible. Your support helps us continue recording, sharing, and preserving the legacies of fallen heroes and their families. 🎙️ Donate or learn more: GoldStarStoriesUSA.com #GoldStarStories #SayTheirNames #GoldStarFamilies #RememberTheFallen #MentalHealthAwareness #VeteransSupport

    42 min

  7. 09/19/2025

    Honoring TSgt Brian Theobald - Lyndsey's Story

    In this episode of Gold Star Stories, we sit down with Lyndsey Theobald, widow of Air Force OSI Agent Brian Theobald. Brian was a son of Pittsburgh, a dedicated Airman, and above all, a husband and father. He deployed twice to Iraq before he turned 20, served in Security Forces, and later cross-trained into OSI. On paper, his career was exemplary. But behind the uniform, Brian carried invisible wounds — from burn pits, combat, and years of pressure that the system never properly addressed. Lyndsey shares who Brian truly was: a teammate, a gym rat, a sports fan, and a man full of love. She also speaks with heartbreaking honesty about the stigma he faced when he finally reached out for help, the week leading up to his death by suicide, and the devastating aftermath. Instead of support, she was met with blame, isolation, and judgment — and yet she chose to tell her story so others would not feel alone. This episode is not about drama. It’s about courage, love, loss, and the silence families are often left to face. Lyndsey’s voice is powerful, painful, and necessary. If Brian’s story moves you, please share this episode and remember his name. Support our work at GoldStarStoriesUSA.com #GoldStarStories #SayTheirNames #MilitaryFamilies #MentalHealthAwareness #PTSD #NeverForget

    1h 7m

  8. 09/12/2025

    Honoring Petty Officer First Class Darrel Birnley - Karry's Story

    In this episode of Gold Star Stories, we sit down with Karry Birnley, widow of Petty Officer First Class Darrel Birnley. Karry opens her heart to share Darrel’s life, his Navy service, and the love they built together. She also speaks candidly about the unexpected battles she faced after his passing—including the shock of foreclosure and the struggle to navigate a system that too often leaves families behind. Through it all, Karry’s resilience and her ability to still find happy remind us what true strength looks like. This is not just a story of loss—it’s a story of courage, love, and carrying forward a legacy. Say their name—Petty Officer First Class Darrel Birnley.

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Gold Star Stories shares powerful, unfiltered conversations with the families of fallen service members—spouses, siblings, parents, and children. These are stories of love, loss, and legacy told by those who carry them. We don’t skip the hard parts. We honor them.🎙️ Hosted by a Gold Star sibling📲 Follow us on TikTok: @GoldStarStoriesUSA📅 New episodes every weekGold Star Stories is empowered by Veterans Collaborative, making your donation tax-deductible. Help us grow this mission by visiting GoldStarStoriesUSA.com and clicking “Donate.”If you’ve lost someone—or want to understand what service and sacrifice truly mean—this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    GoldStarStoriesUSA.com
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.