Ronald E. Birchall – Bosnia: Christmas at the Orphanage
Ronald E. Birchall was in Bosnia around Christmastime during the war. He remembers visiting orphanages and one in particular in Sarajevo, run by Catholic nuns from Croatia. The nuns were very kind, and the children were happy to see Birchall and his fellow soldiers, who brought them candy. Before they began their visits, the nuns […]
Ronald E. Birchall – 8th Army Baseball Championship
Ronald E. Birchall recalls his time in Korea. After returning from the DMZ, he received a call from the commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division, who invited him to coach and play for the division’s baseball team. Birchall eagerly accepted the offer, viewing it as a “gift from God.” He left his post at […]
John M. Johnson – “Tell Me When You See the Guns”
John M. Johnson was commander of Air Wing 8 onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Mediterranean. He describes their involvement in the Balkans War, supporting Provide Promise and Deny Flight. Rules of engagement were changed to improve support for UN Peacekeepers.
John M. Johnson – Fighting the War in Vietnam, USS SARATOGA
John M. Johnson recounts his experience as a lieutenant in the Vietnam War, where he and his fellow soldiers were eager to fight for freedom but also recognized the war’s mismanagement and growing unpopularity. Despite heavy casualties, they believed they fulfilled their duty by only bombing legitimate targets. Johnson expresses relief that President Nixon ultimately […]
John M. Johnson – “They were actually bombs” – Terrorism Ashore 1989
John M. Johnson recounts a time when two junior officers narrowly avoided disaster when inviting locals back to the ship for a tour during a port visit.
Pam Cain – POW Homecoming
Pam Cain recalls watching the homecoming of POWs on TV and hoping her father would be among them, even though she knew he wouldn’t. She describes the experience as difficult, marking the finality of the war and her father’s continued absence.
Pam Cain – My Dad’s Silver Star
Pam Cain talks about her father’s humble personality and how he earned the Silver Star medal but didn’t tell his family.
Pam Cain – Missions in Laos
Pam Cain recounted her father’s Vietnam War missions, detailing bombing runs, strafing, and special operations flown with A-1E aircraft, later adapted for air rescues.
Pam Cain – Letters From My Dad
Pam Cain talks about the importance of letter writing. She didn’t have tapes or cell phones and wrote a lot of letters. Her father wrote letters, and she still has them. They become more special over the years because they tell her more about him.