Joseph Ruthenberg – Life on Marine One
Joseph Ruthenberg joined the Marines and became a pilot after learning the Army program was closed. He was assigned to the Presidential Helicopter Squadron, HMX-1, where he flew the H-3 helicopter and had interactions with President Reagan. He also recounts a story about traveling to Xi’an, China, with the squadron, where they had to reassemble […]
Richard Erickson – One Limb Down, Two Thumbs Up
Richard Erickson describes what it was like being a medevac helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He tells a story about flying a man with an injured leg to the hospital ship.
Linda Pugsley – Care in the Air
Retired Air Force Major Linda Pugsley recounts her service as a flight nurse in Vietnam, reflecting on the profound emotional difficulty of caring for severely wounded soldiers, many of whom were just out of high school.
David Murphy – Same Place, Different Welcome
David Murphy describes his experience as a 17-year old Marine being sent to Vietnam and how his arrival into the country differed from that of some of his fellow Marines.
Shaina Johns – The Calming Voice of Hope
After participating in JROTC in high school, Shaina Johns decides to join the Army Reserves against the wishes of her parents. She is deployed to Kuwait and, despite being trained as an MP, works as a radio operator the entire time, calling in 9-line medevacs and providing a calming voice of hope to those on […]
Donald DeVito – Life as a Spy
Dr. Donald DeVito reads from the Air Force history of his father, Donald Nicholas DeVito, who worked for the CIA as a spy and later in the boardroom at Pan Am.
Sena Lizenbee – Fighting for Those Who Fought
Sena Lizenbee describes joining the National Guard for the education benefits and eventually serving 20 years, working her way up to senior defense counsel for the Florida National Guard.
Tifany Hill – A Different Kind of Purple Heart
Tifany Hill describes the difficulty of working in the pediatric ward and not becoming attached to the young patients. She recounts her close connection with one young cancer patient and the joy she brought to her by dressing up as her favorite character, Barney.
Tifany Hill – Operation Snap, Crackle, Poop
Army combat medic Tifany Hill recalls her time on “poop detail” during Operation Desert Shield. She describes in detail the process of emptying the porta-potties and burning and stirring the contents in the desert heat.