The Scuttlebutt: Understanding Military Culture

We welcome helicopter pilots in Vietnam to VBC LIVE to discuss their service with these iconic machines. Nothing, in fact, is more closely associated with the Vietnam War than the helicopter. More than 12,000 helicopters served in Southeast Asia, carrying troops into battle, evacuating the wounded, escorting convoys, directing artillery, scouting enemy positions, and providing close air support. For the men who flew them, every mission demanded skill and courage, plus some luck. Joining us are Army helicopter pilots whose combined experiences span some of the most important aircraft and missions of the war. Barry Lloyd flew UH-1 Huey gunships and OH-23 Raven scout helicopters during two combat tours in Vietnam. Twice wounded in action, he survived being shot down before going on to a distinguished civilian career as Chief Pilot for CAL FIRE. Barry Desfor flew UH-1 Hueys and AH-1 Cobra gunships in Vietnam before returning as an instructor pilot. After the war, he founded HeliValue$ and created The Official Helicopter Blue Book®, the worldwide standard for helicopter valuation. Gil Ferrey flew OH-23 Ravens and UH-1 Hueys, first in Korea and then with the legendary 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment during its deployment to Vietnam. As a command-and-control pilot, he witnessed firsthand how helicopters transformed modern warfare. Together they'll discuss what it was like to fly low over jungle canopies, insert troops into landing zones, escort convoys, search for enemy forces, and survive one of the most dangerous jobs of the Vietnam War. If you flew helicopters in Vietnam or served in Army aviation we especially invite you to join us and share your own memories and questions. Among the helicopters we'll discuss are some of these icons of the war: UH-1 Iroquois (“Huey”) – the workhorse utility helicopter used for troop transport, medevac, command and control, and gunship missions. AH-1 Cobra – the Army's first purpose-built attack helicopter, developed to escort Hueys and provide devastating fire support. OH-23 Raven – a light observation helicopter used for scouting, artillery spotting, and command-and-control missions during the early years of the war. OH-6 Cayuse (“Loach”) – a tiny, agile scout helicopter famous for flying dangerously low in search of enemy forces. CH-47 Chinook – the Army's heavy-lift helicopter, capable of carrying troops, artillery, vehicles, and supplies. CH-54 Skycrane – the giant flying crane used to recover downed aircraft and move heavy equipment.

During World War II, the United States built 2,710 Liberty ships to move the cargo needed to fight a global war. They were plain, inexpensive, and often called “ugly ducklings,” but without them the Allied victory would have been impossible. Join the Veterans Breakfast Club as Glenn Flickinger welcomes award-winning journalist and author Doug Most to discuss his acclaimed new book, Launching Liberty: The Epic Race to Build the Ships That Took America to War. Doug tells the remarkable story of how Franklin Roosevelt, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, naval architects, welders, engineers, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans created one of the greatest industrial achievements in history. In just a few short years, American shipyards transformed shipbuilding from a process measured in months into one measured in weeks—and sometimes even days. Along the way, women, African Americans, migrants from across the country, and first-time shipbuilders became part of an extraordinary workforce that helped supply Allied armies around the globe. We'll talk about why Liberty ships mattered so much, how Henry Kaiser's innovative shipyards changed manufacturing forever, and how America's race to outproduce German U-boats became one of the great untold stories of World War II. Just as importantly, we'll remember the hundreds of thousands of workers—many of them building ships for the first time—whose efforts transformed the United States into the Arsenal of Democracy and helped win the war. The Veterans Breakfast Club creates communities of listening around veterans and their stories to connect, educate, heal, and inspire. #LibertyShips #WorldWarII #WWII #MerchantMarine #HenryKaiser #DougMost #MilitaryHistory #NavalHistory #GreatestGeneration #VeteransBreakfastClub #ArsenalOfDemocracy #HomeFront #History #WW2History

We celebrate the U.S. Coast Guard's birthday with an Open Conversation with USCG veterans on Monday, August 3 at 7:00pm ET. Join us as we talk with Coast Guard veterans about what makes their service so distinct—and so essential to the nation's security and safety. Founded on August 4, 1790, the Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service in the United States. Unlike other branches, the USCG has a dual mission: military operations during wartime and law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime safety during peacetime. It is the only military branch that operates under the Department of Homeland Security (except during wartime, when it may transfer to the Department of the Navy). What sets the Coast Guard apart? Maritime law enforcement: The Coast Guard has the authority to board, search, seize, and arrest vessels suspected of violating federal law. Search and rescue operations: From hurricanes to sinking ships, the Coast Guard is the first call in times of maritime crisis. Icebreaking and navigation aid: Coasties operate in Arctic and Great Lakes regions to maintain critical shipping lanes and place navigational buoys. Drug and migrant interdiction: They play a front-line role in combating illegal trafficking on the high seas. In this special birthday celebration, we'll hear from Coast Guard veterans who served aboard cutters, on coastal patrol, in aviation, and at isolated duty stations. They'll share stories of adventure, service, and resilience—from intercepting narco-subs in the Caribbean to medevac missions in the Bering Sea. We'll explore what it means to be “Always Ready”—Semper Paratus—and why Coast Guard veterans are proud to serve in a branch that blends military rigor with humanitarian urgency. Help us mark this important anniversary by honoring the stories of those who serve in America's maritime guardian force. #USCoastGuard #CoastGuardBirthday #SemperParatus #VeteransBreakfastClub #VBCLive #MaritimeService #SearchAndRescue #MilitaryVeterans #CoastGuardStorie

The Holocaust did not begin with Auschwitz. Before the gas chambers became instruments of industrialized murder, mobile SS killing squads known as the Einsatzgruppen followed the German army into Eastern Europe, massacring more than a million Jews, Roma, Soviet prisoners, and civilians in forests, ravines, villages, and fields. After the war, a young American Army investigator named Benjamin “Ben” Ferencz uncovered the Nazis' own meticulous records of these mass shootings. At just 27 years old—and having never argued a case in court—Ferencz was appointed Chief Prosecutor in the Einsatzgruppen Trial at Nuremberg, where twenty-two SS commanders were charged with crimes against humanity in what newspapers called “the biggest murder trial in history.” Join military historian Colin Heaton as he examines the history of the Einsatzgruppen, the evidence that exposed their crimes, and the landmark trial that helped establish modern international criminal law. Along the way, we'll explore the remarkable life and legacy of Ben Ferencz, whose pursuit of justice shaped the postwar world and influenced generations of war crimes prosecutions.

During the Vietnam War, amid the chaos of Saigon in 1968, a young American actor made an unusual decision. Rather than serve in the U.S. military, 24-year-old Pittsburgh native Richard Hughes traveled to Vietnam on his own, determined to find some way to help civilians caught in the conflict. What he encountered were homeless street children—boys who survived by shining shoes for American GIs, sleeping in parks and alleys, and regularly being swept up by police. The Vietnamese called them bụi đời—“dust of life.” Hughes rented a modest apartment on Pham Ngu Lao Street and began offering the boys a place to sleep, shower, and eat. What started with eleven children soon grew into something far larger. Over the next eight years, the Shoeshine Boys Project evolved into a Vietnamese-run network of homes in Saigon and Da Nang that provided shelter, schooling, and job training for hundreds of homeless children. By the end of the war in 1975, the project included eight homes, two farms, and a technical training center serving roughly 300 children at a time. Between 1968 and 1976, an estimated 1,500–2,000 boys and girls passed through the program. The effort was remarkable not only for its scale but for its spirit. Hughes worked closely with Vietnamese students, teachers, and community leaders who ultimately took charge of the homes and helped return many children to their families and villages. Despite the upheaval of war and its aftermath, the project became one of the few successful Vietnamese-managed, foreign-funded humanitarian initiatives of the era. Hughes remained in Vietnam for more than a year after the fall of Saigon, finally leaving in August 1976—likely among the last Americans to depart. In the decades since, he has continued to advocate for Vietnamese friends and colleagues, including a successful campaign in the 1990s to secure the release of two former project associates imprisoned in Vietnam. He has also remained involved in efforts to address the lingering human consequences of the war, including work related to Agent Orange. Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special conversation with Dick Hughes as he reflects on the Shoeshine Boys Project, the children and Vietnamese colleagues who made it possible, and the complicated legacy of the Vietnam War. His story offers a rare civilian perspective from inside wartime Saigon—and a reminder that even in the midst of conflict, acts of compassion and solidarity can take root in unexpected ways. As always, we welcome questions and reflections from veterans and others who served in or remember the Vietnam era.

Greatest Generation Live welcomes one of the last surviving Canadian veterans of D-Day, Jim Parks, for a conversation about his extraordinary journey from the beaches of Normandy to the final victory over Nazi Germany. Jim enlisted in the Canadian Army while still underage and spent nearly three years training in Britain before landing with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. Assigned to arrive just ahead of the main assault, his landing craft struck an obstacle and he was forced to swim ashore without his rifle. From that chaotic beginning, Jim fought through the brutal Normandy campaign at Putot and Carpiquet, crossed Belgium and the Netherlands, battled at the Leopold Canal and in the Rhineland, and finished the war in Germany as a sergeant. Jim has a remarkable gift for storytelling. He vividly recalls the confusion and terror of the invasion, the comrades he lost, the small moments of humanity that sustained soldiers in combat, and the challenges of returning home after the war. His reflections remind us that history is made not only by armies and generals, but by ordinary young people asked to do extraordinary things. Joining Glenn Flickinger as co-hosts are history teacher at Crestwood Preparatory College Scott Masters and author, historian Marc Milner. Marc is a Canadian military and naval historian, author of several books including SECOND FRONT: Anglo-American Rivalry and the Hidden Story of the Normandy Campaign. He is Director of the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society at the University of New Brunswick. Together they will help place Jim's experiences in the broader story of Canada's pivotal role on D-Day and the liberation of Northwest Europe by exploring the campaign, Jim's life before and after the war, and the importance of preserving these firsthand memories for future generations. For more information about Crestwood's Oral History Project, visit: https://ohp.crestwood.on.ca/ Bring your questions and join us for out conversation with someone who can tell us what it was like to come ashore on D-Day.

Did one decision in Washington change the course of the Vietnam War? Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a conversation with award-winning historian and former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Cheevers about his powerful new book, Kennedy's Coup: A White House Plot, a Saigon Murder, and America's Descent into Vietnam. In November 1963, South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm was overthrown and assassinated by his own generals. For decades, historians have debated the extent of the Kennedy administration's role in the coup and whether Diệm's death made America's deeper involvement in Vietnam inevitable. Drawing on a decade of research, eyewitness interviews, declassified documents, and dozens of Freedom of Information Act requests, Cheevers reconstructs the political intrigue, personal rivalries, and fateful decisions that led to one of the most consequential turning points of the Cold War. More than a political history, Kennedy's Coup is a human drama populated by unforgettable characters: President John F. Kennedy and his divided advisers; Ambassador Frederick Nolting, who struggled to preserve the alliance with Diệm; the outspoken Madame Nhu; ambitious South Vietnamese generals plotting in secret; courageous American journalists reporting from Saigon; and CIA operatives caught between diplomacy and covert action. Cheevers argues that the coup—and Diệm's murder—opened the door to nearly a decade of escalating American involvement in Vietnam. Cheevers is the author of the award-winning Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo, recipient of the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature. His meticulous research and compelling storytelling have made him one of today's leading writers on American military and diplomatic history. As always, we'll leave plenty of time for audience questions, comments, and stories. Veterans, family members, students, and all who wish to learn are warmly welcome.

Six Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, became one of the most enduring images in American history. But what about the company behind the flag? Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a conversation with Marine veteran and author Billy Myers, who has spent years researching the remarkable story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines—the unit whose men climbed Suribachi and whose members raised both the first and second flags over Iwo Jima. Myers' forthcoming book tells the story of Easy Company from its formation through the brutal battle for Iwo Jima and beyond. Drawing on letters, diaries, military records, and family accounts, he introduces the ordinary young Americans who became part of one of World War II's most iconic moments. If Band of Brothers told the story of Easy Company in Europe, Myers aims to tell the story of Easy Company in the Pacific. A Marine Corps veteran himself, Myers enlisted at seventeen and served four years before earning degrees from Northwestern State University and The Ohio State University. He later spent nearly three decades coaching football and baseball in Louisiana, bringing the same commitment to teamwork, leadership, and perseverance to his historical research. Our conversation will explore not only the famous flag raising but also the men whose lives have too often been overshadowed by a single photograph. We'll discuss the savage fighting on Iwo Jima, the bonds forged within Easy Company, the challenges of reconstructing its history eighty years later, and why these Marines still matter today. As always, we'll leave plenty of time for audience questions, comments, and stories. Veterans, family members, students, history lovers, and all who wish to learn are warmly welcome.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a conversation with retired Army Colonel Frank Hancock, commander of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Desert Storm, about his remarkable new book, Operation Desert Storm: How Two Young Intelligence Analysts and an Infantry Battalion Changed the War in Iraq. At the heart of the book is an extraordinary story that has remained untold for more than three decades. Just 48 hours before the 101st Airborne launched the largest helicopter air assault in American military history, two young intelligence soldiers—Captain Jose Delgado and Sergeant Jesus Gonzalez—discovered a critical flaw in the division's battle plan that had escaped every higher headquarters. They identified an Iraqi bunker-and-trench complex directly in the landing zone of the lead assault company. Their discovery forced commanders to revise the plan at the last minute and may well have prevented a devastating disaster. That dramatic episode opens the door to a much larger story. Hancock takes us inside General Norman Schwarzkopf's bold “Hail Mary” offensive, which sent the 101st Airborne deep into Iraq to sever the Euphrates Valley in one of the most ambitious operational maneuvers undertaken by the U.S. military since the Inchon landing during the Korean War. He explains how the division planned and executed the largest helicopter air assault in U.S. history, what worked, what nearly went wrong, and why the operation became a defining moment in modern American warfare. Drawing on recollections from soldiers throughout the battalion—from privates to colonels—Hancock reconstructs the operation from every level of command. Along the way, he also explores a larger question: How did the U.S. Army recover from Vietnam? Desert Storm showcased an Army that had spent nearly two decades studying its failures, rebuilding its doctrine, embracing new technologies, and developing leaders capable of executing extraordinarily complex operations. The campaign's stunning success did not happen by accident—it was the product of lessons painfully learned after Vietnam. As always, we'll leave plenty of time for audience questions, comments, and stories. Veterans, family members, and all who wish to learn are warmly welcome.

Join Glenn Flickinger and the Veterans Breakfast Club for a live conversation with author Gregg Jones about his acclaimed book, Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II. Jones tells the remarkable story of Ben Kuroki, a Japanese American farm boy from Nebraska who became one of World War II's most extraordinary airmen. At a time when more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated in the United States, Kuroki fought for his country in the skies over Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, completing 58 combat missions and becoming a powerful voice against prejudice and hate. This program explores Kuroki's wartime service, his fight to prove his loyalty, and the larger story of Japanese American patriotism, sacrifice, and resilience during World War II. Gregg Jones brings new attention to a forgotten American hero whose life challenges us to think deeply about courage, citizenship, racism, and what it means to serve. #BenKuroki #WWII #VeteransBreakfastClub

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have something on your mind—whether a personal memory, a question, or a topic you think deserves attention—we encourage you to bring it to the conversation. Veterans are also invited to email Shaun Hall at shaun@veteransbreakfastclub.org with any specific topics or issues they'd like to discuss. The Veterans Breakfast Club's mission is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories, and our Open Conversations are one of the most dynamic ways we do that. These sessions are often wide-ranging, emotional, funny, and thought-provoking, providing a welcoming space where everyone's voice is valued. Whether you have something to share or simply want to listen and learn, we welcome you to be part of the conversation!

How has World War II shaped your family? What stories, memories, questions, and mysteries have been passed down through the generations? Join host Glenn Flickinger for a special Greatest Generation Live conversation exploring the enduring impact of World War II on veterans and the families who inherited their legacies. We'll hear from Lee Kikel, whose father, Melvin Goldman, survived the Holocaust and was liberated from the Wöbbelin concentration camp in Germany in May 1945. After surviving years of imprisonment in the Lodz Ghetto, Auschwitz, and other camps, Goldman was among thousands rescued in the final days of the war. His gratitude to the American soldiers who liberated Wöbbelin became a defining part of his life and family story. We'll also be joined by Richard Murphy, whose father-in-law, Lawrence McGartland of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, helped liberate Wöbbelin as a soldier in the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. Drafted at age 30, married and the father of two young children, McGartland landed in France after D-Day and fought through four campaigns—Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Wounded twice during 266 days of combat, he was among the American soldiers who encountered the horrors of Wöbbelin on May 2, 1945. Like many veterans of his generation, McGartland rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. Only years after his death did his children begin to learn what he had endured and accomplished. As they pieced together his military service, they gained new insight into the quiet effects of war that remained throughout his life—from his aversion to loud noises to the flashbacks he experienced in old age. Understanding his service helped his family better understand the man they loved. Lee and Richard's stories intersect at a remarkable moment in history: one family descended from a survivor of Wöbbelin, the other from one of its liberators. Following their presentations, we'll open the conversation to everyone. We invite you to share stories of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives whose lives were shaped by World War II—whether they served overseas, worked on the home front, survived wartime hardships, or carried the war's memories long after the fighting ended. The generation that fought World War II is passing from the scene, but their stories continue to shape families and communities. Join us as we explore how understanding our veterans can help us know—and love—them a little better.

We welcome Naval officer, diplomat, strategist and author Tom Duffy for a conversation about a largely forgotten Cold War–era naval campaign: Operation Earnest Will. During the final years of the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf became the scene of a dangerous maritime struggle known as the “Tanker War.” Iran and Iraq attacked oil tankers to cripple each other's economies and pressure international shipping. In response, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will—the largest naval convoy operation since World War II—escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through hostile waters and confronting Iranian threats at sea. The mission began when Kuwaiti tankers were re-flagged under the U.S. flag so they could legally sail under American naval protection. U.S. warships then escorted the tankers through the Gulf while surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and special operations forces hunted for mines and small-boat attackers. The danger became clear immediately. On the very first escort mission, the reflagged tanker Bridgeton struck an Iranian mine in the Gulf—an early reminder that even a powerful navy could not fully control the narrow and volatile waters of the Persian Gulf. Over the next fourteen months, dozens of U.S. warships rotated through the region while Navy SEALs, special operations aviators, and patrol boat crews conducted night operations to stop Iranian mining and harassment of shipping. In his book Tanker War in the Gulf, Duffy draws on his experience as a U.S. Navy officer who participated in the operation and later as a Foreign Service officer stationed across the Middle East. He reconstructs the tense months when American warships escorted vulnerable tankers through minefields, missile threats, and political uncertainty—while trying to prevent a regional war from spiraling into a superpower confrontation. The story includes dramatic moments such as the USS Stark incident, the shadow presence of Soviet naval forces monitoring U.S. movements, and retaliatory clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces that nearly escalated into a wider war. Though often overlooked in American military history, Operation Earnest Will marked the first sustained U.S. military confrontation with Iran—a precursor to tensions that continue today. The operation also offers timely lessons about limited warfare, maritime security, and the strategic importance of protecting global energy routes—issues that echo in today's crises in the Red Sea and across the wider Middle East. Duffy will also reflect on his unusual career path—from naval officer to U.S. diplomat—including postings in Bogotá during the Pablo Escobar era, Saudi Arabia during the early al-Qaeda bombings, and Baghdad during the turbulent early years of the Iraq War. His stories offer a rare view of how military operations, diplomacy, and global politics intersect in real time. Join us for a fascinating discussion about a little-known naval campaign that still shapes how the United States uses sea power today—and hear firsthand how history, strategy, and lived experience come together in one remarkable career.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special VBC LIVE program on Monday, June 22 at 7pm ET exploring the history and human experience of the Berlin Airlift—one of the defining moments of the early Cold War. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, cutting off food, fuel, and supplies to more than two million civilians. Rather than abandon the city or risk war, the United States and its allies launched a massive airlift—flying around the clock to keep Berlin alive. For nearly a year, aircraft landed every few minutes, delivering coal, food, and hope to a city under siege. This program brings together those who lived this history—and those working to preserve it. We're honored to welcome Bibi LeBlanc, a native of West Berlin and founder of Voices of the Berlin Airlift, an oral history project gathering memories from Berliners, veterans, and families connected to the Airlift. Bibi is racing to capture these stories while firsthand voices are still with us—and invites others to contribute. We'll also hear from Dagmar Weiss Snodgrass, a Berlin child who lived through the Airlift and paid tribute to famed Airlift pilot Gail Halvorsen, Uncle Wiggly Wings: My Love and Admiration for Berlin's Candy Bomber. Also joining us is Ralph Dionne, who served at Rhein-Main Air Base in 1948 as both an aircraft mechanic and later a flight engineer on C-54 transport aircraft. Ralph completed 74 missions into Berlin and logged 300 flight hours, offering a rare, firsthand view of the precision and discipline required to sustain the Airlift from both the ground and the cockpit. Joining them is Denise Halvorsen Williams, daughter of Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen—the “Candy Bomber” whose small parachutes of sweets brought joy to Berlin's children. Through her work with the Candy Bomber Foundation, Denise carries forward a legacy of compassion that reminds us how small acts can resonate across generations. We also invite anyone with personal or family connections to the Berlin Airlift—pilots, ground crew, Berlin civilians, or descendants—to join the conversation and share their stories. #BerlinAirlift #ColdWarHistory #VeteransStories #OralHistory #CandyBomber #BerlinHistory #USAirForceHistory #MilitaryHistory #WWIIAftermath #VBC #VeteransBreakfastClub

Join us for a remarkable story of survival, courage, chance, and resilience as Doug Cervi shares the life of Holocaust survivor David Wisnia (1926–2021), whose experiences spanned some of the darkest and most consequential events of the twentieth century. Born into a Jewish family in Warsaw, Poland, David was a gifted singer whose voice would help save his life after he was deported to Auschwitz at age sixteen. There, amid unimaginable brutality, he survived by performing for Nazi guards and fellow prisoners. He endured the horrors of Auschwitz, a death march across Europe, and a daring escape before being liberated by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. Remarkably, the teenager who emerged from the camps went on to serve as an interpreter with the American Army as it advanced into Germany. Years later, David built a new life in the United States, becoming a cantor, educator, and tireless witness to history. His story gained international attention through the memoir One Voice, Two Lives, which recounts both his wartime experiences and a long-hidden chapter of love and survival in Auschwitz. Doug Cervi, who worked closely with David on preserving and sharing his story, returns to the Veterans Breakfast Club to recount David's extraordinary journey and reflect on the responsibility of keeping eyewitness history alive after the witnesses themselves are gone. This program offers a powerful firsthand window into the Holocaust, liberation, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

We welcome retired Army General and bestselling author Mark Hertling for a special VBC LIVE conversation about his powerful new memoir, If I Don't Return: A Father's Wartime Journal. Drawing from a journal he kept during Operation Desert Storm, Hertling reflects on combat, leadership, fear, family, and the deeply personal thoughts he recorded for his young sons in case he never made it home. More than a war memoir, If I Don't Return offers a rare window into the mind of a soldier-father confronting uncertainty in wartime while trying to pass on lessons about courage, character, service, and humanity. Join us for a moving discussion about military life, memory, leadership under pressure, and the enduring bond between veterans and their families. #VeteransBreakfastClub #VBCLive #MarkHertling #DesertStorm #MilitaryHistory #Veterans #Army #Leadership #WarMemoir #MilitaryFamilies #EveryVeteranHasAStory

Glenn Flickinger talks with Navy veteran, playwright, and director Harry Kantrovich the acclaimed drama Judgement at Nuremberg, the famous 1961 film starring Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster. Harry brings rare expertise to this discussion, having directed Judgement at Nuremberg on stage with the Prince William Little Theatre. His work brings this difficult history to life, challenging audiences to wrestle with the same ethical dilemmas confronted by postwar jurists. In the aftermath of World War II, the world confronted not only the devastation of battle but the profound challenge of justice. The third Nuremberg trial — officially The United States of America vs. Josef Altstoetter et al., known as The Justice Case — examined the role of judges and legal officials in Nazi Germany. The trail raised a fundamental question: Can legal professionals be held accountable for wielding the law as an instrument of atrocity? Drawing on both his military background and his deep engagement with dramatic storytelling, Harry offers insight into how Judgement at Nuremberg translates complex legal history into sharp human drama, why the story still matters today, and what the play reveals about law and collective responsibility. About the Nuremberg Trials: Nuremberg was made up of thirteen separate trials held in the same German courtroom between 1945 and 1949. The first, the famous International Military Tribunal, tried the top Nazi leaders like Göring and Speer and established the principle that individuals could be held responsible for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. After that came twelve additional trials that looked deeper into the machinery of the Third Reich, putting on trial doctors, jurists, industrialists, and SS commanders who contributed to the wartime horrors of Nazi Germany.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00pm ET for a special livestream conversation with historian Nicholas Evan Sarantakes about his acclaimed new book The Battle of Manila: Poisoned Victory in the Pacific War. In February 1945, American and Japanese forces fought one of the most brutal urban battles of World War II: the month-long struggle for Manila. Often overshadowed by Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Battle of Manila became the third-bloodiest city battle of the war, leaving much of the Philippine capital destroyed and more than 100,000 Filipino civilians dead. Sarantakes' groundbreaking book examines the campaign from American, Japanese, and Filipino perspectives, revealing the chaos of house-to-house fighting, the role of Filipino guerrillas, and the devastating human cost of liberation. Nicholas Evan Sarantakes is a professor at the U.S. Naval War College and an award-winning historian whose work explores the Pacific War, military strategy, and American foreign policy. His new study sheds light on a pivotal but often overlooked campaign that helped determine the final outcome of World War II in the Pacific. #BattleOfManila #WWII #WorldWarII #PacificWar #Philippines #MilitaryHistory #USArmy #DouglasMacArthur #NicholasSarantakes #VeteransBreakfastClub #WW2History #HistoryLivestream #Manila1945 #PacificTheater #WWIIHistory

On Thursday, May 28 at 7:00pm ET, VBC Greatest Generation Live takes a timely look at one of the most anticipated WWII films of the year: Pressure, the new historical drama about the tense and uncertain 72 hours before D-Day. Joining us live will be the film's director and co-writer, Anthony Maras, for a conversation with VBC historian Glenn Flickinger about the history behind the movie and the extraordinary real-life decisions that shaped Operation Overlord. Starring Brendan Fraser as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Andrew Scott as meteorologist James Stagg, Pressure tells the little-known story of the weather forecast that may have determined the fate of the free world. As storms gathered over the English Channel in June 1944, Allied leaders faced an agonizing choice: launch the invasion or delay it and risk catastrophe. The film explores the immense burden carried by Eisenhower and the forecasters whose predictions helped decide the date of the Normandy landings. This special Greatest Generation Live program will explore the real history behind the film, the making of Pressure, and why the story still resonates more than eighty years later. Glenn Flickinger, who has led many acclaimed VBC programs on D-Day and Normandy history, will also discuss how the movie compares with the historical record and other famous depictions of the invasion. Select clips and trailers from the film may also be shown during the discussion. If you've ever wondered how weather, timing, leadership, and sheer uncertainty shaped the most important amphibious invasion in history, this program is for you. #DDay #PressureMovie #WWII #OperationOverlord #GreatestGeneration #Normandy #Eisenhower #MilitaryHistory #VeteransBreakfastClub

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special Memorial Day virtual event on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 7:00pm ET. This live, online conversation invites veterans, families, and friends to gather in an open, heartfelt space to honor and remember those who have fallen in service to our nation. The event will take place on Zoom and will also be streamed live to Facebook and YouTube. Join us on Zoom here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6402618738 We especially welcome the family of Capt. William Boyd Graves, a Wyoming soldier killed in Vietnam whose voice has unexpectedly returned nearly 50 years later. After decades of silence, Graves' family recently discovered a series of audio tapes he recorded during the Vietnam War—an extraordinary time capsule of humor, fear, longing, and daily life from a young American officer serving far from home. The discovery became the subject of a widely read article, “Voice From Vietnam: Nearly 50 Years After Wyoming Man Died, Family Discovers Tapes.” Joining us live will be Graves' sister Linda Fabian and other members of the Graves family, who will share memories of William, reflect on hearing his voice again after all these years, and discuss what the tapes have meant to their family. During the program, we will also play selections from the recordings themselves, allowing audiences to hear Capt. Graves in his own words. This special Memorial Day conversation is about remembrance, family, loss, and the enduring humanity behind military service. It's also a rare opportunity to encounter the Vietnam War not through history books, but through the preserved voice of one man who lived it. The Veterans Breakfast Club creates communities of listening where veterans, families, historians, and the public come together to share stories and preserve personal history. Our programs are informal, conversational, and open to all. #MemorialDay #VietnamWar #Veterans #WilliamBoydGraves #VietnamVeteran #MilitaryHistory #POWMIA #VeteransStories #OralHistory #USArmy #Vietnam #MemorialDay2026 #VeteransBreakfastClub Often remembered as the calm, steady “GI's General” of World War II, General Omar Bradley commanded more American soldiers in combat than any other officer in U.S. history. Yet compared to Eisenhower, Patton, and MacArthur, Bradley remains a surprisingly enigmatic figure. Was he the humble soldiers' general of popular memory? A cautious strategist? A political insider? Or something more complicated? Join Greatest Generation LIVE for a fascinating conversation with military historian Dr. David W. Hogan, Jr., former Director of Histories at the U.S. Army Center of Military History and one of the nation's leading experts on Bradley. Hogan has spent decades researching the U.S. Army in World War II and is currently completing a major biography of Bradley, Omar Nelson Bradley: The GI's General. Drawing on years of archival research, Hogan will explore Bradley's rise from small-town Missouri to the highest ranks of the American military, his relationships with Eisenhower and Patton, his command during Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, and his postwar role as the nation's first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the early Cold War. This program will examine not only Bradley the general, but Bradley the man — modest, disciplined, intensely loyal, and still debated by historians today. #OmarBradley #WWII #GreatestGeneration #MilitaryHistory #WorldWarII #Dday #BattleOfTheBulge #USArmy #Veterans #History #Patton #Eisenhower #KoreanWar #VBC #VeteransBreakfastClub

Who was Omar Bradley? The answer is more elusive than generally understood. Often remembered as the calm, steady “GI's General” of World War II, General Omar Bradley commanded more American soldiers in combat than any other officer in U.S. history. Yet compared to Eisenhower, Patton, and MacArthur, Bradley remains a surprisingly enigmatic figure. Was he the humble soldiers' general of popular memory? A cautious strategist? A political insider? Or something more complicated? Join Greatest Generation LIVE for a fascinating conversation with military historian Dr. David W. Hogan, Jr., former Director of Histories at the U.S. Army Center of Military History and one of the nation's leading experts on Bradley. Hogan has spent decades researching the U.S. Army in World War II and is currently completing a major biography of Bradley, Omar Nelson Bradley: The GI's General. Drawing on years of archival research, Hogan will explore Bradley's rise from small-town Missouri to the highest ranks of the American military, his relationships with Eisenhower and Patton, his command during Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, and his postwar role as the nation's first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the early Cold War. This program will examine not only Bradley the general, but Bradley the man — modest, disciplined, intensely loyal, and still debated by historians today. #OmarBradley #WWII #GreatestGeneration #MilitaryHistory #WorldWarII #Dday #BattleOfTheBulge #USArmy #Veterans #History #Patton #Eisenhower #KoreanWar #VBC #VeteransBreakfastClub

In 1969–1970–at the start of “Vietnamization”– a small, exposed rise south of Da Nang became one of the most contested observation posts in I Corps. Known simply as Hill 119, it overlooked the Thu Bon River Basin and Go Noi Island — terrain Marines called “Indian Country.” From this barren patch of ground, rotating platoons of Recon Marines watched, reported, called artillery, and launched patrols into enemy-held territory. Our guest, Col. Michael O. “Deli” Fallon, USMC (Ret.), served there as a young officer and later set out to reconstruct the full story. In writing Hill 119, Defending a Reconnaissance Marine' OP, Vietnam, 1969-1970, Fallon interviewed more than one hundred Marines and artillerymen who rotated through the position and analyzed hundreds of debriefing reports and command chronologies to piece together what daily life — and nightly danger — truly looked like. Hill 119 was an observation post and a patrol base, a radio relay site monitoring Recon frequencies, and even a testing ground for new battlefield technology, including early laser range-finding systems that sharpened artillery accuracy. Yet as President Nixon's policy of Vietnamization accelerated, fire support diminished and missions continued with fewer resources. Fallon writes candidly about what that shift meant to Marines holding an exposed hill while political decisions were made far away. We'll also explore the harder questions: operating among civilians whose loyalties were uncertain, the strain of constant rotation as platoons “flipped” in and out, the reliance on helicopter crews who flew into enemy fire to extract teams — and the court-martial that followed the shooting of a Vietnamese woman outside the perimeter, a case that unfolded in the shadow of My Lai. Hill 119 could feel like the moon — one Marine joked on the night of the Apollo landing, “You're already on the Moon.” But it was no abstraction. It was close combat, long watches, and young men navigating the line between aggression and restraint. Join us for a conversation about small-unit war, memory and documentation, leadership under scrutiny, and what Vietnamization looked like on the ground.

At 104 years old, WWII Army veteran James Wheeler is one of the last surviving American tankers to witness firsthand the brutal Battle of Okinawa. A member of Company C, 193rd Tank Battalion, Wheeler fought in one of the most punishing armored campaigns of the Pacific War, where American Sherman tanks were sent headlong into the deadly defenses of the Japanese Shuri Line. In April 1945, the 193rd Tank Battalion took part in the disastrous assault on Kakazu Ridge and Kakazu Village—what historians later called the “Death Ride of the Shermans.” Trapped without infantry support, Wheeler's battalion drove into a maze of mines, hidden anti-tank guns, artillery fire, and suicide attacks. In a single day, the battalion lost 22 tanks, the greatest single combat loss of American tanks in the Pacific Theater. Join us for a rare and extraordinary conversation with James Wheeler as he reflects on survival, combat inside a Sherman tank, and the savage realities of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Wheeler's memories offer not just a window into armored warfare in the Pacific, but a living connection to a rapidly vanishing generation. #WWII #WorldWarII #Okinawa #BattleOfOkinawa #TankBattalion #ShermanTank #USArmy #PacificWar #GreatestGeneration #MilitaryHistory #WW2Veteran #TankCrew #Okinawa1945 #Veterans #VeteransBreakfastClub

In the spring of 1972, North Vietnam launched the massive Easter Offensive, a conventional invasion that nearly broke South Vietnam. The response: Operation Linebacker I—a sustained U.S. air campaign that reshaped the battlefield and helped halt the advance. Join the Veterans Breakfast Club (VBC) for a powerful live conversation on this pivotal moment in the Vietnam War. Our guest, Brian Harrison, served in Vietnam in 1972–1973 with the legendary 1st Cavalry Division's “Centaurs” (air cavalry)—flying in the thick of the fighting as U.S. airpower supported South Vietnamese forces on the ground. His firsthand perspective brings us closer to the reality of the Easter Offensive and the air war that followed. We'll explore what triggered the 1972 Easter Offensive and how Operation Linebacker I differed from earlier bombing campaigns like Rolling Thunder. We'll look at the role of air cavalry and helicopter operations in the fight, and what it felt like on the ground and in the air during one of the war's most intense phases. Finally, we'll consider why 1972 marked a turning point in U.S. strategy in Vietnam. #VietnamWar #LinebackerI #EasterOffensive #MilitaryHistory #AirWar #USAirForce #ArmyAviation #VietnamVeterans #VeteransStories #ColdWarHistory  

Join VBC LIVE on Thursday, May 7 at 7PM (ET) for a conversation with World War II Marine veteran Neal McCallum, who fought in the Battle of Okinawa 81 years ago. At just 18 years old, McCallum landed on Okinawa with Fox Company, 29th Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division, part of the massive U.S. invasion force that stormed the island on Easter Sunday April 1, 1945y. He served as an infantryman in a mortar section and fought through some of the fiercest combat of the war, including the deadly struggle for Sugar Loaf Hill, where Marines suffered staggering losses. On May 19, 1945, McCallum was seriously wounded by enemy fire, just one day after his close friend was killed in action. The Battle of Okinawa was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater and one of the bloodiest. The battle raged over 82 days. Whenit was over, more 12,000 Americans were dead and another 37,000 wounded. Japanese casualties were many times that number. And, perhaps most tragic, 100,000–200,000 Okinawan civilians were dead. Fought across ridges, caves, and fortified positions, Okinawa became a war of attrition with kamikaze attacks. The scale of the destruction gave a U.S. forces a yardstick for estimating the cost of invading mainland Japan. Battle of Okinawa, World War II Pacific, US Marines WWII, Okinawa 1945, Neal McCallum, WWII veteran interview, Sugar Loaf Hill, Pacific War history, VBC Live, Veterans Breakfast Club, WWII stories, military history livestream #WWII #BattleOfOkinawa #USMarines #VeteransStories #MilitaryHistory #VBC #PacificWar #Okinawa #WW2Veteran #HistoryLive

[00:00 - 01:10] Introduction and Welcome Hosts Shaun, Todd, and Glenn welcome viewers. Overview of the Veterans Breakfast Club mission: creating communities of listening around veterans and their stories. Invitation to join live Zoom sessions and watch on Facebook or YouTube. [01:10 - 06:40] Upcoming Events and Programs Announcement of Thursday night's "Greatest Generation Live" focusing on World War II and the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa. Introduction of two Okinawa veterans guests: Neil Mallalum (99 years old) and James Wheeler (104 years old). Discussion of their service, experiences, and upcoming program details. Mention of in-person breakfasts and the BBC magazine distribution. [06:40 - 34:00] Why Veterans Wear Black Caps - Open Discussion Jim Roberts poses the question: Why do veterans wear black caps? (Jim shares his personal experience and reflections on wearing his Vietnam unit hat.) Discussion about the symbolism of hats for veterans as identifiers and conversation starters. Mixed feelings about public reactions to hats and "Thank you for your service" comments. Ben Dawson (Air Force veteran) talks about pride and connection through hats. Baltimore Ben shares his evolving attitude toward wearing veteran hats and public recognition. Chris Perolo discusses the military tradition of headgear and its role in identity. John Per shares his pride in his Army Security Agency hat and its role in connecting with fellow veterans. Patrick Hughes talks about his separate brigade service and pride in his hat. Ron comments on the professional look and versatility of black hats. Al Smith shares mixed feelings about wearing hats and recognition. Rick Weber tells the story of the "Lobcocks" nickname and its significance. Mark Spearigio discusses his late adoption of wearing hats due to Vietnam War reception and the healing aspect of acknowledgment. Sue Watson shares her father's Marine Corps hats and the significance of the Eoima survivor hat. Discussion about family members wearing veteran hats or apparel. Civilians working with veterans share their experiences with public recognition. John Terry and others discuss the importance of hats as conversation starters and symbols of pride. [34:00 - 55:50] Special Guest: Bill Peters and Army Security Agency Story Bill Peters joins to share a story about a photo of Army Security Agency veterans in Vietnam. Description of the photo location (Dong Ba Thin near Cameron Bay) and unit activities. Discussion about the casual dress in the photo and life in Vietnam. Bill shares his homecoming experience and current involvement with military honor guards. Plans for an upcoming Army Security Agency anniversary program. [55:50 - 01:17:40] Anniversary of the Kent State Shooting - Historical Context and Veteran Memories Greg Yoast provides a detailed history of the Kent State shooting on May 4, 1970. Explanation of the political and social climate leading to the incident, including Nixon's Cambodia incursion. Todd and veterans share personal memories and reflections on the event. Don Nemch recalls the impact and significance of Kent State and related protests. Ben Dawson and others discuss the National Guard's role and the atmosphere on campuses. John Terry shares his experience as a ROC instructor during ongoing protests. Bill Rios shares his story as a two-war veteran and Vietnam War protester, including his draft experience and later service in the National Guard during the Gulf War. Discussion about the complexity and divisiveness of the Kent State incident and its lasting impact on veterans and the nation. [01:17:40 - End] Closing Remarks and Upcoming Programs Thanks to participants and viewers. Reminder to join the upcoming Battle of Okinawa program. Encouragement to support the Veterans Breakfast Club through membership and participation. This breakdown captures the main topics and flow of the conversation, providing viewers with a clear guide to the video content.

Join us for a remarkable evening with World War II veteran Richard “Dick” Inlow, a 101-year-old Navy Seabee who served in the Pacific. Drafted out of high school and sent to a Seabee battalion, Dick didn't even know what a Seabee was—just that the Navy put him on a train and sent him where he was needed. Before long, he found himself landing in the first wave at Peleliu, supporting the Marines under fire, carrying ammunition through waist-deep water as bullets struck around him. “I survived by hiding behind the Marines,” he says with characteristic understatement. Dick served with the 33rd Naval Construction Battalion, helping repair airstrips under combat conditions and supporting frontline operations in some of the Pacific's most brutal fighting. After the war, Dick built a full and accomplished life, becoming a teacher, a mathematician, and a man who never lost his passion for learning. About VBC LIVE: Veterans Breakfast Club brings veterans, families, and the public together in “communities of listening”—where stories connect us across generations, experiences, and perspectives. #WWII #Veterans #Seabees #Peleliu #PacificWar #OralHistory #VeteransStories #MilitaryHistory #GreatestGeneration #VBC

What happens between the battlefield and home? Aeromedical, an Emmy Award–winning documentary by Rebecca Abbott and Tim Malloy, takes you inside U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation missions that move wounded service members from combat zones to advanced care—often within hours, and sometimes back to the United States within days. Filmed in Afghanistan, Germany, and the U.S., the documentary captures a life-saving system nearly a century in the making, from its beginnings in 1918 to today's flying intensive care units aboard C-17, C-130, and KC-135 aircraft. The result is a survival rate approaching 98%. More than a story of combat, Aeromedical reveals the skill, urgency, and quiet dedication of the doctors, nurses, technicians, and aircrews—many from the National Guard and Reserve—who keep the wounded alive in the air. Following the 28-minute film, join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a live conversation and Q&A with the filmmakers and aeromedical crew members. This VBC LIVE program offers a different view of war—not the fight itself, but the effort to bring people home. #Aeromedical #USAirForce #Medevac #MilitaryMedicine #Veterans #DocumentaryFilm #VBC #VeteransBreakfastClub #Landstuhl #Ramstein #C17 #C130 #KC135 #WarStories #MilitaryHistory #NationalGuard #Reserves #AfghanistanWar

Retired Navy Captain and author David E. Grogan joins us to discuss his book Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, a collection of life lessons drawn from the lived experiences of American veterans. Grogan, a former international and operational attorney for the U.S. Navy, has spent years listening closely to those who served. The result is a book that not only describes twenty-six veterans' personal battlefields, but also digs deeper to discover the enduring life lessons their service teaches. All royalties from the book are donated to America's VetDogs, which provides guide and service dogs to veterans and first responders. The project has already raised more than $4,100 for the charity—a reminder that these veterans continue to serve others through their stories. For this special program, David will be joined by four of the veterans whose lives anchor key chapters in the book. Each represents a different era of service and a different lesson learned. Specialist Tom Garvey's service in Vietnam underscores one of the most enduring truths of military life: survival and sanity often hinge on friendship. His chapter reflects on the bonds formed under stress and how loyalty to one another carried young soldiers through war and long afterward. Specialist Billy Terrell's story emphasizes his efforts to provide a sanctuary for the most vulnerable victims of the Vietnam War. His service shaped in him a deep commitment to fairness and advocacy, particularly for those without a voice. His chapter explores how efforts military members take to help others often change lives, including their own. Specialist Eric Ferguson's experience during the Gulf War era highlights a quieter but powerful trait: attentiveness. Listening—to mentors, to circumstances, to possibilities, even to art—opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed. His story is about recognizing opportunity in unlikely moments and having the discipline to act. Commander Tom Jones unconventional career as a Navy attorney took him from military courtrooms to capture missions with the SEALs in Iraq. He had an equally unconventional family life growing up, yet his family always remained in the forefront of his military career. His chapter reflects on the sustaining force of family—before, during, and after war—and how service impacts not only the individual but also all those they love. This evening will not be a book talk but rather a conversation about what military service teaches and how those lessons echo long after the service is over.

On Monday, April 13 at 7pm ET, VBC Live welcomes national leaders of Vietnam Veterans of America for a candid and timely discussion about the organization's future. Joining us are Thomas Burke, National President; Dominick Yezzo, National General Counsel; and James McCormick, Executive Director for Government Affairs. Nearly five decades after its founding, VVA faces a generational turning point. As Vietnam-era veterans age, the organization must determine how to preserve its identity and mission while ensuring continuity. Should membership remain exclusive to Vietnam-era veterans, or expand to include those who served in later conflicts? What structural or governance changes are under consideration? These questions surfaced forcefully at last year's national convention in New Orleans, where debate over the organization's direction revealed both deep loyalty to its founding purpose and strong differences over how best to move forward. On this program, our guests will explain the options being discussed, reflect on what is at stake, and share their own stories of military service and decades of advocacy. This conversation offers a respectful forum to better understand the choices ahead and the legacy VVA seeks to carry forward.

We invite all Persian Gulf War veterans to join us and share their stories. After our recent VBC Live conversation marking Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990–1991), we heard from many of you: Thank you for doing this. I don't often get to speak about it. People forget we were there. The First Gulf War often slips between the memory of Vietnam and the long shadow of 9/11. So on Monday, April 6, we're offering an Open Mic and Open Conversation focused on Gulf War-era service. We have no agenda or presentation, just casual and focused conversation from those who served in 1990-1991. Please join us to connect, compare notes, swap stories, ask questions, and remember what this moment in history felt like from the inside. In August 1990, Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait. The U.S. and a broad international coalition responded first with Operation Desert Shield, which was a massive buildup to defend Saudi Arabia and deter further Iraqi advances. It was followed in January 1991 by Operation Desert Storm, the air campaign and then the ground offensive that liberated Kuwait in just 100 hours. The war was large and fast. It involved hundreds of thousands of service members fighting the war through logistics, maintenance, intelligence, medical care, transportation, communications, air defense, and a thousand other jobs that made everything else possible. Some deployed to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the Gulf, Turkey, the Red Sea. Others served stateside or in Europe working supply, airlift/sealift, vehicle maintenance, air defense, communications, or medical operations. Wherever you served, please join us to talk about what you were doing, thinking, and feeling 35 years ago.

We welcome Major Cyla Srna of the Texas State Guard, who will tell us about her Marine Corps service as an Aviation Structural Mechanic and her decision to join Texas's State Defense Force, where she's served for the past 12 years. Cyla is also an advocate for women veterans. In 2020, she agreed to enter the Ms. Veteran America competition in order to call attention to the problem of women veterans' homelessness. Cyla has a deep understanding of the problem, as she's experienced it herself. We'll talk about that and about her unique posts in the Texas State Guard, including Emergency Operations during Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19. Cyla will educate us about the Texas State Guard, one of twenty examples of a little-known part of America's military system: the State Defense Forces (SDFs). Authorized under Title 32 of the U.S. Code and grounded in states' constitutional authority to maintain militias, SDFs exist alongside the National Guard but cannot be federalized. Their mission is strictly state-focused—responding to natural disasters, public health emergencies, border and infrastructure security, logistics, communications, and community support when governors call. These units are volunteer, uniformed, and trained, often composed of prior-service veterans as well as civilians who want to serve close to home.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have something on your mind—whether a personal memory, a question, or a topic you think deserves attention—we encourage you to bring it to the conversation. Veterans are also invited to email Shaun Hall at shaun@veteransbreakfastclub.org with any specific topics or issues they'd like to discuss. The Veterans Breakfast Club's mission is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories, and our Open Conversations are one of the most dynamic ways we do that. These sessions are often wide-ranging, emotional, funny, and thought-provoking, providing a welcoming space where everyone's voice is valued. This event is free and open to all. To join the conversation live on Zoom, please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6402618738. Or tune in on Facebook or YouTube at 7:00pm ET. Whether you have something to share or simply want to listen and learn, we welcome you to be part of the conversation!

We welcome Army intelligence veteran Bethany Redmond to share her story. She didn't grow up aiming for the military. She was a language and humanities student from Los Alamos, New Mexico — not the stereotypical path into national security — until an Army recruiter's call at the end of high school nudged her into service. From there she found herself in Army intelligence, where listening, pattern recognition, and human judgment mattered more than guns or glory. After her military service, Bethany continued on a path that few Americans ever see up close: counterintelligence. She worked protecting critical research and personnel at Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the nation's premier science and national security institutions. Today she is a leader in protective intelligence, helping organizations understand how ordinary activities — travel, publication histories, personnel movements — can create vulnerabilities exploited by foreign actors and insider threats. In this Veterans Breakfast Club conversation we'll explore the real work behind national security “behind the scenes,” what counterintelligence looks like in the 21st century, and how the habits veterans learn in uniform translate to protecting the nation in new arenas.

In September 2025, we welcomed a group of Army Security Agency (ASA) veterans — including John Peart, Gerry Freed, Brian Harrison, Lonnie Long, Bill Mears, Vernon Greunke, Phil Rutherford, Joe Adams, and several others — to talk about a service many Americans have never heard of but that shaped U.S. intelligence through the early Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, and into the 1970s. We're bringing them back and adding more voices for a deeper conversation about who the ASA was, what its mission meant in their lives, and how their work echoes into the present. Founded on 15 September 1945, the ASA grew out of a long Army lineage of signals intelligence and communications security work that traced back through the World Wars. Its mission was straightforward in purpose, if cryptic in practice: intercept enemy communications, decode them, analyze them, and keep Army communications secure. ASA soldiers didn't march down Main Street in uniform with medals — they lived at listening posts, in fixed field stations from Turkey to Japan, in remote hilltops in Southeast Asia, and in tactical units alongside fighting forces. The motto Semper Vigiles — Vigilant Always — wasn't just ceremonial, it was their lived reality. What made ASA service different was not just the technical intensity of the work — signals intelligence, direction finding, cryptography, electronic warfare — but the culture of compartmented secrecy. ASA soldiers often knew only the fragment of a mission they were assigned; they could not speak about their work, even to fellow veterans outside secure channels, for decades after service. Yet the intelligence they pulled from ether and wire was woven into strategic decisions, operational planning, and battlefield support from Korea to Vietnam. In Vietnam, ASA personnel served under the cover name Radio Research. The first unit sent — the 3rd Radio Research Unit at Tan Son Nhut in May 1961 — marked the earliest sustained Army presence there, four years before conventional ground forces arrived. Specialist 4 James T. Davis, a direction-finding operator, was killed in an ambush in December 1961 and is remembered as the first American combat casualty recognized by the Department of Defense in that war. The ASA compound at Tan Son Nhut was later named Davis Station in his honor. Last year's conversation with Peart and others — veterans whose names and faces many in the audience had never heard before — revealed the depth of this hidden service: long nights at intercept consoles, the strange beauty and loneliness of bivouac hilltop stations, the thrill when a cryptic net “went hot,” and the frustration of having to keep the story locked away long after returning home. For this follow-up program, Peart and several of his fellow ASA veterans will return to share more of their experiences. They'll be joined by additional ASA veterans — some you've heard before in conversation with VBC and some who are joining this community for the first time — to talk about the human side of intelligence service: the friendships forged under strict secrecy, the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life with stories they couldn't tell, and the pride they felt in work that, for decades, almost no one outside the classified world understood. We'll also trace the ASA's broader arc: its growth as a SIGINT and COMSEC force during the early Cold War, its expansion through Korea and Vietnam, and its eventual absorption into the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) in 1977, when Army intelligence reorganized into multi-discipline formations. Though the ASA name disappeared, its legacy survives in today's Army intelligence and electronic warfare units.

Army veterans and military analyst Jim Blackwell marks the 35th anniversary of the launch of the ground offensive in Operation Desert Storm. The ground war of Desert Storm was short, violent, and decisive. After weeks of air attacks, coalition ground forces surged into southern Iraq and Kuwait in late February 1991. U.S. Army and Marine units executed a sweeping left-hook maneuver across the desert, shattering Iraqi defensive lines, destroying Republican Guard units, and cutting off retreat routes. In just 100 hours, coalition forces liberated Kuwait, overwhelmed a large enemy army, and brought the campaign to a sudden end. For those who were there, the experience was defined by speed, dust, night movement, overwhelming firepower—and the strange, unfinished feeling that followed such a rapid victory. Jim Blackwell served during this period and has spent decades studying, writing, and thinking critically about modern warfare, the Gulf War, and what Desert Storm revealed—and concealed—about American military power. In this conversation, we'll talk not only about tactics and outcomes, but about what the ground war felt like to the people who fought it and how its legacy still shapes military thinking today. If you served in Desert Storm—especially in the ground offensive—we invite you to join us. This is a chance to listen, reflect, and add your own voice to the record. Whether you crossed the berm, supported the advance, or watched it unfold from another role, your experience matters.

Join us for a compelling conversation with award-winning journalist and bestselling writer Wil Haygood (author of The Butler) as he discusses his latest book, The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home (out February 10, 2026). Haygood reframes the Vietnam War not simply as a foreign conflict, but as a crucible in which the fight for civil rights followed Black Americans from the streets of the United States into the jungles of Southeast Asia. Drawing on deep research and vivid personal stories, he traces the lives of Black soldiers, airmen, doctors, nurses, journalists, and activists who fought simultaneously against enemy forces abroad and systemic racism at home. In The War Within a War, readers encounter figures both famous and obscure: from an Air Force pilot POW and a frontline surgeon to Marvin Gaye and Martin Luther King, Jr. The goal is to illuminate how this dual struggle reshaped both the war and the American conscience. This book goes beyond military history to explore how race and war intersected in ways that still echo in American life. Haygood's narrative brings urgency and humanity to a chapter of the Vietnam era that reshapes our understanding of service, sacrifice, and the unfinished fight for equality. Join us to hear from one of America's most insightful chroniclers of Black experience and national history, and to engage with the stories that still reverberate a half-century later. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have something on your mind—whether a personal memory, a question, or a topic you think deserves attention—we encourage you to bring it to the conversation. Veterans are also invited to email Shaun Hall at shaun@veteransbreakfastclub.org with any specific topics or issues they'd like to discuss. The Veterans Breakfast Club's mission is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories, and our Open Conversations are one of the most dynamic ways we do that. These sessions are often wide-ranging, emotional, funny, and thought-provoking, providing a welcoming space where everyone's voice is valued. This event is free and open to all. To join the conversation live on Zoom, please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6402618738. Or tune in on Facebook or YouTube at 7:00pm ET on February 2. Whether you have something to share or simply want to listen and learn, we welcome you to be part of the conversation! We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a powerful livestream conversation with Michael Archer, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and author of A Patch of Ground: Khe Sanh, a firsthand account of one of the most intense and contested battles of the Vietnam War. Michael Archer is not writing as a distant historian or outside observer. He was a Marine at Khe Sanh. He lived on that patch of ground, endured the siege, and carried its weight with him long after leaving Vietnam. His book is rooted in direct experience—what it meant to be young, scared, exhausted, and determined, holding a remote combat base under constant artillery fire while the world debated whether Khe Sanh would become another Dien Bien Phu. A Patch of Ground is spare, unsentimental, and deeply personal. Archer writes about daily life under siege: patrols, bunkers, incoming rounds, boredom and terror existing side by side, and the bonds formed among Marines who depended on one another to survive. He also writes about memory—how Khe Sanh stayed with him, how veterans carry places like that inside them, and why telling the story matters decades later. In this conversation, we'll focus squarely on Archer's Marine Corps service and his experience at Khe Sanh: what he remembers, what surprised him looking back, and what gets lost when battles are reduced to maps, timelines, and strategic arguments. We'll talk about why Khe Sanh became such a symbol during the war, what it felt like on the ground to be part of that symbol, and how writing the book helped Archer make sense of an experience that never really ends. This is a conversation about combat, memory, and bearing witness—told by a Marine who was there, on that ground, and who has spent years finding the words to describe it. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

In this Veterans Breakfast Club livestream, we sit down with filmmaker Steven Grayhm to talk about Sheepdog, an independent feature film that takes a hard, honest look at combat trauma, recovery, and the long road home. Grayhm not only stars in the film, but also wrote, produced, and directed it—an unusual level of authorship that reflects how personal the project is. Sheepdog centers on Calvin Cole (Grayhm), a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who is court-ordered into treatment and placed under the care of a VA trauma therapist-in-training (played by Madsen), who is juggling her clinical work with night shifts at a diner to pay for school. Calvin's fragile attempt to hold himself together is further tested when his father-in-law, a retired Vietnam veteran (Curtis Hall), appears at his door fresh out of prison. As Calvin's instinct to run from his past collapses, the film traces how accountability, compassion, and hard-earned trust can open a path toward healing. Shot on location in Western Massachusetts, Sheepdog aims to lift the veil on post-traumatic stress and the veteran suicide crisis, while also focusing on the often-overlooked idea of post-traumatic growth. Rather than offering easy answers, the film shows the physical and psychological consequences of trauma—and the slow, uneven work of recovery—through grounded performances and lived-in settings. Film critic Tony Toscana called it “one of the best films of the year.” We'll ask Grayhm about how Sheepdog came to be: years spent listening to veterans' stories, studying trauma and VA treatment models, and working closely with veterans and clinicians to get the details right. He'll reflect on why he felt compelled to tell this story himself, why authenticity matters more than spectacle, and what it takes to bring an independently made, veteran-centered film from script to screen. This livestream will explore the making of Sheepdog, the responsibilities of telling veterans' stories on film, and what cinema can—and cannot—do when it comes to understanding trauma, recovery, and the complicated work of coming home. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Before he ever flew gunships in Vietnam or logged 900 combat hours over the Central Highlands, Gil Ferrey had already taken a remarkable detour into the frontlines of the Cold War. In the fall of 1961—just three weeks after construction began on the Berlin Wall—Gil, then a 20-year-old American student studying in East Berlin, attempted to help a young woman escape to the West. He and a friend, Victor Pankey, hid her in the trunk of their car and made a run for the border. They didn't make it. East German border guards arrested them at the crossing. What followed was four months in a state security prison, weeks of solitary confinement, a trial with a predetermined outcome, and an unexpected release reportedly granted as a personal “act of mercy” by Walter Ulbricht. The New York Times covered the case closely in 1962: two young Californians imprisoned for an act they considered morally right, even if East German law judged otherwise. When they emerged, shaggy-haired but unbroken, both said they'd been treated well. But the experience left its mark. Gil will tell the story of how a semester abroad in a sealed-off city became a collision with Communist state power and a firsthand look at the making of the Cold War's most visible boundary. But Ferrey's story doesn't end at Checkpoint Charlie. After returning home, finishing his studies at Claremont Men's College, and earning his commission, he went on to serve as an Army aviator. He trained at Fort Wolters and Fort Rucker, earned his wings in December 1964, and served first in Korea with the 7th Aviation Battalion, then stateside with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In Vietnam, Gill flew Hueys and Hiller 23G “Raven” scout helicopters, logging 900 combat hours. This is one of those rare veteran stories that opens a window not just onto a war, but onto an entire era. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have something on your mind—whether a personal memory, a question, or a topic you think deserves attention—we encourage you to bring it to the conversation. Veterans are also invited to email Shaun Hall at shaun@veteransbreakfastclub.org with any specific topics or issues they'd like to discuss. The Veterans Breakfast Club's mission is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories, and our Open Conversations are one of the most dynamic ways we do that. These sessions are often wide-ranging, emotional, funny, and thought-provoking, providing a welcoming space where everyone's voice is valued. This event is free and open to all. To join the conversation live on Zoom, please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6402618738. Or tune in on Facebook or YouTube at 7:00pm ET on June 9. Whether you have something to share or simply want to listen and learn, we welcome you to be part of the conversation! We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

One week before the Tet Offensive of 1968, a small, unarmed Navy intelligence ship called the USS Pueblo was attacked and captured by North Korea. The seizure of the Pueblo became its own crisis running parallel to Tet, trapping 82 American sailors in a struggle for survival that lasted nearly a year. One of those sailors was 20-year-old Steven Woelk from Kansas. On our upcoming VBC livestream, Steven will join us to share his remarkable firsthand story, now told in full in his soon-to-be-released memoir, Pig Fat Soup: Surviving My Pueblo Prisoner of War Journey. When cannon rounds started ripping into the lightly armed spy ship, Woelk was below decks with three shipmates, frantically trying to burn classified material before it could be captured. The smoke gave them away. A North Korean round tore through their space, killing Woelk's friend and leaving Woelk himself gravely wounded. Because of those wounds, he became the last sailor to leave the Pueblo. Carried off the ship after Commander Lloyd Bucher surrendered to prevent further slaughter, Woelk then went ten full days without medical treatment. When surgery finally came, it was brutal. Shrapnel, bone fragments, and his testicles were removed without anesthesia. He still has no idea how he survived without infection. Woelk spent forty-four days in a North Korean hospital, which spared him some of the savage beatings his crewmates endured. But nothing shielded him from “hell week,” the torture that followed once the captors discovered the crew's defiant middle-finger gesture wasn't, in fact, a friendly Hawaiian greeting. “You pray you're strong enough to resist,” he later said, “but you never know until you face that reality.” There were long stretches of boredom, hunger, and fear, punctuated by sudden terror, never knowing whether the next moment would bring a beating, execution, or, by some miracle, release. Release finally came two days before Christmas 1968. For his wounds and captivity, Woelk received two Purple Hearts and the POW Medal. The Pueblo remains the only U.S. Navy vessel still held by a foreign nation, displayed by North Korea as a trophy and propaganda exhibit. Steven Woelk has spent much of his life ensuring that the Pueblo is not forgotten. His memoir, Pig Fat Soup, offers the most detailed and candid account he's ever shared—one that moves from the chaos of the attack to the freezing bunkrooms of the “Barn,” the POW camp where the crew endured nearly a year of captivity. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Edward Ford and Alan Chiasson came to Afghanistan with long résumés in uniform and out. Ford was a Force Recon Marine with combat tours in the Gulf War, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan before moving into high-end security contracting. Chiasson was a Navy Hospital Corpsman and Texas paramedic who'd spent years providing high-risk medical support on PSD and convoy details in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the private security firm SOC (Special Operations Consulting) expanded its mobile operations in Afghanistan, both men ended up on armored Ford F-550 gun trucks running some of the most dangerous roads in the country. At first, their teams hauled critical supplies—ammo, fuel, food, equipment—to isolated Special Forces sites and small outposts the regular military couldn't cover. Then SOC picked up the Department of Defense contract to move something that sounded almost ordinary: the mail. Ford, Chiasson, and their teammates suddenly became the unofficial “Pony Express” of Afghanistan, hauling letters and care packages from Kabul and Bagram along the notorious Ring Road to places like Ghazni, Sharana, Orgun-E, and tiny dirt compounds with nothing but Hesco walls and a few tents. Troops took the mail for granted; few ever thought about the chain of convoys and gun trucks that got a letter from a stateside mailbox to a cot in Kandahar. Postcards Through Hell tells that story from the inside. The “Pony Express” ran four teams in a three-on, one-off rotation so three could be on the road at any time. One team took the long hauls, another ran the shorter Kabul ring route while standing QRF, and a third trained, refit, and got ready to swap in. A “good” day might mean an 18-hour, thousand-kilometer push with no major incidents—what they jokingly called the “Thousand Kilometer Club.” Most days weren't like that. They drove flat-bottom F-550s with level-seven armor and twin turrets, strong against small arms but vulnerable to anything placed directly underneath. Once the Taliban figured out that weakness, a well-buried mine or IED under the chassis could flip a truck or tear it in half. The book is anchored in specific days and events. Ford saved incident reports, op orders, and run paperwork; Chiasson kept a journal. Together they rebuilt a timeline that lets them write, “On April 30 we were here; on May 1 this happened,” instead of “sometime that spring.” Around those convoy stories they layer the wider war: the Camp Chapman suicide bombing; Special Forces “kill teams” at outposts like Ramrod; Italian forces paying the Taliban not to attack them, which meant somebody else—often the Pony Express—became the target. They were there when other contractor convoys got hit, when friends died in F-550s blown apart by stacked anti-tank mines, and when gun trucks limped back into Kabul with wounded men inside and burned-out hulks left behind on the road. Their daily life was built around a simple idea: keep your brothers alive. When they weren't running missions, they were on QRF. When they weren't on QRF, they were working out. When they weren't working out, they were training. They ate together, lived on top of each other in cramped villas and compounds, and used the long Afghan “fighting season”—April through October—to sort out who really belonged there. The easy-sounding mail run weeded people out fast. Some new hires lasted one fighting season, some one mission, some one week. Others stayed for years, until they hit what Ford calls “the wall”—that private moment when you look at a body on a slab, or feel age and accumulated blast damage catching up with you, and decide it's time to go home. Postcards Through Hell doesn't ignore the business side of contracting. Ford and Chiasson talk frankly about companies weighing the cost of vehicle upgrades against death-benefit payouts, replacing seasoned expatriate drivers with cheaper local nationals, and relying on Afghan “expediters” whose loyalties sometimes ran in more than one direction.  The story doesn't end when the convoys stop. The contract itself ran, under different companies, into 2016, and Ford and Chiasson had to cut whole chapters from the book because of classified work and units involved.  At heart, Postcards Through Hell is a book about a very unglamorous, absolutely vital piece of America's longest war.  We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join us for an evening with Colonel Chuck Bechtel, whose new memoir, Sent to War, Returning for Peace: My Reconciliation with the Vietnam War, traces a long soldier's journey from the jungles of Vietnam to a quiet reckoning half a century later. Chuck was drafted in 1966, a kid from Pennsylvania who suddenly found himself leading a 43-man infantry platoon with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in 1968–69. His book tells that story—training, combat, fear, loss, and the strange return home to a country that didn't know what to make of its soldiers. But it also reaches beyond the war. Chuck writes about the decades that followed, the invisible weight so many veterans carried, and the hard work of finding peace in the long after. A centerpiece of the memoir is his return trip to Vietnam in 2022 with his wife and a small group of veterans organized by Mrs. Lei Williams, whose own life was shaped by the war. That journey—walking old ground with former enemies and longtime friends—became a turning point. The book captures the tenderness, the surprises, and the healing that can happen when you're finally ready to face the past. Over thirty-five years in uniform, Chuck rose from Private E-1 to full Colonel, commanded at every level from company to brigade, deployed during Desert Storm, and later played a key role in building the Army's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team. His record includes the Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Air Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Combat Infantry Badge, Legion of Merit, and many more. After retiring, he continued serving as a volunteer Ambassador for Veterans' Outreach of PA, helping launch Veterans Grove, a 24/7 therapeutic community for unhoused veterans. Ten percent of his book royalties support that mission. Chuck lives in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with his wife Joan. They have two children and three grandchildren. This livestream will be a conversation not just about a war, but about what it means to come home from one—and how reconciliation can grow, even decades later. We hope you'll join us. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join us for a special Veterans Breakfast Club Monday Night Livestream on November 24 marking the 58th anniversary of the Battle of Dak To, one of the fiercest and bloodiest engagements of the Vietnam War. We'll be joined by veterans who fought there—men who endured the steep jungle slopes, relentless artillery, and desperate close-quarters combat of the Central Highlands in November 1967. Their firsthand stories will bring to life the courage, chaos, and sacrifice that defined this pivotal and horrific battle. The Battle of Dak To took place in Kon Tum Province, near the border with Laos, as U.S. Army units—mainly from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and 1st Cavalry Division—clashed with well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces. For weeks, paratroopers and infantrymen fought for control of jungle-covered ridges like Hill 875, where heavy bombardment turned the forest to ash and cost hundreds of American lives. By the time the battle ended, over 280 Americans were killed and more than 900 wounded, while NVA losses numbered in the thousands. It was a pyrrhic victory that revealed both the extraordinary valor of U.S. troops and the brutal futility of the wider war. In this livestream, veterans of Dak To will share their memories of combat, loss, and survival—and reflect on what the battle means today, nearly half a century later. We'll explore the human dimension behind the headlines: the fear, the brotherhood, and the haunting aftermath carried home. Join us for an evening of remembrance and reflection as we honor those who fought at Dak To and keep their stories alive. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Glenn Flickinger and Todd DePastino discuss the VBC's WWII Tour of Italy in October 2026, where they will spend 14 days following the path of the Allied forces through one of the most grueling campaigns of World War II. Todd and Glenn will also talk with Italian Campaign expert, 45th Infantry Division Historian Professor David D'Andrea, who will also be joining us on our trip. We'll trace the course of the Italian Campaign, beginning with Operation Husky, the massive Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 that opened the road to Europe's soft underbelly. From the hard-fought landings at Gela and Scoglitti to the urban battles in Palermo and the mountainous defenses near Messina, Sicily tested the courage and coordination of American and British troops. From there, the campaign moved to mainland Italy, first at Salerno, where American soldiers fought to hold their beachhead against fierce counterattacks, and then up the rugged spine of the Apennines. We'll visit key battlegrounds of Cassino, where Allied forces waged a costly struggle for control of the ancient Abbey of Monte Cassino, and Anzio, where troops endured months of shelling in a desperate bid to outflank German defenses. The campaign culminated in the liberation of Rome on June 4, 1944, two days before D-Day in Normandy. Our trip will visit these storied sites—Catania, Syracuse, Agrigento, Palermo, Salerno, Cassino, Anzio, and Rome—accompanied by historians and local guides who will help us connect the landscape to the history that unfolded there. Along the way, we'll also enjoy the beauty that drew the world to Italy long before and long after the war: the turquoise waters of the Amalfi Coast, the golden temples of Agrigento, and the ancient beauty of Palermo and Rome. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

For the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the Veterans Breakfast Club goes deep with Marine Corps veteran and classical scholar Dr. Josh Cannon about the ancient truths of war. Join this conversation with an  Iraq veteran, anthropologist, and author, whose new book Fatal Second Helen: A Modern Veteran's Iliad bridges the 2,600-year-old world of Homer's Iliad with the modern battlefield of Iraq. Cannon served as an Arabic cryptologic linguist with the Marine Corps from 2000 to 2005, deploying twice to Iraq—first with the invasion in 2003 and again in 2004. After his service, he pursued graduate studies in linguistics and archaeology at the University of Chicago, earning a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Now a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh, Cannon brings both the scholar's lens and the veteran's heart to Homer's tale of rage, loss, and honor. In Fatal Second Helen, Cannon retells Homer's epic in clear, vivid prose, weaving in his own combat experiences and reflections on the warrior's life. It's a book that asks timeless questions: What draws people to war? What do they bring back from it? And what can ancient heroes like Achilles teach modern warriors about grief, pride, and the search for meaning? As Cannon writes in his essay “Glorious But Dead—Was It Worth It?”, he has lived the same paradox Homer captured 26 centuries ago: the beauty and the tragedy of battle, the brotherhood and the loss, the impossible attempt to make sense of it all. This conversation promises to be part literary journey, part war story, and part meditation on how veterans across millennia have wrestled with the same enduring human truths. We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have something on your mind—whether a personal memory, a question, or a topic you think deserves attention—we encourage you to bring it to the conversation. Veterans are also invited to email Shaun Hall at shaun@veteransbreakfastclub.org with any specific topics or issues they'd like to discuss. The Veterans Breakfast Club's mission is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories, and our Open Conversations are one of the most dynamic ways we do that. These sessions are often wide-ranging, emotional, funny, and thought-provoking, providing a welcoming space where everyone's voice is valued. This event is free and open to all. To join the conversation live on Zoom, please use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6402618738. Or tune in on Facebook or YouTube at 7:00pm ET on June 9. Whether you have something to share or simply want to listen and learn, we welcome you to be part of the conversation! We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special livestream conversation with Elliot Ackerman, decorated Marine, CIA officer, acclaimed novelist, and co-chair of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation. Ackerman served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine Raider and special operations officer, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, and Purple Heart. His experiences on the front lines, particularly during the Second Battle of Fallujah—profoundly shaped his worldview and continue to inform his writing about war, morality, and memory. Since leaving the Marines, Ackerman has become one of America's most distinguished voices on the human cost and complexity of modern warfare. His novels and memoirs—including Green on Blue, Dark at the Crossing (a National Book Award finalist), Waiting for Eden, Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning, The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan, 2034: A Novel of the Next World War (co-authored with Admiral James Stavridis), and Halcyon—explore what it means to serve, to lose, and to come home changed. In addition to his literary career, Ackerman serves as co-chair of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation, which is leading the effort to build a national memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring all who served in the post-9/11 wars. He has spoken passionately about ensuring that this memorial reflects not only the valor of service but also the complexity and enduring impact of America's longest conflict. This conversation will trace Ackerman's journey from the Marine Corps to the written page, exploring how combat, conscience, and storytelling intersect in his work. We'll also discuss his vision for the Global War on Terror Memorial and how remembrance can bridge the gap between those who served and those who did not. Learn more about Elliot Ackerman at his Penguin Random House Speakers page and read his reflections on the memorial project at the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation.

Legendary journalist and author Elizabeth Becker, who has spent her career bearing witness to the frontlines of history, joins us to talk about her new book, You Don't Belong Here: How Three Women Rewrote the Story of War ,a riveting account of three trailblazing female correspondents who shattered gender barriers to cover the Vietnam War. The book tells the stories of Frances FitzGerald, Kate Webb, and Catherine Leroy, but Elizabeth herself reported from Cambodia and Vietnam in the 1970s. Her courage and insight—captured in You Don't Belong Here—help redefine how we understand both war and the craft of journalism. We'll also explore Becker's earlier, haunting book, When the War Was Over: Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge Revolution. Drawing on her harrowing reporting in Cambodia, Becker offers an account of the Khmer Rouge's genocide. She became one of only two Western journalists to meet Pol Pot—an experience that forever shaped her understanding of power, propaganda, and human tragedy. That historic meeting has now inspired the new feature film Meeting with Pol Pot (2024), directed by acclaimed Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh. The dramatization follows three Western journalists navigating a tightly controlled “Potemkin village” as the regime teeters on the brink of collapse and mass murder is underway behind the scenes. The film, which premiered at Cannes in 2024, brings Becker's gripping firsthand account to life and raises questions about truth, memory, and the moral responsibility of journalists. As the character based on Becker—Lise Delbo, played by Irène Jacob—observes, “Genocide is also about silence. You don't see anything, you don't hear anything.” Elizabeth Becker is a pioneering journalist and author. She began her career as a war correspondent for The Washington Post in Cambodia and later served as The New York Times' Senior Foreign Editor. She has covered politics, economics, and international affairs for decades and is a sought-after commentator and lecturer. Her books—award-winning, deeply reported, and beautifully written—have reshaped how we understand Vietnam, Cambodia, and the role of women in war. Learn more: elizabethbecker.com/about | Reviews We're grateful to UPMC for Life  for sponsoring this event!