Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # David E. Grogan Author of the Steve Stilwell thriller series and Voices To Veterans ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://davidegrogan.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://davidegrogan.com/blog-2/) - [Colonel Tom Thompson, U.S. Army: From Vietnam to Hollywood - Forging a Unique Army Career](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/07/colonel-tom-thompson-u-s-army-from-vietnam-to-hollywood-forging-a-unique-army-career/) - It takes a special person to endure a long career in the military. Wartime deployments, long family separations with missed birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, and the strain of command compete against the strong sense of duty, camaraderie, and public service officers feel as they decide whether to continue in the military or leave to pursue a civilian career. Colonel Tom Thompson, U.S. Army (Retired), experienced all these factors and more as he navigated his twenty-six-year career in the Army that included two combat deployments to Vietnam. Throughout it all, he balanced duty and family as best he could to make both sides win. This is his story. - [ETN3 Eugene Walker, U.S. Navy - Right Place, Right Time](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/10/etn3-eugene-walker-u-s-navy-right-place-right-time/) - Some people have a knack for telling stories. When you listen, you can’t help but share in their excitement as they reveal an unexpected outcome or describe an event that made a difference in their lives or the lives of other people. Petty Officer Third Class Eugene Walker, U.S. Navy, has the storytelling gift. - [Corporal John K. Goeken, U.S. Marine Corps - Two Wars, Three Deployments, and a Commitment to the Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/2026/01/corporal-john-k-goeken-u-s-marine-corps-two-wars-three-deployments-and-a-commitment-to-the-corps/) - Those who want to become U.S. Marines must have, or want to develop, the self-confidence, courage, and swagger necessary to confront enemies without ever thinking of backing down. They know they will win the fight, no matter what the odds—and their enemies know it, too. Corporal John K. Goeken, U.S. Marine Corps, has those qualities in spades. In fact, they compelled him to join the Marine Corps and deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan a total of three times while wearing the uniform. Once back in civilian life, they drove him to return to Afghanistan as a contractor providing security for U.S. government facilities and personnel. Now he is channeling those qualities to become an engineer. - [Technical Sergeant Kenneth Ash, U.S. Air Force (Retired) - Twenty Years of Keeping B-52s Flying](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/04/technical-sergeant-kenneth-ash-u-s-air-force-retired-twenty-years-of-keeping-b-52s-flying/) - Some people come to critical decision points in their lives and wait for the Fates to make the decisions for them. Others, like Technical Sergeant Kenneth Ash, U.S. Air Force (Retired), make the hard choices themselves and chart their own paths, unwilling to leave their futures to chance. Ken joined the Air Force in 1967 rather than waiting to be drafted, beginning a journey of service that lasted twenty years. Although he had no way of knowing where his journey would ultimately take him, he knew with certainty his choice was the right one for him at the time. - [Electrician's Mate Third Class Lyman K. "Manny" Steil, U.S. Navy - Duty in a Diesel Submarine](https://davidegrogan.com/2026/06/electricians-mate-third-class-lyman-k-manny-steil-u-s-navy-duty-in-a-diesel-submarine/) - Few veterans are ambivalent about their military service. Many see it as the defining moment in their lives, transforming them from teenagers into adults. Electrician’s Mate Third Class Lyman K. “Manny” Steil, U.S. Navy, is certain his time in the military helped mold him into the person he is today. The four years he served in the Navy made him disciplined, taught him how to handle significant responsibility, and gave him the skills he needed to work with people from many different walks of life. After his enlistment, Manny used the lessons he learned in the Navy to further his education, teach, and build a successful career in public speaking. - [Sergeant Russell J. Wright, U.S. Army - Fighting with the Americal Division in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/12/sergeant-russell-j-wright-u-s-army-fighting-with-the-americal-division-in-vietnam/) - Sometimes people are presented with options having life changing consequences. Such was the case with Sergeant Russell J. Wright, U.S. Army, when he received his draft notice in May of 1970. With the war in Vietnam winding down and protestors clamoring for draftees to flee to Canada, Russ could have evaded the draft and kept himself safe from a war that had already killed tens of thousands of Americans. Instead, he chose to do his duty and report for service because he knew it was the right thing to do. Now, looking back on his service in the jungles and rice paddies of South Vietnam over fifty years later, Russ is proud of his service and would do it all again. This is his story. - [LCDR Joe Dwigans, U.S. Navy - From an Iowa Dairy Farm to Flying Navy Helldivers](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/02/lcdr-joe-dwigans-u-s-navy-from-an-iowa-dairy-farm-to-flying-navy-helldivers/) - The naval aviator training pipeline is grueling. It takes months of study to learn the basics of flying. It takes strength of body and mind to withstand the physical and mental strains of landing a plane on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier at sea. Most of all, it takes courage, to launch from a ship in the middle of the ocean in search of a target with the hope of accomplishing the mission and returning home safely. Few have what it takes to even try to meet naval aviation’s high standards and even fewer succeed. At the height of World War II, with the naval war against Japan raging in the Pacific, Lieutenant Commander Joe Dwigans, U.S. Navy (Retired), raised his hand and said I can do it. This is his story. - [Sergeant Thomas Lucken, U.S. Army - Knocking on the Cold War's Door](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/10/sergeant-thomas-lucken-u-s-army-knocking-on-the-cold-wars-door/) - It’s easy to take for granted the freedoms we have because we live in a country isolated from its adversaries by two vast oceans. As a result, most of us live our lives unconcerned with the possibility of an invading foreign army. Many U.S. allies do not enjoy the same luxury, as they find themselves bordered by authoritarian regimes ready to cross their borders at the first sign of weakness. The U.S. has supported its allies since the end of World War II by sending forces to stand with them against would-be aggressors. Sergeant Thomas Lucken, U.S. Army, was one of those soldiers called to hold the line during the Cold War by spending over thirteen years overseas in South Korea and Germany as a Cavalry Scout. This is his story. - [Specialist James Reinholdt, U.S. Army - Soldiering Through the Mountains and Valleys of a Five-Year Army Career](https://davidegrogan.com/2026/05/specialist-james-reinholdt-u-s-army-soldiering-through-the-mountains-and-valleys-of-a-five-year-army-career/) - Sometimes our lives don’t go the way we envisioned. Fortune or adversity can strike at any time, sending us on a course we never imagined or prepared for. Such was the case with Specialist James Reinholdt, who served in the Army from 1978–83. Seventeen months into his dream job in Berchtesgaden, Germany, he was the driver in a fatal traffic accident that took the life of an Army colleague. He has dealt with the effects of the accident ever since. One thing he has never done, though, is give up. - [Lieutenant Walter Byron, U.S. Navy - Serving on a Destroyer in the Western Pacific](https://davidegrogan.com/2026/04/lieutenant-walter-byron-u-s-navy-serving-on-a-destroyer-in-the-western-pacific/) - When young men and women head off to college, they have a lot of growing up to do. College helps make that happen, but it can only do so much. That’s where life experience steps in to complete the job, and no life experience does that better than service in the military. Lieutenant Walter Byron, U.S. Navy, benefitted from that experience firsthand. Just five months after graduating from Tufts University, he found himself learning to drive a multi-million-dollar destroyer across the Pacific Ocean. The responsibility he had as a junior officer matured him like nothing else could. He then parlayed his Navy experience into a successful civilian career in engineering and management. - [First Lieutenant Brandon Merano, U.S. Air Force - Fueling U.S. Air Operations over Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq](https://davidegrogan.com/2026/03/first-lieutenant-brandon-merano-u-s-air-force-fueling-u-s-air-operations-over-afghanistan-syria-and-iraq/) - For those torn between wanting to serve in the military and pursuing a civilian career, America’s National Guard and Reserve forces offer the perfect solution. Both are critical to our nation’s defense, and both allow soldiers to be citizens invested in their communities. No one knows that better than First Lieutenant Brandon Merano, U.S. Air Force. As Brandon looked to his future, his family’s legacy compelled him to serve in the military. He also felt drawn to a career in broadcast journalism where he could positively impact the people in his community. He solved his dilemma by joining the Illinois Air National Guard at age seventeen and then executing a well-orchestrated plan to make both dreams a reality. - [Master Chief Petty Officer Donald Gohman, U.S. Navy (Retired) - Keeping the Navy Flying During Three Wars](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/11/master-chief-petty-officer-donald-gohman-u-s-navy-retired-keeping-the-navy-flying-during-three-wars/) - Master Chief Petty Officer Donald Gohman, U.S. Navy (Retired) is a humble man. When we began to talk, he told me his career was routine and he didn’t think he’d done anything special. Then he told me about how he helped keep planes flying from Henderson Field during the six-month long battle for Guadalcanal during World War II and kept carrier aircraft in fighting shape for missions over Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Needless to say, I was spellbound. Weaving in and out of peacetime and war, Don’s career is a thirty-year American history lesson taught at the individual level. I could not get enough of it, and I think you will share the same view. This is his story. - [Captain John E. Christiansen, U .S. Army - Serving in the Army's Air Force in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2026/02/captain-john-e-christiansen-u-s-army-serving-in-the-armys-air-force-in-vietnam/) - For almost 100 years, Land Grant universities in the United States required male students to participate in military training. Freshman and sophomore men received training in military drill, physical fitness, and military science. For Captain John Christiansen, U.S. Army, the military training he received at the University of Maine literally showed him that the sky was the limit on what he could do in the Army. Three years later, he found himself flying reconnaissance missions over South Vietnam in support of U.S. and allied troops on the ground. His experience helped shape the rest of his life. - [Technical Sergeant Mark Himmer, U.S. Air Force - Service is a Family Affair](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/03/technical-sergeant-mark-himmer-u-s-air-force-service-is-a-family-affair/) - Many people who serve in the military are inspired to do so by a family member or friend who served before them. Oftentimes the role model is a parent or grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or even a brother or sister. Technical Sergeant Mark Himmer, U.S. Air Force, had two family members in whose footsteps he followed. He also had the unique experience of serving with one of them for fourteen of the fifteen years he spent in the Minnesota Air National Guard. This is Mark’s story. - [AB2 Keith Bunton, U.S. Navy - Serving on USS Essex During the Korean War](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/02/ab2-keith-bunton-u-s-navy-serving-on-uss-essex-during-the-korean-war/) - Less than five years after the end of World War II, the United States again found itself at war, this time on the Korean Peninsula fighting Communist aggression. Despite 1.8 million U.S. military members serving in the theater of operations during the bloody three-year conflict, Americans know little of their service and sacrifice. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Keith Bunton, U.S. Navy, experienced the Korean War off the shores of Korea onboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVA-9), which launched airstrikes against enemy targets during two Korean War deployments. This is Petty Officer Bunton’s story. - [Commander Charles P. Zuhoski, U.S. Navy (Retired) - Vietnam Fighter Pilot, POW, and Successful Business Executive](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/12/commander-charles-p-zuhoski-u-s-navy-retired-vietnam-fighter-pilot-pow-and-successful-business-executive/) - Everyone’s life takes twists and turns. Sometimes, the twists result in unexpected opportunities while the turns present formidable challenges. How we handle those opportunities and challenges determines the courses our lives take. No one knows that better than Commander Charles P. Zuhoski, U.S. Navy (Retired). In August 1966, limitless possibilities opened for him as he - [Staff Sergeant Alfredo “Freddy” Rocha, U.S. Army (Retired) - 2 Iraqi Freedom Combat Deployments in a 20-Year Career](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/11/staff-sergeant-alfredo-freddy-rocha-u-s-army-retired-2-iraqi-freedom-combat-deployments-in-a-20-year-career/) - Military life is full of transitions. It begins with the transition from civilian to servicemember. Every two or three years thereafter, servicemembers and their families are uprooted from their homes, their jobs, and their schools to take new assignments, often far away in other countries. Sometimes military members must leave their peacetime assignments to deploy - [Petty Officer Third Class Kimberly Yantis, U.S. Navy: Deploying on USS Boxer - "You Call, We Haul"](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/09/petty-officer-third-class-kimberly-yantis-u-s-navy-deploying-on-uss-boxer-you-call-we-haul/) - Every servicemember knows the GI Bill is a great way to help pay for an education. The benefits, however, are hard earned, sometimes involving long periods away from home and even deployments into harm’s way. Such was the case with Petty Officer Third Class Kimberly Yantis, U.S. Navy, who enlisted with a goal of using the GI Bill to help pay for her bachelor’s degree. She earned her benefits by participating in two deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to the Western Pacific, all the time working in extremely dangerous conditions on her ship’s flight deck. Now she channels her experience into her lifelong passion of helping veterans and their families in Central Illinois. - [Specialist Andrea Marshall, U.S. Army - Something Bigger Than Self](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/01/specialist-andrea-marshall-u-s-army-something-bigger-than-self/) - It takes courage to enlist in the military. Once you raise your right hand and take the oath to serve and defend the Constitution, you must go wherever the military says you are needed most. When the nation is at war, that need could very well be in a war zone where your life is at risk. Such is the case with Specialist Andrea Marshall, who enlisted in the Army in 2008. Four years later, she found herself assigned as a combat medic at a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan. This is Andrea’s story. - [Radio Telegraph Operator Second Class Leon Schiff, U.S. Merchant Marine - A Will to Serve During World War II](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/10/radio-telegraph-operator-second-class-leon-schiff-u-s-merchant-marine-a-will-to-serve-during-world-war-ii/) - After the United States entered World War II, the American public rallied behind the war effort. Everyone contributed by recycling metals, accepting shortages of consumer goods so war materials could be produced instead, and buying war bonds. Even more significant, millions of men volunteered to serve in the armed forces. Yet not all who wanted to serve in the military could. Some had crucial jobs in agriculture and industry, so they could not be released to serve. Others like Radio Telegraph Operator Second Class Leon Schiff faced different barriers. Leon was so nearsighted, the military would not allow him to volunteer. Undeterred and committed to doing his part to bring about the defeat of Germany and Japan, Leon volunteered in 1944 to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine—an underappreciated yet crucial component of the Allied victory in the war. - [Sergeant Jim Elsener, U.S. Marine Corps - From Chicago to Da Nang...and Back](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/12/sergeant-jim-elsener-u-s-marine-corps-from-chicago-to-da-nang-and-back/) - Sometimes in life we are presented with choices where the “right” choice is obvious. Sergeant Jim Elsener, U.S. Marine Corps, was given such a choice in January 1966. He could finish out his enlistment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, having served in the Marines with honor, and return to civilian life in the Midwest. Or he could choose a course that promised many unknowns. Jim chose the latter, and as the poet Carl Sandburg so eloquently expressed, that choice has made all the difference. This is Jim’s story. - [Staff Sergeant Dean Moss, U.S. Air Force - "A Year in Nha Trang: 1968-69"](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/11/staff-sergeant-dean-moss-u-s-air-force-a-year-in-nha-trang-1968-69/) - Destiny has a way of just happening, whether you want it to or not. Staff Sergeant Dean Moss, U.S. Air Force, knows that all too well. No matter how many times he tried to point his life in a particular direction, destiny kept bringing him back to where he was meant to be. He was destined to serve our country in Vietnam, - [Lieutenant Commander Thomas M. Dean, Jr., U.S. Navy (Retired) - Patrolling the Skies and the Seas to Keep Us Safe](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/08/lieutenant-commander-thomas-m-dean-jr-u-s-navy-retired-patrolling-the-skies-and-the-seas-to-keep-us-safe/) - Most of us work over forty years before retiring. Devoting that length of time to our careers makes finding a job we enjoy important. For some, it can take years of trial and error in different fields before finding the right fit. For Lieutenant Commander Thomas M. Dean, Jr., U.S. Navy (Retired), the answer became clear long before he entered the workforce—he needed to be part of naval aviation. Getting there required hard work and dedication, but, once he achieved it, naval aviation brought him a lifetime of happiness, especially through the many outstanding people he met and worked with. - [Sergeant Kenny L. Esmond, U.S. Army - Vietnam: Not Scared, Not There](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/03/sergeant-kenny-l-esmond-u-s-army-vietnam-not-scared-not-there/) - There’s nothing like growing up in a small town. Close-knit families and neighborhoods, safety and security from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the freedom to roam and explore without fear. Sergeant Kenny L. Esmond grew up in such an environment, rarely venturing beyond his familiar Wisconsin surroundings. Yet even a trip to - [Commander Tom Jones, JAGC, U.S. Navy (Retired) - Serving at the Edge of Law and War](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/06/commander-tom-jones-jagc-u-s-navy-retired-serving-at-the-edge-of-law-and-war/) - When people think of Navy lawyers, the image of courtrooms and court-martials comes to mind, conjured up from movies like The Caine Mutiny and A Few Good Men. Although those images are accurate as far as they go, they paint but a small part of the picture. No career illustrates that better than that of Commander Tom Jones, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired). Tom left the courtroom behind early in his career to serve with the Navy SEALs in Iraq, charting the course for all future Navy attorneys embedded with special operations units. Where others might see roadblocks, Tom saw opportunities. Throughout his distinguished twenty-year Navy career, he never avoided challenges – he embraced them. This is his story. - [Staff Sergeant Howard A. Berger, U.S. Army - Five Decades of Service](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/08/staff-sergeant-a-howard-berger-u-s-army-five-decades-of-service/) - Sometimes when you’ve got your heart set on something, that’s all you can see. Your focus can cause you to miss even better opportunities that might present themselves in unexpected ways. Staff Sergeant Howard Berger had that kind of focus in February of 1946, looking forward to going home from Austria after [...] - [Chief Michelle Ramlow, U.S. Navy (Retired) - Service When It Counts: Desert Storm, the Pentagon on 9/11, and Kuwait](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/05/chief-michelle-ramlow-u-s-navy-retired-service-when-it-counts-desert-storm-the-pentagon-on-9-11-and-kuwait/) - The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, mark a defining moment in U.S. history. Many Americans remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they learned of the attacks. Yeoman Chief Petty Officer Michelle Ramlow, U.S. Navy (Retired), has had many such defining moments. Not only did she survive the September 11 attack on the Pentagon, but she also deployed on a ship as part of Operation Desert Storm and served in Kuwait during the Iraq War. Throughout these events, and at all times in between, Michelle served with distinction and proudly carried on her family’s tradition of military service. - [Specialist Jeremy Carroll, U.S. Army - From Training Troops at Fort Irwin to Collecting Intelligence in the Iraq War](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/07/specialist-jeremy-carroll-u-s-army-from-training-troops-at-fort-irwin-to-collecting-intelligence-in-the-iraq-war/) - America’s fighting forces are the best in the world. They earned that distinction by training day in and day out, preparing them for victory on the battlefield. Specialist Jeremy Carroll, U.S. Army, knows the importance of training better than most because he trained thousands of soldiers destined for combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. When his own turn came to deploy in 2003, he saw firsthand the benefits of realistic training and incorporated his experience into the lessons he passed on to others. As a result, his service had a positive impact on countless U.S. Army units and soldiers deployed around the world. - [Command Chief Master Sergeant Dave Himmer, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) - Coming of Age in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/09/command-chief-master-sergeant-dave-himmer-u-s-air-force-ret-coming-of-age-in-vietnam/) - Veterans influence and inspire us, often to follow in their footsteps. Such was the case with Command Chief Master Sergeant Dave Himmer, U.S. Air Force (retired), who looked up to his high school history teacher – a Marine in World War II – and said, “I want to be like him”. Although - [Flying Through Life: From Fighter Pilot To Peace Activist by Richard Moody](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/08/flying-through-life-from-fighter-pilot-to-peace-activist-by-richard-moody/) - One of the veterans whose story I've done, Specialist Billy Terrell, recently introduced me to Lieutenant Commander Richard Moody, who retired from the Royal Navy after fifteen years and then flew for an additional twelve years with the Royal Naval Reserve (Air). When Billy first made the introduction, he said Richard had written a memoir - [Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/07/boat-baby-by-vicky-nguyen/) - I learned about Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen watching the Today Show, where Vicky is the Chief Consumer Investigative Correspondent. When Vicky mentioned she and her parents escaped Vietnam in 1975 on a small boat sailing into the South China Sea, I ordered the audio book right away and am glad I did. I found - [Specialist Dale Abbott, U.S. Army - Serving in the National Guard: From Illinois to Desert Storm](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/06/specialist-dale-abbott-u-s-army-serving-in-the-national-guard-from-illinois-to-desert-storm/) - Because National Guard units serve both the state and federal governments, members are often the face of the military most familiar to many Americans. When disaster strikes in a state, the governor calls upon the National Guard to respond. If our nation goes to war, the Guard’s citizen soldiers are expected to answer the call. Specialist Dale Abbott understands these state and federal roles all too well. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard and soon found himself driving a truck in Operation Desert Storm. After he returned, he helped people in flood-ravaged areas of southern Illinois. Both efforts were a far cry from his humble beginnings. - [The Fifth Act - America's End in Afghanistan by Elliot Ackerman](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/06/the-fifth-act-americas-end-in-afghanistan-by-elliot-ackerman/) - In April, I recommended Elliot Ackerman's Waiting for Eden with a promise I had another Elliot Ackerman book waiting in the wings. Here it is: The Fifth Act - America's End in Afghanistan. As with Waiting for Eden, I cannot recommend this book enough.The Fifth Act is a nonfiction account of Ackerman's efforts to assist - [Conversations with Major Dick Winters by Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/05/conversations-with-major-dick-winters-by-colonel-cole-c-kingseed-u-s-army-retired/) - Part of the process for submitting a non-fiction book proposal to agents and publishers is understanding other titles within the same genre. Given that, I took the opportunity to read/listen to one of titles I identified during my nonfiction proposal research: Conversations with Major Dick Winters by Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army (Retired).Dick Winters was - [Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/04/waiting-for-eden-by-elliot-ackerman/) - I listened to Waiting for Eden by Elliot Ackerman while on a long drive. It's perfect for the car because it's only three hours and twenty-seven minutes long. More important, it's absolutely riveting. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately followed it up with a second Elliot Ackerman book. I'll talk about that book - [Master Sergeant Shawn Miller, U.S. Air Force (Retired) - Serving in the Iraq War and Across the Globe](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/03/master-sergeant-shawn-miller-u-s-air-force-retired-serving-in-the-iraq-war-and-across-the-globe/) - When we make choices in life, we have no way of knowing how they will play out. A door that opens to paths in one direction may foreclose others and lead us to places we could not possibly have foreseen. When Master Sergeant Shawn Miller joined the Air Force, he had never even flown in an airplane before. Twenty-three years later, he’d served in far-off places around the world doing everything from refueling aircraft in the Honduran jungle to collecting intelligence in war-torn Iraq. Few can match the breadth and variety of his experience, which included investigating murder cases and augmenting presidential security teams. All this stemmed from his single decision to join the Air Force in 1991. - [Major Richard N. Walker, U.S. Air Force (Retired) - Engineering the Cutting Edge of Flight](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/02/major-richard-n-walker-u-s-air-force-retired-engineering-the-cutting-edge-of-flight/) - The U.S. military requires many people with varying talents to sustain its position as the greatest fighting force on Earth. In addition to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines engaging with the enemy on the field of battle, it needs countless others in support roles giving those on the front lines what they need to fight and win. It needs cooks and bakers, mechanics and builders, doctors and nurses, truck drivers and training instructors, just to name a few. Another key role is that of the engineer who helps design, develop, test, produce, and provide the technology the warfighters need to do their jobs. That is where Major Richard N. Walker, U.S. Air Force (Retired), steps in. His work over two decades in uniform has given U.S. forces a decisive edge in both combat and the deterrence of war. He is one of the unsung heroes in the success of the U.S. military. - [The Hero Code by Admiral William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/02/the-hero-code-by-admiral-william-h-mcraven-u-s-navy-retired/) - The Hero Code by Admiral William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy (Retired), is an absolute must-read. After a brief introduction, Admiral McRaven sets out ten character traits that describe what it takes to be heroic. He illustrates the traits with real people, some famous and some not. Two of my favorites were Gary Sinise illustrating compassion - [Second Lieutenant Bonita Trams, U.S. Army - Operation Babylift Restores Hope](https://davidegrogan.com/2025/01/second-lieutenant-bonita-trams-u-s-army-operation-babylift-restores-hope/) - When a young person signs up for the military, they never know what opportunities or hardships lie ahead. Of course, they know basic training will be difficult, but beyond that, their lives depend upon their specific jobs, the places they are assigned, the situations they are placed in, and the people they work with. These factors combined to bring both trauma and triumph to Second Lieutenant Bonita Trams during her ten-year military career. Throughout it all, Bonita remained committed to her dream of serving as an Army nurse and speaking out for the children she was assigned to protect. - [BMC Frank Tyree - Twenty Years in the Navy: From Yankee Station to the Persian Gulf](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/12/bmc-frank-tyree-twenty-years-in-the-navy-from-yankee-station-to-the-persian-gulf/) - Navy sailors serve in hotspots around the world. When tense situations develop, one of the first questions on the president’s mind is, “Where are the Navy’s aircraft carriers?” In 1972, when the president needed the Navy to help stop the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive during the Vietnam War, Boatswain’s Mate Chief Frank Tyree, U.S. Navy (Retired), answered the call onboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41). He answered the call many more times over the course of his long career, going wherever and whenever the Navy needed him. Yet the Navy is only one aspect of Frank’s public service—he continues to help those in need even today. - [Captain Olena Fergurson, U.S. Army (Retired) - Service, Sacrifice, and Resilience](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/08/captain-olena-fergurson-u-s-army-retired-service-sacrifice-and-resilience/) - When men and women join today’s military, they have no way of knowing what sacrifices their service may entail or what fate may have in store for them. Despite this uncertainty, they willingly commit to serving our country, no matter the personal cost. For this reason, they deserve our respect and have earned the right to be called heroes, whether they train troops in Georgia or end up in harm’s way somewhere across the globe. Captain Olena Fergurson, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired), is one such hero. After leading troops stateside for years, she volunteered for service in Iraq. Five months later, the C-130 transport plane she was flying in crashed in the Iraqi desert. This is her story. - [Chaplain, Colonel, Marion Reynolds, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) - Faithfully Serving Those Who Serve](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/11/chaplain-colonel-marion-reynolds-u-s-air-force-ret-faithfully-serving-those-who-serve/) - Long deployments, work with nuclear weapons, the burden of killing or being killed, and a host of other factors combine to place unique pressures on military members. Fortunately, people like Chaplain, Colonel, Marion Reynolds, U.S. Air Force (Retired), feel called by their faith in God to help military members and their families cope with their stress. After serving five years as an enlisted airman, Marion served for twenty-three years as a chaplain, reaching out to airmen where they needed him most. He met with them at the alert facility as they waited for orders on what could be one-way missions. He spoke to them in silos with nuclear-equipped missiles standing at the ready just a few feet away. He consoled them at isolated duty stations around the world whenever they received bad news from home. And, most importantly, he walked in their shoes. - [Specialist Stacy Breithaupt, U.S. Army - Treating Soldiers and Detainees - A Combat Medic's Story](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/10/specialist-stacy-breithaupt-u-s-army-treating-soldiers-and-detainees-a-combat-medics-story/) - Military members sign up to serve in whatever capacity their talents allow. Specialist Stacy Breithaupt knew early on she had an aptitude for healthcare, so it was only natural she became a combat medic. Soon she found herself treating soldiers and their families both in the United States and abroad. Then, in 2005, she deployed to Iraq working with detainees at the mammoth insurgent detention center at Camp Bucca. Less than one year later, it would be Stacy on the receiving end of medical care. - [AW1 Thomas W. Hayes, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) - Three Rescues in Two Days](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/09/aw1-thomas-w-hayes-u-s-navy-reserve-retired-three-rescues-in-two-days/) - Navy sailors train over and over so they are prepared to do their jobs under any circumstances. Be it peacetime or war, they must be ready to accomplish their missions even at the risk of their own lives. Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator 1st Class Thomas W. Hayes, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired), trained as a search and rescue swimmer and deployed aboard aircraft carriers in case he was needed to save downed aircrew from the ocean’s icy waters. Because of his efforts, three aviators lived to fly again another day. This is his story. - [Private First Class Oscar Green, U.S. Army - Fighting in Europe to Save His Brother](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/05/private-first-class-oscar-green-u-s-army-fighting-in-europe-to-save-his-brother/) - True courage is rare. It only shows itself when a person is tested. For that reason, you can’t look at someone or listen to what they say about themselves to predict if they will be courageous. In fact, many courageous people won’t talk about their deeds because they don’t consider what they did anything special. They see their actions as simply doing their jobs. That's why [...] - [Seaman 1st Class Edward Collins, U.S. Navy - Serving on an Aircraft Carrier in the Pacific War](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/05/seaman-1st-class-edward-collins-u-s-navy-serving-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-the-pacific-war/) - In the 1965 World War II movie classic In Harm’s Way, the character Commander Paul Eddington, played by Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas, describes the coming war in the Pacific as “a gut bustin’, mother-lovin’ Navy war.” All the men who served on ships in the Pacific theater from the start of the war at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, to the end of the war in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, know just how true that statement was. One of those men was Seaman First Class Edward Collins, U.S. Navy, who joined the fray in 1943 aboard the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30), a light aircraft carrier that participated in all the major Pacific War Navy campaigns in 1944 and 1945. Manning his station on the USS San Jacinto’s flight deck during everything from hurricanes to kamikaze attacks, he lived and breathed the history that has inspired generations of Americans ever since. This is his story. - [Private First Class Raymond Jubera, U.S. Marine Corps - A City Boy Helps Make History](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/07/private-first-class-raymond-jubera-u-s-marine-corps-a-city-boy-helps-make-history/) - To some, it seems our lives are pre-ordained. They believe where we are from and whether our parents are rich or poor may well determine how we will turn out in life. Private First Class Raymond Jubera didn’t believe that. Instead of letting life control him, he took control of his life and was “all in” with the decisions he made. As a result, he participated in history rather than just reading about it in a newspaper. This is his story. - [Specialist 4 Thomas Steffl, U.S. Army - Drafted for Service in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/06/specialist-4-thomas-steffl-u-s-army-drafted-for-service-in-vietnam/) - By definition, the draft is disruptive. It yanks people out of their communities and commits them to military service, usually during time of war. Such was the case for Specialist 4 Thomas Steffl, who was drafted for service in the U.S. Army after graduating from college in 1965. His commitment took him to Vietnam, where he maintained communication wires and defended base camps during 1966 and 1967. He then returned to the United States and got his life back on track, working hard to earn a slice of the American dream for his family. This is his story. - [Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism by Stephen Breyer](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/05/reading-the-constitution-why-i-chose-pragmatism-not-textualism-by-stephen-breyer/) - A few weeks ago I was listening to Late Night with Stephen Colbert and heard retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer interviewed. He was talking about his latest book, Reading the Constitution - Why I chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism, which sounded interesting. Before you roll your eyes 🙄, let me explain. The book addresses what Justice - [Master Sergeant Mark Zulawski, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) - I Gave It My All](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/05/master-sergeant-mark-zulawski-u-s-marine-corps-retired-i-gave-it-my-all/) - Some people expect instant success in life without first laying the necessary groundwork. However, success is often an iterative process, as we try new paths and approaches, all the time refining our skills. Master Sergeant Mark Zulawski, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), spent ten of his almost twenty-one years in the Marine Corps learning the warfare, personal, and leadership skills necessary to make him a successful recruiter and senior enlisted leader. During the course of his career, he deployed twice, helped develop the Marine’s mechanized infantry capability, and most of all, recruited countless new Marines into the Corps. This is his story. - [Staff Sergeant Adam Joseph, U.S. Army - Two Tours In Vietnam Says It All](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/10/staff-sergeant-adam-joseph-u-s-army-two-tours-in-vietnam-says-it-all/) - Staff Sergeant Adam Joseph has seen a lot in his life. He’s survived two tours in Vietnam and Hurricane Katrina. He weathered both storms with a strong sense of family, a total commitment to his fellow soldiers, and an unwavering faith in God. I’ve spoken to some of the men he served with and they - [CTT2 Thomas Elling, U.S. Navy - Deploying to Two Theaters as a Navy Cryptologic Technician](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/04/ctt2-thomas-elling-u-s-navy-deploying-to-two-theaters-as-a-navy-cryptologic-technician/) - The active duty and reserve Navy consists of over 435,000 officers and enlisted sailors all doing their part to make the U.S. Navy the most powerful maritime force the world has ever seen. Most of the active and reserve sailors have traditional jobs, manning the ships, submarines, and aircraft that patrol on, under, and above the world’s oceans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Others, like Cryptologic Technician Technical Second Class (CTT2) Thomas Elling, provide niche warfare services critical to the success of the more traditional operating forces. Whether part of the active or reserve forces, they are highly trained, technologically advanced, and must always be ready to fill high-priority billets. Thomas Elling made two critical deployments, providing signals intelligence to U.S. Navy and Special Operations forces, helping project U.S. military power and resolve abroad. This is his story. - [Sergeant Richard (Dick) Berg, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/07/voices-to-veterans-spotlight-july-2017-sergeant-richard-dick-berg-u-s-army/) - Sergeant Dick Berg is the perfect veteran to lead off the Voices to Veterans Spotlight. Dick deployed to Vietnam during the height of the Vietnam War in 1967. Here is Dick’s story. Dick is from Urbana, Illinois. He was drafted and entered the Army on April 20, 1966, and then spent the next eight weeks - [AW1 Carl F. Mottern, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) - Dedication and Hard Work Pays Off](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/03/aw1-carl-f-mottern-u-s-navy-reserve-retired-dedication-and-hard-work-pays-off/) - Everyone has dreams for their life – things they would like to achieve. For most, translating those dreams into reality is the difficult part. It takes hard work, dedication, and sometimes a little luck. Without those elements, dreams stay just that. Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator First Class Carl F. Mottern, U.S. Navy (Retired), wouldn’t let his dreams die. When others dropped out because the barriers seemed insurmountable, Carl redoubled his efforts and kept at it, never giving up. His determination made leaders take notice and drove him to success as a search and rescue swimmer and Naval aircrewman. This is his story. - [Chaplain Lavern W. Gardai, U.S. Army (Retired) - Serving God and Country](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/08/chaplain-lavern-w-gardai-u-s-army-retired-serving-god-and-country/) - Chaplains in the military are a special breed. Not only do they assume the hardships of their own military service, including long family separations and deployments into combat zones, but they also try to lighten the burdens of the men and women they serve with by helping them carry their loads. Chaplain Lavern W. Gardai, U.S. Army (Retired), who served with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam and then went on to a distinguished twenty-eight-year Army career, knows these stresses all to well—he lived them firsthand. From ministering to the wounded, to surviving a deadly helicopter crash, he’s done it all. This is his story - [Sergeant Harold P. Jantz, U.S. Army - When Being Right Counts](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/11/sergeant-harold-p-jantz-u-s-army-when-being-right-counts/) - Everyone understands soldiers follow orders. They must or their military organizations will devolve into chaos and fail. What makes the U.S. military unique, however, is it expects its soldiers to think and take the initiative, seizing opportunities that might otherwise be lost. Such was the case with Sergeant Harold P. Jantz, U.S. Army. When a far superior enemy force engaged his platoon during the Vietnam War, he charged into the fray and brought to bear the necessary firepower to defeat his foe. Without his quick thinking and forceful action, his entire platoon might have been destroyed. In the aftermath, he left no U.S. soldier behind. The events of that day were the defining moments of his life, molding him into the man he is today. This is his story. - [First Sergeant Mike Allen, U.S. Army (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/01/first-sergeant-mike-allen-u-s-army-retired/) - Some people are called to serve our country in extraordinary ways, putting their life on the line for mission and comrade during time of war. Such is the case for First Sergeant Mike Allen, who served in the Army for twenty-three years, including during the Vietnam War. This is his story. Mike was born in - [Captain Jack E. Helmann, U.S. Navy: A Career on Navy Destroyers](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/09/captain-jack-e-helmann-u-s-navy-a-career-on-navy-destroyers/) - Much has changed on Navy ships over the centuries – sail converted to steam, steel replaced wood, and missiles supplemented guns, just to name a few. Yet with all these changes, fundamental truths remain. Navy ships carry the U.S. flag to the four corners of the globe, serving as ambassadors in the countries they visit and as strong reminders of U.S. military power and resolve. Navy ships also require a team of special people pulling together to accomplish the ship’s mission, enduring the perils of the sea, the long separations from family, and the risks associated with war. Captain Jack E. Helmann, U.S. Navy (Retired), knows these challenges all too well, having served on five Navy destroyers over the course of his twenty-four-year Navy career. He also knows the strains and responsibilities of command, having been the Commanding Officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Berkeley (DDG-15) for over two years. This is his story. - [Private First Class Richard H. Adler, U.S. Army Taking Care of the Man on the Right and the Left](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/07/private-first-class-richard-h-adler-u-s-army-taking-care-of-the-man-on-the-right-and-the-left/) - Private First Class (PFC) Rick Adler, U.S. Army, grew up two streets over from me on Elizabeth Lane in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. I didn’t know him then—he is ten years older than me. I should have known him—I learned to swim at the pool his family owned at the corner of Fitch and Cook Roads. - [Specialist Jack Murphy, U.S. Army - Saluting Fellow Veterans with a Heartfelt Song](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/02/specialist-jack-murphy-u-s-army-saluting-fellow-veterans-with-a-heartfelt-song/) - Veterans instinctively understand each other. No matter who they are, where they come from, what their rank was, or what they did in the military, there is an unshakable bond between them. Explaining that bond can be difficult, but some people are gifted in conveying it in ways that help others understand. Specialist Jack Murphy, - [1st Lieutenant Iris Nigg Lundin – WWII Marine Corps Trailblazer](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/10/1st-lieutenant-iris-nigg-lundin-wwii-marine-corps-trailblazer/) - When I met 1st Lieutenant Iris Nigg Lundin, U.S. Marine Corps, to talk to her about her experience as a female Marine Officer in World War II, she handed me her prized possession from her service – her Aerial Navigator Wings. “I was one of the first four women to get these wings,” she said - [Specialist 4 Mark Myers, U.S. Army - Three Things to Count On](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/02/specialist-4-mark-myers-u-s-army-three-things-to-count-on/) - It’s often said there are only two things in life you can count on, death and taxes. Ask Specialist 4 Mark Myers, U.S. Army, and other young men during the mid-1960s and they would tell you there was a third – the draft. Mark received his draft notice shortly after his college notified his local draft board he was eligible, thus beginning a chain of events that would lead to him patrolling the jungles of South Vietnam in search of the Viet Cong. This is his story. - [STG2 David S. Fones, U.S. Navy - Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/12/stg2-david-s-fones-u-s-navy-plan-for-the-worst-hope-for-the-best/) - It’s easy to measure success in a basketball game or a race. Just look for the team with the most points or the runners with the fastest times. But what if your job is to be incredibly prepared for something you hope will never happen? Such was the case with Sonar Technician Second Class David S. Fones, U.S. Navy. He spent six years training to hunt and kill adversary submarines, ever vigilant and always ready to be called to action but hoping he never would be because it would mean the world was at war. Yet with all this responsibility, he always served as a positive ambassador for the United States in every foreign port his ships called. This is his story. - [SK2 Donald A. Chivas, U.S. Navy - Father Knows Best](https://davidegrogan.com/2024/01/sk2-donald-a-chivas-u-s-navy-father-knows-best/) - Since time immemorial, children grow up and leave their parents, seeking to chart their own way. For most, that means learning life’s lessons the hard way as they find it difficult to accept their parents’ advice, even though their parents walked in their shoes not so many years before. Storekeeper Second Class Donald A. Chivas, U.S. Navy, bucked the trend and listened to his father, realizing his father’s wisdom could help him navigate a pivotal fork in the road. The result changed Don’s life forever. This is his story. - [Sergeant Alice Gallop West, U.S. Army - Service to Others Comes First](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/06/sergeant-alice-gallop-west-u-s-army-service-to-others-comes-first/) - [AD3 Ignacio Rodriguez, U.S. Navy - Hunting Hurricanes and Protecting Pilots](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/10/ad3-ignacio-rodriguez-u-s-navy-hunting-hurricanes-and-protecting-pilots/) - Those who come to America seeking a better life have a long and distinguished history of serving our country. Beginning with the Revolutionary War and continuing in every war since, immigrants have served in every branch of our Armed Forces, willingly putting their lives on the line for their adopted home. Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class Ignacio Rodriguez continued that proud tradition, enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1964. He flew as an aircrewman on EC-121 Super Constellations hunting hurricanes in the skies over the Western Pacific and operating out of Da Nang and Chu Lai during the Vietnam War. He earned his U.S. citizenship the hard way – by serving our country during time of war. This is his story. - [Master Sergeant Jay Cyril Mastrud, U.S. Air Force - Navy First, Air Force Always](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/04/master-sergeant-jay-cyril-mastrud-u-s-air-force-navy-first-air-force-always/) - [Spare by Prince Harry](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/09/spare-by-prince-harry/) - [Specialist Eric Ferguson, U.S. Army: From Film to Reality - A Soldier's Service in Desert Storm](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/08/specialist-eric-ferguson-u-s-army-from-film-to-reality-a-soldiers-service-in-desert-storm/) - It’s an age-old question, does art reflect life or does life reflect art? In the case of Specialist Eric Ferguson, U.S. Army, one would have to say the latter. Eric has always drawn inspiration from the stories and larger-than-life heroes depicted on the silver screen. They inspired him to join the Army and be bold when choosing his warfare branch. They gave him insight and strength to deal with the difficult situations he faced in training and while part of the Operation Desert Storm mobile assault force in Iraq. Finally, they helped him understand and deal with the Gulf War’s aftermath. Now it is time for Eric’s story to do the same for others. This is his story. - [Senior Airman Robert Johnson, U.S. Air Force - Duty Above the Arctic Circle](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/02/senior-airman-robert-johnson-u-s-air-force-duty-above-the-arctic-circle/) - [A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/07/a-farewell-to-arms-by-ernest-hemingway/) - [Master Chief Legalman David S. Leafer, U.S. Navy (Retired) - The Recruiting Posters Were Right](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/01/master-chief-legalman-david-s-leafer-u-s-navy-retired-the-recruiting-posters-were-right/) - [Berlin Walls by Bill Rapp](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/04/berlin-walls-by-bill-rapp/) - [Colonel Walter Joseph Marm, Jr., U.S. Army (Retired) - Battle of Ia Drang Medal of Honor Recipient](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/11/colonel-walter-joseph-marm-jr-u-s-army-retired-battle-of-ia-drang-medal-of-honor-recipient/) - [LCDR Alfred Sokolowski, U.S. Navy - Dreadnoughts to Destroyers: A Two-Ocean Sailor in World War II](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/03/lcdr-alfred-sokolowski-u-s-navy-dreadnoughts-to-destroyers-a-two-ocean-sailor-in-world-war-ii/) - Lieutenant Commander Alfred “Ski” Sokolowski, U.S. Navy (Retired), has experienced much over the last ninety-nine years. He had a front row seat in World War II as his ships plowed the North Atlantic, protecting convoys from German submarines. He fought on a destroyer in the Pacific, helping recapture islands lost to Japan at the start of the war, and then joined the fight again just five years later in the Korean War sailing off the coast of North Korea. As if that wasn’t enough, he took on the dangerous job of explosive ordnance disposal and managed weapons logistics in the western Pacific. He didn’t just watch U.S. history from a distance—he lived it over the course of thirty years. This is his story. - [Major Sandy Richardson, U.S. Air Force (Retired) - From Dream to Reality, Flying with the Air Force for 20 Years](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/04/major-sandy-richardson-u-s-air-force-retired-from-dream-to-reality-flying-with-the-air-force-for-20-years/) - Some people dream and that is as far as it goes. Others follow through and take action, always keeping their eyes on the ultimate objective. Ever since Major Sandy Richardson, U.S. Air Force, was a boy with his father watching planes take off and land in Louisiana, he dreamed of becoming a pilot. Now he can look back at his fifty-year career of flying and training others to fly and say with pride, “I lived my dream.” This is his story. - [The Other Side of the World By Dean Moss](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/02/6829/) - [The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho](https://davidegrogan.com/2023/01/the-alchemist-by-paulo-coelho/) - [PFC Robert F. Burgess, U.S. Army - From the Italian Alps to Meeting Ernest Hemingway](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/06/pfc-robert-f-burgess-u-s-army-from-the-italian-alps-to-meeting-ernest-hemmingway/) - [Last Hope Island by Lynne Olson](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/11/last-hope-island-by-lynne-olson/) - [SGT Daniel J. Smith, U.S. Army - From Army Medic to Coaching Wounded Warriors](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/04/sgt-daniel-j-smith-u-s-army-from-army-medic-to-coaching-wounded-warriors/) - [Sergeant First Class Herbert Burnett, U.S. Army – “Not On My Watch”](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/08/voices-to-veterans-spotlight-sergeant-first-class-herbert-burnett-u-s-army-not-on-my-watch/) - Sometimes when you meet a person, you can tell right away you are talking to someone larger than life. That’s the vibe you get from Sergeant First Class Herbert Burnett, U.S. Army (retired). He knows where he’s going and how to get there. Here’s his story. Herbert is a native of Urbana, Illinois. He enlisted - [Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lawicki Vaché – Determination Has No Bounds](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/09/staff-sergeant-vanessa-lawicki-vache-determination-has-no-bounds/) - To understand Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lawicki Vaché, U.S. Air Force, you have to explore her roots. She grew up in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, a small town about 25 miles from downtown Cleveland. She played clarinet in her high school band and loved music. She wanted to go to Baldwin Wallace College, a local liberal arts - [Staff Sergeant Bernard Moritz, U.S. Army & NASA Plankowner](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/11/staff-sergeant-bernard-moritz-u-s-army-nasa-plankowner/) - Staff Sergeant Bernard Moritz celebrated his 100th birthday this past April. As we talked about his life and the things that are important to him, Bernard described his life as anything but remarkable. But when you hear the many unique things he’s had the chance to do, I think you’ll conclude as I did that - [Sergeant Richard "Dick" Sowinski, U.S. Marine Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/12/sergeant-richard-dick-sowinski-u-s-marine-corps/) - Natural leaders rise to the top, no matter where they start out. That’s why when the Marines recruited Richard “Dick” Sowinski, they knew they had a winner. They could not have been more right. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Dick graduated from West Tech High School in 1953. That fall he attended Kent State - [Sergeant George A. Williams, U.S. Army - Drafted and Fighting in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/02/sergeant-george-a-williams-u-s-army-part-1-drafted-and-fighting-in-vietnam/) - We’ve had an all-volunteer military since the draft ended in 1973, so it’s hard for us today to understand the life-changing impact of receiving a draft notice in the mail. George Williams knows that impact all too well. Drafted in 1965, he left small-town America to fight in the jungles of Vietnam during the height […] - [Specialist 4 Tom Garvey, U.S. Army Lesson from Vietnam: Glad to be Alive](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/03/specialist-4-tom-garvey-u-s-army-lesson-from-vietnam-glad-to-be-alive/) - Think of your most stressful day on the job—looming deadlines, unhappy bosses, sales quotas, late nights, and people who can’t get along. Then consider what Specialist 4 Tom Garvey went through every day during his tour in Vietnam from 1967-1968—fire missions with high explosives, incoming mortar fire, rocket and artillery attacks, and the constant possibility - [Staff Sergeant Jerry Ingram U.S. Marine Corps No Greater Honor](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/04/staff-sergeant-jerry-ingram-u-s-marine-corps-no-greater-honor/) - When most of us are sixteen, our biggest worries are getting our drivers license or figuring out our date to the prom. When Staff Sergeant Jerry Ingram was sixteen, he was a combat tank commander with Company C of the 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marines, preparing to fight his way to victory across the Pacific - [Petty Officer Third Class Jim McCune, U.S. Navy Working Hard and Serving Others](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/05/petty-officer-third-class-jim-mccune-u-s-navy-working-hard-and-serving-others/) - Have you ever heard the Navy’s old recruiting slogan, “Join the Navy and see the world?” That slogan certainly rang true for Petty Officer Third Class Jim McCune, U.S. Navy. But life had much more in store for Jim than the excitement of a world cruise on a powerful U.S. aircraft carrier—he and his young - [Tech Sergeant Susie Goebel, U.S. Air Force (Retired) - A Proud Family Tradition of Service](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/08/tech-sergeant-susie-goebel-u-s-air-force-ret-a-proud-family-tradition-of-service/) - Like many veterans, Technical Sergeant Susan “Susie” Goebel, U.S. Air Force (Retired), hesitated to talk to me about herself. She views her 15 years of service as nothing special or heroic. In fact, she’ll tell you she was just doing her job. To Susie, the family separations, the inspections in the middle of the night, - [Staff Sergeant Samuel D. High, U.S. Army - Called Up for Duty in Vietnam 1968-69](https://davidegrogan.com/2018/09/staff-sergeant-samuel-d-high-u-s-army-called-up-for-duty-in-vietnam-1968-69/) - I am often amazed at how humble veterans are when they describe their experiences heading off to war. I cannot imagine the emotions, the patriotism, the fear, and the camaraderie that must have pulsed through their veins as they left everything familiar behind to board a ship or plane bound for the ultimate unknown. That - [1st Lieutenant Dave Anson, U.S. Army: The Eyes of the Artillery in Vietnam, 1968-1969](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/01/1st-lieutenant-dave-anson-u-s-army-the-eyes-of-the-artillery-in-vietnam-1968-1969/) - I never know what to expect when I interview a veteran. Such was the case with 1st Lieutenant Dave Anson, U.S. Army. Dave was referred to me by a fellow veteran who said “I think you should talk to Dave. He is a hell of a nice guy and his story needs to be told.” - [Airman Ronnie Turner-Winston, U.S. Air Force, Lifetime of Service](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/04/airman-ronnie-turner-winston-u-s-air-force-lifetime-of-service/) - [Sergeant Paul Schuler, U.S. Army - Lifelong Leadership Lessons from Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/05/sergeant-paul-schuler-u-s-army-lifelong-leadership-lessons-from-vietnam/) - [CSM Thurman C. Cousins, U.S. Army (Retired) Professional Soldier Through to the Core](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/07/csm-thurman-c-cousins-u-s-army-retired-professional-soldier-through-to-the-core/) - [Private First Class Sue (Van Meter) Hodge, U.S. Army Cold War Service in the Women’s Army Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/09/private-first-class-sue-hodge-u-s-army-cold-war-service-in-the-womens-army-corps/) - [Petty Officer Second Class Arnold Fernandes, U.S. Coast Guard - From the Aleutian Islands in World War II to the Korean War](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/11/petty-officer-second-class-arnold-fernandes-u-s-coast-guard-from-the-aleutian-islands-in-world-war-ii-to-the-korean-war/) - [Lt. Col. John W. Heimburger, U.S. Air Force (Retired) - Staying One Step Ahead of Disaster in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/01/lt-col-john-w-heimburger-u-s-air-force-retired-staying-one-step-ahead-of-disaster-in-vietnam/) - [Specialist Billy Terrell, U.S. Army - Helping Children Devastated by the Vietnam War](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/03/specialist-billy-terrell-u-s-army-helping-children-devastated-by-the-vietnam-war/) - [Colonel Hank Hoffman, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) - Welcome Home From Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/07/colonel-hank-hoffman-u-s-air-force-ret-welcome-home-from-vietnam/) - [1LT Henry Lowenstern, U.S. Army - From Fleeing Germany to Returning in Triumph](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/08/1lt-henry-lowenstern-u-s-army-from-fleeing-germany-to-returning-in-triumph/) - [Staff Sergeant Jim Belshaw, U.S. Air Force - Military Working Dog Handler in the Vietnam War](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/09/staff-sergeant-jim-belshaw-u-s-air-force-military-working-dog-handler-in-the-vietnam-war/) - [Sergeant First Class Alan L. Boyer, U.S. Army - Missing in Action for 48 Years But Never Forgotten](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/10/sergeant-first-class-alan-l-boyer-u-s-army-missing-in-action-for-48-years-but-never-forgotten/) - [Technician 5th Grade Robert Miller, U.S. Army - Taking the GI Bill to Korea and Beyond](https://davidegrogan.com/2021/07/technician-5th-grade-robert-miller-u-s-army-taking-the-gi-bill-to-korea-and-beyond/) - [Sergeant Ron Haeberle, U.S. Army - A Photo of Future Hope](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/06/sergeant-ron-haeberle-u-s-army-a-photo-of-future-hope/) - Photographs are like time capsules, forever freezing a moment in time. They provide us with a window into the past, documenting our history in a way the written word cannot. Yet for Sergeant Ron Haeberle, U.S. Army, a photograph he took on March 16, 1968, did more than just look back in time. It foretold the future—a future built on courage and survival and shining as a beacon of hope to all who see and understand it. Now, over fifty years after Ron’s Nikon camera captured the image, it serves as an inspiration for Ron in every aspect of his life. This is Ron’s story. - [Specialist Ashley (Pullen) Hawkins, U.S. Army (Retired) - "V" for Valor in Iraq](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/07/specialist-ashley-pullen-hawkins-u-s-army-retired-v-for-valor-in-iraq/) - Everyone faces adversity in life. How an individual deals with that adversity determines the course their life will follow. Specialist Ashley Hawkins, U.S. Army (Retired), has dealt with more than her share of adversity, yet she’s never let it define her. Instead, she confronts it head on and overcomes it, always looking toward a better future. This unwavering determination resulted in her being the first female soldier in U.S. history to be awarded the Bronze Star with a “V” for valor in combat. This is her story. - [The Hawk Enigma by J.L. Hancock](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/10/the-hawk-enigma-by-j-l-hancock/) - [James Elsener's "Reflections of Valour" - Lives Forever Altered by War](https://davidegrogan.com/2022/09/james-elseners-reflections-of-valour-lives-forever-altered-by-war/) - [Vietnam War Classic: We Were Soldiers Once...And Young](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/11/vietnam-war-classic-we-were-soldiers-once-and-young/) - [Salute or Stand at Attention During the National Anthem?](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/07/salute-or-stand-at-attention-during-the-national-anthem/) - From my earliest days in the Navy, I learned that you don’t render a salute unless you are in uniform and covered (other services, please excuse my Navy focus). Covered means you are wearing your uniform hat. Since in the Navy we don’t wear our covers indoors (with a few limited exceptions), that means you - [Fourth of July Memory Magic](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/07/fourth-of-july-memory-magic/) - Ever since I was a little kid, the Fourth of July has been my favorite holiday. Every year, our family would go on a picnic with five couples my Mom and Dad graduated with from West Tech High School in Cleveland, Ohio. We’d go to a local park and cook out, my parents would always - [Book Signings Begin!](https://davidegrogan.com/2014/11/book-signings-begin/) - Today was an exciting day for me as I held my first book signing at The Daily Grind, a coffee shop located in the Virginia Beach Town Center. I was joined by fellow writer Kathleen Toomey Jabs, author of Black Wings. Lots of old and new friends came by to talk and pick up a - [Lessons from a Veteran's Grave](https://davidegrogan.com/2014/08/lessons-from-a-veterans-grave/) - It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything and I thought I would revive a story I told several years ago because it really helps explain why I write. For me, writing presents an opportunity to make a difference. The difference may be as simple as making someone’s day a little brighter through an entertaining - [Lessons Learned in Vietnam](https://davidegrogan.com/2014/07/lessons-learned-in-vietnam-2/) - This morning I am sitting in my hotel in Da Lat, Vietnam, waiting to go to the airport and on to my next two stops, Da Nang and Hue. Experiencing Da Lat was really the main reason for my trip, as Vietnam's Central Highlands are a critical setting for the book I am currently working - [En Route To Vietnam to Research and Write](https://davidegrogan.com/2014/07/en-route-to-vietnam-to-research-and-write/) - Welcome to the inaugural post in what I hope will eventually become a dialogue between you and me on my writing, my characters, and my style. Feedback is critical to an author. In fact, I've found we are generally an insecure lot, never trusting our own judgment about what we have written. We need your - [How to Plan and Enjoy Your First European Vacation Part 2: Obtaining Your Passport and Visas](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/08/how-to-plan-and-enjoy-your-first-european-vacation-part-2-obtaining-your-passport-and-visas/) - [How to Plan and Enjoy Your First European Vacation Part 1: Picking the Right Place to Go](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/06/how-to-plan-and-enjoy-your-first-european-vacation-part-1-picking-the-right-place-to-go/) - [Salute or Stand During the National Anthem - Part II](https://davidegrogan.com/2019/08/veterans-and-the-stars-stripes-what-congress-says-about-saluting-the-flag-of-the-united-states/) - [The Art of Zoom Dining - 10 Tips for a Fun Virtual Dinner](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/06/the-art-of-zoom-dining-10-tips-for-a-fun-virtual-dinner/) - [Camino Winds: Vintage John Grisham and a Fun Summer Read](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/08/camino-winds-vintage-john-grisham-and-a-fun-summer-read/) - John Grisham has always been my favorite fiction writer. In fact, his books were a major influence on me when I started writing the Steve Stilwell thriller series. So, it should be no surprise that I really enjoyed Camino Winds. What made it particularly interesting is that the setting for the story is Camino Island, - [Lisa Scottoline's Mistaken Identity - It Kept Me Guessing](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/09/lisa-scottolines-mistaken-identity-it-kept-me-guessing/) - [Celebrate the Release of The Hidden Key by Entering to Win!](https://davidegrogan.com/2020/04/celebrate-the-release-of-the-hidden-key-by-entering-to-win/) - [A Hidden Gem](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/06/a-hidden-gem/) - I’d like to tell you about a Korean War veteran I met at my book signing this past weekend at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore in Forest Park, Illinois. His name was Don, and he came to the event with his wife after hearing about it through a local veterans organization. I was talking to a - [Voices to Veterans](https://davidegrogan.com/2017/06/voices-to-veterans/) - I’ve always been drawn to veterans’ stories. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I read everything I could about World War II. I knew its battles and generals, its heroes and its villains. But there was nothing like hearing veterans talk with family and friends about their experience in the military. Those veterans that saw combat ## Pages - [Home](https://davidegrogan.com/) - Available Now! Buy Now on Amazon Buy Signed Copy What People are Saying “David E. Grogan has written a wonderful book that explains what it means to serve, what it means to be a veteran, and what all of us can learn from their lives of service, both when these men and women wore the - [Media Kit](https://davidegrogan.com/an-interview/) - 4. I understand you are donating all your Amazon author royalties for Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die to America's VetDogs, a veteran-focused charity that provides guide and service dogs to veterans and first responders. Why are you doing that? I want this book to be a win for everyone involved. Most importantly, - [Learning to Live](https://davidegrogan.com/books/learning-to-live-from-those-willing-to-die/) - Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die Military service changes lives. Let the stories in Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die change you, too. Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die will help you navigate life's challenges using the lives of veterans to reveal important lessons about character and humanity. Each - [About Dave](https://davidegrogan.com/about/) - Captain David E. Grogan, JAG Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.)[/caption] So at 18 years old, Dave headed east to the College of William & Mary, where he met his future wife, Sharon. They started dating with only three months to go of their senior year. After graduating from William & Mary, both began their careers in - [Books](https://davidegrogan.com/books/) - Nonfiction Learn More Fiction Steve Stilwell Thriller SeriesBook 1 Learn More Fiction Steve Stilwell Thriller SeriesBook 2 Learn More Fiction Steve Stilwell Thriller SeriesBook 3 Learn More - [The Hidden Key](https://davidegrogan.com/the-hidden-key/) - THE HIDDEN KEY When Navy veteran Kevin Jones answers the door for two men he doesn’t know, he can’t foresee the Pandora’s Box he’s opening. One week later, attorney Steve Stilwell meets with a billionaire businessman in a London eatery. As two men burst into the restaurant, Steve’s new client cries out “I’ve sold my - [Sapphire Pavilion](https://davidegrogan.com/sapphire-pavilion/) - SAPPHIRE PAVILION Steve Stilwell's former Navy JAG Corps buddy Ric Stokes has been jailed for possession of heroin in Vietnam. He was found in the same room with his traveling companion Ryan Eversall, who died of an overdose in the company of a prostitute. Steve knows his friend is a straight arrow. Was he set - [The Siegel Dispositions](https://davidegrogan.com/siegel-2/) - THE SIEGEL DISPOSITIONS On September 30, 1997, in Düsseldorf, Germany, an old Jewish man named Emil Weisentrope is shot dead. That same day in Williamsburg, Virginia, Steve Stilwell hangs out his shingle after serving 22 years as a Navy “JAG.” Steve’s first assignment as a civilian attorney is to update the will of a 70-year-old - [Upcoming Events](https://davidegrogan.com/events/) - [Store](https://davidegrogan.com/store/) - [Voices to Veterans](https://davidegrogan.com/voices-to-veterans/) ## Events - [Book Signing & Sale at Scott Air Force Base](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-sale-at-scott-air-force-base/) - Meet award-winning author David E. Grogan and learn about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, as well as his award-winning Steve Stilwell legal thriller novels. - [Book Signing & Sale at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-sale-at-wright-patterson-air-force-base/) - Meet award-winning author David E. Grogan and learn about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, as well as his award-winning Steve Stilwell legal thriller novels. - [Live Online Interview with the Veterans Breakfast Club](https://davidegrogan.com/event/live-online-interview-with-the-veterans-breakfast-club/) - Coming on April 20 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), David E. Grogan will appear live online with the Veterans Breakfast Club to talk about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die. You can find out all the details by clicking the Veterans Breakfast Club link, above. Joining him - [Book Signing & Sale at Fort Leavenworth](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-sale-at-fort-leavenworth/) - Meet award-winning author David E. Grogan and learn about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, as well as his award-winning Steve Stilwell legal thriller novels. - [Book Signing & Sale at Little Rock AFB](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-sale-at-little-rock-afb/) - Meet award-winning author David E. Grogan and learn about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, as well as his award-winning Steve Stilwell legal thriller novels. - [Book Signing & Sale at Fort Knox](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-sale-at-fort-knox/) - Meet award-winning author David E. Grogan and learn about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, as well as his award-winning Steve Stilwell legal thriller novels. - [Book Signing & Sale at Fort Campbell](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-sale-at-fort-campbell/) - Meet award-winning author David E. Grogan and learn about his latest book, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die, as well as his award-winning Steve Stilwell legal thriller novels. - [Book Signing & Author Panel in Chicago](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-thriller-author-discussion-in-chicago/) - Join me with fellow authors Bill Rapp and Michael A. Black for a discussion and book sale and signing at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore in Chicago. Bookstore owner Augie Aleksy describes the event best: "Bill Rapp, David Grogan and Michael A. Black will speak about their mysteries of International Intrigue, even some Espionage and Crime. Each in their - [Book Signing and Sale at Fort Belvoir Main Exchange](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-and-sale-at-fort-belvoir-main-exchange/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Main Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Fort Belvoir Main Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing and Sale at Little Rock Air Force Base](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-and-sale-at-little-rock-air-force-base/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Main Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Little Rock Air Force Base Main Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-at-centuries-sleuths-bookstore/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore on November 27th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. to support Independents Day (Small Business Saturday). Copies of Dave's books, The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions, will be available for purchase and signing. Other Chicago authors will be there, as well, so - [Book Signing at Fort Campbell](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-at-fort-campbell/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Main Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Fort Campbell Main Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing at Fort Leavenworth](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-at-fort-leavenworth/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Main Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Fort Leavenworth Main Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing at Fort Knox](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-at-fort-knox/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Main Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Fort Knox Main Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-for-the-hidden-key/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing at Scott Air Force Base](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-for-the-hidden-key-2/) - Meet thriller author David E. Grogan at the Exchange. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing by the author. You must have base access and be eligible to shop at the Scott Air Force Base Exchange to attend this event. - [Book Signing in Olmsted Falls, Ohio](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-in-olmsted-falls-ohio/) - Meet hometown author David E. Grogan at Angelina's Pizza. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. - [Book Signing at Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Champaign, Illinois - POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-at-barnes-noble-bookstore-in-champaign-illinois/) - Meet author David E. Grogan at the Barnes & Noble in Champaign, Illinois, and learn about his latest Steve Stilwell thriller, The Hidden Key. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. - [Book Signing - Chicago](https://davidegrogan.com/event/book-signing-for-the-hidden-key-4/) - Meet author David E. Grogan at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore. Copies of The Hidden Key, Sapphire Pavilion, and The Siegel Dispositions will be available for purchase and signing. ## Episode - [Episode 41 - Petty Officer Third Class Eugene Walker, U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-41-petty-officer-third-class-eugene-walker-u-s-navy/) - Welcome to Episode 41 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Petty Officer Third Class Eugene Walker, U.S. Navy. Gene served in the Navy from 1963 to 1967, first on Kodiak Island, Alaska, and then onboard USS Chevalier (DD-805). He sailed on Chevalier up the Saigon River, where the ship - [Episode 52 - Electrician's Mate Third Class Lyman K. "Manny" Steil, U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-52-electricians-mate-third-class-lyman-k-manny-steil-u-s-navy/) - Manny served on a diesel-powered submarine, the USS Grouper (SSK-214), from 1957–60. His story provides a vivid account of what life on a submarine was like for a young sailor, from NATO exercises in Europe to port visits in places like Havana, Cuba. After his enlistment, Manny used what he learned in the Navy to build a successful speaking and consulting career. - [Episode 49 - Sergeant Russell J. Wright, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-49-sergeant-russell-j-wright-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 49 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Sergeant Russell J. Wright, U.S. Army. Russ served with the Americal Division during 1970–71 in the northern provinces of South Vietnam, patrolling through the jungles, the rice paddies, and the Central Highlands. His story provides a vivid account of the life of an infantry soldier during the Vietnam War. - [Episode 51 - LCDR Joe Dwigans, U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-51-lcdr-joe-dwigans-u-s-navy/) - Welcome to Episode 51 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Lieutenant Commander Joe Dwigans, U.S. Navy (Retired). Joe flew Helldiver dive bombers at the end of World War II and continued afterwards flying all sorts of naval aircraft. His story is particularly interesting because it describes the unique training - [Episode 50 - Sergeant Thomas Lucken, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-50-sergeant-thomas-lucken-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 50 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Sergeant Thomas Lucken, U.S. Army. Tom spent over thirteen years as a cavalry scout in South Korea and Germany holding the line during the Cold War. Tom's story is relevant today because it illustrates just how dangerous service in - [Episode 48 - Master Chief Petty Officer Donald Gohman, U.S. Navy (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-48-master-chief-petty-officer-donald-gohman-u-s-navy-retired/) - Welcome to Episode 48 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Master Chief Petty Officer Donald Gohman, U.S. Navy (Retired).Don’s extraordinary Navy career began in 1941 just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. One year later, he kept planes flying on Guadalcanal during one of the epic battles of - [Episode 47 - Technical Sergeant Mark Himmer, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-47-technical-sergeant-mark-himmer-u-s-air-force/) - Welcome to Episode 47 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Technical Sergeant Mark Himmer, U.S. Air Force.Mark served for fifteen years in the Minnesota Air National Guard. During his career, he served as a weapons instructor, provided security for transport aircraft, and deployed on short notice in support of - [Episode 46 - AB2 Keith Bunton, U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-46-ab2-keith-bunton-u-s-navy/) - Welcome to Episode 46 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Keith Bunton, U.S. Navy.Keith did two deployments onboard the historic aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVA-9) during the Korean War. He worked on the flight deck refueling aircraft about to be launched on strikes in - [Episode 44 - Radio Telegraph Operator Second Class Leon Schiff, U.S. Merchant Marine](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-44-radio-telegraph-operator-second-class-leon-schiff-u-s-merchant-marine/) - Welcome to Episode 44 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Radio Telegraph Operator Second Class Leon Schiff, U.S. Merchant Marine. Leon served in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1944–45. Motivated by patriotism and a desire to do his part in the fight against Germany and Japan, he joined the - [Episode 45 - Specialist Andrea Marshall, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-45-specialist-andrea-marshall-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 45 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Specialist Andrea Marshall, U.S. Army.Andrea served in the Army from 2008 to 2013 as a combat medic in the 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment. She deployed to Forward Operating Base Sharana in Afghanistan in 2012. Andrea's story is the - [Episode 43 - Sergeant Jim Elsener, U.S. Marine Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-43-sergeant-jim-elsener-u-s-marine-corps/) - Welcome to Episode 43 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Sergeant Jim Elsener, U.S. Marine Corps. Jim served in the Marines from 1962–66. When offered the choice of serving out the rest of his enlistment at Camp Lejeune or going to Vietnam in 1966, Jim's sense of duty compelled - [Episode 42 - Staff Sergeant Dean Moss, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-42-staff-sergeant-dean-moss-u-s-air-force/) - Welcome to Episode 42 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Staff Sergeant Dean Moss, U.S. Air Force.Dean served in the Air Force from 1967-71. He left for Vietnam in 1968 just sixteen days after marrying the love of his life, Barbara. He then spent a year in Nha Trang - [Episode 40 - Command Chief Master Sergeant Dave Himmer, U.S. Air Force (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-40-command-chief-master-sergeant-dave-himmer-u-s-air-force-retired/) - Welcome to Episode 40 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Command Chief Master Sergeant Dave Himmer, U.S. Air Force (Retired). Dave led a long and illustrious military career, beginning with his tour as a combat infantry soldier in Vietnam. He later served in the Marine Corps and the Minnesota - [Episode 39 - Staff Sergeant Howard Berger, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-39-staff-sergeant-howard-berger-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 39 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Staff Sergeant Howard Berger, U.S. Army. Howard, who is now 101 years old, enlisted in the Army in 1942. He entered Germany and Austria on a halftrack in 1945 as part of the victorious U.S. Army. He then spent - [Episode 38 - Technician 5th Grade Robert Miller, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-38-technician-5th-grade-robert-miller-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 38 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Technician 5th Grade Robert Miller, U.S. Army. Bob Miller served in South Korea after the end of World War II. Assigned to an air defense unit protecting Kimpo Airfield in Seoul, Bob was part of the U.S. occupying forces - [Episode 2 - 1st Lieutenant Iris Nigg Lundin, U.S. Marine Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-2-1st-lieutenant-iris-nigg-lundin-u-s-marine-corps/) - Welcome to Episode 2 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This month features the story of a trailblazing woman in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Lieutenant Iris Nigg Lundin. Iris was one of the first female officers in the Marine Corps in World War II and one of the first four women to earn her - [Episode 4 - Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lawicki Vaché, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-4-staff-sergeant-vanessa-lawicki-vache-u-s-air-force/) - Welcome to Episode 4 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This month features the incredibly inspiring story of Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lawicki Vaché, U.S. Air Force. Vanessa’s story is one you will want to share with your kids. When others told her she wasn’t good enough, she worked hard and proved them wrong. Her success - [Episode 14 - Tech Sergeant Susie Goebel, U.S. Air Force (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-14-tech-sergeant-susie-goebel-u-s-air-force-retired/) - Welcome to Episode 14 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Tech Sergeant Susie Goebel, U.S. Air Force (Retired). Susie joined the Air Force in 1980, following in her father’s footsteps. She went to boot camp just four years after women were able to enlist on the same basis as - [Episode 17 - Airman Ronnie Turner-Winston, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-17-airman-ronnie-turner-winston-u-s-air-force/) - Welcome to Episode 17 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Airman Ronnie Turner-Winston, U.S. Air Force.Ronnie has an engaging and humorous story. She enlisted in the Air Force with no prior exposure to the military or idea of what to expect. As a result, her Basic Training got off - [Episode 20 - Private First Class Sue (Van Meter) Hodge, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-20-private-first-class-sue-van-meter-hodge-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 20 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Private First Class Sue (Van Meter) Hodge, U.S. Army.As a kid growing up in Oklahoma, Sue watched her older brothers serve in the Army and the Air Force and wanted desperately to join the military, too. She didn’t know, - [Episode 37 - Sergeant Alice Gallop West, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-37-sergeant-alice-gallop-west-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 37 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Sergeant Alice Gallop West, U.S. Army.Alice served as a Chaplain's Assistant in the U.S. Army and was Lieutenant General Norman Schwarzkopf's aerobics instructor at Fort Lewis, Washington. After 7 years on active duty with tours stateside and in Korea, - [Episode 36 - Private First Class Oscar W. Green, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-36-private-first-class-oscar-w-green-u-s-army/) - [Episode 35 - Master Sergeant Jay Cyril Mastrud, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-35-master-sergeant-jay-cyril-mastrud-u-s-air-force/) - [Episode 34 - Sergeant Kenny L. Esmond, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-34-sergeant-kenny-l-esmond-u-s-army/) - [Episode 33 - Senior Airman Robert Johnson, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-33-senior-airman-robert-johnson-u-s-air-force/) - [Episode 32 - Master Chief Legalman David S. Leafer, U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-32-master-chief-legalman-david-s-leafer-u-s-navy/) - [Episode 31 - Colonel Walter Joseph Marm, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-31-colonel-walter-joseph-marm-u-s-army/) - [Episode 30 - Staff Sergeant Jim Belshaw, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-30-staff-sergeant-jim-belshaw-u-s-air-force/) - [Episode 29 - 1LT Henry Lowenstern, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-29-1lt-henry-lowenstern-u-s-army/) - [Episode 28 - Colonel Hank Hoffman, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-28-colonel-hank-hoffman-u-s-air-force/) - [Episode 27 - Private First Class Robert F. Burgess, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-27-private-first-class-robert-f-burgess-u-s-army/) - [Episode 26 - Sergeant Daniel J. Smith, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-26-sergeant-daniel-j-smith-u-s-army/) - [Episode 19 - Command Sergeant Major Thurman C. Cousins, U.S. Army (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-19-command-sergeant-major-thurman-c-cousins-u-s-army-retired/) - [Episode 21 - Staff Sergeant Adam Joseph, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-21-staff-sergeant-adam-joseph-u-s-army/) - Welcome to Episode 21 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Staff Sergeant Adam Joseph, U.S. Army. Adam served in the artillery and did two tours in Vietnam, both in the northern part of South Vietnam where he was constantly under fire. His luck ran out during his second tour and he was seriously wounded. [...] - [Episode 22 - Petty Officer Second Class Arnold Fernandes, U.S. Coast Guard](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-22-petty-officer-second-class-arnold-fernandes-u-s-coast-guard/) - [Episode 23 - Lieutenant Colonel John Heimburger, U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-23-lieutenant-colonel-john-heimburger-u-s-air-force/) - [Episode 25 - Specialist Billy Terrell, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-25-specialist-billy-terrell-u-s-army/) - [Episode 24 - Specialist Jack Murphy, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-24-specialist-jack-murphy-u-s-army/) - [Episode 18 - Sergeant Paul Schuler, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-18-sergeant-paul-schuler-u-s-army/) - [Episode 16 - 1st Lieutenant Dave Anson, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-16-1st-lieutenant-dave-anson-u-s-army/) - [Episode 15 - Staff Sergeant Samuel D. High, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-15-staff-sergeant-samuel-d-high-u-s-army/) - [Episode 13 - Private First Class Richard H. Adler, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-13-private-first-class-richard-h-adler-u-s-army/) - [Episode 11 - Staff Sergeant Jerry Ingram, U.S. Marine Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-11-staff-sergeant-jerry-ingram-u-s-marine-corps/) - Welcome to Episode 11 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Staff Sergeant Jerry Ingram, U.S. Marine Corps. Enlisting in 1942 and lying about his age, Jerry soon found himself driving tanks in the island-hopping war against Japan in 1944. After participating in - [Episode 12 - Petty Officer Third Class Jim McCune, U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-12-petty-officer-third-class-jim-mccune-u-s-navy/) - [Episode 10 - Specialist 4 Tom Garvey, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-10-specialist-4-tom-garvey-u-s-army/) - [Episode 9 - Sergeant George A. Williams, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-9-sergeant-george-a-williams-u-s-army/) - [Episode 8 - Sergeant First Class Alan L. Boyer, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-8-sergeant-first-class-alan-l-boyer-u-s-army/) - [Episode 7 - First Sergeant Mike Allen, U.S. Army (Retired)](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-7-first-sergeant-mike-allen-u-s-army-retired/) - [Episode 6 - Sergeant Richard "Dick" Sowinski, U.S. Marine Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-6-sergeant-richard-dick-sowinski-u-s-marine-corps/) - [Episode 5 - Staff Sergeant Bernard Moritz, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/staff-sergeant-bernard-moritz-u-s-army/) - [Episode 3 - Sergeant First Class Herbert Burnett, U.S. Army - "Not On My Watch"](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/sergeant-first-class-herbert-burnett-u-s-army-not-on-my-watch/) - [Episode 1: Sergeant Richard (Dick) Berg, U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/podcast/episode-1-sergeant-richard-dick-berg-u-s-army/) ## Categories - [Author's Thoughts](https://davidegrogan.com/category/uncategorized/) - I love to write. Author’s Thoughts gives me the chance to share with you what is on my mind. From whether veterans salute during the National Anthem to traveling around the world researching my latest legal thriller, Author’s Thoughts will let you know what is important to me and maybe even give you a little insight into an upcoming novel. I hope you will also be able to glean some information you can use or apply in your lives, as well. - [Voices To Veterans](https://davidegrogan.com/category/voices-to-veterans/) - Let’s help veterans tell their stories. Maybe they worked in the mess halls serving chow, or helped load ordnance onto jets waiting their turn to launch on combat missions, or maybe they had to watch their friends get hit in an ambush or a firefight in a rice paddy in Vietnam. It’s time we hear what they have to say! If you are a veteran, or you know a veteran you’d like to have considered, send an email to VoicesToVeterans@gmail.com with the name of the veteran, a short summary of his or her story, and a picture of the veteran in uniform if you have it. I’ll then select veterans from the nominations I receive and write-up their stories for the Voices to Veterans Spotlight. Every veteran whose story I feature will receive a free signed copy of my latest Steve Stilwell legal thriller, Sapphire Pavilion, which is dedicated to “Wounded Warriors and Vietnam War veterans, especially those heroes still waiting to come home.” ## Tags - [Vietnam War](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vietnam-war/) - [Vietnam Veteran](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vietnam-veteran/) - [Artillery](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/artillery/) - [U.S. Army](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-army/) - [Veteran](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/veteran/) - [Gulf War](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/gulf-war/) - [American Legion](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/american-legion/) - [Desert Storm](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/desert-storm/) - [Travel](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/travel/) - [Vacation Planning](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vacation-planning/) - [Vacation](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vacation/) - [Korean War](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/korean-war/) - [Korean War Veteran](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/korean-war-veteran/) - [Passport](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/passport/) - [Visa](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/visa/) - [Flag](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/flag/) - [Salute](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/salute/) - [National Anthem](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/national-anthem/) - [Europe](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/europe/) - [U.S. Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-air-force/) - [Women](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/women/) - [Infantry](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/infantry/) - [U.S. Navy](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-navy/) - [U.S. Marine Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-marine-corps/) - [World War II](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/world-war-ii/) - [VFW](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vfw/) - [Cold War](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/cold-war/) - [Iraq War](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/iraq-war/) - [Women's Army Corps](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/womens-army-corps/) - [Cuban Missile Crisis](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/cuban-missile-crisis/) - [U.S. Coast Guard](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-coast-guard/) - [Air Force Academy](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/air-force-academy/) - [Pilot](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/pilot/) - [The Hidden Key](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/the-hidden-key/) - [Wounded Warriors](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/wounded-warriors/) - [Medic](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/medic/) - [Italy](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/italy/) - [Zoom](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/zoom/) - [Dining](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/dining/) - [Pandemic](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/pandemic/) - [Family](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/family/) - [Friends](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/friends/) - [Air Force](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/air-force/) - [B-52](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/b-52/) - [Close Air Support](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/close-air-support/) - [A-37](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/a-37/) - [Intelligence](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/intelligence/) - [Thailand](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/thailand/) - [Ubon Air Base](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/ubon-air-base/) - [John Grisham](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/john-grisham/) - [Book Review](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/book-review/) - [Green Beret](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/green-beret/) - [Laos](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/laos/) - [MIA](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/mia/) - [Silver Star](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/silver-star/) - [Legal Thriller](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/legal-thriller/) - [Ia Drang](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/ia-drang/) - [Air Mobile](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/air-mobile/) - [Cavalry](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/cavalry/) - [Medal of Honor](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/medal-of-honor/) - [Thule Air Base](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/thule-air-base/) - [Air National Guard](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/air-national-guard/) - [Desert Shield](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/desert-shield/) - [USS John F. Kennedy](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-john-f-kennedy/) - [Antiaircraft](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/antiaircraft/) - [Korea](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/korea/) - [GI Bill](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/gi-bill/) - [Pacific](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/pacific/) - [Tanks](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/tanks/) - [Army](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/army/) - [Afghanistan War](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/afghanistan-war/) - [Aircraft Carrier](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/aircraft-carrier/) - [World War II Veteran](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/world-war-ii-veteran/) - [My Lai 4](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/my-lai-4/) - [National Guard](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/national-guard/) - [Military Police](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/military-police/) - [Chaplain](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/chaplain/) - [Vietnam War Novel](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vietnam-war-novel/) - [Cavalry Scout](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/cavalry-scout/) - [Germany](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/germany/) - [Technothriller](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/technothriller/) - [Military Author](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/military-author/) - [Vietnam War Veteran](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/vietnam-war-veteran/) - [Guadalcanal](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/guadalcanal/) - [Americal Division](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/americal-division/) - [Literary Fiction](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/literary-fiction/) - [C-130](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/c-130/) - [T-39](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/t-39/) - [Battleships](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/battleships/) - [Destroyers](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/destroyers/) - [EOD](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/eod/) - [Aleutians Campaign](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/aleutians-campaign/) - [Lawyer/JAG](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/lawyer-jag/) - [Navy SEALs](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/navy-seals/) - [Public Affairs](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/public-affairs/) - [Spy Novel](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/spy-novel/) - [World War I](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/world-war-i/) - [Iraq](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/iraq/) - [Apache Helicopters](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/apache-helicopters/) - [United Kingdom](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/united-kingdom/) - [Supply Ships](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/supply-ships/) - [Airborne](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/airborne/) - [Draft](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/draft/) - [Anti-Submarine](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/anti-submarine/) - [SH-3 Sea King](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/sh-3-sea-king/) - [P-3 Orion](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/p-3-orion/) - [USS America](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-america/) - [Helicopter](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/helicopter/) - [Navy Reserve](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/navy-reserve/) - [USS Blue Ridge](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-blue-ridge/) - [Djibouti](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/djibouti/) - [Recruiting](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/recruiting/) - [Honor Flight](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/honor-flight/) - [U.S. Supreme Court](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-supreme-court/) - [U.S. Constitution](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-constitution/) - [Supreme Court Justice](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/supreme-court-justice/) - [U.S. Army Reserve](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-army-reserve/) - [USS Independence](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-independence/) - [USS Midway](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-midway/) - [Persian Gulf](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/persian-gulf/) - [Nurse](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/nurse/) - [Woman](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/woman/) - [Engineer](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/engineer/) - [Special Agent](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/special-agent/) - [Kosovo](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/kosovo/) - [Southern Watch](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/southern-watch/) - [JTF-Bravo](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/jtf-bravo/) - [Kuwait](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/kuwait/) - [Pentagon on 9/11](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/pentagon-on-9-11/) - [AMVETS](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/amvets/) - [Saudi Arablia](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/saudi-arablia/) - [USS Enterprise (CVN-65)](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-enterprise-cvn-65/) - [Naval Flight Officer](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/naval-flight-officer/) - [U.S. Merchant Marine](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/u-s-merchant-marine/) - [82nd Airborne](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/82nd-airborne/) - [USS Oriskany](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-oriskany/) - [POW](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/pow/) - [F-8 Crusader](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/f-8-crusader/) - [Bahrain](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/bahrain/) - [Bird Dog](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/bird-dog/) - [Syria](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/syria/) - [WestPac](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/westpac/) - [Chaplain Assistant](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/chaplain-assistant/) - [Submarine](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/submarine/) - [USS Grouper](https://davidegrogan.com/tag/uss-grouper/) ## Podcasts - [Voices To Veterans](https://davidegrogan.com/series/voices-to-veterans/)