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Male Navy officer in flight gear

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.

A male U.S. Air Force major in uniform

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.

Chaplain, Colonel, Marion Reynolds, U.S. Air Force (Retired), saluting at his retirement ceremony

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.

U.S. Navy airman in his summer white uniform.

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.

Female U.S. Army captain in combat gear

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.

A male U.S. Marine in uniform

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.

Carl searching for subs in the Med 1981

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.

Dave underway - cropped

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.

Alice Gallop West

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, […]

Jay Mastrud - Air Force Service Picture Featured Image

Episode 35 – Master Sergeant Jay Cyril Mastrud, U.S. Air Force

Welcome to Episode 35 of the Voices to Veterans podcast. This episode features the story of Master Sergeant Jay Cyril Mastrud, U.S. Air Force. Jay’s story is one of resilience and overcoming adversity. He first served as a sailor with fighter squadron VF-32 onboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), deploying in support […]

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