Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories
Evergreen Podcasts | The Honor Project
The unsanitized truth of what we have asked of those who defend this nation. From archived tapes of WWI veterans, to conversations with modern-day warriors, the...
Captain Tom “Bear” Wilson served in Vietnam as an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO). He sat in the back seat of aircraft, and was responsible for monitoring radar in order to warn his pilot of threats, like surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), anti-aircraft artillery, and enemy aircraft. He also protected his aircraft by jamming enemy radar.
As a Wild Weasel, it was Wilson’s job to protect friendly aircraft attacking enemy SAM sites, who have one of the most dangerous jobs in modern warfare. Wilson and his front seater drew SAMs away from bombers, and targeted the SAM sites themselves. This meant that Weasels spent sometimes more than 20 minutes over the target, as opposed to the one or two minutes bomber pilots spent.
One of our favorite interviews features another Wild Weasel and MOH recipient named Col. Leo Thorsness. Check it out here.
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26:54
Addiction and Trauma: SSgt Sam Hargrove
Staff Sergeant Sam Hargrove served in the Air Force for 11 years, working in combat communications. During her deployment in Iraq, Hargrove survived a base bombing. The attack left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD, but both went untreated.
When she returned home, Hargrove self-medicated with alcohol. Trauma and anger consumed her life until a drunken outburst caused her to punch a hole in a wall in front of her godson:
“He was scared. He was standing there to the side shaking and crying.”
Hargrove contemplated suicide after that incident, but decided to get help instead. Thanks to peer support groups at the VA, and multiple programs through the Wounded Warrior Project, she was able to find the help and support she needed to get better.
Learn how the VA can help you.
Learn how the Wounded Warrior Project can help you.
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26:09
Imprisoned by the Japanese: CAPT Lawrence Savadkin
Captain Lawrence Savadkin served as a computer data torpedo operator on the USS Tang, a submarine, during World War II. During a battle with enemy Japanese ships in October 1944, the Tang was struck by a torpedo and sunk. 78 men were killed.
Savadkin narrowly escaped the sinking sub with his life. He and the 8 other survivors were rescued and captured by the Japanese. He spent the rest of the war as a POW in the Toyko Bay Area.
In this interview, Savadkin describes the battle that sunk the Tang, how luck helped him escape the sinking sub, and the conditions of the Japanese POW camp.
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51:32
Losing An Arm in Iraq: SPC Danielle Green
Specialist Danielle Green served in Iraq with the Military Police Corps as a gunner. On May 25th, 2004, she was hit by a homemade RPG on a rooftop. She lost her left forearm and hand in the blast.
Prior to enlisting at the age of 25, Green played basketball at Notre Dame, and worked as a teacher.
In this interview, Green talks about her service, the blast, and what her physical/mental recovery has been like.
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35:14
Christmas During the Battle of the Bulge: 1st Lt. Belton Cooper
Lieutenant Belton cooper served in World War II as a ordnance officer. He and his team were tasked with recovering damaged allied tanks, often from behind enemy lines, and repairing them.
In this special holiday episode, he describes a chaotic air raid around Christmastime of 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge.
[Editor’s Note: Peep is another name for a Jeep. Cooper uses that terminology a few times during the episode]
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About Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories
The unsanitized truth of what we have asked of those who defend this nation. From archived tapes of WWI veterans, to conversations with modern-day warriors, these are their stories, in their own words.
Listen to Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories, The Rest Is Classified and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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