American Veterans Center

Some stories are difficult to tell, but Esteban Valenzuela chose to share his anyway. Not for recognition, but in the hope that someone else might find strength, understanding, or healing through his experiences. That’s the lasting impact of preserving oral history. History lives on when those who lived it are willing to share it.

On September 8, 2009, during the Battle of Ganjgal in Afghanistan, Dakota Meyer repeatedly drove into heavy enemy fire to rescue wounded teammates and recover the fallen, actions that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Meyer became the second Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for service in the Global War on Terror and the first living Marine to earn the nation’s highest award for valor since the Vietnam War. To hear Dakota’s full story in our interview with him, click the link in our bio.

The Korean War is often referred to as the “Forgotten War,” but for those who lived it, forgetting was never truly possible. Korean War veteran Richard Carter tried to leave those memories behind, but the weight of what he experienced stayed with him. His story reminds us why these histories must be preserved, not only to honor those who served, but to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Some client work stays with you. Memorial Day weekend, @AVCupdate reunited Don Graves, 101, and Billy Byrd, 100, in Washington as honorary grand marshals of the National Memorial Day Parade. Both watched the flag go up on Mount Suribachi with the 28th Marine Regiment in 1945. Their unit had 335 men. 18 survived the battle. Today, Don and Billy are the only two still alive. We earned national coverage from the @AP and @USATODAY. When USA Today asked me about the reunion, the honest answer was that the best part was just listening to their stories... remembering them like it was last week. Then on July 4th, the @POTUS introduced Don on the National Mall. He saluted the same flag he saw raised 81 years ago. Proud to help make moments like this happen while these men are still here to share them. USA Today link in the comments.

We are saddened by the passing of WWII veteran Frank Cohn on July 4. After fleeing Nazi Germany with his family in 1938, Frank returned to Europe as a U.S. Army soldier to help defeat the regime that had forced them to flee. His life was a remarkable testament to courage, resilience, and the American promise. We were honored to preserve his story. Rest in peace, Frank.

Gunner’s Mate Second Class Charles Brooking and his fellow PT boat crew carried out dangerous nighttime hit-and-run missions against Japanese vessels, disrupting enemy supply lines and preventing reinforcements from reaching contested islands.

Tomorrow, America celebrates 250 years as a nation. For two and a half centuries, ordinary Americans have answered extraordinary moments. From the fight for independence to every generation that followed, they stood when history called, defending the freedoms and ideals that define our country. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we also pause to remember those whose courage shaped the course of our nation’s story. Their sacrifices secured the liberties we enjoy today, and their firsthand accounts remind us that history is more than dates and battles. It is the lived experience of the men and women who carried our nation through its most pivotal moments. As America marks this historic milestone, let us honor not only where we’ve been, but also the voices that ensure future generations understand what it took to get here. History is not just something we inherit. It is something we preserve.

Courage. Sacrifice. Service. This Independence Day, we honor the veterans who helped shape our nation and continue to strengthen it today. Happy Fourth of July weekend.

When Esteban Valenzuela graduated high school, he chose the U.S. Marine Corps over college football. Months later, he was fighting in the Tet Offensive, where he lost one of his closest friends. Nearly 60 years later, a return to Vietnam helped him find healing. Watch his story: Link in bio.

Happy Birthday to WWII veteran Lockered “Bud” Gahs! After being drafted in 1943, Bud served with the legendary 42nd Infantry Division, the Rainbow Division. He fought through some of the fiercest battles of the European Theater, earning the Bronze Star for his bravery while defending the town of Schweghausen against a determined German assault. Bud continued the fight into Germany, where he witnessed the liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, one of history’s darkest places. Today, we celebrate not only another year of Bud’s life, but a life defined by courage, sacrifice, and service. Thank you, Bud, for preserving your story and for everything you did in defense of freedom. Happy Birthday, Bud!

More than eight decades after fighting across Europe, WWII Army veteran Robert Shipe is reunited with the Browning Automatic Rifle he once carried into battle. A powerful moment connecting one veteran to the weapon that helped him survive the war.

The greatest lessons from our veterans aren’t only about winning battles. They’re about choosing duty over comfort, perseverance over surrender, and doing what’s right even when no one is watching. Those lessons remain just as relevant today as they were generations ago.

WWII combat medic Jacob Ruser recalls the night a German tank blast knocked him unconscious, leaving others to believe he had been killed.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who serve, the fathers of our nation’s heroes, and the fathers who carry on the legacies of those we have lost. Today, we celebrate the love, strength, guidance, and sacrifice that fathers bring to their families and communities. We are especially grateful for the military and first responder dads who answer the call to serve, and for the fathers whose children made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. From all of us at the Gary Sinise Foundation, thank you for all you do. Wishing you a very Happy Father’s Day. 💙🇺🇸

After the injuries that ended his Navy SEAL career, John Allen had to find a new purpose. Years earlier, his mother mailed him pages of Jack Reacher novels one chapter at a time during boot camp. Those pages sparked a love of storytelling that would shape his future. Today, millions know him as MrBallen. Watch Part 2 of his interview at the link in our bio.

A grenade nearly took his life in Afghanistan. Today, millions know him as @MrBallen. John Allen served as a Navy SEAL with SEAL Team 2 before suffering devastating injuries during a 2014 combat deployment to Afghanistan. Medically retired in 2017, he faced the challenge of building a new life after service. What many don’t know is that the seeds of his future career were planted years earlier when his mother mailed him pages from his favorite novels during boot camp, helping him escape the intensity of training one chapter at a time. From Navy SEAL to one of the world’s most influential storytellers, Allen’s journey is a powerful reminder that purpose can take many forms. John Allen’s story drops tomorrow. Link in our bio.

Today we celebrate 251 years of the United States Army and the generations of soldiers who answered the call to serve. In this clip, World War II veteran Vincent Speranza shares the story of joining the Army and his first introduction to boot camp in Georgia—a journey that would eventually take him into combat with the famed 101st Airborne Division during the Second World War. From nervous recruits arriving at training camps to soldiers fighting across Europe, every Army story begins with a first step. For Vincent and millions of others, that step was a commitment to something greater than themselves. Happy 251st Birthday to the U.S. Army.

Today, on the Army’s 251st Birthday, we honor every soldier who has worn the uniform and every generation that has carried the legacy forward. Their stories remind us that while the Army continues to evolve, its commitment to duty, sacrifice, and service remains timeless. Happy 251st Birthday, U.S. Army. 🇺🇸

During WWII, Harry Miller served with the 740th Tank Battalion as a tank crewman. He shares an incredible story of another fellow soldier in his unit who was out on patrol in a jeep shortly before The Battle of the Bulge. A woman came walking through and was told to go home only for him to find out she was pregnant. His buddy then proceeded to take the woman to the hospital. Decades later, that same woman remembered him and named her son after him.

History is best told by those who lived it. Every week, we preserve and share the firsthand stories of America’s veterans—stories of courage, sacrifice, and service that might otherwise be lost to time. New oral history episodes every Tuesday. Link in our bio. 🇺🇸