Thoughts of time on the Mississippi River might bring quotes of Mark Twain to mind or perhaps the sound of boat's horn. Joseph Kennedy followed in his father Jim's footsteps working on the river as a deckhand and terminal operator. No doubt, that on those long patrols in Afghanistan that Joe thought…
America's Memory
by Ron White
America's Memory is a podcast dedicated to telling the stories of the fallen US Military from the war in Afghanistan. Ron White is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and memorized the fallen in the order of their death (2,300+). He travels the wall writing this wall out from memory and hearing the moving stories of the fallen. This podcast tells those stories.
Latest Episodes
There's a reason Mother's Day overloads the post office or someone might say "I bet you're a proud dad." The paternal and maternal instinct creates a powerful bond and children recognize that as they mature. The honor and responsibility of big brother can carry an equal weight as it did for Sam Grif…
The United States Army keeps the selection process for Delta Force a highly-guarded secret. Former Delta operator Pat Savidge has said that "It's not always the best guy that makes it. It's the right guy. That's the key." Most all special operation units have minimum standards for an invite to a sel…
The sight of two uniformed individuals approaching a front door almost always ends the same. They have the unsettling and difficult job of telling loved ones that their son, daughter, husband, or wife has perished. The parents of Anthony Maddox didn't experience that. Not at first anyway. His father…
Jacob Leicht always liked that he was born on the Fourth of July. Who else gets a parade on their birthday? Some may not like sharing their special day with another holiday, but he embraced it.
On a day when America celebrates its independence and freedoms, it seemed like destiny that Leicht's life…
"Corpsman!" The Marine fires at the enemy and then places a hand on his fallen comrade. "Corpsman!" he yells one more time. He looks down. "Hold on, buddy."
A similarly dressed man runs up and drops down next to both of them. "I've got this," he says.
The Marine who had called out returns to firin…
Dust trailed behind a civilian truck carrying thirteen Afghan citizens in March of 2010. It was likely a normal day for them going about their business.
Their normal, however, meant navigating a war-torn landscape where forces from a host of countries battle the Taliban. Herat Province, Afghanistan…
Jeffrey Reber was an American hero. The list of Marines willing to praise his battlefield leadership is long and distinguished. Many of them would suggest they're alive today because of his split-second decisions during combat.
The 1st Marine Division agreed, awarding him the Navy and Marine Corps …
General David Petraeus pinned a Purple Heart on Wayne Swier's chest as he lay in a Bagram Airfield hospital bed. He had yet to leave Afghanistan with thoughts on his future after a horrific injury but also on one of the buddies he left behind—Curtis "Moose" Oakes. Both were soldiers in the 101st Air…
They're known as the tip of the spear. Trailblazers we ask to go in first. Highly trained. Fearless.
When America was attacked on 9/11, we needed those trailblazers on the ground in Afghanistan to find those responsible and stop their reign of terror.
Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann was one of those w…
An amazing photo from Afghanistan emerged in 2011 of a soldier kissing the helmet atop the battlefield cross for SSG Bryan Burgess. The 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle patch is prominent on medic Brit Jacob's arm as his hand holds the back of the helmet.
The symbolic act signified something Burgess …
"Because God wants me to kill bad people." Mark Forester said that as if it were as normal as anything. He said it many times when asked why he chose to join the fight against terrorism. He never meant it as a flippant or cavalier statement, but one of fortitude and calling.
Friends and family knew…
MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (January 14, 2014) --
Staff Sergeant Sky Mote and Capt. Matthew Manoukian were posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the highest decoration that can be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and second highest decoration for valor, during an award ceremony a…
Discover the story of Pfc Austin Staggs in today's episode of America's Memory.
In this episode, discover the story of 1LT Todd Weaver.
Discover the story of the wall in this first episode of America's Memory Podcast.