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SGT George Mike Mabe

Arriving in Saigon in the earliest days of 1966, Sergeant George Mike Mabe spent nearly the entire year serving in Vietnam. As part of a combat unit with the 101st Airborne Division, much of his time was spent in the bush, taking part in search-and-destroy missions...

LCpl Mark Ryan Black

Upon departing for training, Marine Corps Lance Corporal Mark Ryan Black told his family, “Don’t expect me to write much.” Contrary to expectations, he spent much time in country composing both written letters and tape-recorded audio letters, communicating the details...

Lt Col Olga Custodio

When the recruiting military sergeant asked Olga Custodio to list three jobs she wanted, she responded: ‘A pilot, a pilot or a pilot.’ And her determination paid off: more than 30 years ago, she became the first ever Latina to complete U.S. Air Force...

LCpl William “Billy” Hodges Bazemore

This originally was written for Thanksgiving Day 2005 Although I frequently lecture and write about the Vietnam War, and my book Masters of the Art is based on my service there, I don’t have a repository of dates locked in my mind that steadily surfaces like a...

Lt(JG) William “Bill” Gardner

I served as “M” Division officer on the Idaho from July 1944 thru decommissioning in May 1946. I am 97 and healthy, living in an independent retirement facility [Letter dated 12/7/17]. All my family has settled in NC, including son and daughter, 4 grands...