In February of 1945, close friends Don Graves, Billy Byrd, and Ira Hayes fought alongside fellow U.S. Marines as they battled their way up Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. Hayes was among the six men who famously raised the American flag atop the bloodied mountain. All three men made it home from Iwo Jima, however, Ira Hayes passed ten years later and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. On Memorial Day this year, Byrd and Graves visited the gravesite of their comrade in arms, reflecting on their bond and the memories they shared as young Marines during WWII.  "I saw many bags of mail. I believe most of these letters were from mothers of the kids under those crosses. So many tear-stained letters unanswered." -Billy Byrd (recalling his final days on Iwo Jima)

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. 🇺🇸

Shot down on his very first combat mission during the Vietnam War, Air Force pilot Robert “Bob” Jeffrey’s life changed in an instant. After his F-4 Phantom II was hit near the Chinese border in 1965, Jeffrey was forced to eject and was captured by enemy forces. What followed was an unimaginable test of endurance: seven years and three months as a prisoner of war. For 2,611 days, Jeffrey endured captivity far from home. Yet when he was finally released during Operation Homecoming in February 1973, he chose not to let those years define him. He recovered, returned to service, and continued his Air Force career, helping train the next generation of American aviators before retiring as a Colonel. His story is a testament to the resilience, courage, and determination of America’s POWs. Listen to more about Colonel Robert “Bob” Jeffrey’s remarkable journey through the link in our bio.

The success of D-Day was measured in miles gained. The cost was measured in lives lost. When American forces stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, George Ciampa arrived shortly afterward with a different mission. Assigned to the 607th Graves Registration Company, his job was not to fight the enemy—it was to care for the fallen. His first task was recovering the bodies of American paratroopers who had drowned in the English Channel beneath the weight of their equipment. From there, he began the solemn work of collecting the dead from the beaches, identifying them, and preserving their personal effects so they could be returned to grieving families back home. For the next eleven months, Ciampa and his fellow Graves Registration soldiers followed the advance across Europe, bearing witness to the true cost of war. By the end of the conflict, the 607th had processed and buried approximately 75,000 individuals. The story of D-Day does not end when the beaches were secured. It continues in the quiet sacrifice of men like George Ciampa, who faced the grave realities of war so that every fallen service member could be treated with dignity and remembered with honor. George spent the rest of his life reminding us of the price of freedom. We remember him today. George Ciampa 1925–2024

On June 6, 1944, Tom Rice parachuted into Normandy as a young soldier with the 101st Airborne Division, joining thousands of Allied paratroopers in one of history’s most pivotal military operations. Seventy-five years later, on June 5, 2019, Rice returned to the skies above Normandy. At 97 years old, he made another jump, landing near the same drop zone where he entered occupied France as a 22-year-old paratrooper on D-Day. His remarkable return was more than a tribute to those who served—it was a living connection to history and a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and determination of the Greatest Generation. May we never forget the men who answered the call on D-Day and helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

Early on June 6th, 1944 Donald A.  McCarthy climbed down the ropes of the SS Empire Javelin into his LCA (Landing Craft Assault). Originally scheduled to land in the Dog Green sector of Omaha Beach, the British Coxswain saw the chaos on the beach and instead landed the men in the Dog Red sector where they were met with intense machine gun and artillery fire. Through luck and determination McCarthy was eventually able to make his way up the beach and towards the Vierville Draw to reach his objective, the church in Vierville. He would be wounded on D-Day, but return to action in early July 1944. Donald A. McCarthy passed away on August 1, 2017 at the age of 93

While serving in the Korean War, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rudy Meekins earned four Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat. Yet one of the memories that has stayed with him all these years isn’t about the battlefield. It’s about a young Korean boy who crafted a Korean flag from a rice sack and traded it to Rudy for a can of beans.

At just 16 years old, Douglas Dillard joined the U.S. Army determined to help win World War II. What followed was a remarkable military career that spanned decades and some of the most pivotal moments in modern history. From parachuting into southern France during Operation Dragoon in August 1944 to enduring the brutal winter and fierce fighting of the Battle of the Bulge, Colonel Dillard witnessed history firsthand. He later became a key leader in military intelligence, serving during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and helping shape critical intelligence operations during some of America’s most challenging conflicts. In this interview, Colonel Dillard reflects on courage, sacrifice, and the lessons learned from a lifetime of service to our nation.

This Memorial Day, we gathered on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. for the National Memorial Day Parade to honor the brave men and women who gave everything for our country. Their sacrifice secured the freedoms we live with every day. They gave their today so we could have our tomorrow. As we reflect on the courage, service, and selflessness of our fallen heroes, may we never take those freedoms for granted. May we continue to remember their names, honor their legacy, and live lives worthy of their sacrifice.

Honoring those who gave everything for our freedoms this Memorial Day. Grateful to join our community in remembrance and reflection at today’s National Memorial Day parade in Washington, DC. Thank you, @Freedom250 @AVCupdate @GarySiniseFound!

The streets of D.C. filled with flags, music, and special tributes as crowds gathered for the annual Memorial Day parade. This year’s event also featured America250 celebrations ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

We sat down with New York Times bestselling author and former Navy SEAL @JackCarrUSA and the interview is now live on our YouTube channel. From a young age, Jack Carr had two dreams: serving his country in uniform as a Navy SEAL and becoming an author. Following twenty years in the SEAL Teams, Jack shifted his sights to publishing and fulfilled his literary objective with the release of his debut novel, The Terminal List. In our conversation, Jack shares insights on storytelling, service, leadership, and the experiences that continue to shape his work both on and off the page. Watch the full interview now on our YouTube channel. youtu.be/C8VIxPmqxHQ?si=AwWW…

.@Cudlitz is known for his role as Sgt. Denver "Bull" Randleman in the epic World War II miniseries, 'Band of Brothers.' He explains David Schwimmer being cast as Captain Sobel and how they were made to hate him on screen which worked out perfectly for the show.

Today, we’re celebrating all moms. Those serving in uniform, the mothers of our nation’s heroes, and the women who hold their families together through every season. Your strength, love, and steady presence make a difference in ways big and small every single day. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at the Gary Sinise Foundation. 💐

On May 8, 1945, the sirens that once warned of danger were replaced by the sounds of celebration. In the United States, millions of people gathered in houses of worship and city centers to mark the official surrender of Nazi Germany. It was a day of "sober and subdued rejoicing," as President Truman called it—a time to honor the fallen while celebrating the liberation of a world from tyranny. The day before, Louis Graziano was in the quiet of a classroom in Reims, witnessing the finality of the Third Reich. Having survived the Battle of the Bulge, Louis was tasked with ensuring the headquarters was ready for the historic ceremony. Now 103 years old, he stands alone as the final surviving witness to the surrender

WWII Veteran Lester Schrenk explains how he upset a German interrogator after being captured behind enemy lines. Lester was a ball turret gunner with the 92nd Bomb Group of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. On his 10th mission - aboard the B-17 'Pot o' Gold', his bomber was badly damaged by a German JU-88 over Denmark. Bailing out, he was immediately captured and held prisoner at the Stalag Luft IV camp, surviving harsh conditions and interrogations. He passed away just two months ago at the age of 102.

Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp. On May 5, 1945, American troops broke through the gates of one of the war’s most brutal camps—saving thousands, including rock legend @genesimmons mother, Flora Klein. At last year’s AVC annual Memorial Day parade, Gene finally met 100-year-old (now 101) WWII veteran Hal Urban—the hero whose unit liberated that very camp. A moment 80 years in the making.

U.S. Army WWII Veteran Ernest Mogor trained with the 76th Infantry Division and would enter combat crossing the Sauer and Moselle Rivers in the vicinity of Echternach, Luxembourg in early 1945. He explains what the term "line of fire" meant during World War 2.