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In the aftermath of the massive Operation Junction City, helicopter pilot Jack Swickard (118th Assault Helicopter Company) was assigned to ferry a special ops paymaster from camp to camp. At one of these stops, he was asked if he could help extract a civilian irregular unit that was surrounded by a large enemy force. Of course he could. First, he had to cut his way down through the vegetation with his rotor blades. Once there, as the men began loading onto the chopper, the bullets were flying thick, some finding targets among those already on board. (Interview conducted on July 4, 2018) Hear the full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stor… Follow us on: facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou…

It was chaos. There was no standardization of equipment between the Army, the Marines and Special Ops as Operation Iraqi Freedom unfolded. The outcome was inevitable, though, and Saddam was toppled. Mike Burke (2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment) recalls his unit's involvement in the Jessica Lynch rescue. (Interview conducted on October 2, 2024) Hear the full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stor… Follow us on: facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #VeteranStories #CombatVeteran #Iraq #Ranger #Army #Celebrating25Years

Another team was hit hard the day before. Recon Marine Zach Johnson (1st Force Reconnaissance Company) took his team into the same area the next day and they ran into action as well. He called in artillery and continued the patrol into the night. A defensive position for overnight was secured and, sure enough, here they came looking for some revenge. (Interview conducted on February 23, 2018) Hear the full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stor… Follow us on: facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #VeteranStories #CombatVeteran #Vietnam #Marines #Celebrating25Years

Now playing in theaters, facebook.com/pressurethefilm, tells the story of the planning for D-Day. We invite you to hear directly from the folks who landed that day, and learn what the men and women involved experienced during World War II. Search for “D-Day” on our channel at youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou…. #combatveterans #DDay #veteransstories #celebrating25years #SalutetoService

Air America aviator, MajGen (Ret.) Larry Taylor, was operating near a secret communications site when he heard on the radio that an A-1 Skyraider pilot was bailing out. He flew his helicopter to the area and was waiting when the parachute came down. It would be years before he learned the name of the rescued pilot. (Interview conducted on January 4, 2016) Hear this full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stor… Follow us on: facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #VeteranStories #CombatVeteran #Vietnam

Helen Denton kept her role in D-Day a secret for 50 years. While stationed in London, she was responsible for typing up the battle plans for that fateful day. As she says, "I guess you could say that a woman can keep a secret if she has to." Hear the full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stor… Follow us on: facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #WWII #WomensArmyCorps #DDay #VeteranStories

On the way to Okinawa, Elmer Dunn (USS Cacapon) reflects on the losses the Navy and Marines had faced up to that point. The closer they got to the invasion the more they'd encounter submarines, or one of the Kamikaze pilots, one of which would leave him with a lifelong injury. (Interview conducted on September 12, 2016) Hear the full story: WitnessToWar.org Follow us on: instagram.com/WitnessToWar facebook.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #USSCacapon #WWII #Navy #celebrating25years

"We had to have a passport and a visa to go to Vietnam in 1962 to get shot at." The war in Vietnam didn't begin with LBJ. In 1961, the first Army helicopter unit arrived and, the following year, Michael Hull (57th Transportation Helicopter Company) arrived as a replacement pilot. He flew combat assaults and resupply missions, mostly supporting Vietnamese troops. (Interview conducted on January 6, 2026) Hear the full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stor… Follow us on: instagram.com/WitnessToWar facebook.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #VeteranStories #CombatVeteran #Vietnam #Army

This Memorial Day weekend, we were invited to join the veterans of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, along with veterans of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, who were reuniting 20 years after their deployment to Iraq. Our new friends at @militaryreunfun helped bring them all together and organized a pistol shooting competition, which brought out other local vets, law enforcement, and shooting enthusiasts. We were fortunate to record some incredible interviews with these great Marines, and look forward to sharing these stories in the future! #veteranstories #combatveterans #marines #militaryreunion #celebrating25years

@WitnessToWar, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the oral histories of combat veterans through video interviews, joins with the nation to observe Memorial Day & invites the public to nominate a combat veteran they know to be interviewed. For information about how to share your story, please visit witnesstowar.org/share_your_…. There is no cost to be interviewed, and veterans and their families receive free copies of the interview. Thank you. #combatveterans bit.ly/WTWMemorialDay.

It was not a pleasant sight. B-24 navigator Hap Chandler (8th Air Force) could see other planes getting hit, breaking up and the desperation of men in parachutes who did not have good odds on making it safely to the ground. The 8th Air Force had the highest casualty rate in the war, making the air war in the skies of Europe a very deadly business indeed. (Interview conducted on May 6, 2009) Hear the full story: WitnessToWar.org Follow us on: instagram.com/WitnessToWar facebook.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #8thAirForce #WWII #ArmyAirCorps #celebrating25years

We were fortunate to spend time with 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment Rakkasans this weekend during their association reunion, and hear more about their service from Vietnam through the War on Terror. Veterans of Hamburger Hill were in attendance, and we were grateful for the opportunity to record their stories. We also reconnected with our friends at the Steel Thread Project tstprakkasans.com/. Witness to War looks forward to sharing some of these stories with everyone soon! #veteranstories #combatveterans #Rakkasans #militaryhistory #celebrating25years

Last week, we were fortunate to spend time with @ACAHeadquarters during their 2026 convention. We recorded stories from a wide variety of airmen, from Pararescuemen to AC-130 crewmembers, who served in many conflicts across the world over the last 40 years, and a few who were the first into Afghanistan in 2001. We're looking forward to sharing these stories with everyone in the future! #veteranstories #combatveterans #militaryhistory #celebrating25years

This past weekend, we spent time with veterans of the USS Darter (SS-576) who patrolled the seas for over 30 years through the Cold War. As the era of nuclear subs became the norm, the Darter became one of the few remaining diesel-powered subs in service. We are so grateful for the opportunity to speak with the men who truly lived in "Silent Service." #veteranstories #veteraninterviews #submarine #Navy #ColdWar #militaryhistory #celebrating25years

Enrique Munoz (1st Marine Division, Fire Support Element) first saw action in Somalia. He did raids, escorted grain supplies and provided communications for air support. He understands how the Black Hawk Down incident could have occurred because he drove the streets of Mogadishu. (Interview conducted on September 8, 2024) WitnessToWar.org Follow us on: facebook.com/WitnessToWar instagram.com/WitnessToWar youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #VeteranStories #CombatVeteran #Iraq #Marines #celebrating25years

Lsta week, we had a great time reconnecting with longtime volunteer, Bill Cosgrove, who set up some interviews with local Mt. Pleasant veterans. Steve Sweeney is a Vietnam veteran of the 25th Infantry Division, who told us about a devastating attack he experienced in February of 1969, and Bill Savage is a WWII veteran of the 75th Infantry Division, who fought through the Battle of the Bulge and into the Ruhr Valley. We look forward to sharing their stories with you in the future. We're so grateful for their participation, and their service to our nation. WitnessToWar.org youtube.com/@WitnessToWarFou… #combatstories #veteranstories #combatveterans #militaryhistory #Vietnam #WWII #celebrating25years

We're grateful for the opportunity to sit down with SGM (ret) Mike Vining this week and talk to him about his service to our nation. A Vietnam veteran, Mike became a Special Forces icon as a founding member of Delta Force and one of the top explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts in the country. We look forward to his book, @BlastingThrough, being released later this year, and to sharing his interview with you soon! #combatveteran #veteranstories #DeltaForce #Vietnam