SSG Jason Wenk takes us through his decision to join the Army and then shares his experience in Iraq, including losing his good friend stationed with him there and almost losing his own life when his Humvee explodes. This, our first Patriot Plates episode was released on National Purple Heart Day...

SGT Addie Ford’s incredible story of survival while being deployed at Bagram Airbase in Iraq. On Veteran’s Day, as men and women on the base prepare for a “Fun Run” on base, a terrorist sneaks his way onto the Airbase. Just as Addie Ford sees this man on the base, he detonates himself. Hear this ...

Pat Upah tells us how she ended up as a nurse in Vietnam, only to find herself working in a hospital surrounded by the enemy. As bombs explode around the hospital, nurses strive to keep the wounded safe and calm, fully aware that it may only be a matter of time before the Viet Cong overrun them. ...

Major Scott Huesing (Ret.) tells us about his decision to join the Marines and the connections we all make and have with each other as soldiers, family, and those who support our military. As a Marine commander during the "Surge" in Ramadi, with hundreds of combat missions under his belt, he desc...

Staff Sergeant Doty had a deep love for the Marine Corps and a passion for training Marines in combat and martial arts. After training nearly 50,000 Marines, there's nothing more rewarding than having one return after deployment to thank him.

Ray Snyder joined the military and was sent to school to be placed on the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was the group responsible for learning about and testing the military’s new devastating weapon, the atomic bomb. Mr. Synder was in the Marshall Islands when some of the first tests w...

A Vietnam veteran runs the M.A.R.S. (Military Affiliated Radio System) program, a crucial backup communications system for the military. Through this system, soldiers were able to connect with family and friends while at war in Vietnam. After 21 years of service, he shares why this was the most s...

This episode, filmed on the U.S.S. Midway, tells the story of Commander Don Hubbard, a naval aviator involved in five conflicts: World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. In part one, we hear about the first half of his service, including flying missions o...

Filmed aboard the U.S.S. Midway, Commander Don Hubbard recounts his remarkable service spanning five U.S. conflicts and his pivotal role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. After capturing aerial photographs of Russian weaponry and equipment in Cuba, CDR Hubbard was tasked with flying the footage throug...

Lieutenant John O’Brien recounts his military journey, commencing at the Naval Academy where he graduated in 1969 before serving in Vietnam. He vividly recalls the PT boats responsible for coast guarding and monitoring during the war, supporting both Frogmen and Navy SEALs. Lieutenant O’Brien als...

Specialist Five Jack Talkington shares his heroic story of survival after his helicopter is shot down by enemy fire, crashing into the jungle. With his pilot dead and two others injured, Talkington fends off enemy attacks at the crash site. As rescue helicopters are shot down around them and ammo...

Vietnam Veteran Specialist 5th Class Chuck Byers shares his experiences as a combat medic during the war. With only 23 days left in country, he is called to aid his unit pinned down by heavy enemy fire. Thinking of home, Chuck heads out, accompanied by his friend and conscientious objector Medic ...

Sgt. 1st Class Robert McDermott survived a devastating Humvee blast during the Iraq War, though he tragically lost one of his soldiers in the attack. After returning home, he joined the White House Transportation Agency, serving during the latter half of the Obama Administration and continuing th...

Vietnam Veteran Oscar Urrea served as a radio operator during the Vietnam War. He was deployed to Cambodia with ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) soldiers to combat the North Vietnamese. Hear firsthand accounts of calling in those deadly strikes. Sgt. Urrea shares his experience returning to...

WWII Civil Servant Una Thomas painted B28 bomber jacket patches for airmen during the war. Her role eventually led her to touch up the nose art on B29 airplanes. When instructed to cover up some of the nude figures, including the iconic Dauntless Dotty, many airmen were displeased. Meet an amazin...

Major Sven Olsen’s final assignment with the National Guard, Operation Safe Skies, involved bringing F16 fighter jets to Ukraine for EuroCup 2012, the country's first international event as a new sovereign state after separating from Russia. Strained U.S.-Russia relations and Russia's objection t...

Colonel Joe Abodeely, part of the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam, was among 15,000 troops dropped by helicopter on the outskirts of Khe Sanh to fight two North Vietnamese regiments. The Marines at Khe Sanh were pinned down, with the enemy sniping soldiers and cutting off supply lines to gain con...

From the beaches of Okinawa to a top-secret B29 mission over the Atlantic, Captain Samuel Baker shares his remarkable story of service. After serving in WWII and landing at Okinawa, he had the opportunity to work for what is now known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)....

WWII Veteran Ensign Frank Palamara joins the crew of the U.S.S. Little Rock and is in charge of catapulting planes off the back of the cruiser. On their first mission out at sea, they cross the equator, and Ensign Palamara has to go through a time-honored hazing tradition for all sailors who cros...

Army Ranger Sam Wonderling takes us through his jump during the Invasion of Panama in 1989 on a critical mission to take out Manuel Noriega. While on the ground and fighting Noriega’s military for control of key areas, Wondering and fellow soldiers forcibly stop a vehicle that races toward them, ...