Best Elizabeth Becker Podcasts (2026)

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USS Pueblo Veteran and North Korean POW Steven Woelk 1:37:53

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2d ago1:37:53

1:37:53

One week before the Tet Offensive of 1968, a small, unarmed Navy intelligence ship called the USS Pueblo was attacked and captured by North Korea. The seizure of the Pueblo became its own crisis running parallel to Tet, trapping 82 American sailors in a struggle for survival that lasted nearly a year. One of those sailors was 20-year-old Steven Woe…

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The True Story of Military Contractors and US Mail Delivery in Afghanistan 1:30:02

9d ago1:30:02

1:30:02

Edward Ford and Alan Chiasson came to Afghanistan with long résumés in uniform and out. Ford was a Force Recon Marine with combat tours in the Gulf War, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan before moving into high-end security contracting. Chiasson was a Navy Hospital Corpsman and Texas paramedic who’d spent years providing high-risk medical support on P…

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Vietnam in War and Peace 1:30:57

16d ago1:30:57

1:30:57

Join us for an evening with Colonel Chuck Bechtel, whose new memoir, Sent to War, Returning for Peace: My Reconciliation with the Vietnam War, traces a long soldier’s journey from the jungles of Vietnam to a quiet reckoning half a century later. Chuck was drafted in 1966, a kid from Pennsylvania who suddenly found himself leading a 43-man infantry …

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The Battle of Dak To, 1967 1:31:34

30d ago1:31:34

1:31:34

Join us for a special Veterans Breakfast Club Monday Night Livestream on November 24 marking the 58th anniversary of the Battle of Dak To, one of the fiercest and bloodiest engagements of the Vietnam War. We’ll be joined by veterans who fought there—men who endured the steep jungle slopes, relentless artillery, and desperate close-quarters combat o…

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The VBC WWII Tour of Italy, October 17-30, 2026 Part 1 1:30:37

1M ago1:30:37

1:30:37

Glenn Flickinger and Todd DePastino discuss the VBC’s WWII Tour of Italy in October 2026, where they will spend 14 days following the path of the Allied forces through one of the most grueling campaigns of World War II. Todd and Glenn will also talk with Italian Campaign expert, 45th Infantry Division Historian Professor David D’Andrea, who will al…

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The Oldest Story: What Homer’s The Iliad Teaches Us About Modern War 1:36:04

2M ago1:36:04

1:36:04

For the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the Veterans Breakfast Club goes deep with Marine Corps veteran and classical scholar Dr. Josh Cannon about the ancient truths of war. Join this conversation with an Iraq veteran, anthropologist, and author, whose new book Fatal Second Helen: A Modern Veteran’s Iliad bridges the 2,600-year-o…

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Veterans Open Conversation 1:38:57

2M ago1:38:57

1:38:57

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have somethi…

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Best-Selling Author Elliott Ackerman 1:31:50

2M ago1:31:50

1:31:50

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special livestream conversation with Elliot Ackerman, decorated Marine, CIA officer, acclaimed novelist, and co-chair of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation. Ackerman served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine Raider and special operations officer, earning the Silver Star, Bronze St…

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Women Reporters in Vietnam with Elizabeth Becker 1:36:22

2M ago1:36:22

1:36:22

Legendary journalist and author Elizabeth Becker, who has spent her career bearing witness to the frontlines of history, joins us to talk about her new book, You Don’t Belong Here: How Three Women Rewrote the Story of War ,a riveting account of three trailblazing female correspondents who shattered gender barriers to cover the Vietnam War. The book…

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Remembering the 6888th Postal Battalion 1:10:15

2M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

The Veterans Breakfast Club invites you to join us on Thursday, October 16 at 7:00pm Eastern for a special online conversation with author Brenda Partridge-Brown about her new book, Echoes of a Little Brown Soldier Girl. The program will be held on VBC Zoom and livestreamed to our Facebook and YouTube pages. Brenda’s book tells the story of her mot…

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The Fuji Fire of 1979: Remembering a Forgotten Marine Corps Tragedy 1:31:54

3M ago1:31:54

1:31:54

Join us for a conversation with author Chas Henry, retired Marine Corps captain and award-winning journalist, as he shares the harrowing story behind Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy. On October 19, 1979, a super typhoon struck Camp Fuji, a remote Marine Corps training site on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan. Floo…

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Veterans Open Conversation 1:35:03

3M ago1:35:03

1:35:03

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share. This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have somethi…

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40 Years a Marine: COL (Ret) John R. Bates 1:32:14

3M ago1:32:14

1:32:14

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an unforgettable evening with Colonel John R. Bates, USMC (Ret.), whose extraordinary 39-year career in the United States Marine Corps (1966–2005) spans three wars, five decades, and a lifetime of service defined by courage, conviction, and grit. Col. Bates enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966, dropping out of c…

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Green Star Families 50:15

3M ago50:15

50:15

We’ve asked 26-year Army and Pennsylvania National Guard veteran Matt P. Cahill to join us to talk about his Green Star Families of America (greenstarfamilies.org) nonprofit. Matt served as a medic in Iraq and later endured his own battles with PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and the lasting wounds of war. Out of these experiences, Matt founded a n…

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Army Security Agency (ASA) Veterans 1:36:15

3M ago1:36:15

1:36:15

We welcome veterans of the now-gone Army Security Agency, which was first created on September 15, 1945, in the immediate aftermath of World War II. ASA veterans John Peart and others will share their stories of service with this shadowy intelligence agency that played a critical role in the Cold War. The Army Security Agency (ASA) operated under t…

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Remembering 9/11 1:23:24

3M ago1:23:24

1:23:24

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special Open Conversation as we come together to remember the events of September 11, 2001, reflect on their lasting impact, and honor the lives lost and forever changed. This is not a panel or a presentation—it’s a space for listening and sharing, open to all. Whether you recall exactly where you were that mo…

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Navy Intelligence Veteran M.P. Woodward, Author of “Tom Clancy: Line of Demarcation” 1:30:53

3M ago1:30:53

1:30:53

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for conversation with M.P. Woodward, Navy veteran and bestselling author of Tom Clancy: Line of Demarcation, the newest installment in the legendary Jack Ryan series. We’ll talk spycraft, storytelling, and how real-world experience in military intelligence shapes his fiction writing. Before becoming a full-time writ…

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Marine Recon Sniper in Iraq: Brennan Morton 1:26:23

4M ago1:26:23

1:26:23

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an unforgettable conversation with Marine veteran and author Brennan Morton, whose acclaimed memoir Valhalla Boys: Marine Recon Sniper in Iraq is being hailed as one of the most powerful and literary war memoirs of the post-9/11 generation. Valhalla Boys isn’t your typical “boots-on-the-ground” war story. It’s a…

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Ross Meador – Carried Away and the Orphans of the Vietnam War 1:38:05

5M ago1:38:05

1:38:05

The Veterans Breakfast Club is honored to welcome Ross Meador, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Carried Away: A Memoir of Rescue and Survival Among the Orphans of the Viet Nam War, for a 90-minute livestream conversation on Sunday, August 18 at 7:00pm ET. Ross Meador’s story is not your typical Vietnam War narrative. In 1975, just before t…

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35th Anniversary of Desert Shield 1:29:43

5M ago1:29:43

1:29:43

Thirty-five years ago, in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the United States launched Operation Desert Shield, the largest American military deployment since Vietnam. On Monday, August 11 at 7:00pm ET, the Veterans Breakfast Club hosts a special 90-minute livestream conversation with veterans who served during this critical moment in modern m…

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“Semper Paratus”: Conversation with Coast Guard Veterans 1:29:14

5M ago1:29:14

1:29:14

The Veterans Breakfast Club proudly celebrates the U.S. Coast Guard’s 235th birthday with a special 90-minute livestream event on Monday, August 4 at 7:00pm ET. Join us as we talk with Coast Guard veterans about what makes their service so distinct—and so essential to the nation’s security and safety. Founded on August 4, 1790, the Coast Guard is t…

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Fr. Emil Kapaun: Chaplain, Hero, Saint 1:34:21

5M ago1:34:21

1:34:21

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club on the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, Monday, July 28, at 7:00pm ET for a special livestream conversation about the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Father Emil Kapaun, U.S. Army chaplain, Medal of Honor recipient, and Servant of God now on the path to sainthood. Our guest will be Ray Kapau…

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Jeopardy! Veterans Breakfast Club Edition 1:27:20

6M ago1:27:20

1:27:20

Do you know how many belt loops are on Marine Dress Blues? Or what the Air Force equivalent of the Navy Seabees is called? How about the command used to remove an individual from formation—but not end it? Then step up and play VBC Jeopardy!, our 90-minute live and interactive trivia night where everyone can be a contestant, and the only requirement…

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Wayne Vansant: Drawing War 1:34:05

6M ago1:34:05

1:34:05

The Veterans Breakfast Club proudly presents a special 90-minute livestream with Wayne Vansant, Navy veteran and renowned illustrator of some of the most historically accurate war comics ever published. The event goes live on Monday, July 14 at 7:00pm ET, and will be hosted on our VBC Online Events platform. Wayne Vansant is best known for his grou…

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Veterans Open Conversation 1:34:01

6M ago1:34:01

1:34:01

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 7:00pm ET. This online event, part of our ongoing VBC Open Conversation series, invites veterans from all eras of service—as well as families, friends, and supporters—to come together and share stories, memories, and insights about the mil…

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Military Contractors: A Force in the Shadows 1:30:28

6M ago1:30:28

1:30:28

For the first time in our Veterans Breakfast Club history, we’re shining a spotlight on an essential but often invisible force in America’s recent wars: military contractors. Join us for this important livestream conversation with Ron Farina, Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and author of Out of the Shadows, and a panel of former contractors who served…

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75th Anniversary of the Korean War 1:34:42

7M ago1:34:42

1:34:42

Seventy-five years ago, on June 25, 1950, North Korean forces launched a surprise invasion across the 38th parallel into South Korea, setting off a brutal and complex conflict that would last three years, claim millions of lives, and shape the Cold War. The Korean War—often called the “Forgotten War”—began with tanks rolling into Seoul at dawn and …

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Surviving Afghanistan with former Army Counterintelligence Agent Jeremy D. Baker 1:29:37

7M ago1:29:37

1:29:37

Join us as we welcome Jeremy D. Baker, former Army counterintelligence agent, Afghanistan combat veteran and author of the novel The Guilty Sleep, a thriller that draws on Jeremy’s personal experiences as a combat veteran struggling to overcome PTSD. In 2000, after acing his Army entrance exam, 20-year-old college dropout Jeremy was told by his rec…

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Celebrating Women Veterans Day 1:33:26

7M ago1:33:26

1:33:26

Tonight we mark Women Veterans Day, which is observed annually on June 12 to commemorate the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act into law by President Truman in 1948. This act allowed women to serve permanently in the regular armed forces. To help us honor this anniversary, we invite playwright Ash Singer, whose recent documentary…

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Veterans Open Conversation 1:32:21

7M ago1:32:21

1:32:21

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 7:00pm ET. This online event, part of our ongoing VBC Open Conversation series, invites veterans from all eras of service—as well as families, friends, and supporters—to come together and share stories, memories, and insights about the mil…

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The West Point Class of 1966 1:34:07

7M ago1:34:07

1:34:07

We talk with members of the famous United States Military Academy at West Point’s Class of 1966, which holds a unique and tragic place in American history. Brian Ashbaugh, Walt Brinker, Rusty Correia, Al Lindseth, and Jerry Cecil all join us to share their memories of that remarkable era. Rick Atkinson’s book, The Long Gray Line: The American Jour…

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Memorial Day Conversation 1:38:55

7M ago1:38:55

1:38:55

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special Memorial Day virtual event on Monday, May 26, 2025, at 7:00pm ET. This live, online conversation invites veterans, families, and friends to gather in an open, heartfelt space to honor and remember those who have fallen in service to our nation. Memorial Day is a time of national reflection and remembra…

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“Voices From Vietnam” with Doc Norton and Harry Kantrovich 1:36:11

8M ago1:36:11

1:36:11

Vietnam Veterans and writers Bruce “Doc” Norton and Harry Kantrovich join us to talk about their new book and stage production, Voices From Vietnam: Interviews, Letters, Vignettes, and Reflections, 1964–1982. This unique conversation will explore their collaborative journey in bringing the Vietnam War’s deeply personal stories to life—both on the p…

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Korean War Veteran Ron Twentey 1:32:37

8M ago1:32:37

1:32:37

We welcome two people who have devoted themselves to educating the nation about the long Korean War and those who served and sacrificed for South Korea’s freedom. The first is Susan Kee whose “Honoring Korean War Veterans” project has documented the stories of over 500 Korean War veterans and advocated for the families of those still MIA since the …

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What Went Wrong? From Korea to Afghanistan 1:33:26

8M ago1:33:26

1:33:26

World War II is the last war America fought that had clearly defined goals: defeating the Nazis and halting Japanese imperialism. Our efforts were supported by a civilian and military leadership that understood what victory looked like and were aligned on how to achieve it. That unity was critical to ensuring the support of the citizenry. Since the…

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The Fall of Saigon, 50 Years Later 1:41:25

8M ago1:41:25

1:41:25

The Fall of Saigon marked the official end of the Vietnam War. On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, bringing about the unconditional surrender of the South Vietnamese government and reunifying Vietnam under communist rule. In early 1975, North Vietnam launched the Spring Offensive, a massive mili…

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Poet and Navy Spouse Jehanne Dubrow 1:35:51

9M ago1:35:51

1:35:51

Poet Jehanne Dubrow has written much about life in the military community. Her latest poetry collection Civilians delves into the profound transition from military to civilian life, reflecting her personal journey as a Navy spouse alongside her husband, LCDR Jeremy Schaub. This work serves as the concluding volume in her trilogy exploring the milit…

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The Vietnam Odyssey of Fr. Philip Salois 1:25:45

9M ago1:25:45

1:25:45

Vietnam Veteran and Catholic priest Fr. Philip Salois joins us with his biographers, Julien Ayotte and Paul F. Caranci, to talk about his experiences during the Vietnam War and his subsequent commitment to spiritual healing, a story told in In the Shadows of Vietnam: The Gallant Life of Fr. Philip Salois. Salois grew up in a devout Catholic family…

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Vietnam Veteran Maj. Gen. Bill Matz (Ret.) Part 2 1:40:18

9M ago1:40:18

1:40:18

We welcome back Major General William M. Matz Jr., a distinguished retired U.S. Army officer, whose new book, My Toughest Battle: A Soldier’s Lifelong Struggle with Polio, chronicles his journey of overcoming polio and his distinguished military career. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1962, Matz embarked on a military career that spanned ove…

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Civilian Women in Vietnam 1:32:24

9M ago1:32:24

1:32:24

During the Vietnam War, American civilians played pivotal roles in supporting both military operations and humanitarian efforts, working through government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Thousands of these civilians were women, and we talk with several of them tonight! Ann Kelsey was a UCLA graduate when she volunteered for the Army Special…

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Marine Force Recon in Vietnam 1:32:24

10M ago1:32:24

1:32:24

We invite veterans of Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance (Force Recon) to talk about their service in Vietnam. Bill Barber and Bruce “Doc” Norton both have stories about conducting deep reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and direct action missions behind enemy lines. Unlike conventional infantry units, Force Recon operated in small teams, often…

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Veterans Discuss the Draft Lottery 31:36

10M ago31:36

31:36

This compelling conversation revolves around the memories of Vietnam veterans regarding the 1969 draft lottery, a pivotal moment in American history. The lottery, televised nationally, replaced the previous system of deferments, particularly the college student deferment, which had shielded many young men, including some of the participants, from i…

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Conversation with Navy SeaBees 1:39:21

10M ago1:39:21

1:39:21

We call upon all former Navy SeaBees to join us for a conversation marking the 83rd anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy’s Construction Battalions on March 5, 1942. Formed in response to the urgent need for military construction forces capable of working under combat conditions, the Seabees have since established themselves as an indispensa…

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Gold Star Families Speak 1:37:25

10M ago1:37:25

1:37:25

Vietnam Marine Corps veteran and author Ron Farina's new book, "Sacrifice: The Final Chapter," tells the stories of American Service Members who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the enduring effects on their loved ones. We talk with Ron about the book and also with three family members profiled in it. We hear from Helen Keiser-Pederson…

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Vietnam Veteran Maj. Gen. Bill Matz (Ret.) Part 1 1:33:30

10M ago1:33:30

1:33:30

We welcome Major General William M. Matz Jr., a distinguished retired U.S. Army officer, whose new book, My Toughest Battle: A Soldier’s Lifelong Struggle with Polio, chronicles his journey of overcoming polio and his distinguished military career. In August 1944, at a young age, Matz contracted polio, resulting in paralysis of his right leg. Despi…

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Navy F-14s and the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) 1:29:49

11M ago1:29:49

1:29:49

The Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pods System (TARPS) was a significant advancement in reconnaissance technology, particularly for the U.S. Navy during the late 20th century. TARPS, developed and deployed during the Gulf War (1990-1991), was a crucial system designed to enhance real-time intelligence-gathering capabilities for naval aviation, especia…

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The Story of Vietnam POW Doug Hegdahl 1:30:07

12M ago1:30:07

1:30:07

Vietnam veteran and author Marc Leepson joins us to talk about his new book, The Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW’s Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton. Doug Hegdahl, a young U.S. Navy sailor, became one of the most unlikely heroes during the Vietnam War. Born in South Dakota in 1946, Hegdahl enlisted in the Navy in 1966. His li…

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Donut Dollies in Vietnam 51:08

12M ago51:08

51:08

This video features a compelling conversation centered around a documentary in production about the “Donut Dollies” in Vietnam. The filmmaker, Libby, whose mother was a Donut Dolly, discusses her project and its significance in highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of these women during the Vietnam War. Libby’s goal is to bring to light t…

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My 365 Days with the Wolfhounds in Vietnam 1:16:18

1y ago1:16:18

1:16:18

John Quintrell served in Vietnam as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Wolfhounds,” part of the 25th Infantry Division. His service spanned a full year of intense combat in 1968, during the Vietnam War. This was a period of high conflict, marked by the Tet Offensive and fierce engagements against the North Vietname…

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Veterans Open Conversation 1:44:22

1y ago1:44:22

1:44:22

We are joined by 100-year young WWII 31st Bomb Squad B-24 "Big Buff" Tail Gunner Art McGann. We also talk with veterans about their DEROS from the military. Thank you to our sponsors Tobacco Free Adagio Health and UPMC for Life.By Veterans Breakfast Club