Army Veteran Ronald Kelly joined the Army as a combat engineer, but once he arrived in Vietnam, he quickly learned that war rarely goes according to plan. Assigned to security missions and other duties far beyond his primary job, Ronald experienced firsthand the realities of life in a combat zone. The war became deeply personal when his best friend was killed, leaving a lasting impact that he carried long after returning home.
After his service, Ronald returned to Oklahoma, where he built a life beyond the battlefield while never forgetting the sacrifices made by those who served alongside him. In this powerful Veteran Story, Ronald reflects on duty, loss, resilience, and the lessons learned during one of America's most challenging conflicts.
Preserve Honor. Inspire Future Generations. 
The Lost Art Project: Veterans' Voices – Preserving history one veteran story at a time.

Army Veteran Ronald Kelly joined the Army as a combat engineer, but once he arrived in Vietnam, he quickly learned that war rarely goes according to plan. Assigned to security missions and other duties far beyond his primary job, Ronald experienced firsthand the realities of life in a combat zone. The war became deeply personal when his best friend was killed, leaving a lasting impact that he carried long after returning home. After his service, Ronald returned to Oklahoma, where he built a life beyond the battlefield while never forgetting the sacrifices made by those who served alongside him. In this powerful Veteran Story, Ronald reflects on duty, loss, resilience, and the lessons learned during one of America's most challenging conflicts. Preserve Honor. Inspire Future Generations. The Lost Art Project: Veterans' Voices – Preserving history one veteran story at a time.

#687 Ronald Kelly Army Veteran; 24 Jun 2026

Mission
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records.
New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday
Live recordings on Sundays &amp; Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time
(Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn)
About the Project
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is an independent oral-history initiative dedicated to preserving first-person accounts of U.S. military service, leadership, and veteran life. Through long-form conversations, the project captures unfiltered testimony from service members and veterans across ranks, roles, and generations.
Unlike traditional history podcasts that interpret past events, this project creates primary historical sources by recording lived experience in real time — before memory fades and before stories are lost. With more than 580 recorded episodes, the collection represents one of the most extensive independently produced oral-history archives focused on modern American military and veteran culture.
Episodes are publicly available and preserved to ensure long-term access by families, researchers, educators, and historians. All recordings from The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, including FireSide Chats, Veteran Stories, and Jarhead Jabber, are being archived with the Marine Corps History Division, ensuring permanent historical preservation.
This work serves not only as a record of individual service, but as documentation of evolving leadership philosophy, unit culture, transition experiences, and the broader social impact of military service in the 21st century. The project exists to ensure these voices are not summarized, edited out, or forgotten — but preserved as they were lived and spoken.
Nonprofit Status
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
This designation confirms that the project operates exclusively for educational and historical preservation purposes. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all funding directly supports the recording, production, and long-term archiving of veteran oral histories.
Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale.
Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat
The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore:
• Issues affecting veterans today • Leadership, resilience, and mindset • Life after military service • The importance of community and accountability
A key component of the FireSide Chat is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and organizations. This segment provides exposure to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives making a difference within the veteran community and beyond.
🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories
Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including:
• Background and upbringing • Decision to serve • Military experiences and defining moments • Challenges faced during and after service • Lessons learned and advice for others
Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words.
The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost.
Mission
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records.
What We Do
• Record long-form oral history interviews with veterans • Publish consistently to ensure continuity and reach • Archive interviews for long-term historical access • Preserve stories for families, researchers, educators, and future generations
Operational Discipline
• 5 episodes per week, year-round • 3 Veteran Oral History Interviews • 2 FireSide Chats (historical context &amp; veteran engagement)
• 580+ episodes recorded to date • 260 episodes produced annually
Annual Impact
• 156 veteran oral histories preserved each year • Primary-source historical records created • Formal archival preservation efforts
Financial Stewardship
Annual operating budget: $75,000
Cost per preserved veteran story: ~$480 Cost per episode overall: ~$288
Donor Impact
$500 preserves one veteran’s story $1,500 preserves three veteran stories $6,000 preserves one month of oral histories $25,000 preserves 50+ veteran stories

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Documentary

Relationships

History

Mission The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records. New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday Live recordings on Sundays & Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time (Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn) About the Project The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is an independent oral-history initiative dedicated to preserving first-person accounts of U.S. military service, leadership, and veteran life. Through long-form conversations, the project captures unfiltered testimony from service members and veterans across ranks, roles, and generations. Unlike traditional history podcasts that interpret past events, this project creates primary historical sources by recording lived experience in real time — before memory fades and before stories are lost. With more than 580 recorded episodes, the collection represents one of the most extensive independently produced oral-history archives focused on modern American military and veteran culture. Episodes are publicly available and preserved to ensure long-term access by families, researchers, educators, and historians. All recordings from The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, including FireSide Chats, Veteran Stories, and Jarhead Jabber, are being archived with the Marine Corps History Division, ensuring permanent historical preservation. This work serves not only as a record of individual service, but as documentation of evolving leadership philosophy, unit culture, transition experiences, and the broader social impact of military service in the 21st century. The project exists to ensure these voices are not summarized, edited out, or forgotten — but preserved as they were lived and spoken. Nonprofit Status The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This designation confirms that the project operates exclusively for educational and historical preservation purposes. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all funding directly supports the recording, production, and long-term archiving of veteran oral histories. Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale. Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore: • Issues affecting veterans today• Leadership, resilience, and mindset• Life after military service• The importance of community and accountability A key component of the FireSide Chat is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and organizations. This segment provides exposure to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives making a difference within the veteran community and beyond. 🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including: • Background and upbringing• Decision to serve• Military experiences and defining moments• Challenges faced during and after service• Lessons learned and advice for others Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words. The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost. Mission The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records. What We Do • Record long-form oral history interviews with veterans• Publish consistently to ensure continuity and reach• Archive interviews for long-term historical access• Preserve stories for families, researchers, educators, and future generations Operational Discipline • 5 episodes per week, year-round• 3 Veteran Oral History Interviews• 2 FireSide Chats (historical context & veteran engagement) • 580+ episodes recorded to date• 260 episodes produced annually Annual Impact • 156 veteran oral histories preserved each year• Primary-source historical records created• Formal archival preservation efforts Financial Stewardship Annual operating budget: $75,000 Cost per preserved veteran story: ~$480Cost per episode overall: ~$288 Donor Impact $500 preserves one veteran’s story$1,500 preserves three veteran stories$6,000 preserves one month of oral histories$25,000 preserves 50+ veteran stories

Mission
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records.
New episodes Daily - Monday thru Friday
Live recordings on Sundays &amp; Thursdays @ 7 PM Central Time
(Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn)
About the Project
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is an independent oral-history initiative dedicated to preserving first-person accounts of U.S. military service, leadership, and veteran life. Through long-form conversations, the project captures unfiltered testimony from service members and veterans across ranks, roles, and generations.
Unlike traditional history podcasts that interpret past events, this project creates primary historical sources by recording lived experience in real time — before memory fades and before stories are lost. With more than 580 recorded episodes, the collection represents one of the most extensive independently produced oral-history archives focused on modern American military and veteran culture.
Episodes are publicly available and preserved to ensure long-term access by families, researchers, educators, and historians. All recordings from The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, including FireSide Chats, Veteran Stories, and Jarhead Jabber, are being archived with the Marine Corps History Division, ensuring permanent historical preservation.
This work serves not only as a record of individual service, but as documentation of evolving leadership philosophy, unit culture, transition experiences, and the broader social impact of military service in the 21st century. The project exists to ensure these voices are not summarized, edited out, or forgotten — but preserved as they were lived and spoken.
Nonprofit Status
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
This designation confirms that the project operates exclusively for educational and historical preservation purposes. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all funding directly supports the recording, production, and long-term archiving of veteran oral histories.
Becoming a nonprofit strengthens the project’s sustainability, transparency, and ability to preserve veteran stories at scale.
Two Segments. One Mission.🔥 Segment One: FireSide Chat
The FireSide Chat is a relaxed, conversation-style segment focused on current veteran topics and community impact. These episodes often explore:
• Issues affecting veterans today • Leadership, resilience, and mindset • Life after military service • The importance of community and accountability
A key component of the FireSide Chat is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and organizations. This segment provides exposure to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and initiatives making a difference within the veteran community and beyond.
🎖 Segment Two: Veteran Stories
Veteran Stories is a one-on-one interview format dedicated entirely to the individual. These episodes walk through the veteran’s life journey, including:
• Background and upbringing • Decision to serve • Military experiences and defining moments • Challenges faced during and after service • Lessons learned and advice for others
Each story is unique, personal, and preserved in the veteran’s own words.
The goal is simple: capture the story before it’s lost.
Mission
The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and archiving first-person oral histories from U.S. military veterans across generations. These long-form interviews capture leadership, combat experiences, and personal reflections that rarely appear in official records.
What We Do
• Record long-form oral history interviews with veterans • Publish consistently to ensure continuity and reach • Archive interviews for long-term historical access • Preserve stories for families, researchers, educators, and future generations
Operational Discipline
• 5 episodes per week, year-round • 3 Veteran Oral History Interviews • 2 FireSide Chats (historical context &amp; veteran engagement)
• 580+ episodes recorded to date • 260 episodes produced annually
Annual Impact
• 156 veteran oral histories preserved each year • Primary-source historical records created • Formal archival preservation efforts
Financial Stewardship
Annual operating budget: $75,000
Cost per preserved veteran story: ~$480 Cost per episode overall: ~$288
Donor Impact
$500 preserves one veteran’s story $1,500 preserves three veteran stories $6,000 preserves one month of oral histories $25,000 preserves 50+ veteran stories&nbsp;

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#687 Ronald Kelly Army Veteran; 24 Jun 2026

#687 Ronald Kelly Army Veteran; 24 Jun 2026