Veterans Chronicles

Host Gene Pell speaks with retired Lt. Colonel Orson Swindle, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam and prisoner of war. Stationed in Da Nang and flying with VMF(AW)-235, known as "The Death Angels", Swindle flew over 200 sorties before being shot down over North Vietnam in what was scheduled to be his very last flight. He spent several years in various prison camps including the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" where he shared a cell with John McCain. Following his release, he went on to a successful career in public service.

This week, Gene speaks to retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Julius W. Becton, Jr. One of the first black Americans to reach the rank of general officer, Becton began his career as a platoon leader in Korea, where he was decorated for valor in combat. He went on to serve in Vietnam, and held a number of commands before retiring in 1983. He has since enjoyed a long career in civil service, and has recently published his autobiography, titled Becton: A Soldier and Public Servant.

This week, Gene talks with retired U.S. Army General Frederick Franks. Gen. Franks is a West Point graduate and served more than 35 years on active duty, including combat in Vietnam where he was seriously wounded and lost his left leg below the knee. Allowed to remain on duty, Gen. Franks later commanded the VII Corps in Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded his fourth star following the first Gulf War and headed the Army's Training and Doctrine Command. Along with Tom Clancy, he co-authored "Into the Storm: A Study in Command."

In this episode, host Gene Pell speaks to Dr. Lewis Sorley, retired U.S. Army colonel and CIA official. An acclaimed historian, Sorley is the author of several books, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam." Here, Gene and Dr. Sorley discuss the Vietnam War and how a likely victory was later denied.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Gene talks with Matthew Zedwick, a Staff Sergeant in the Oregon Army National Guard. In 2005, Zedwick became the first member of the Oregon Guard since World War II to be awarded a Silver Star Medal for heroism during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Zedwick is also one of the faces in the US Army's "America's Army" video game.

In this edition, Gene talks to Lt. General Harry Kinnard. A graduate of West Point, Kinnard parachuted into Normandy during World War II and was at Bastogne where he suggested to Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe what would become the legendary response to the German demand for surrender: "NUTS!." Kinnard also wrote McAuliffe's famed Christmas address to rally the troops at Bastogne. He would go on to command the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam, and has been called the "father of airmobile warfare."

This week, Gene talks with retired Marine Corps Colonel Wesley Fox. Fox served on active duty for 43 years rising from a private to full colonel while earning the nation's highest honor along the way -- The Medal of Honor. The Southwestern Virginia native is the author of "Marine Rifleman: Forty Three Years in the Corps."

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This week, Gene talks to Jack Agnew, one of the surviving members of the "Filthy Thirteen" - the men who inspired the movie, "The Dirty Dozen." Agnew, a soldier in the 101st Airborne, helped to train another famous unit - E Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry, better known as the "Band of Brothers."

In this episode, Gene talks to Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Parks (Ret.) and Army Lieutenant Bryan Jackson, two of America's most highly decorated veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Army Col. Christopher Hughes, who currently serves as the division chief for the Army's House of Representatives Liason Division on Capitol Hill, is a combat veteran of Operation: Iraqi Freedom, where he commanded a battalion of the 101st Airborne Disvision. In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Col. Hughes talks about his book, "War On Two Fronts - An Infantry Commander's War in Iraq and the Pentagon."