Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories

Captain Frank Guidone served in World War II with the Marine Raiders, a special ops force that specialized in amphibious guerilla warfare. 

In this interview, he recounts his service in the Solomon islands, including the Battle of Edson’s Ridge, the New Georgia campaign, and the Matanikau Offensive.

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Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer Donald Gay Stratton was on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He directed four 5-inch guns before an armor-piercing bomb hit the ship, sending up a 600 ft wall of flame. Stratton suffered burns on nearly 60% of his body. “The skin on our arms just came off like big socks,” he recalls.

After an escape into the water couldn’t be found, crew from another vessel tossed a rope to Stratton and his allies. They tied it to their ship and for 60ft, swung hand-over-hand to reach safety.

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Gregory “Pappy” Boyington was a legendary WWII fighter pilot. He is credited with destroying 28 Japanese aircraft, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor- but his legacy has been tainted by his abuse of alcohol and a historically inaccurate TV portrayal. 

Today in a special episode of Warriors In Their Own Words, we’ll be hearing from two men who knew Boyington personally. Both Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bourgeois and Major J. Ned Corman served under Boyington as pilots in the famous Black Sheep Squadron, which operated in the Solomon islands during WWII. They both also reconnected with Boyington after the war, and got to see how he changed through his life. 

To hear Bourgeois’ personal stories from his service, check out our episode titled “Inside the Black Sheep Squadron”.

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Introducing The Unbreakable Chain of Douglas Munro from Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage.

Follow the show: Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage

The story of Douglas A. Munro’s heroism is told to every man and woman who joins the United States Coast Guard. In 1942, he led a dangerous rescue that saved an estimated 500 Marines from death on the island of Guadalcanal. He is the only member of the Coast Guard to have received the Medal of Honor. But Doug’s story isn’t just about his incredible heroic act. It’s also about a surprising kind of leadership with lessons for all of us. 

The appearance of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Brothers in Arms is a special three-part series that tells the stories of SgtMaj Dan Miller and SSgt Nick Bennett, two Iraq War vets whose lives were forever changed by a deadly rocket attack. 

Today, in the final part of this series, you’ll hear SSgt Bennett share his side of the story. Bennett also deployed to Iraq with the Marine Corps, initially working in the comms center before transferring to base security. The rocket attack almost killed him, and he too returned home with serious mental health issues. 

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Brothers in Arms is a special three-part series that tells the stories of SgtMaj Dan Miller and SSgt Nick Bennett, two Iraq War vets whose lives were forever changed by a deadly rocket attack. 

Today we’re sharing the second episode in this series, where you’ll hear the rest of SgtMaj Dan Miller’s story. Miller served in the Marine Corps as a heavy artilleryman and a small unit infantry leader, and fought in the initial wave of Operation Desert Storm and then in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In this special PTSD Awareness Day episode, he recounts the rocket attack that wounded him and SSgt Bennett, candidly discusses the mental health struggles he has faced, and tells the story of how he connected with Bennett years later. 

Next week, in the final part of this series, you’ll hear Bennett share his side of the story. Bennett also deployed to Iraq with the Marine Corps, initially working in the comms center before transferring to base security. The rocket attack almost killed him, and he too returned home with serious mental health issues. 

If you’re a veteran struggling with your mental health, visit mentalhealth.va.gov for numerous helpful resources. Dial 988 if you’re feeling suicidal and need immediate assistance. 

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Brothers in Arms is a special three-part series that tells the stories of SgtMaj Dan Miller and SSgt Nick Bennett, two Iraq War vets whose lives were forever changed by a deadly rocket attack. 

In this first part, you’ll hear Sergeant Major Dan Miller talk about his first two deployments to Iraq. Miller served in the Marine Corps as a heavy artilleryman and a small unit infantry leader, and fought in the initial wave of Operation Desert Storm, and then in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Next week, you’ll hear the rest of SgtMaj Miller’s story. In a special PTSD Awareness Day episode, he recounts the rocket attack that wounded him and SSgt Bennett, candidly discusses the mental health struggles he has faced, and tells the story of how he connected with Bennett years later. 

In the final part of this series, you’ll hear Bennett share his side of the story. Bennett also deployed to Iraq with the Marine Corps, initially working in the comms center before transferring to base security. The rocket attack almost killed him, and he too returned home with serious mental health issues. 

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2Lt. Daniel Clark served in the Army during World War II as a Glider Infantryman. In this second part of his interview, Clark recounts Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and freeing the prisoners of Wöbbelin Concentration Camp. 

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Today, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, we’re sharing this interview with 2Lt. Daniel Clark. 

Clark served in the Army during World War II as a Glider Infantryman. In this first part of his interview, Clark explains how he ended up in the invasion, and provides his recollection of D-Day.

Next time on Warriors In Their Own Words, we’ll hear the rest of his interview, where he recounts Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and freeing the prisoners of Wöbbelin Concentration Camp. 

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Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mayo “Hank” Bourgeois served in World War II as a Marine Corps fighter pilot. He was a member of the Black Sheep Squadron (VMFA-214), which became famous for their numerous successes over the Solomon Islands, and their leader, Lt. Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. 

Boyington had previously earned a name for himself as a member of the Flying Tigers, but he left and created his own unit which became the Black Sheep. He had a reputation as an incredibly skilled pilot, but also a serious alcoholic. He survived two years in a prison camp after being shot down, and ended the war with 28 confirmed kills and the Medal of Honor.

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