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U.S. Senator Michael Bennet invited Colorado veterans to share their stories of service in the armed forces. From WWII to Afghanistan, this project shares some of those stories.
Eugene B., WWII Army Air Corps Veteran on Pearl Harbor and His Service in the Pacific…

Eugene B., WWII Army Air Corps Veteran on Pearl Harbor and His Service in the Pacific…

In 1941 everyone had been worried about the war situation. On December 7th, my family was at home listening to the battery radio when we…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
Cynthia C., Air Force Veteran on the First Meal Vietnam War POWs Wanted

Cynthia C., Air Force Veteran on the First Meal Vietnam War POWs Wanted

On January 28, 1973, President Nixon announced an internationally supervised cease fire & American Prisoners of Wars (POWs) in Indochina…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
Glenn P., Marine Corps Veteran on Skills Gained in the Corps

Glenn P., Marine Corps Veteran on Skills Gained in the Corps

I am a 64-year black man living in Aurora, Colorado. I moved to Colorado in 2008. I was divorced and my sons were away at college. I…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
Keith L., Army Veteran on Service and the Importance of Remembering Those Who Came Before

Keith L., Army Veteran on Service and the Importance of Remembering Those Who Came Before

The two events that made us go into high alert were the Iran Hostage Crisis and the bombing of the Marines in Beirut, Lebanon. I was in…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Francisco D., Korean War Marine Corps Veteran on a Lifetime of Federal Service

Francisco D., Korean War Marine Corps Veteran on a Lifetime of Federal Service

After basic training at MCRD, San Diego, CA, I spent my service time at Camp McGill, Reconnaissance Co, Yokosuka, Japan, First Marine Div…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Edward S., Air Force Veteran on His Brief But Meaningful Time in Uniform

Edward S., Air Force Veteran on His Brief But Meaningful Time in Uniform

I enlisted in the Air Force while I was in high school. When I graduated, I was called up. I attended Basic Training and Tech School at…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet

Roger M., Vietnam War Navy Veteran, on the Effects Of War on His View of the Nation

I enlisted in the Navy Reserve just after the Bay of Pigs and just before the Cuban Missile Crisis. I started my active duty just prior to…
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Senator Michael Bennet

Kathleen L., Daughter of Korean War Marine Corps Veteran, on the Impact of War on Her Father

My father never would speak about the war, except a little to my mother when he came home. I know of the fear the Marines felt on the ship…
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Senator Michael Bennet

Jackson B., Army Veteran, on the Power and Wisdom of Non-commissioned Officers

I was a young 2nd Lieutenant, serving as 1st Platoon Leader, Company B, 6th Bn, 32nd Armor, stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Platoon…
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Senator Michael Bennet

Donna L., Daughter Of A Navy Veteran, on the Hardest Parts of Service

I am writing on behalf of my Dad, Don Gibson, a proud U.S. Navy veteran. (My Dad passed away October 12, 2019). Don served on the USS…
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Senator Michael Bennet

Sean H., Army Veteran, on the Bonds Created in War

I have had the great honor of leading our nation’s young men and women in times of peace and conflict. I never cease to be amazed by what…
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Senator Michael Bennet

Carolyn W., Navy Veteran, On Being A Strong Woman In A “Man’s” World

I was not looking to join the “drop out” society of the 1960’s where drugs and irresponsibility were defining those years. Instead, after…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Robert P., Vietnam War Army Veteran on Tragedy at Home and in War

Robert P., Vietnam War Army Veteran on Tragedy at Home and in War

I was a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Delta Troop, 2nd/17th Cavalry, and the 101st Airborne Division from Oct. 1969 to June, 1970. My…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Paul S., Vietnam and Cold War Air Force Veteran on Life in War as a Pilot

Paul S., Vietnam and Cold War Air Force Veteran on Life in War as a Pilot

I graduated from Detroit Cooley HS in 1964 and GMI in Flint in April of 1969. I went to pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock…
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Senator Michael Bennet
William L., Army Veteran on Connecting the Service of Soldiers Past and Present

William L., Army Veteran on Connecting the Service of Soldiers Past and Present

In 2001, my wife and I visited Bastogne, Belgium, to pay tribute to the men of the 101st Airborne Division who had fought and died in the…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Kathryn P., Daughter of a Navy Veteran, on Learning of Her Father’s Service and Legacy

Kathryn P., Daughter of a Navy Veteran, on Learning of Her Father’s Service and Legacy

My dad, Vincent Kruzick, DDS, was the middle child of nine, born to immigrant parents. My grandfather was a coal miner, and the family…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Duane F., Army Veteran on Service, Home, and Transitioning from Soldier to Civilian

Duane F., Army Veteran on Service, Home, and Transitioning from Soldier to Civilian

In 2006, my family and I were fortunate enough to be stationed at Fort Carson. After fourteen years in the military at that point, it was…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Mark S., Air Force and Navy Veteran on Life in a Military Family

Mark S., Air Force and Navy Veteran on Life in a Military Family

My grandfather served in Europe in World War I with the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division and the 2nd Army of the British Expeditionary…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Judith W., Daughter of WWII Army Veterans on a Virtually Invisible WWII War Effort: The Aircraft…

Judith W., Daughter of WWII Army Veterans on a Virtually Invisible WWII War Effort: The Aircraft…

After Pearl Harbor, my father was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in a communications position in Hawaii for the duration. My …
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Senator Michael Bennet
Jerry H., Navy Veteran on Traveling the World with the U.S. Navy

Jerry H., Navy Veteran on Traveling the World with the U.S. Navy

I joined the Navy in January of 1963 as a seaman recruit. The naval recruiting poster that stated “Join the Navy and See the World” …
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
Derek O., Marine Corps Veteran Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan on How His Time in the Corps…

Derek O., Marine Corps Veteran Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan on How His Time in the Corps…

I joined the United States Marine Corps when I was 20 years old. I was sent to San Diego, CA for boot camp. After boot camp I went to Fort…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
Deborah K., Cold War Army Veteran on Her Pride in the Military

Deborah K., Cold War Army Veteran on Her Pride in the Military

I grew up in a military family so no one was surprised when I decided to join the military. My Air Force father was just surprised I was…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
Robert L., Iran-Iraq War Navy Veteran on Providing Solace To Grieving Shipmates and Families

Robert L., Iran-Iraq War Navy Veteran on Providing Solace To Grieving Shipmates and Families

On May 17, 1987, the USS Stark (FFG-31) was on patrol in the Straits of Hormuz when it was struck by 2 Exocet missiles from an Iraqi…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Chris O., Army Veteran Who Served in Afghanistan on the Asymmetric Nature of Modern Conflict

Chris O., Army Veteran Who Served in Afghanistan on the Asymmetric Nature of Modern Conflict

I served with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan distributing humanitarian aid to people in remote villages. These types of…
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Senator Michael Bennet
Alan F., Vietnam War Army Veteran on Being Speechless

Alan F., Vietnam War Army Veteran on Being Speechless

Where did we get the idea that service results in appreciation and recognition? Maybe it does; maybe it doesn’t. The biggest challenge in…
Go to the profile of Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Michael Bennet
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