Gay Veterans Reflect on Their Service Experiences
Mary “Maria” E. Hanson-Bailey In recognition of Pride Month, we highlight interviews with two gay soldiers who served in the military before gay people could serve openly. Their experiences are a reminder of how policies changed making the military more inclusive. On September 20, 2011, the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Unique Bonds that Come from Serving Together
The intense experiences of military life often create special bonds among those who serve together. Veterans may refer to their comrades as brothers, sisters, buddies, or family. But in some ways, these descriptors don't quite capture the true nature of these unique relationships. In the following interview excerpts, several veterans
Jessica E. Williams on Leading with Empathy
With a college degree, Jessica E. Williams could have entered the United States Army Reserve as an officer. Instead, she chose to enlist and take a different leadership path. Williams, who grew up on a five-acre farmette in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, had not originally intended to join the military. But after
Willie B. Williams: We Were Like Family
Vietnam Veteran Willie B. Williams When Mik Derks for interviewed Willie B. Williams, a DeForest, Wisconsin resident at the time, the result was an intimate picture of an infantry squad leaders’ life in Vietnam in 1966. Williams remembers the good times of camaraderie with his squad's singing group and, more
Wisconsin Veteran Holiday Vignettes
The holiday season offers a unique opportunity to touch on a poignant topic for veterans, the holidays, and usually, we would provide you with a full context for each veteran who served. However, in this case, we would like to focus on short, stand-alone stories that provide a better sense
Doug Mauritz: A Passion for Community
Marshfield, Wisconsin, resident Douglas M. Mauritz grew up between Washington state and central Wisconsin in the 1980s and 1990s. While his family lived in Parkland, Washington, outside Tacoma, his father taught him and his sister about country living on a farming property that they owned. Nevertheless, the change from city
The Leyte Landing: Wisconsin Veterans on MacArthur’s Return
General MacArthur's return to the Philippines on Leyte, October 20, 1944. Public Domain: Gaetano Faillace. General Douglas MacArthur's Philippine landings brought with them confident images of dominance. MacArthur promised his return after the Japanese defeat of the Allied Forces in the Philippines: "I shall return." MacArthur's return marked a turning
Raul Waters: My Duty. I Never Regretted That.
Photo of Raul Waters from his April 27, 2000, interview. Raul Waters was born in 1936 in Cuba before immigrating to the United States as a child in 1945. Initially in Tampa, Florida, Waters grew up in Detroit, Michigan, then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for his surgical residency. When the
Milo G. Flaten: the Battle of Saint-Lô, July 7-19, 1944
Milo G. Flaten was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shortly after the start of World War II. After graduating high school, Flaten received a draft notice. Following basic training, Flaten was sent overseas aboard the RMS Queen Mary to England, where he learned he
Catherine Pampel on the Importance of Helping Others
Gunner's Mate Second Class Catherine Pampel Catherine Olivia Stoffel (later Pampel) grew up near Kewaskum, Wisconsin, on her family's farm. From an early age, Pampel dreamed of a life in service to others and had ambitions of being a fireman, police officer, or EMT. After graduating high school, Pampel decided