In 1998, legendary journalist Tom Brokaw’s book THE GREATEST GENERATION, later a widely seen television documentary, sounded the last call alarm to the U.S. American public that our World War II Veterans were rapidly leaving the planet, taking their unique and harrowing stories of war and survival along with them. Brokaw’s commitment to honoring these Veterans by listening to their most meaningful life moments inspired families across the country to do the same. Grown children and grandchildren learned about the experiences of these Veterans for the first time since their service. Brokaw’s work also helped to shed light on issues connected to PTSD and other wartime related injuries that made reintegration difficult. When the WWII Vets finally shared these oftentimes intense experiences, they made it possible to consider the much less appreciated experiences of other Veterans in other wars whose service was always eclipsed by the accomplishments of Brokaw’s Greatest Generation.

But we haven’t done enough to gather these stories and support Veterans since World War 2.

Our country now faces another generation of aging Veterans whose stories have yet to be shared.

More Than a Veteran is interested in listening to Veterans from all eras in U.S. history, but we most urgently want to hear the stories of those who served before 1980.