Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Aaron Watkins

Vietnam | 179th Assault Helicopter Company

Chinook pilot Aaron Watkins reflects on the lessons of Vietnam and his own service there. His education and training at Tuskegee University gave him direction and purpose and he traveled with some of the original Tuskegee Airmen in retirement. He is encouraged by the improved treatment of today's veterans and he has some insightful words for those with a big dream (4:55)
Abraham Grossfield

WWII | 6th Infantry

Abraham Grossfield talks about the state of mind during combat while in Italy (1:00)
Adam Keys

Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) | 618th Engineer Support Company (Airborne)

He had only just come here from Nova Scotia, but when Adam Keys saw the 9-11 attacks unfold on television, he knew he would be going to war for his new country. It took him a few years but he became a US soldier. (7:04)
One thing about the Army, you make tons of friends. That was a great part of training for Adam Keys. Not long after that was over, orders came for Afghanistan, so he married his girlfriend and flew off to join the buildup ordered by President Obama. (5:14)
Qalat is a village in Zabul province that was in the area of operation for the 618th Engineer Support Company. The job for Adam Keys and the others was to locate IED's built and hidden by the Taliban. You look for any anomaly, anything out of place, but when you are foreign, everything looks out of place. (6:11)
Adam Keys describes the various methods of building and detonating IED's used by the enemy in Afghanistan. His unit's job was to find these things. Back at the base, you might get a little time to watch some DVD's of the latest TV shows. (6:10)
They were looking for a giant IED that was over a thousand pounds. Adam Keys was on the ground team that day and that meant he had to exit the vehicle and sweep the area. What he didn't know is that they were parked right on top of what they were looking for. As he stepped from the door, the bomb was detonated. (4:38)
After the IED sent him flying, Adam Keys was talking and yelling for his buddies. He doesn't remember any of it and only knows this because he was told bout it. A long recovery began in hospitals back home and even they gave up on him but his mother never did. (7:30)
Triple amputee Adam Keys was the only one to survive the IED that gave him his wounds. That fact made him determined to recover. It was for the other guys. His accomplishments since are impressive, even for the able bodied. (5:17)
Adam Keys was minus a hand and two legs following his experience in Afghanistan. His laughter when he heard things like, "Can I give you a hand?" made him think maybe he had a career in stand-up comedy. No joke. (5:14)