Our American Stories

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The Story of the Highest-Ranking Female Marine and First Female Annapolis Graduate to Be Killed in Action May 27, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, the word "hero" is often overused in today’s culture, but not when it comes to Megan McClung. Here's why her tombstone reads: "Be Bold. Be Brief. Be Gone."

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Moral Injury: The Invisible Epidemic Affecting American Veterans May 27, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Major General "Mook" Mukoyama volunteered and served in both Korea and Vietnam. In 1986, he became the youngest general in the U.S. Army at the time. Soon after, he was promoted to Major General and commanded the 70th Training Division during Desert Storm. Now retired, he devotes his time to serving our veterans.

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[Memorial Day Special] Karl Marlantes: How I Came to Terms with My Navy Cross May 26, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Karl Marlantes, a Vietnam War veteran and the award-winning author of Matterhorn and What It Is Like to Go to War, shares how he earned the Navy Cross—and why he struggled with the recognition, knowing others had done more and received less. You won't want to miss this powerful story for our Memorial Day Special.

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Remembering The USS Indianapolis: The Worst Naval Disaster in American History—Told in the Movie Jaws May 26, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Robert Shaw’s “Quint” told the world what happened to the USS Indianapolis in the hit movie Jaws. For our Memorial Day Special, the late Edgar Harrell, the last surviving Marine from the downed ship, shares the real-life story of that fateful day—one you won’t soon forget.

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[Memorial Day Special] How a House of War Became a Place of Honor: The Story of Arlington May 26, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Arlington National Cemetery is the nation’s most iconic military burial ground, but its origins are more surprising than you might think. Elliott Drago of the Jack Miller Center shares the little-known story behind its founding, rooted in the Civil War, and what it means for the country today—a powerful reminder around Memorial Day.

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Why Memorial Day Matters to Me: The Uncle Lee Habeeb Never Knew, Killed in WWII May 25, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, our host, Lee Habeeb, shares a very personal Memorial Day story about the uncle he never knew.

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[Memorial Day Special] A Medal of Honor Recipient Through the Eyes of His Father May 25, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, the late Paul Monti often drove his son Jared’s truck—an act that inspired the hit country song “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice. But the story is about much more than a song. It’s the story of Jared Monti, a true hero who sacrificed his life trying to save a fellow soldier during close-quarters combat in the mountains of Afghanistan. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. It’s also the story of a father dedicated to keeping his son’s memory alive after his ultimate sacrifice. Paul Monti shares the story himself—in an interview he gave to Our American Stories shortly before his passing in 2022.

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She Buried Over 60 Unclaimed People, Including Many Veterans May 24, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Lanae Strovers was tasked with deciding what to do with unclaimed urns at the funeral home where she worked, she took it personally, which makes sense for someone who entered the mortuary business for deeply personal reasons. Here's Lanae with her story of devotion and dedication to America’s fallen veterans.

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The Forgotten First Memorial Day: Freed Slaves Honoring Fallen Union Soldiers in Charleston May 24, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, formerly enslaved people in Charleston, SC, decided to honor the Union soldiers who had perished at a racecourse converted into a POW camp. Then, as Dan Welch of the Gettysburg Foundation puts it: "A procession at a gravesite, a procession with 9,000 spectators - was all but forgotten in just two years.". Here's the story of the real first Memorial Day. We'd like to thank the Gettysburg NPS for allowing us access to this wonderful audio.

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Abraham Lincoln: From Poverty to Frontier Genius May 23, 2025

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On this episode of Our American Stories, when Abraham Lincoln was asked on a questionnaire to describe his education, he wrote just one word: "defective." But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the premier thinkers of his time—and the only U.S. President to ever hold a patent. David J. Kent, author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius, shares the story.

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