Home » Initiatives » Military Voices Initiative

Army Officer Curtis Price interviews his 10-year-old daughter, Emily Price, at our MobileBooth in Fort Bragg, NC.

Military Voices Initiative

Over the last ten years, 2.4 million men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and millions of families have stood behind them at home. The military community knows well the challenges of multiple deployments, combat injuries, and long-awaited homecomings. Yet few civilians truly understand the complex realities of our troops’ service and sacrifice.

The Military Voices Initiative (MVI) amplifies their important stories and lets them know that we–as a nation–are listening.

San Diego, CA Mobile Stop

From June 3 – June 22, MVI will be recording the stories of San Diego’s veteran and military community. To learn more about our special MVI Mobile Stop, or to reserve an appointment, click here.

Listen to Stories

  • “At three years of age, you just started playing...”

    Staff Sergeant Daniel Hodd and his mother, Evelyn, talk about Daniel's decision to put aside a promising career as a pianist in order to join the Marine Corps. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in New York, NY

  • “How did it make you feel to leave us for your deployment?”

    Talana Banks and her brother, Willie, talk with their mother, Chief Warrant Officer Felicia Banks, about her deployment to Iraq in 2005 and their life as an Army family. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Fayetteville, NC

  • “When you came home, if it's not best day ever, it's top five.”

    Navy Lieutenant Mark Radlinski speaks with his brother, Lieutenant Luke Radlinski, about Mark's deployment to Iraq and his homecoming. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Washington, DC

  • “I'm so thankful for everything you've done.”

    Tracy Johnson and her mother in-law, Sandra Johnson, talk about the death of their wife and daughter, Army Staff Sergeant Donna Johnson. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Raeford, NC

  • “He was trying extremely hard to get back on track.”

    Judy and Randy Pilgrim remember their son and Iraq war veteran, Army Specialist Lance Pilgrim. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Daingerfield, TX

  • “It was hard not to be mom.”

    Sergeant Marilyn Gonzalez and her daughter Specialist Jessica Pedraza remember deploying together to Iraq in 2010. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Rockland, MA

  • “We were about as close as people that don't speak the same language can be.”

    Army National Guard Specialist Justin Cliburn tells his wife, Deanne, about Ali, the young Iraqi he befriended during his service in Iraq. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Norman, OK

  • “All I saw were soldiers with rifles, and machine-gun fire coming at me.”

    Vietnam veteran Harvey Hilbert remembers one night from the war. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Mesilla, NM

  • “They asked me to blow 'Taps' for all who died in the war.”

    Harrison Wright tells his grandson, Sean Guess, about serving in the Army at the end of World War II. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Austin, TX

  • “She died on an incident that I sent her on.”

    Retired Sgt. 1st Class Max Voelz remembers his wife, Staff Sgt. Kimberly Voelz, who died in Iraq while disarming an IED. Read more...

    Listen to

    Recorded in Baltimore, MD

  • “I didn't know if I was ever going to see you again.”

    Sergeant Papsy Lemus tells her daughter Griselda about going off to war in Iraq.

    Listen to

    Recorded in Salt Lake City, UT

  • “We were always looking up to Travis...”

    Jenny Francis and Rebecca Fuller remember their brother, First Lieutenant Travis Fuller, who was killed in Iraq.

    Listen to

    Recorded in Portland, ME

    •  

    Funding for the Military Voices Initiative is provided by:

    logo_newmans_foundation