Travis Williams

Lance Corporal Travis Williams is a veteran of the Iraq war.

On August 3, 2005, Williams’ squad was on a rescue mission in Barwanah when their caravan hit an IED. He was the only member of his 12-man squad to survive.

At StoryCorps, Williams remembered what happened that day.

On Veterans Day 2014, StoryCorps released a series of animated shorts from our Military Voices Initiative—including one of Travis’ story.

Click here to watch “1st Squad, 3rd Platoon,” the StoryCorps animation of Travis’ story.

Originally aired May 25, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.

Above: Photo courtesy of Travis Williams

David Shea and Alice Doyle

David Shea’s father, Denny, never spoke much about his past, but one Memorial Day he invited his son to come along with him to the cemetery where David learned about many of the important people in his father’s life.

Originally aired May 23, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Kristi Hager and Cherie Newman

Kristi Hager (left) remembers her mother who had recently died.

She tells her friend Cherie Newman about a time when she was 9 years old and studying for her lifeguard exam when one of the questions on the test left them both in a fit of laughter.

Originally aired on February 3, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Catherine Combs and Anne Garde

Catherine Combs (left) talks with her friend and business partner, Anne Garde, about their house painting business in Missoula, Montana, and about how they have found ways to keep things lively on the job by maintaining “an eccentricity and a certain verve for life.”

Originally aired December 9, 2005, on NPR’s Morning Edition.