Scott Skiles and Zach Skiles
Marine Corporal Zach Skiles was deployed to Iraq in 2003 at the start of the United States invasion. While serving on the frontlines, he lost five of his friends within a two-week period.
When he returned home, Zach found it difficult to hold down a job and soon after found himself homeless.
At StoryCorps, Zach sat down with his father, Scott, to talk about the difficulties he faced after the war and how he got back on his feet.
Where are they now?
In 2018, Zach is in his fourth and final academic year of a PhD program in clinical psychology. He looks forward to using his degree to help other veterans in need.
Photo: Zach Skiles (right) with his father Scott (left) at their StoryCorps interview in San Francisco, CA. Photo by Geraldine Ah-Sue for StoryCorps.
Originally aired April 18, 2015, on NPR’s Weekend Edition.
StoryCorps Legacy: Maria Rivas
“I miss her waving goodbye.”
Maria Rivas (above right) sat down with Caroline Dezan (above left), a social worker at Hinds Hospice, to record this Legacy interview about caring for her mother, Julia Medina, during the last six years of Julia’s life.
Listen to an excerpt of Maria and Caroline’s conversation:
Click here to download a PDF transcript of this conversation.
Recorded in April 2014, Maria recalls Julia’s strength and remembers a time she got in trouble in junior high school for chewing gum, and how her mother dealt with the vice principal, “The guy put his fingers in his ears ‘cause he didn’t want to listen to my mom. And my mom just reached across that desk, I remember, and she pulled his hands out and she goes, ‘You’re gonna listen to me.'”
Maria also talked about the rewards of caring for her mother later in life, “As she got older, you know, she couldn’t move her body as much. So after I’d bathe her, I put the lotion on her and she would tell me, ‘Oh, that feels so good…it’s good.’”
Remembering the things she misses most about her mom, Maria discussed seeing Julia wave goodbye from their porch when she would leave. Before Julia died, Maria was able to capture a photograph of that moment and she brought the picture with her to her StoryCorps Legacy interview, “I’m so, so happy I took this picture, ‘cause before I leave for class, or before I go to work, I always open the door back up and I go, ‘Bye, Mom!’”
Click here to listen to more stories from Hinds Hospice.
Click here to learn more about StoryCorps Legacy.
Disclaimer: All material within the StoryCorps collection is copyrighted by StoryCorps. StoryCorps encourages use of material on this site by educators and students without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given. This interview has not been fact-checked, and may contain sensitive personal information about living persons.
Jeff Wilson and Tammie Baird
When Jeff Wilson heard this StoryCorps conversation about a car accident, it brought back bad memories.
In 1984, Jeff was driving to high school when the sun got in his eyes and he struck another student as she was crossing the street.
Jeff told that story in an online comment, and we suggested that he sit down with Tammie Baird, the person he hit 30 years ago.
So they came to a StoryCorps booth and sat face-to-face for the first time since high school.
Originally aired March 27, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Daniel Wheeler and Erik Galvan
Lance Corporal Erik Galvan (right) was 19 when he deployed to Afghanistan in 2011.
Three months into his deployment, he was walking ahead of his squad looking for improvised explosive devices when they approached an ominous wooded area.
His squad leader, Sgt. Daniel Wheeler (left), was several feet behind him when he ordered Galvan to proceed.
They sat down for a StoryCorps conversation about the day that war tore their friendship apart.
Originally aired March 7, 2015, on NPR’s Weekend Edition.
Kevin Briggs and Kevin Berthia
In March of 2005, Kevin Berthia (pictured above right) was going through a tough time.
His daughter was born premature the year before and medical costs for her care climbed to nearly $250,000.
He couldn’t see a way out of debt, so he fell into a deep depression and decided to end his life at the Golden Gate Bridge.
That’s where he met retired California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Briggs, who intervened and talked him down.
They spoke about that day at StoryCorps in San Francisco.
Originally aired March 6, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Photo courtesy of Jon Storey, San Francisco Chronicle.
Stu Maddux and Bill Jones
In the late 1960s, Bill Jones (right) saw a newspaper article that caught his eye. 
The state of California was having trouble placing hundreds of children, especially older boys, in homes. At the time, most kids were adopted into two-parent households. But Bill, a gay man who had always wanted to be a father, decided to apply.
In 1969, he became the first single man in California to successfully adopt a child.
Bill spoke about adopting his son, Aaron (pictured above left), with his friend, Stu Maddux (left).
Originally aired February 20, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Top photo courtesy of Bill Jones.
Herman Travis and Robert Cochran
Herman Travis (left) lives in Holly Courts, a low-income housing complex in San Francisco.
Every Tuesday, Herman fills a shopping cart with groceries from a local food bank and makes home deliveries to his elderly neighbors.
He came to StoryCorps with Robert Cochran (right), one of the people he delivers to each week.
Originally aired December 26, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez
In 2013, Maurice Rowland (left) was working as a cook at Valley Springs Manor, an assisted living home for elderly residents in California. He got his friend Miguel Alvarez (right) a job there as a janitor last fall.
But in October of that year, the company that managed the home suddenly shut it down, leaving many of the elderly residents with nowhere to go.
The staff stopped being paid so they all left—except for Maurice and Miguel.
At StoryCorps they remembered caring for abandoned residents until the fire department and sheriff took over three days later.
Originally aired November 21, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Cedar Lay and Patty Woods
In the late 1970s, Patty Woods (pictured above right) was a waitress at a restaurant in New York City when a customer caught her eye. They became friends and soon after, struck up a relationship.
Now, decades later, Patty lives in San Francisco. At StoryCorps, Patty told her friend Cedar Lay (pictured above left) about the lasting impact this partner left on her.
This conversation was recorded at the San Francisco StoryBooth. For more information or to make an appointment click here.
Originally aired July 2, 2014, on NPR’s Tell Me More.
Chris Ondaatje and Cristina Peña
Cristina Peña was born HIV positive in 1984. Her father died from AIDS. Her mother is still living with HIV today.
Cristina was told she was HIV positive when she was nine years old, but she and her family kept it a secret from her schoolmates and friends.
In high school, she met and started dating Chris Ondaatje. One day after school Chris decided to tell Cristina that he was in love with her.
That’s when Cristina sat him down for a revelation of her own.
At the time of this recording, Chris and Cristina have been together for 13 years.
Learn how Cristina works to provide healthcare to HIV-positive children in Africa.
Originally aired April 18, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition.