Jeff Dupre and David Phillips

In September 1975, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich was featured on the cover of Time magazine under the headline, “I Am a Homosexual.”

It was the first time an openly gay man appeared on the cover of a national news magazine.

In March of that year, Matlovich—who served three tours in Vietnam and received both a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart—delivered a letter to his commanding officer stating that he was gay and that he intended to continue his military career. Read it here.

Leonard Matlovitch was challenging the military ban on gay service members.

Soon after the issue of Time hit newsstands, Matlovich was discharged from the Air Force for his admission. For the next five years, the decorated veteran fought his dismissal in Federal court and was eventually reinstated. While he never returned to active duty, he did receive a monetary settlement from the military that included back pay.

Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich died on June 22, 1988.

Jeff Dupre (above left) knew Leonard Matlovich in the 1970s. He came to StoryCorps with his husband, David Phillips, to record Jeff’s memories of the man who started the legal battle for military acceptance of LGBTQ people.

Originally aired October 30, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Grave photo courtesy of leonardmatlovich.com.

Letter courtesy of Leonard Matlovich Papers, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Historical Society.

Erik Booker and Jenna Power

Erik Booker (left) is a seventh grade social studies teacher at Bates Middle School in Sumter, South Carolina. He served more than 20 years in the United States Army, including two deployments to Iraq.

Last year Jenna Power (right) was a student in Mr. Booker’s class. Like Mr. Booker, her father also served in Iraq as a member of the Army. Without it ever having been spoken, Jenna immediately recognized traits in Mr. Booker that connected him to her father and their shared service.

The two of them sat down at StoryCorps so Jenna could interview her teacher about his time at war.

Originally aired October 16, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Donna Orolin

After Army Private First Class Brian Orolin returned from Afghanistan in 2011, everything seemed fine. But as the years went by, his wife, Donna, could tell something wasn’t right.

He became paranoid, suffered constant headaches, and would isolate himself in his bedroom with the lights dimmed.

Then, on November 19, Brian left his home and family. He’s been missing ever since.

At StoryCorps, Donna remembered the day he returned from Afghanistan, and the moments before he disappeared.

If anyone has information regarding Brian’s whereabouts, please contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office near Spring, Texas.

Originally aired September 5, 2015, on NPR’s Weekend Edition.

Photo courtesy of Donna Orolin.

Donnie “Major Bambi” Dunagan and Dana Dunagan

By the end of his 25-year military career, Donnie Dunagan was a highly decorated Major who received two awards for Valor in Combat as well as a Purple Heart.

He says the Marines were a perfect fit for him—as long as no one found out about his past. As a youngster, Dunagan was briefly a child actor who was tapped by Walt Disney to be the voice of Bambi in the 1942 animated film.

At StoryCorps, he talked with his wife, Dana (pictured at left), about keeping his Bambi past under wraps.

Originally aired July 31, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Photos courtesy of the Dunagan family.

Lisa Torello and Tony Cistaro

In December of 1965, Sgt. 1st Class Carl Torello was serving with the Special Forces in Vietnam when he was killed by a roadside bomb. His daughter, Sgt. Major Lisa Torello, was 5 years old at the time.

Almost 50 years later, she connected with Tony Cistaro, the only survivor of the attack that killed her father. Their conversation was recorded in Washington DC just one day after they first met.

Originally aired May 22, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

January 6, 1966, obituary courtesy of The Oswego Valley News.

Anny Pena and Jonny Pena

Marine Sgt. Anny and Staff Sgt. Jonny Pena met while stationed in Arizona.

After dating for a couple years they got married in 2007, and they were both active duty. But after their first child was born, they decided Anny would leave the military–and that Jonny would stay.

At StoryCorps, they talked about the challenges they faced as military spouses–and what it was like when Jonny came home from Afghanistan in 2012.

Originally aired July 4, 2015 on NPR’s Weekend Edition.

Yvette Benavidez Garcia and Rene Garcia

In 1981 Army Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, a Green Beret, received the Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam War.

On his first tour there, he was severely injured by a land mine and told that he’d never walk again. After a year of rehabilitation, he walked out of the hospital and eventually returned to Vietnam for a second tour.

That’s when he spearheaded a daring rescue, saving the lives of eight fellow soldiers. In the process his jaw was broken and he was shot 37 times.

At StoryCorps, his daughter Yvette Benavidez Garcia and her husband, Rene, remember the aftermath of the battle.

Roy P. Benavidez died in 1998.

Click here to watch President Ronald Reagan present Roy P. Benavidez with the Medal of Honor in 1981.

Originally aired July 3, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Photo courtesy of the Benavidez family.

Leslie Hurd

Leslie Hurd is a Navy CACO, or Casualty Assistance Calls Officer. When active duty members of the Navy die, CACOs break the news to their families – and support them during their time of grief.

Sometimes, these calls involve suicide. It’s estimated that roughly 22 veterans in the U.S. commit suicide each day.

At StoryCorps, Leslie remembers breaking the news to one of those families.

Originally aired May 23, 2015, on NPR’s Weekend Edition.

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.

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.