Jessica Villarreal and Anthony Villarreal
In June 2008, Marine Corporal Anthony Villarreal was driving back from a mission in Afghanistan when his truck hit a roadside bomb.
Anthony suffered third-degree burns over most of his body. His right arm and the fingers on his left hand had to be amputated.
Anthony was 22 at the time, and newly married to Jessica, who was just 21.
When the couple sat down for StoryCorps, Anthony remembered the moments just after the explosion.
Note: Since this interview, Anthony and Jessica have brought a son into the world: Anthony Junior. They live in Lubbock, TX, where they did their original StoryCorps interview. Jessica is in school, working to become an art therapist for wounded veterans. Anthony is mostly a stay-at-home dad, though he does speaking engagements with the Wounded Warrior Project from time to time.
Originally aired November 9, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Gordon Schei and Christine Schei
In October 2005, 21-year-old Army Sgt. Erik Schei was shot in the head during his second tour in Iraq. The bullet shattered the top half of his skull, and doctors told his parents, Gordon and Christine, that he would be paralyzed and in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.
Erik has since made a remarkable recovery, and at StoryCorps, his parents discuss their concerns about the future, and as his primary caretakers, their ability to care for their son as they get older.
Originally aired October 12, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Above: The Schei Family in 2010 from left to right: Anneka, Gordon, Erik, Deven and Christine. Photo courtesy of the Schei family.
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
Elizabeth Olson, Karin Porch, Rich Barham and Nelson Peck
Suicide by members of the military is a growing concern. In 2012, more soldiers died at their own hands than in combat. At the Veterans Crisis Line, a national suicide prevention hotline run by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, men and women devote themselves to helping service members through their most difficult times.
At StoryCorps, Elizabeth Olson, (“Sometimes it’s really hard for me to talk to the 19- and 20-year-olds, because, when my kids started, that’s how old they were. And when you have a 19- or 20-year-old who wants to die, that is totally heartbreaking.”), Karin Porch (“I have had the calls: ‘I’ve got a gun to my head. You’ve got 30 seconds, why shouldn’t I pull the trigger?'”), Rich Barham (“I remember, after that phone call, being a little jerky and nervous—going outside, smoking a couple of cigarettes. And then just coming back in and doing my job again.”), and Nelson Peck (“I had PTSD as well, and what I started to realize was my PTSD was triggered by survivor guilt…I was meant to survive to do this, so other veterans could survive.”) discuss calls they have taken and why their work is so meaningful to them.
Originally aired September 14, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Top photo: Elizabeth Olson.
Middle photo: Karin Porch.
Bottom photo: Rich Barham (left) and Nelson Peck.
Paul Wayman and Nathanael Roberti
Marine Cpl. Paul Wayman (left) and former Navy SEAL Nathanael Roberti (right) met in 2012 after finding themselves in front of a special court for veterans that takes into account the unique struggles service members face.
After their arrests—Paul was pulled over drunk driving with a gun in his possession and Nathanael pulled a knife on four people while in a bar fight—the judge gave each of them a choice: go to prison, or enroll in a program that helps veterans readjust to civilian life. They chose to go through the program, Veterans Village of San Diego.
At StoryCorps, Paul and Roberti discuss their struggles to adjust to civilian life and the support they have provided each other.
Originally aired August 10, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Monica Velez and Christopher Hernandez
Growing up, Monica Velez was a mother figure to her two younger brothers, Andrew and José “Freddy” Velez (pictured together above, in 1996).
But her brothers both left home at an early age; Freddy (above left) joined the U.S. Army when he was 18 and deployed to Iraq. When Andrew (above right) turned 18 two years later, he followed his brother into military service and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Corporal José “Freddy” Velez was killed in action in Iraq in 2004. He was 23 years old and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for outstanding service.
Specialist Andrew Velez had the difficult task of escorting his brother’s body back to the United States. Two years later, he committed suicide in Afghanistan. He was 22 years old. Before he died, Andrew received the Army Commendation Medal.
Their older sister, Monica, came to StoryCorps with her husband, Christopher Hernandez (pictured together above), to remember her brothers.
Originally aired July 13, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Top: Photo courtesy of Monica Velez.
Robert Stokely
Army Sergeant Michael Stokely enlisted in the Georgia Army National Guard straight out of high school. He deployed to Iraq in 2005, where he was killed by a roadside bomb.
At StoryCorps, his father, Robert Stokely talks about traveling to Iraq to pay tribute to his fallen son.
Originally aired June 15, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Top: Robert and Michael, who died on deployment in Iraq in 2005. Photos courtesy of Robert Stokeley
Sally Edwards and Lue Hutchinson
Kentucky residents Sally Edwards (left) and Lue Hutchinson (right) both had sons serving in the Gulf War. Sally’s son, Jack, was a Marine captain. Lue’s son, Tom Butts, was an Army staff sergeant. The two men, both killed in February of 1991, never knew each other, but today, their mothers are best friends.
Sally learned about Lue’s son while reading the newspaper and wanted to offer support to someone in a similar position as herself, so she wrote to her, “If you need help and you want to talk, I’m here.”
At StoryCorps, they discuss their friendship and share what they have meant to each other’s lives over the years.
Originally aired May 24, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Top: Jack Edwards, a Marine captain in the Gulf War, killed in February 1991. Photo courtesy of Sally Edwards.
Below: Tom Butts on top of a Black Hawk helicopter. Photo courtesy of Lue Hutchinson.
Daniel Hodd and Evelyn Hodd
In 2001, Daniel Hodd was a 17-year-old promising concert pianist with a scholarship offer from Juilliard; he also wanted to join the U.S. Marine Corps.
At StoryCorps, he sat down with his mother, Evelyn, to talk about the choice he made, and the more difficult decision he made after breaking his fingers in an accident just before he was scheduled to deploy.
Staff Sergeant Daniel Hodd deployed to Iraq twice, first in 2003 and then again in 2008.
Originally aired April 13, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
The music at the end of his story is a 2001 recording of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” performed live by the Sound Symphony Orchestra with Daniel as solo pianist.
Talana, Willie and Felicia Banks
Nine-year-old Talana Banks, and her older brother, Willie, are Army children.
In 2005, their mother, Chief Warrant Officer Felicia Banks, deployed to Iraq and had to leave them behind, in care of their grandmother.
When they sat down for StoryCorps, Talana, Willie and Felicia looked back on that year.
Originally broadcast March 9, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.