Ep 17: To Protect and To Serve, Spc Joseph Kennedy
America's Memory
Military history. Story of a fallen hero from war in Afghanistan
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Ep 16: Big Brother, Major Samuel Griffith
America's Memory
A Major who served in the war in Afghanistan pays the ultimate sacrifice and this is his powerful story.
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Ep 15: The Right Guy, William "Chief" Carlson
America's Memory
CIA Operative and former Delta Force who paid ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan War
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Ep 14: In Harm's Way, Sgt Anthony Maddox
America's Memory
Sgt Anthony Maddox is one of the over 2,400 fallen US Military from the war in Afghanistan and this is his story.
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Ep 13: Born to Serve, Cpl Jacob Leicht
America's Memory
Story of fallen hero from the war in Afghanistan
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Ep 12: Second Chances, HM2 Clayton Beauchamp
America's Memory
The story of a man from Texas who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war in Afghanistan.
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Ep. 11: They Call Me Doc, Spc Jerod Osborne
America's Memory
The story of an Army medic who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war in Afghanistan
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Ep 10: Wounds Unseen, SSgt Jeffrey Reber
America's Memory
Jeffrey Reber was an American hero. The list of Marines willing to praise his battlefield leadership is long and distinguished. Many of them would suggest they’re alive today because of his split-second decisions during combat.
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Ep 9: The Moose, SSG Curtis Oakes
America's Memory
The story of one of the fallen US military from the war in Afghanistan
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Ep 8: Tip of the Spear, Mike Spann (CIA)
America's Memory
The first US casualty in the war in Afghanistan was Johnny Mike Spann.
info_outlineGeneral David Petraeus pinned a Purple Heart on Wayne Swier’s chest as he lay in a Bagram Airfield hospital bed. He had yet to leave Afghanistan with thoughts on his future after a horrific injury but also on one of the buddies he left behind—Curtis “Moose” Oakes. Both were soldiers in the 101st Airborne.
The army sent Swier to Walter Reed Medical Center where he faced over two years of rehabilitation. On his last call with Oakes, they had discussed having a beer soon. Another friend, Aaron Murphy, had been calling Swier regularly, but one day, he called sobbing. He gave him the news that their friend, Curtis Oakes, had been killed. In reality, he had been murdered by a rogue Afghan Border Policeman. The news devastated Swier. He’d lost his best friend.
A few days before, at Thanksgiving, Val Oakes had talked to her son. On November 29, 2010, a chaplain and other officers arrived and delivered the crushing news that her “Moose” had been killed.
“Curtis has been my hero his whole life. Sixteen months after having Curtis, my uterus ruptured, losing Bradley, Curtis's younger brother. He saw me [later], flashed that incredible smile, and ran right over to me, giving me the best hug ever!”1
Curtis Oakes was a giant of a man, standing 6’9”. He played basketball, satisfying the cliché, but wasn’t known as an athlete. His slow manner of running earned him the nickname “Moose,” which he wore proudly. His infectious smile and desire to make others laugh made him a true gentle giant. A caring giant. Full of life.