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.
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Thoughts of time on the Mississippi River might bring quotes of Mark Twain to mind or perhaps the sound of boat’s horn. Joseph Kennedy followed in his father Jim’s footsteps working on the river as a deckhand and terminal operator. No doubt, that on those long patrols in Afghanistan that Joe thought of his five years on the river. Those sounds. The smells. The constant motion of water and machine. Servicemen and women fill the void of thoughtless time by thinking of home. Thinking of that safe place. It delivers some solace and peace even in war.
Joe penned a letter and poem to his father about six months after joining the army. Both the letter and poem strike a unique tone of humility and "others above self." He writes about his father as an inspiration and his greater teacher. In the poem he titled “My Hero,” Joe deliberately deemphasized the “I” putting it in lower case while emphasizing the beginnings of other words with the upper case. It’s telling in the message he wanted to send.
My Father is My Hero
He has Taught me Everything
i Know about Being A Man
How to Control My Anger
and How to Control My Love
i Have Failed to Listen to Him
From Time to Time and Made Mistakes
i Can’t Help but Feel i Have Failed Him
He Does His Very Best in Everything
He Is and surely Everything He Will Be
My Word is True when i Say
i Love Him with Every Fiber of My Being
He is Everything i Wish i Could be
A True, Faithful Lover and Inspiring Father
He is My Father and He is My Hero
Before Joe’s death, his father had been working on a barge that he’d christen “Shmolie” after Joe’s nickname. Shmolie was an extension of Joe Shmo. One can imagine the unique bond they forged on the river.
Listen to the rest of the story on the podcast