Paul Wisovaty was hanging out in pool halls in Taylorville, Illinois when he was drafted into the military in 1966. In 1968, he served six months as a radio operator in an armored personnel carrier during the Vietnam War. His war experiences and college education transformed him into an anti-war activist.

Bruce Thiemann of East Peoria, Illinois dropped out of college and enlisted in the Army in 1968 and was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned as a helicopter mechanic who assisted with insertion missions and dropping off and picking up troops. He was eager to experience combat first-hand but after serving in Vietnam, he was ashamed and took more than a decade to heal his psychological wounds and feel proud of his service.

Joseph Rank of Urbana, Illinois served as an officer in the Navy during the Vietnam War and remained in the Navy for years after. As an officer, he was responsible for 60 gunners’ mates and fire control technicians who operated the guns. Making precise measurements while getting little sleep was just part of the job.

Gary Price always knew he wanted to fly. When he joined the Marine Corps in 1971, he finally got his chance. He participated in the evacuation of refugees and military personal toward the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Price continues to cultivate his passion for flying by working as a helicopter pilot for air medical services.

Joseph LaHood of Peoria, Illinois joined the Marine Corps in 1969 after getting kicked out of numerous local high schools. He was sent to LZ Ross in Vietnam where he administered supplies and was a patrolman.  He attended years of therapy to unpack traumatic memories that he had repressed from his experiences in Vietnam. In the process, he rediscovered his Catholic faith and became a deacon for three different churches.