Garrett Samuel Voorhees was born in Denver, Colorado in August of 1892 to parents Ralph C. Voorhees, and Fannie Bomberger. Garrett had three siblings, one brother named Ralph and two sisters named Mary and Ruth. Seemingly, Garrett travelled frequently throughout his life, having lived in Colorado and Texas.
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Hen-shaped chocolates, perfume, “affy-tapples,” Famous Yodora Deodorant Cream for 29 cents, handmade cordial cherries, cough drops: all this and more lined the shelves at the Bernacchi Pharmacies where Robert Bernacchi and his brothers carried on their parents' legacy.
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Irvin and Zouie Little Thunder share the story of so many 20th century Native children who were subject to cultural erasure, abuse, and distance from families so key to their resilience. They share the story of entering the U.S. military while experiencing unequal freedom and citizenship, fighting for the country that so often fought their existence.
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Robert K. Aaker served in the US Army Air Corps in World War II, stationed in England. Robert was a flight engineer and technical Sergeant with the 734th Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group, flying missions out of Old Buckenham, England.
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As Walter Arthur Beck grew into his young-adult days, he pursued what many young American men wanted to or were forced to do, which was enlisting in a desirable branch of the United States Military during the Great War. For Walter this was the Coast Guard. Walter set out for “the great adventure,” as many young men did across the globe.
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Bradford Bowker started his service in the Navy on October 15, 1940. In his early military life, just around the time before World War II, Bowker was a lieutenant in the Philippines helping build / rebuild airstrips in unsafe distance from enemy fire and territory. Bowker later made the rank of rear-admiral for the Seabees.
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Madeliene enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Navy Nurse Corps at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital until her discharge as Ensign in the naval reserve in 1951. In 1941, there were only 1,700 nurses in the navy. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, their numbers increased greatly and by 1945, there were over 11,000 nurses in the navy
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World War II broke out and Lou knew she could not be idle and watch her country move forward without her. She joined the army and was sworn in as a Second Lieutenant Army Nurse before she was shipped overseas to join the 95th General Hospital in England.
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Adventure and service have filled the lives of many, but few lives can match the action-packed life of Bill Myers. From a ranch up in the Rocky Mountains, to the war-torn skies above France, Korea, and Vietnam, to Saudi Arabia and back to Colorado, Myers lived a life that was nothing short of extraordinary. Beloved family and friends who treasured the veteran are the ones who continue his legacy to this day.
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When Ronald Lett enlisted in the United States Army at the age of seventeen, the country had just wrapped on the Korean War. When he enlisted, the young soldier had no way of knowing that the longest war in United States history was just around the corner.
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Emilio Alcaro was a man who led an interesting life. His love of other cultures and duty to protect were shown time and time again throughout his lifetime.
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When a German airfield was captured, John and his team were responsible for rushing in and repairing the plane landing strips quickly, so the Allied forces could continue to gain ground.
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Eileen Traynor enlisted in the Army at the age of twenty-two as an officer with the starting rank of Second Lieutenant in 1973.
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United States veteran Earl Ervin McClung is remembered as an American Indian whose service during World War II was heroic and brave. As a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division, McClung jumped into battle on D-Day, and landed behind enemy lines amidst gunfire both in the air and on the ground.
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In both her employment and her volunteer enlistment, Arlene provides a great example of a woman taking advantage of opportunities during World War II. As men were siphoned into military service, they left behind a vacuum of job openings and an opportunity for women to assume independent roles, whether as Rosie the Riveter-type factory employees or in more woman-dominated fields like Arlene’s
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World War II disrupted her plans, as it did for the thousands of other young women who enlisted in women’s reserves such as the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and the Coast Guard SPARS.
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Despite her family’s poverty, Margaret was always adventurous. In 1944, months after turning 18, she enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (known as the SPARS).
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The story of Vern Adamson is set in a time that is much different than what we see now, but, even so, as his family story illustrates, he challenged traditional norms of his day.
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