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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Codename Nemo by Charles Lachman

Codename Nemo by Charles Lachman

On June 4, 1944, the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal and its escort destroyers picked up a sonar ping. A U-boat was hiding off the coast of Cape Verde. U.S. Navy Captain Daniel V. Gallery was in command of his second hunter-killer cruise as skipper of the Guadalcanal. Having already sunk three U-boats, he was determined to capture one and get the trove of valuable intelligence information hidden aboard it. He was so ready to make history; he had several boarding teams and a film crew ready and...

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VA Updates: What Can I Do to Help Expedite My Claim For My Veterans Benefits From VA?

VA Updates: What Can I Do to Help Expedite My Claim For My Veterans Benefits From VA?

Applying for disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be time-consuming and frustrating. This frustration is made worse by the time it takes to get a decision. Often, this wait is extended because needed information is missing. When that happens, additional time passes as the Veteran and VA search for that information. One way to avoid this additional time and help the VA complete your claim faster is to present all the information needed when initially...

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SSgt Salvatore Giunta, U.S. Army (2003-2011)

SSgt Salvatore Giunta, U.S. Army (2003-2011)

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On October 19, 2007, American and Afghan forces loaded up onto UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook from Afghanistan's Korengal Outpost. The mission was Operation Rock Avalanche: an insertion into the southern area of the Korengal Valley to prevent Taliban fighters from fleeing the region while reducing their ability to operate against U.S. and friendly troops there. Salvatore Giunta: The Second Deployment to Afghanistan This was Salvatore Giunta's second deployment to Afghanistan. During his...

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Famous Marine Corps Unit: 1st Marine Raider Battalion

Famous Marine Corps Unit: 1st Marine Raider Battalion

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"Always Faithful, Always Forward" The Early History of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion The year was 1942, and a new type of unit was born in the US Marine Corps. Edson's 1st Raider Battalion was designated, and several days later, Carlson's 2d Raider Battalion was named. Later in the year, Liversedge's 3rd Raider Battalion and Roosevelt's 4th Raider Battalion were created. One hundred seventy-five members of Marines TWS are part of the United States Marine Raiders Association as members of one...

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The Hunt For “Wolfman 44”

The Hunt For “Wolfman 44”

On Dec 19, 1972, an OV-10 Bronco observation plane flew through the scattered clouds over South Vietnam’s northern region west of the South China Sea. At the controls was Air Force pilot Capt. Frank Egan. His aerial observer (AO), a Marine officer known by the call sign, “Wolfman 44”, carefully searched for enemy activity in the rain-soaked jungle and mountains below.

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Vince Speranza’s Epic Beer Run During the Siege of Bastogne

Vince Speranza’s Epic Beer Run During the Siege of Bastogne

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The Siege of Bastogne was one of the most crucial fights of World War II, and it came amid the largest battle the U.S. Army has ever fought – the Battle of the Bulge. The Germans caught the Americans by surprise on Dec. 16, 1944, mustering more than 400,000 men, 550 tanks, and hundreds of other vehicles for one last offensive. The goal was to push the Allies back toward the sea and recapture the critical port of Antwerp.  The Siege of Bastogne: Defending Against the German Forces German forces...

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The First Battle of Fallujah

The First Battle of Fallujah

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In the earliest years of the Iraq War, the city of Fallujah was one of the most contested cities in the country, but it didn't start out that way. Local citizens had taken control of maintaining order in the city, but a series of misunderstandings between Coalition forces and local leaders soon led to violence and outrage. At the end of March 2004, four private military contractors were massacred and mutilated by insurgents there. The same day, five American soldiers were killed by a massive...

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VA Updates: Are You Eligible for Disability Compensation?

VA Updates: Are You Eligible for Disability Compensation?

A frequent topic in conversations with Veterans is how they were injured in service and whether they are eligible for benefits. Generally, they point out they didn't serve in combat but were injured while in service. Their question is, given their experience, "Am I Eligible for Disability Compensation?" Eligibility Criteria for Disability Compensation The specific benefit they are referring to is Disability Compensation. This is a tax-free monthly payment for Veterans who have suffered an...

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SGT Robert Pryor, U.S. Army (1967-1969)

SGT Robert Pryor, U.S. Army (1967-1969)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

In the early morning hours of 20 June 1969, my life was drawing to a close. Part of my skull had been shot away, with brain matter protruding from the void. My outer right forearm was torn free and dangling from the wrist. Because I had been shot in both knees, I found myself unable to walk or crawl. My rifle had been destroyed, along with my radio. I was quite disheartened. The only people aware of my location were those intent on killing me. With death knocking at my door, I heard the din of a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog heading my way in the darkness. With no way to communicate, I believed the Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft pilot wasted his time trying to come to my aid. Yet it gave me a little satisfaction to know, somehow or other, the US Air Force might exact retribution on those who killed me.

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ET2 Alvaro Urioste, U.S. Navy (1996-2004)

ET2 Alvaro Urioste, U.S. Navy (1996-2004)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

My buddy Louie and I served together from 2000-2002 aboard the USS Supply (AOE 6). After I got out in 2004, he lost my number, and we didn’t speak for a couple of years. In 2006, I created my profile on TogetherWeServed.com, hoping to reconnect with some old friends, but I didn’t find anyone I knew. One day, Louie found my profile and, through my bio, discovered that I had moved back home to New Jersey. He couldn’t find my number, so he started looking for people in New Jersey with the same last name as me. After some online searching, he came across the contact number for someone named Claudia. He cold-called this person and asked for me. “Al who?” the woman answered.

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Capt Richard Gerry, U.S. Air Force (1964-1970)

Capt Richard Gerry, U.S. Air Force (1964-1970)

Has Together We Served helped you find and reconnect with someone you served with? If so, please describe how this happened and what this meant to you. Please add any specific memories of this person and a photo if available.:

This is my response to my friend Robert Pryor’s post.

Friday, June 20th, 1969, is a day I’ll never forget! In two weeks, I would be on that Freedom Bird heading home.

I was Air Force Captain Dick Gerry, the Air Liaison Officer (ALO) and Forward Air Controller (FAC) at Song Be, Phuoc Long Province, assigned to MACV Advisory Team 67. I flew the O-1 Bird Dog, and my call sign was Rod 11. Approaching the end of my tour, I had more than five hundred combat missions under my belt.

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