The Price of Freedom

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Our 8th graders conducted oral history interviews with women and men who served in the military, and also with family members of those who served. Our goal was to find out what it is like serve in the US military, and also to try to understand the "Price of Freedom". In addition, we want to make sure we chronicle and share these stories for others to experience!


USM Alumni

  • Adriana B interviewed Scott Miller '68. He served in the US Army for 42 years, and was present for the fall of the Berlin Wall and was in the Pentagon during 9/11.

  • Aaron M spoke with Matthew Junker '85 , a member of the US Navy, Matthew went to Nuclear Power School and severed on the USS Woodrow Wilson.

  • Emerson B interviewed Andy Gordon '98, who attended West Point after his USM career. and went on to serve for the Army in Iraq. He was deployed from February 2003- February 2004 and November 2005- November 2006.

  • Annie N and Beckett S interviews their cousin, Parker Stratton '04. Parker is a Navy Seal who has been serving for 13 years, mostly in the US, but also in other countries

  • Milo M interviewed Ryley McIntosh '07. Ryley served in the US Marines, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, for 5 years in Afghanistan and Iraq.

  • Lil W interviewed Scott Walker '09. He went to Naval Academy and served on 2 different ships, and was in charge of up to 70 men



US Active Duty

  • Keegan M interviewed Lieutenant General Bryan Fenton. Lt. Gen. Bryan Fenton is a highly decorated active duty member in the United States Army currently serving as the Senior Military Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.


Primary Source Histories

  • Amelia O created an oral history of Christian J. Otjen, using his journal and autobiography, He served in the AEF in WWI

  • Eva B created an oral history of Douglas McCormick based on his letters home. He served in the US Navy, 1954-58, Korea/Japan/South China Sea


Family Members

  • Maria S interviewed her Grandpa Gordie. He trained for the Military for two years. He trained in Washington near Seattle and went to train twice.

  • Bailey W interviewed her grandfather, Henry Barnett, who served as a US Marine in Vietnam.

  • Nate Z, Charles V interviewed Arthur Zimmerman, a MASH Unit Doctor in the Korean War

  • Gabe C interview his grandfather, Robert Ciralsky. Dr. Ciralsky was a Naval Doctor at the San Diego Naval Hospital from 1975-1978

  • Sara S interviewed Martin Staples - US Navy, served all over for 7 years

  • Rachel A interviewed Tony Attanasio, a member of the Military Police from July 1967 through July 1968, in Vietnam.

  • Fred F interviewed his grandpa, Dr. John Patrick Hogan, a Captain and surgeon in the U.S. Army Reserves, 1962-1968

  • Lizzy T. interviewed her grandpa Jim Thurow. He served in the US Navy and travelled all across the globe.

  • Mia D interviewed her grandfather John Berthiaume, who volunteered to help in the Army. He was part of Communication Services.

  • William R and Lewis S interviewed Kaye Reese, her husband, Mike Reese, served in the army from 1968-1970. He was a Lieutenant stationed in Germany.

  • Summer P interviewed Sheeba Pannu. Her dad was in the Indian army he served for 24 years.

  • Kate B and Lilly B interviewed their grandfather, Greg Bonnell about his father, Chuck Bonnell. He served in the US Navy for 1 year during WWII.

  • Miles G interviewed his father, David Gourlay, military surgeon who served in the Middle East

  • Krista W interviewed her grandpa, Frank Wintersberger, who served in the US Army California in 1959-1960

  • Robin C. interviewed her dad, Stuart Cushman. He served 6 years in the US Army in many different states in the U.S., and in Germany.

  • Edie P interviewed her grandpa, Mike Cocking. He was a pilot in the Marines in the late 60s and served for 5 and a half years.

  • M'Johno F interviewed his Uncle Simeon, who served in the US Marines on Japan and Afghanistan.

  • Mason M interviewed his grandfather Norman Weatherall, who served for 9 months in Vietnam.

  • Sullivan M interviewed his uncle, Phil Jennings. He is retired from the US Air force, served for over 20 years in Kosovo.



Friends, Old and New

  • Jack G interviewed Dan Carey - Mr. Carey served from 1993 to 1998 in the Army. He is a graduate of West Point and mostly served in the United States specifically in Colorado and Oklahoma. He also spent some time in Kuwait right after the First Gulf War.

  • Katherine W interviewed Doug Fry, who was a member of the National Guard, branched in aviation, and served for 20 years in Afghanistan.

  • Abby B and Sophia T interviewed Kyle Schirmer. Kyle served as a communications officer and served in many different places for 18 years.

  • Fiona H and Jane C interviewed Sharon Hensersky. Her daughter, Chris, served in the US Air Force 1987 and her husband, Ernest, served in the US Air Force 1963.

  • Sarah M and Makenna P interviewed James Vollarth. He served in Kuwait and Iraq.

  • Nolan N and Hayden B interviewed Richard Bernstein, a member of Counter Intelligence Corporations. He served 2 years in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea.

  • Camilla L interviewed her grandmother, Pat Ward, about John F. Ward, He was in the Vietnam War as part of the New York National Guard, 1971-1976

  • Autumn H interviewed Thomas Palzewicz. He served in the US Navy, working for 6 years as a nuclear electrician on a submarine.

  • Sama D interviewed Brenda Coupar. As a member of the Wisconsin National Guard, she served in the Gulf War and part of Operation Iraqi Freedom

  • Talia L interviewed Kenney Berke. He served in WWII and he was a radar operator on a ship.

  • Gus J interviewed Jerry Witt, an Army Scout dog handler who served 1 tour in Vietnam

  • Bella G interviewed David Borkowski, who served in the Marine Corps for 23 years.

  • Charlotte B interviewed Robert Barnard, who served in the Reserves and the National Guard.

  • Kiran S and Alex K interviewed Steven Lyles, a US Marine. He served 4 years primarily in the Middle East.

  • Leia S and Sofia D interviewed Larry Prahl, who served in the US Navy for 4 years during the Vietnam War.

  • Alex F interviewed Melchior Morrione, a member of US Reserves. He served 6 months of active duty and 5 and a half years of attending weekly meetings.

  • Matthew F interviewed Kyle Mc'Cue, a US Navy Seal

  • Tatiana M interviewed Dusko Petkovich, currently serving in the US Army, Special Forces

  • Dermot M interviewed Itzhak Matusiak. He served in the reserves as a psychologist in Milwaukee while America was in Vietnam War.

  • Liam I and Johnny G interviewed Barry K. Allen. He served in the U.S army, 2nd lieutenant, served 3 1/2 years in Berlin, Germany

  • Laya S interviewed Shelia Quinnies. Mrs. Quinnies served in the Air Force as a Navigation and Communication equipment specialist from 1978-1982. She did two temporary assignments in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Panama, South America.

  • Halimah S interviewed Art Lacey, who served in the US Army and served 4 years in Czechoslovakia.

  • Xander Schmelzling interviewed Dean Sharp, who served in the US Navy for 6 years in Middle East.

  • Owen B interviewed David Craig Epperson from the 8th Air Force Strategic Air Command. He served in the Vietnam War in Okinawa, Guam, and Thailand.

  • Hannah L and Aubrey J interviewed Bill Berrien. He was a Navy SEAL and served for 9 years mostly in South America and Europe.

  • Liam I and Johnny G interviewed Barry Allen




International Service

  • Karl HF - Herve Falet Served in France. Military Service

  • Roshni S. and Vivian C. interviewed Dr. Tarun Sharma, a doctor in the Indian Army

  • Tommaso P interviewed Trianda Loukarelis. A member of the Greek Military, he served one year at the border between Turkey and Greece.

  • Luke L interviewed Adam Malbrecht, He serves in the Canadian Air Force.