In war and in peace, the veteran experience is part of the American Experience. Welcome to American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories, an 8-part series built around the direct testimony of a single veteran - from a Coast Guard gunner’s mate who manned a landing craft at Omaha Beach on D-Day, to an Army cook in Iraq who became the first Black American woman held as a POW to an Army nurse in Vietnam who struggled to do her part. This collection of riveting first-person stories provides a compelling portrait of the veteran experience over multiple generations.

Each episode revolves around a single veteran's unforgettable story, creating a powerful mosaic of military service across generations. These intimate accounts—raw, honest, and deeply personal—reveal the true cost and meaning of serving one's country.

The series is hosted by Phil Klay, a Marine Corps veteran featured in the “American Veteran” television series and author of the National Book Award-winning collection of short stories, “Redeployment."

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When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Frank DeVita wanted revenge. He enlisted in the Coast Guard, his quickest way into service. His mom figured he’d “patrol a beach on Coney Island.” Instead, on D-Day, he ended up on a landing craft transporting soldiers to the slaughterhouse that was Omaha Beach and ferrying back shocking numbers of dead and wounded. It was a story that he bottled up for seventy years.

For more powerful memories from veterans, visit the PBS series, American Veteran, where you can also watch the television series and digital short films.

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In Memoriam: Frank DeVita (1926-2022) This episode features the story of WWII veteran Frank DeVita, who passed away on March 12, 2022 at the age of 96. We remain deeply grateful for his service at D-Day and for his courage in sharing his experiences with future generations.

When she joined the Army, Shoshana Johnson figured that she’d “save some money, lose some weight, and come back home.” It didn’t work out as planned: in her first month in Iraq, working as a cook in a maintenance unit, her convoy took a wrong turn and she was wounded and captured, becoming the first Black American woman to be held as a POW. But her captivity was only the beginning.

For more powerful memories from veterans, visit the PBS series, American Veteran, where you can also watch the television series and digital short films.

Learn more about American Experience

Follow the show on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads