We’re keeping the Christmas spirit alive, by sharing incredible letters written by service members deployed long ago.

The letters come to us from Andrew Carroll, Founder of The Center for American War Letters, who has archived and preserved over 200K letters- some dating back to the Revolutionary War.

We discussed several pieces from the collection, including; a letter from an Army nurse, expressing her condolences to the family of a soldier she cared for at the end of the war, and who didn’t pass from combat injuries, but rather from influenza. Like the era we experienced during the global pandemic in 2020, the letter shows an empathy and compassion we wish we could see more often today.

Carroll also shares letters from the Pacific during WWII, a snow covered Germany during WWII, and a Christmas themed letter that offers an inspiring look at post WWII Europe.

Together, these letters portray how previous generations beautifully captured the human spirit in a writing style that sounds like classic Hemmingway.

Check out more of these incredible letters or preserve your own famliy mementos, see Chapman University's Center for American War Letters here:

https://www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/cawl/index.aspx

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It’s a week after the thrilling 125th Army-Navy Game, but even after the game, we still love hearing stories from our fellow Soldiers and Sailors.

During our time on USAA’s Media Row, we had fascinating conversations with military vets and senior military leaders.

We start with Maj. General Brett Sylvia, Commanding General of the Army’s mighty 101st Airborne (Air Assault). He shared some history from this legendary unit and offered a glimpse at the lethal capability they're bringing into the future.

We also had a good time talking with Army Special Forces veteran, football player and filmmaker Nate Boyer. He discussed his "late bloomer" path to the Army and football, and how his organization “Merging Vets and Players” brings vets together with former NFL athletes.

He was joined by American Legion, Executive Director of Government Affairs Director and Marine Corps veteran Mario Marquez. who shared how The American Legion is not your grandfathers pub, but remains an awesome organization for veterans from every generation.

We wrap our time on Media Row, with two vets and Senior Executives from the Army Navy Game's proud sponsor, USAA. Former Army Major Rob Braggs shared how service has become a family tradition and former Navy Captain Bill White shares some of his favorite military memories, including how we actually served on the same ship back in the 90s. Plus how USAA offers services that can truly help our nation’s veterans live their best life.

For more on the Screaming Eagles of 101st Airborne (Air Assault):

https://www.army.mil/101stAirborne

For more on a great organization for veterans, check out The American Legion:

https://www.legion.org/

See Special Forces vet Nate Boyer’s organization MVP, a collaboration with FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer here:

https://vetsandplayers.org/

Follow Nate @NateBoyer37

Contact CBS Eye on Veterans Host, Phil Briggs

phil@connectingvets.com

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On this episode we talk with best-selling veteran authors about their fascinating books. We start with a brand-new release, “We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History” from Special Forces veteran, journalist and author Jack Murphy, who takes a deep dive into historical events that have never been written about before.

Murphy describes his interviews with veterans who conducted ops you'll never read about in the history books ... like the time a team parachuted into position with a nuclear bomb in a backpack!

Get “We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History” here:

https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N

We also revisit our conversation with covert DoD Task Force and Special Operations veteran Adam Gamal, who authored “The Unit: My Life Fighting Terrorists as One of America's Most Secret Military Operatives”. (See Eye on Veterans March 29 episode).

This personal memoir recounts his time on the military’s most covert unit … a team so classified that even its actual name cannot be released. Comprised of elite Special Operations soldiers, deep cover Intelligence assets and others with unique skills, The Unit, offers us a rare glimpse at what it takes to fight terrorists around the world.

Get “The Unit: My Life Fighting Terrorists as One of America's Most Secret Military Operatives” here:

https://www.amazon.com/Unit-Inside-Americas-Secret-Military-ebook/dp/B09Y457JN5

Finally, we talk with Brad Taylor, a former commander of the Army’s elite team Delta Force. Now a best-selling, action-adventure novelist, he describes his latest book “Dead Man’s Hand”.

Although this story of a pending nuclear attack by Russia is fictional, Taylor’s exceptional writing fuses together historical events, insight into Putin's regime and terror groups that really exist in today’s modern world.

Get “Dead Man’s Hand” here:

https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Mans-Hand-Logan-Novel-ebook/dp/B0C2Q5TJB2

Contact CBS Eye on Veterans, Host, Phil Briggs

phil@connectingvets.com

Follow on X:

@philbriggsVet

@EyeOnVeterans

@connectingvets

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.