Three Powerful, Animated Stories From American Veterans

StoryCorps created these animations based on the experiences of American soldiers for Veterans Day. They're honest and emotional.

"1st Squad, 3rd Platoon"

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The powerful, raw story of Lance Corporal Travis Williams, who was sent with his squad on a rescue mission in Iraq in 2005.

"The Nature of War"

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Specialist Justin Cliburn was deployed to Iraq with the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 2005 and befriended who neighborhood children in north Baghdad.

The three grew "about as close as people who don't speak the same language can be," playing soccer and rock-paper-scissors together. That soon changed.

"The Last Viewing"

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Both sons of Allen Hoe, a combat medic who served in Vietnam, joined the military.

In January 2005, his oldest, First Lt. Nainoa K. Hoe, died in combat in Iraq.

At a memorial, Allen by chance met a trauma nurse who knew his son.

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