Living Histories

To Honor, Educate and Preserve our History by Remembering and Honoring our Veterans.

Serving During the Cuban Missile Crisis

by Guest Author | Jan 24, 2024 | Living Histories

Cuban Missile Crisis It is certainly no exaggeration to say that the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962 was the most dangerous incident occurring during the decades-long Cold War between the Free World and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In this...

Local WWII Veteran fought in the Battle of Okinawa

by Janis | Sep 30, 2023 | Living Histories

The Battle of Okinawa He served as Rifleman in the 184th Rgt., fighting in the last battle of World War II, the Battle of Okinawa. Brevard resident James Milton Fletcher served in the U.S. Army Reserves from June 6, 1944 to December 1956. He was serving in Okinawa...

It came without warning.

by Curator | Apr 27, 2023 | Living Histories

It Came Without Warning By Tech. Sgt. Brian Christiansen, USAF (Ret.)April 27, 2011 – Kabul, Afghanistan My office sits behind a 60-person auditorium on the second floor of what looks like an old hanger. Our office could have been a projection room and storage area...

Black Hawk Upside Down – John Hallimore

by Commander | Feb 4, 2023 | Living Histories

Picture above: A buddy wearing goofy glasses with Sgt. HallimoreBlackhawk Unit- 7th Armored Squadron (Air)First Cavalry – Attached to the 1st Aviation BrigadeVINH LONG, VIETNAM As a teenager I often had a reoccurring dream which I hoped would never end; in the...

Farewell to a Hero, Special Forces Green Beret Michael Di Rocco

by Michel Robertson | Jul 28, 2022 | Living Histories

Michael Di Rocco On July 8 and 9, family, friends, members of the community, and military comrades gathered to pay respects to Michael “Mike” Di Rocco of Brevard, NC. Husband, father, friend, parishioner, Marine, Green Beret, adventurer, restaurateur, and volunteer...

The Last of the Band of Brothers

by Janis | Jul 7, 2022 | Living Histories

Bradford C. Freeman of Caledonia, Mississippi, passed away this week.He was the only living member of the"Band of Brothers" 101st Airborne Division, WWII. July 4, 2020: Soon after being honored on a visit to New Orleans' National World War II ̽��ѡ, Mr. Bradford...

Still Hoping to Save the Kitty Hawk

by Curator | Jun 20, 2022 | Living Histories

USS Kitty Hawk Veteran Makes Call to Action! By Kenneth CornFrom the time David Cook turned seven years old until he raised his right hand totake the oath to defend his county, he knew he was destined to join the US Navy. Cook can trace his family’s Navy service back...

Joe Cooper, WWII and Korean War Veteran

by Commander | May 18, 2022 | Living Histories

Japanese “Betty” on fire. Photo courtesy Joe Cooper.Joe Dayton Cooper U.S. Navy, WWII – PacificDecember 27, 1941—December 28,1945U.S. Army, Berlin Air LiftKorean War, 1948-1953 Brevard resident Joe Cooper served in the U.S. Navy during WWII (Pacific), December 27,...

Joe Cooper survived the burning of WWII’s USS Ommaney Bay and served again in Korea

by Commander | May 17, 2022 | Living Histories

WWII veterans attend a sneak preview of the WWII Jeep exhibit in the museum on February 28, 2020. From left, L.C. Poor, Joe Cooper, James Brush, George Koch, and Ed Cottrell.In part one, we learned that Cooper and the crew of the USS Ommaney Bay had to abandon ship...

“The Big E” USS Enterprise – MCPO Clyde Jones, USN (Ret.)

by Commander | Mar 8, 2022 | Living Histories

USS Enterprise, "The Big E" -- A Recipe for Success It’s been said that an Army marches on its stomach, attesting to the importance of well-provisioned forces in the military. For Clyde Jones, “serving” in the Navy took on new meaning as he directed the preparation of...