Veterans

John Paluska had just arrived in New York City to start his freshman year of college in September, 2001. Soon after watching the World Trade Centers collapse, Paluska volunteered to search for survivors, clear debris and recover human remains. Paluska would go on to serve ten years in the U.S Army as a Green Beret, earning a Purple Heart. He is also a co-founder of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network.

John Paluska of Ottumwa was an 18-year-old freshman at Fordham University in New York City on September 11, 2001. He watched the south tower of the World Trade Center collapse from the roof of his dormitory. Paluska then volunteered to search for survivors, clear debris and recover human remains at ground zero. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a Green Beret.

Ben Kieffer speaks to retired U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Franken and retired Army officer and military aviator Brian O’Keefe of Des Moines, IA.

Ben Kieffer speaks with specialists and pork producers regarding the state of California's Proposition 12 law that goes into affect on January 1. Then Iowan Shawn Vodenik shares his experiences from his deployment in the Middle East as part of our Leaving Afghanistan series.

As part of our Leaving Afghanistan series, host Ben Kieffer remembers the life of Navy Seal Jon Tumilson with Tumilson's sister Joy Tumilson McMeekan. Tumilson's helicopter was shot down while serving in Afghanistan. He was one of 30 Americans killed on August 6, 2011.

We listen back to some science-based conversations, including why humans have chins when other species don’t with Bob Franciscus and mapping ocean terrain to find shipwrecks with David Gallo. Then, a conversation with Joy Tumilson McMeekan, sister of Navy Seal Jon Tumilson. Tumilson was killed in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011.

Host Ben Kieffer speaks with Marine Corps Major Erick Eldridge about his service in Afghanistan from 2010-2011.

Host Ben Kieffer speaks with retired Major Erik Eldridge of the U.S. Marine Corps about his service in Afghanistan from 2010-2011.

In this conversation from 2010, River to River host Ben Kieffer spoke with Army Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta of Hiawatha about his actions that went above and beyond the call of duty to receive the Medal of Honor.

Host Ben Kieffer speaks with Storm Lake educators and Medal of Honor recipient and Army Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta.