We asked people to participate in Real American Stories and were astonished by the responses. From people we stopped on the sidewalk to household names eager to tell their uniquely American stories, we invite you to watch selections that moved us.
Through hard work and perseverance, Mila Apostol created the little store that could.
A refugee survivor, Derreck Kayongo is saving the world, one bar of soap at a time.
A harrowing escape from Iran, a fight for freedom, and the little bakery that could.
A bi-lateral amputee, Rachel leads her teammates with a truly inspiring attitude.
Pushing the limits of pickling by bringing lots of taste to the traditional mason jar.
Aaron Dworkin brings classical music to the inner city, and opens up a world of possibilities.
Anne Mahlum starts a running program that helps homeless men reclaim their lives.
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
A DC inner city school teaches rugby to a school for the deaf and the results are loud and clear.
Some call air guitar part perf. art, pro wrestling and rock’n’roll. Whatever it is, it sure is fun.
An Iraq War veteran, James talks about surviving a suicide attack and serving our country.
She talks about coming over from Italy as a child and the chances America has given her.
She’s following in grandfather’s footsteps, paying it forward, and living up to her good name.
Her parents left Albania so she could grow up with the freedom to live out her “American Dream.”
A 1st grade teacher talks about teaching the Pledge of Allegiance to her students.
The father of entertainer Beyonce, he talks of the importance of reaching for your dreams.
She raised nine children and talks about overcoming adversity and following your dreams.
As devoted parents, they provided a safe and loving environment for over 40 foster babies.
She shares her ancestors’ sacrifices and struggles for the freedoms we enjoy in America.
Inspired by wounded soldiers, he’s in med school training to become a doctor in the U.S. Army.
Julie Smith & Joyce Hogan have served our nation through their husbands’ military service.
They adpoted two children from Russia and share how the experience changed their lives.
Vietnam Vet who talks about how service changed his life and his feeling for this country.
He compares football to unity and talks about the importance of America coming together.
She’s a 3rd generation American who talks of fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers.
A Vietnam Vet, Anthony talks about surviving a vicious attack, and the costs of freedom.
The couple talks about raising their kids and the freedoms we cherish in this country.
A teacher who credits her ancestors for giving us the freedoms we share in this country.
A Cuban American who talks about how her father risked his life to bring his family here.
Married for 52 years, they talk about growing up and raising a family in a small town.
He came from India to become an engineer and is currently applying for U.S. citizenship.
The award winning country music group talks about performing for the troops in Iraq.
Interesting insight, amazed I never thought of that by myself
EPIC post
I am so looking forward to seeing more 
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Dear Mr Ward, Thank you for your service and paitriotism. You represent the best our great nation has to offer the world. I support you and all veterans and stand behind you. It is great men like yourself and my dear nephew Army Sgt Stephen R. Sherman KIA 2/3/2005 Mosul Iraq, who are the reason we enjoy the freedoms so many take for granted. I salute you , WELCOME HOME.
God Bless You, I too am a vet and signed up to defend Democracy, how terrible it must be for our men and women today who signed up for the same and now find themselves defending Socialism.
Mr Wards examplary service, like that of many men and women from the Vietnam era to the most recent conflicts should be saluted and for ever remembered. Many remain faceless but they are the backbone of many communities and enterprises. They have become teachers and father and mothers and much much more. We are entering a new period in the American history where our patriotic values and the love for this great country is being challenged. We, all of us need to once again stand up for freedom and liberty for this nation has been highjacked by CLOWNS.
V/R Edward Lohmann, Msgt, USAF, Ret.
First off Mr. Ward “Welcome home!!!” I’m just happy you made it home in one piece if not receiving some emotional scaring from there. I was also there 70-71 working on the Cobra’s in Pleiku, and I agree with the other nam vets, things sure could have been done differently in order to win that war, but we needed a real general not a manager.
I am proud I did my American duty , I joined and volunteered for nam, I wear my VN hat and dog tags on occasion, just to show that we are still here and will always be.
i am glad you came back from that war i was in jr high an i have always and will always pray for all of our guys. god bless you all
Thanks to all the vets, past and present! Especially the ones who didn’t make it home, we will always remember your sacrifice with heavy hearts.
Thank you to ALL servicemen & women who have fought for our country and have fought for OTHERS as well. War is not easy and at times we have all questioned the need of it. But I will not stand by and let ANYONE make our servicemen & women feel that what they have done is wrong. They are doing their jobs to protect all who are weak. It doesn’t matter when a war started with one president and ends with another – the only thing that matters to me is that WE all stand up and proudly acknowledge their contributions.
No matter how you may feel about war, you should always feel gratitude to those who put on that uniform and carry that flag. Because without them we don’t have the freedom to agree or disagree.
God Bless America & God Bless our Troops
WELCOME HOME, BROTHERS AND SISTERS!
As you can see by my name I finally hung up the spurs after serving this wonderful country for 38 yrs and I would do it again.
I served in ‘Nam with the 1st Cav in ‘68-’69 and Desert Storm in ‘91. I whole heartily agree with Mr Ward.
I don’t know about these kids today but I’ve seen some our young people look down their noses at our men and women in uniform with hate. (Just like they did to me when I came home.)
I salute our military and Mr.Ward ,today we have media who hate our military and these people should be tried for treason.When Viet Nam happened I tried to join but no service would take me and finally was given a 4f status.My daughter serve 4yrs. and my son is still in the Air Force.
Mr. Ward’s comments are obviously from the heart and as a Viet Nam vet I too can relate June 68 to April 70. To the previous 2 comments Here, Here! My duty did not seem hazardous at the time as I was a microwave radio repairman – in and out of an air conditioned building seemed great at first but I always had a cold from the drastic change. I served in a war zone and we where fired upon; I was just lucky because I wasn’t in the way of the shells. Some of my comrades weren’t so lucky – God bless them for their sacrifice.
I did some growing up in Nam but it took many years for all that had happened to sink in. Ho was a Communist not a nationalist, the Chinese and Russians had little interest to get involved beyond supplying the North, Johnson and McNamara micro managed the war poorly as a result of the situation, Nixon turned the military loose which brought the war to a truce in 1973 two years before Saigon fell to the Communist in 1975. We did not loose but our efforts were dealt away by politics and some very unfortunate kids suffered a terrible fate at Kent State for what? They were protesting something they didn’t even understand but from the rhetoric they heard from the academic world. I pray this never happens again.
To all my brother Viet Nam vetern’s. WELCOME HOME
I agree 100% with the above comments. I was there during 12 of the worst months,including TET #1 – I am greatful to be alive and a day does not go by that I don’t think about Viet Nam.
Americans need to wake up and understand that being #2 is not going to be fun and it is very possible if we don’t get back to the values that we once had.
War is ugly and I don’t want to see my children and Grand children fighting in the streets of American cities.
In 1968-69, I served in the Army and spent my 21st year in the Mekong Delta. I was disturbed when they ended the draft and welcomed back those who avoided it by sneaking off to Canada. I don’t think membership in this great “county club” we call America should be free. Everyone ought to be obligated to serve in one capacity or another. I urge all able bodied vets to be prepared to defend this country again, if the need arises.
I identify with Charles Ward’s story. I too went to Vietnam for two tours as a combat engineer/ mortar-man/combat demolition expert.
The experience was intense to say the least, but as I matured with age, I came to realize the importance of our involvement in Vietnam. Too bad it was conducted wrongly. The people in Washington did not listen to the field operatives. Sound familiar?!?!
I grew up in Vietnam. I received a lesson on life that you can’t get from books. I am proud of my service in Nam, proud of my American heritage, proud to know the men I served with. I know what I can do in adverse situations.