Military Voices of Maine

Military families are an important piece of the mission. Their role in supporting their active-duty family members gives soldiers comfort in knowing that someone is waiting for them to come home. In the tenth and final episode of Military Voices of Maine we are introduced to Justin and Emily Spencer. In this episode, Justin and Emily share the story of how they met, married, and started a family while Justin was enlisted and serving overseas.

In Episode 9, Lieutenant Brian Nickerson will share with us the tragic event of when a U.S. Navy plane was shot down in 1969. Brian lost friends and fellow service members on that flight. But despite his grief, he made it his mission to tell their story and make sure that those brave men were not forgotten.

In Episode 8, we’ll hit the road with Pat and her best friend Diane. Together they will embark on a road trip to California, visiting new places and having the time of their lives. We’ll hear about how they eventually found themselves enlisted and stationed at Camp LeJune. Together their joy and shared excitement for experiencing new places will take us across the country and back again.

In Episode 7 of Military Voices of Maine, we’ll meet Quartermaster Stephen Simmonds. A WWII submarine veteran. Stephen joined the Navy at 18, ready for adventure and to serve his country.

Episode 6 features Timothy Drake, or “Sarge” as he came to be called. Sarge joined the Marine Corps in 1987. He served a total of 26 years, during which he was deployed fifteen times. Four of those years he was involved in active combat. He wore multiple uniforms, serving in three different branches of the United States Armed Forces. Motivated by duty, honor, and service, Sarge takes immense pride in the relationships he fostered and the support he was able to offer his fellow servicemen.

Art is not typically the first thing you think of when military service is mentioned in a conversation. Rarely do you picture a soldier wielding a paintbrush instead of a weapon. Angie is a veteran of Desert Storm, a member of the Maine Honor Guard, and proud of the service she dedicated to the United States. In this episode, we’ll meet Angie and hear how she used art during her time of service and after she retired.

In Episode 4 of Military Voices of Maine, we are introduced to Purple Heart recipient Master Sargent Daniel Moon. Daniel served for two years in WWII and then served again in the Korean War in the 1950’s. While serving in the Korean War, Daniel was engaged in active combat. He faced the harsh reality of what it means to engage in war.

Military Chaplains are an integral part of the Armed Services. They not only serve as faith-based leaders to the men and women in the branches of our military but also as supportive counselors and often friends to those enlisted. In Episode 3 of Military Voices of Maine, we’ll hear the story of Lieutenant Commander Nathan Ferrell, who currently serves as a Chaplain in the United States Navy.

In Episode 2 of the Military Voices of Maine, we’ll introduce you to John and Leigh. John was an Army Officer and Leigh was a military contractor. Their love story begins against the backdrop of an Officer's Club called the Snake Pit. During their interview, John and Leigh share how they fell in love and how they faced the difficulty of separation while John was deployed in Vietnam.

In the first episode of Military Voices of Maine, we’ll meet Lieutenant Helen Siragusa. Helen was a United States Naval Nurse who cared for quadriplegics and paraplegics who were injured in combat during WWII. Helen served at Saint Albans Naval Hospital in Long Island. At the time of the interview, Helen was 99 years old.