In this special Veterans Day gathering, Mike Scotti, a former U.S. Marine, shares his journey of finding meaning after combat. 97-year-old Dawn Seymour vividly recounts her experiences as a Women Airforce Service Pilot flying B-17s during WWII. Bill Krieger opens up about the bedtime routines with his daughter amid his deployment to Iraq, while William Cole reflects on serving in the segregated 93rd Infantry Division in the South Pacific. Their stories highlight courage, camaraderie, and the lasting impact of war on family and identity.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
The Call
Mike Scotti, after returning from Iraq, received a call from his former commanding officer.
This usually meant someone he knew had died, and his fears were confirmed.
insights INSIGHT
War's Reality
Mike Scotti joined the Marines to defend his country after 9/11.
He witnessed the brutal reality of war and the deaths of children, realizing it was a slaughter.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Chaos in Baghdad
In Baghdad, chaos reigned with communication issues and the risk of friendly fire.
Mike prevented a disastrous friendly fire incident, highlighting the thin line between life and death.
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In this searing and beautifully written memoir, Mike Scotti charts his course from the front lines of Iraq back home to New York. Scotti, a Marine Lieutenant, was taught during his service that weakness is what gets you killed, and he applied this mindset to his life after war, ignoring the creeping depression and numbness he called 'The Blue Cascade.' However, he eventually found himself struggling with intense emotional and violent episodes, and even contemplating suicide. Through a series of powerful events, Scotti was able to find a path to healing and begin his journey back to life, emerging with the wisdom that 'it's ok if you are not ok' for fellow sufferers of post-traumatic stress.
In Memoriam: Thirty-eight American Women Pilots
In Memoriam: Thirty-eight American Women Pilots
Clarice I. Bergman
Jeanette Jenkins
Mary Ellen Keil
Dawn Seymour
This book is a tribute to the 38 American women pilots who served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and lost their lives during World War II. It includes short biographies of these women, highlighting their service and sacrifices. The book is part of the oral history projects conducted by the contributors.
A special Veterans Day edition of The Moth Radio Hour. After returning from active duty in the Middle East, a marine searches for new meaning; a 97 year old woman describes training young men for WWII combat as a WASP; a father being deployed to Iraq must find a way to explain it to his children; and a WWII soldier from Wisconsin serves with the segregated 93rd Infantry Division in the South Pacific. This special hour is hosted by The Moth's Producing Director, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.
Storytellers:
Mike Scotti finds new meaning after returning from active duty in the Middle East.
Dawn Seymour becomes part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), training young men stateside to enter WWII overseas.
Bill Krieger tucks his daughter in at night before being deployed to Iraq.
William Cole serves as a radio operator in the 93rd Infantry Division, a segregated unit, in the South Pacific.
The Moth 
