Our American Stories

On this episode of Our American Stories, Hoat Hoang was still a boy when his family left their village in the middle of the night. The fall of Saigon had changed everything, and the only way forward was through jungles, border checkpoints, and refugee camps that offered little hope. When they finally reached the United States, nothing about it felt like a finish line. Hoat worked long hours, learned English sentence by sentence, and kept his head down. In this story, Hoang walks us through his journey from Vietnam to becoming a celebrated surgeon in America. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Jocelyn Green didn’t lose anyone on September 11, but she still felt the weight of that day in ways she couldn’t have predicted. Living just a few miles from the Pentagon, she saw how quickly fear moved through a neighborhood. What surprised her was what came next: people showing up for each other in quiet, steady ways. Over time, she found herself thinking more about how faith fits into grief—and how friendships sometimes grow strongest in the shadow of crisis. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Christopher Warren shares one of the strangest chapters in U.S. Postal Service history: the time when Americans actually sent children through the mail. In the early 1900s, families, especially in rural areas, took advantage of parcel post rules to ship their kids across towns, counties, and even state lines. And it didn’t stop there. In one case, an entire bank was sent through the postal system. This bizarre and often hilarious look at early 20th-century mail shows just how far people would go to work around the system and how the Postal Service had to adapt. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duane Rieder, the curator of the Roberto Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh, shares his profound journey of preserving the legend’s legacy. He discusses his transformation from a passionate photographer to the personal archivist for the Clemente family. Rieder reveals touching anecdotes about memorable encounters with Clemente and the emotional weight of the memorabilia he collects. The conversation highlights how Clemente's influence continues to inspire discussions about sports, culture, and social justice, underscoring the importance of remembering great figures for future generations.

On this episode of Our American Stories, she was built for war but became a beacon of memory. The USS Lexington (CV-16) launched into battle during the darkest days of World War II and earned her place in history through courage, endurance, and an uncanny ability to survive. Nicknamed the “Blue Ghost” by Japanese forces, she was reported sunk multiple times—but each time, she returned, ready for more. Today, the aircraft carrier serves as a museum in Corpus Christi, offering a tangible link to a pivotal era in naval warfare. Our American Stories contributor Anne Clare walks us through the enduring legacy of the Lexington. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Frankie Avalon became a household name before he turned twenty. With hits like “Venus” and “Why,” he dominated the Billboard charts during the golden age of American pop. But while many teen idols faded, Avalon evolved. He starred alongside Annette Funicello in a string of beach party films that captured the imagination of a generation. Decades later, he returned to the spotlight in Grease, performing “Beauty School Dropout” as Teen Angel—a moment that introduced him to millions of new fans. In this episode, Frankie Avalon reflects on his music career and how he’s continued performing from the 1950s through today. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Sgt. Alvin York is one of the most celebrated American heroes of World War I. A deeply religious man and self-proclaimed pacifist, York initially sought exemption from military service. But on the battlefields of France, he performed a single act of bravery that made him a national legend. Historian Elliott Drago of the Jack Miller Center shares the remarkable true story of how a Tennessee farm boy became one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. military history. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, The Hope Diamond has been blamed for madness, financial ruin, and untimely death. It’s also one of the most visited artifacts in the world. So what kept people chasing it? Richard Kurin, author of Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem, traces how this 45-carat blue diamond moved from European royalty to American catalogs and eventually into the Smithsonian’s glass case. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, on the morning of September 11, 2001, Peter Braxton became the first military pilot in the air over the burning Twin Towers—on what was his very first day on the job. Not long after, he flew multiple combat tours in the Middle East before eventually retiring from the Air Force. In this story, Peter shares what happened when he got a phone call shortly after retirement that began with an unexpected question: “Do you still have your uniform?” Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Our American Stories, after Pearl Harbor, American morale was low. The Doolittle Raid, led by Jimmy Doolittle himself, wasn’t expected to do much damage, but it proved to the country and the world that the U.S. could strike back. Six months later, the Japanese navy launched a major offensive in the Pacific, hoping to knock America out for good. The result was the Battle of Midway, one of the most important naval victories of the war. Historian Stephen Ambrose explains how these two moments, linked by timing and strategy, helped shift the course of World War II. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.