NEW VIDEOS

Hank Derenoff

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Hank Derenoff was sure he had already killed some Taliban but he got a confirmed kill the day he saw someone come around a corner and immediately turn around. The next time he came out was the last time he did anything. Oddly, it was a helicopter pilot who confirmed the kill. (3:59)

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They were close to going home but first they had to orient their replacement unit. The Army had inexplicably sent an artillery outfit to relieve an infantry unit. Hank Derenoff describes how the new guys were woefully unprepared. (9:24)

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The last piece of business for Hank Derenoff's unit before they left Afghanistan was to relieve a sister company which had lost a lot of their men to IED's. The outpost was a mess and had to be secured, then patrols were started. There was a Syrian IED maker in the area who had a calling card and there was a K9 unit that was no help at all. (Caution: strong language) (8:37)

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Hank Derenoff was at Kandahar Airfield waiting to go home. He couldn't stand the place nor did he care for the banners and the band when he got back to Fort Bragg. He did enjoy the reunion with his family. Then came the garrison duty. (Caution: strong language) (10:44)

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The US exit from Afghanistan was bad but that shouldn't stop the remembrance of those who died or were injured. That's what Hank Derenoff wants everyone to remember. (Caution: strong language) (3:57)

Bill Minor

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Before the war, Bill Minor was seeking a degree in Journalism at Tulane and was a member of one of the few Naval ROTC programs in the country. When the war broke out, things became gravely serious and he and others knew they were on their way to fight as commissioned officers. (5:40)

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During his time in ROTC before the war, Bill Minor had an exercise that took him up to New York City. Being a small town guy from rural Louisiana, he was blown away by the size and scope of the city, and got to see some musical legends during his brief time there; a highlight of his youth. (3:14)

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Bill Minor discusses his assignment to Task Force 58 and their initial days entering the Pacific Theater to fight the Japanese. His destroyer was responsible for defending the fleet’s air craft carriers while they provided air support for Marines landing on the islands. (3:54)

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While Bill Minor was operating in the Pacific, they had to worry about not only the threats from above but also the threats down below. Japanese submarines were patrolling all over, and he recalls one instance where they encountered one. (4:13)

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Captain Crichton told the men to prepare for the worst, and through some miracle Bill Minor didn’t have to suffer through a direct hit from a torpedo. Sadly, the USS Intrepid wasn’t as fortunate. (2:07)