Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Brandon Dodson

Operation Iraqi Freedom | 1st Battalion, 4th Marines

As the Marines drove out of Najaf after a hard fought battle, they knew they had just been in an historic fight. When they encountered another Marine unit, Brandon Dodson was amazed at what the fresh troops had with them. (Caution: strong language) (6:16)
There was no Red Bull but there was plenty of chai in Iraq. Marine Brandon Dodson did his part for the local economy by buying lots of chai. The local food was mostly good, too, as were the KBR chow halls. The battalion had arrived on a ship and were very happy they would be flying home when the time came. (Caution: strong language) (7:38)
On his second tour of Iraq, Brandon Dodson was stationed up on the Syrian border. A new crossing had been built so there was a parade of big shots and media coming through which presented some problems for the Marines. He re-enlisted during this tour, then spent some time as a drill instructor, then made his way to a unit he knew was going to Afghanistan. (Caution: strong language) (4:58)
It was a totally different war in Afghanistan. Brandon Dodson had two tours in Iraq but this fight was more unnerving. IED's were a big problem and it became a cat and mouse game of design vs. detection. (Caution: strong language) (5:21)
It was at the end of his second tour in Afghanistan on the very last mission the Marine unit had before they were packing up to leave. Brandon Dodson stepped on an IED which gave him some devastating injuries. He was the squad leader so he kept trying to stand up until the Corpsman handed him something that put an end to that. (Caution: graphic material and strong language) (11:02)
The hardest part of his recovery for Brandon Dodson was dealing with his young son. He was frightened of dad and all his medical stuff and his wheelchair. It was a long road back from the battlefield but, eventually, he was fitted with good prosthetics and got back to some kind of decent life. (Caution: graphic material and strong language) (8:44)
The early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom were very rewarding for Brandon Dodson. 9/11 was fresh in his mind and the enemies were authentic bad guys who needed killing. Over the long haul, that naivete would wear down. It is also very rewarding and therapeutic to reunite with his comrades from those days. (Caution: strong language) (8:14)
Braswell Deen

WWII | K Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division

His father said that if you join the Army, you'll be cannon fodder and if you join the Navy, you'll be shark bait. Braswell Deen went for the Marines and became both. After boot camp he sailed for the island of Pavuvu where he trained further with his squad leader Joe Daly and his fire team leader Bill Thompson. (6:29)
Braswell Deen recalls getting ready for the amphibious landing on Peleliu and then the chaos of the landing itself. The shelling had been tremendous, but as on so many other islands, the enemy survived and the Marines faced heavy resistance as they hit the beach. (6:31)
The fire was heavy from the ridge above, remembers Braswell Deen. His company was pinned down in a tank trap just inland from the beach on Peleliu. He and a couple of other Marines had advanced just past the trap and almost missed the word to fall back. The night that followed was spent in a shell hole with rounds going overhead all night. (6:57)