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Mike Peterson

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Peterson learns about the Combined Action Program from an article in Life Magazine, and joins the CAPs after his first tour. His platoon comes to accept the complicated nature of their relationship with the locals, which ultimately leads to betrayal - and the death of a comrade. (5:22)

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Haunted by the fall of Saigon - and the death of a friend for which he wrongfully shouldered the blame - Peterson unpacks his service pistol and contemplates suicide. He manages to turn his life around; he meets his wife and returns to Vietnam for a chance to heal the scars of war. (4:27)

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Though he started as a true believer, Mike Peterson gradually became disenchanted with the Marines, and the Vietnam War. His reflections and research on Vietnam - and how the war was waged - lead him to the sober realization that we have become reckless with American lives. (5:42)

Mike Pickrel

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It was the Movie Gung Ho! that instilled the desire to become a Marine in the young mind of Mike Pickrel. In 1995, at age 19, he enlisted and spent four years in the Corps. He was at Headquarters Battalion in Okinawa, then finished up his enlistment at Quantico. He wasn't done, all the knowledge he'd gained came in handy later. (7:08)

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After a four year stint in the Marine Corps, Mike Pickrel could get no traction as a civilian. The Marines wouldn't take him back, so he enlisted in the Army. Then came 9/11 and, like so many others, he was anxious to do something about it. (4:26)

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When he landed in Iraq, Mike Pickrel felt like he was in a very unpleasant place. It was hot and it smelled bad. He was in a tight knit Cavalry unit which was immediately poached for manpower, so they would face their assignment shorthanded. (5:52)

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His first day in the field in Iraq, Mike Pickrel learned some valuable lessons. He learned not to drive up to a visible IED, he learned not to return by the same route and he learned not to talk to the locals or give them anything. (4:45)

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You learned the little things that helped you spot IED's. Mike Pickrel tells how he looked for them and how the Surge never really made it to where he was. No more boots on the ground there. He chafed at partnering with former insurgents and was angry when he finally got a chance to engage in a real firefight, but was withdrawn. (6:44)

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His second tour in Iraq was a waste of time to Mike Pickrel. Just sit in the base, pretty much. He has some observations on the enemies we face in these latest wars, on the men he served with who inspired him and on what servicemen need from their leadership and their government. (6:54)

Mike Pomakis

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Mike Pomakis came from a strict Greek family that held fast to the values of the old country. He tried to enlist in the Air Force but that was delayed. He decided on a four year enlistment in the Marines. That ought to cut those apron strings. (6:03)