The Ultimate Sacrifice: 5 Inspiring Stories About America's Fallen Heroes

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Memorial Day is a time to both honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died in service to their country. For this Memorial Day, take the time to watch these five original videos

consisting of interviews and archival footage that tell the stories of those who gave up their lives, from World War II to Vietnam and Iraq.

Heroes

The Air Force Arlington Ladies was created after its founder witnessed some Air Force funerals that had only a chaplain and bugler present. Since 1948, they have not missed a single airman's

funeral. Meet Sandra Griffin, a leader in the all-volunteer community.

Karl Marlantes served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. As a platoon leader, he became close with his radio operator Charles Thomas. Marlantes recalls a

fateful battle in the hills of Vietnam where Thomas was killed just a couple of weeks before he was set to return home.

In the first major U.S. engagement in Vietnam, Col. Tony Nadal tells the story of the unprecedented helicopter-borne assault against North Vietnamese forces. He explains why he could not

leave his wounded soldiers behind despite an onslaught of enemy gunfire and grenades.

Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign

policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for  USA Today and Al Jazeera English.

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