VBC programs connect and heal,
educate and inspire.
Everyone is always welcome.

The Veterans Breakfast Club (VBC) is the nation’s premier non-profit for connecting veterans with their fellow Americans through inspiring stories of service.

Our goal is to build a nation that understands and values the experiences of our military veterans so that every day is Veterans Day.

We do this by bringing together–in-person and online–men and women from all walks of life, all ages and eras, and every branch of service to talk about what they’ve seen and done. We want to hear how people’s military service has shaped them. “Every Veteran Has a Story” is our slogan. We want to hear every one.

We share the stories we hear in our weekly VBC Bulletin email newsletter and our quarterly VBC Magazine. We also record a weekly podcast, The Scuttlebutt, about military culture from the people who lived it.

We do all this because we believe the best way to thank a Veteran is to listen.

Listening is what the VBC has been doing for the past 15 years, when we held our first small event outside of Pittsburgh. Since then, we’ve held over 1,000 programs in-person and online and have welcomed over 20,000 different people at our events, Veterans and non-Veterans coming together to listen.

We value every veteran’s experience, no matter who they are or when or how they served. We’ve seen up close the power of storytelling, as the memories shared at VBC events connect, heal, educate, and inspire an ever-expanding circle of listeners.

At any given event, you might hear from the newest members of Space Force to a 101-year-old World War II veteran.

We’ve welcomed Tin Can Sailors and Montford Point Marines, Vietnam Sky Soldiers and Cold War intelligence officers. We’ve heard stories from the Horn of Africa to Antarctica, the Bering Sea to Diego Garcia, and all points in between.

LORAN Coast Guardsmen and Radar Station Airmen have told us about serving in some of the most remote places on earth.

Korean War veterans have borne witness to their “forgotten war.”

Other “forgotten warriors” shared their memories of Beirut, Grenada, and Mogadishu.

Some of the first women authorized for combat shared stories of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and of the Purple Hearts they received.

Join us at our events and help keep these stories alive.

All you need to do is listen.

Every Veteran Has a Story.
Hear Them Now.

WHAT WE BELIEVE
OUR PROGRAMS
OUR MISSION

Featured Stories

[yotuwp type="playlist" id="PLHD4P2eKGjh0zlONTKfYcBFxn4A49C2mL" column="2" per_page="4" player="width=500&rel=0"]

UPCOMING EVENTS

80th Anniversary of the Yalta Conference

Date: February 13, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Zoom, Facebook, YouTube
Events | Online Events
Yalta

Glenn Flickinger marks the 80th anniversary of the Yalta Conference with a conversation with experts and historians. Yalta was held from February 4 to 11, 1945, and it was a pivotal meeting during World War II between the Allied leaders: Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union. Taking place in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea, the conference aimed to address the post-war reorganization of Europe and establish a framework for lasting peace.

By early 1945, the defeat of Nazi Germany was imminent. Allied forces were advancing on multiple fronts, with the Red Army pushing through Eastern Europe and the Western Allies moving toward Germany from the west. The conference’s primary objectives were to ensure coordinated military strategy in the final stages of the war, decide on the political future of liberated countries, and establish mechanisms to prevent future conflicts.

The leaders agreed to divide Germany into four occupation zones controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and, later, France. Berlin, situated in the Soviet zone, would also be split into four sectors. Stalin sought to secure Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, which was a contentious issue. The Allies agreed that Poland’s borders would be shifted westward, with the Soviet Union annexing eastern Polish territories. In return, Stalin promised free elections in Poland and other Eastern European countries, though this commitment was later undermined. Plans for the establishment of the United Nations (UN) were finalized, with agreements on the structure of the UN Security Council, including veto power for its five permanent members: the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Stalin also pledged that the Soviet Union would enter the war against Japan within three months of Germany’s surrender. In exchange, the Soviet Union was promised territorial gains, including southern Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and influence in Manchuria. Additionally, the conference produced a declaration committing the Allies to support democratic institutions and free elections in liberated nations, though the interpretation and implementation of this agreement varied, particularly in Eastern Europe.

The Yalta Conference laid the groundwork for the post-war geopolitical order, but it also sowed the seeds of the Cold War. The division of Germany and Berlin set the stage for the eventual establishment of East and West Germany. The Allied Control Council was created to administer Germany jointly, but growing tensions between the Soviet Union and Western Allies led to increasing division. Stalin’s influence over Eastern Europe grew rapidly after the conference. Despite promises of free elections, communist governments were installed in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and other countries, creating a Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc. The resolution of the Polish question was a source of lasting tension. The Western Allies’ acceptance of Soviet demands alienated the Polish government-in-exile in London and led to widespread dissatisfaction among Poles.

The creation of the United Nations was a significant achievement, providing a forum for international diplomacy and conflict resolution. However, the Security Council’s veto system reflected the power dynamics of the major Allied nations and limited the organization’s ability to act decisively during the Cold War. The differing visions of the United States and the Soviet Union for post-war Europe became evident at Yalta. While the United States and the United Kingdom emphasized self-determination and democratic governance, the Soviet Union prioritized security through territorial expansion and the establishment of friendly regimes in its sphere of influence. These conflicting priorities contributed to the ideological divide that defined the Cold War.

The Yalta Conference has been criticized for its perceived concessions to Stalin, particularly regarding Poland and Eastern Europe. Critics argue that Roosevelt and Churchill underestimated Stalin’s ambitions or were in a weak negotiating position due to the Red Army’s dominance in Eastern Europe. Others contend that the agreements reflected the realities of power on the ground and that the Allies had limited leverage to influence Soviet actions. Despite its controversies, the conference was a landmark in shaping the modern world. It demonstrated the complexities of coalition diplomacy and the challenges of balancing competing interests in a time of global upheaval. The agreements reached at Yalta influenced the political landscape of Europe for decades and highlighted the difficulties of securing lasting peace in the aftermath of war.

We’re grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!

Major General William M. Matz, Jr. (Ret)

Date: February 17, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Zoom, Facebook, YouTube
Events | Online Events
matz

We welcome Major General William M. Matz Jr., a distinguished retired U.S. Army officer, whose new book, My Toughest Battle: A Soldier’s Lifelong Struggle with Polio, chronicles his journey of overcoming polio and his distinguished military career.

In August 1944, at a young age, Matz contracted polio, resulting in paralysis of his right leg. Despite a grim prognosis, he demonstrated remarkable determination, undergoing extensive treatments and rehabilitation. His perseverance enabled him to overcome the physical challenges posed by the disease, setting the stage for his future endeavors.

Matz pursued higher education at Gettysburg College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He furthered his studies with a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of San Diego. His academic achievements were complemented by military training, including graduation from the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne and Ranger Schools, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Additionally, he completed Harvard University’s Senior Executives in Government/Management Course.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1962, Matz embarked on a military career that spanned over three decades. As an infantryman, he served in Korea and Panama, and as a company commander with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was wounded during the 1968 Tet Offensive. His service extended to multiple tours with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, and he held the position of executive secretary to Secretaries of Defense Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci. Matz also served two years with Navy/Marine Corps amphibious forces in the Pacific during a second tour in Vietnam and deployed with the 7th Infantry Division to Panama during Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989.

Upon retiring from the Army in 1995, Matz transitioned to the defense industry, holding positions such as Vice President of Army Programs at Raytheon Company and General Manager for Vinnell/Northrop Grumman’s Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed him to the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission, where he served until 2008. He also served as President of the National Association for Uniformed Services, advocating for service members, veterans, and their families.

In January 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Matz as the Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), a position he held until March 2021. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials, honoring the service of U.S. armed forces.

Throughout his career, Matz received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

We’re grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!

VIEW ALL

PAST EVENTS

Streamed live on September 2, 2024 Iwo Jima Marine Bob Brutinel joined us near his 100th birthday to share his story of service. “I don’t believe in medals,” was his response when we asked him about the Silver Star he received for valor on Iwo.Private First Class Robert C. Brutinel,...
Streamed live on September 2, 2024 Iwo Jima Marine Bob Brutinel joined us near his 100th birthday to share his story of service. “I don’t...
Streamed live on February 6, 2025 Nick Cressey and Josh Muri join us to share two amazing WWII B-26 Marauder stories from WWII. On June...
Streamed live on January 30, 2025 World War II is often portrayed as a battle of absolute good versus evil, yet within its chaos emerged...
Streamed live on January 27, 2025 We asked 17-year-old Navy history wunderkind Trey Burman for an off-the-cuff history of the USS Saratoga, a Cold War...
WATCH MORE PAST EVENTS

Thank You Sponsors!

Become a VBC Sponsor

GET INVOLVED TODAY

The mission of the Veterans Breakfast Club is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories to ensure that this living history will never be forgotten.  We believe that through our work, people will be connected, educated, healed, and inspired.

INTRODUCING THE VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT

Preserving veterans’ stories so that this living history is never forgotten.

We pair passionate VBC volunteers with military veterans for one-on-one oral history interviews over Zoom. If you are a veteran, or you know a veteran, who would be interested in sharing his or her story with us, let us know. If you are someone interested in conducting these interviews, please reach out!

GET INVOLVED

Your weekly dose of veterans’ stories, military news, and the latest headlines, all in one place

Watch and listen to the Scuttlebutt, the VBC’s podcast dedicated to understanding military culture. Hosted by Shaun Hall, Director of Programming. New episode every Monday at 6AM ET.

MORE EPISODES

Get the latest on military headlines and VBC news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for the VBCBulletin! 

SIGN UP

Latest Blog Posts

Army Captain Drew Ferguson was one remarkable Green Beret. Before serving as a Team Leader in Special Forces in Afghanistan, he had spent 14 months...
We recently heard from a new non-profit in Central Pennsylvania called the Boots to Health Foundation. Boots to Health supports local Veterans in improving their physical,...
General George C. Marshall (1945) Vietnam Army Veteran Frank Sciullo recently shared a letter written by WWII Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall...
WWII Navy WAVE Julia Parsons will turn 104 years old on March 2, 2025. Please help us celebrate and honor her by sending her a...
VIEW ALL BLOG POSTS

Check out the latest issue of VBCMagazine! 

Don’t receive VBCMagazine?
Contact us to get your copy!

VBC Magazine of Veterans Stories
LATEST ISSUE