At the Veterans Breakfast Club,
Stories Unite Us.
Check out our online & in-person veterans storytelling programs and see our full event schedule below. All are welcome to join us!
Join us in Youngstown for our VBC Veterans Storytelling Lunch on Friday, November 15, from 11:30am-1:30pm. Location is the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown (505 Gypsy Lane Youngstown, Ohio 44504)
This is a free event, but we would appreciate an RSVP. We’d also welcome a $10pp donation.
You can make a reservation either to the Youngstown JCC or the Veterans Breakfast Club:
JCC: 330-746-3250 ext #106 or bwilson@jewishyoungstown.org
VBC: 412-623-9029 or JoAnn@veteransbreakfastclub.org
The Veterans Breakfast Club brings American history to life. Join us to listen and learn, connect and heal, and say thank you to those who’ve served. You don’t need to be a veteran to attend.
Where else, but at the Veterans Breakfast Club, can you gather for a casual meal and meet a 101-year-old Navy WAVE codebreaker from World War II, a Silver Star recipient from Vietnam, and a Top Gun F-18 pilot all at the same time?
The Veterans Breakfast Club has been bringing these people and more together for face-to-face storytelling events since 2008. People come to listen and learn, connect and heal, and say thank you to those who’ve served.
These breakfasts began informally in 2008 with some 30 World War II veterans. They grew to give our organization its name and serve as the flagship for a growing array of storytelling programs where veterans of all eras and branches of service could share their experiences with the public. Most of these in-person events are held in the Pittsburgh region, but we’re branching out to other locations to reach more veterans and hear more stories. One week we might might be in a VFW hall, then next week a country club or a banquet room.
We serve lunch at 11:30am, start the program at 12:00pm, and bounce around the room with the microphone until 1:30pm listening to as many veterans as we can. You never know what you’re going to hear. There are often a few tears, and always a lot of laughter. Join our community of listening by coming to one of our face-to-face storytelling events!
Thank you to the Youngstown JCC and the Thomases Family Endowment for Supporting this Event!
We invite members of the Vietnam Women Veterans Association., who served in staff and lines positions in Vietnam, to share their stories with us.
The vast majority of women in Vietnam, over 10,000, served as nurses. But our guests–among them, Pat Jernigan, Elaine James, Nancy Jurgevich–were some of the 1,000 or so other women in Vietnam who weren’t nurses. Many of them were members of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC)
WACs held a range of positions, including administrative roles, clerical work, intelligence, communications, and other support functions. Their work was crucial to the daily operations of the U.S. military in Vietnam, as they handled essential tasks that kept the military machine running smoothly.
Many WACs served in administrative positions, working as secretaries, typists, and clerks. These women were responsible for managing military records, typing reports, handling correspondence, and performing other office duties. Their work was often behind the scenes, but it was vital to maintaining the efficiency and organization of military operations. Administrative WACs ensured that orders were processed, records were kept accurately, and communication lines remained open, allowing the military to function effectively.
Some WACs were assigned to intelligence and communications roles. In these positions, women worked on gathering, analyzing, and disseminating information critical to military operations. They may have been involved in decoding messages, monitoring enemy communications, or assisting in the planning and coordination of missions. These roles required a high level of skill and attention to detail, as mistakes could have serious consequences for military strategy and the safety of troops.
WACs also worked in a variety of support services, including logistics, supply management, and personnel management. They were responsible for ensuring that soldiers had the supplies they needed, managing equipment and resources, and assisting in the coordination of personnel movements. These roles were essential to maintaining the overall effectiveness of the military force in Vietnam, ensuring that soldiers were well-equipped and supported in the field.
WACs in Vietnam faced a number of challenges, both in their professional roles and in their daily lives. The environment was often hostile, with the constant threat of attacks and the difficult conditions of living in a war zone. Additionally, many of these women faced gender-based discrimination and skepticism from their male counterparts, who were not always accustomed to working alongside women in the military.
Despite these challenges, the women of the WAC proved their value through their competence, dedication, and professionalism. They worked long hours, often under stressful conditions, and played a critical role in supporting the war effort. Their presence in Vietnam also marked an important step in the evolution of women’s roles in the military, as they demonstrated that women could perform effectively in a variety of military functions beyond nursing.
The service of WACs in Vietnam helped pave the way for greater integration of women into the U.S. military. The Vietnam War was one of the first conflicts where women served in a combat zone in significant numbers, and their contributions were an important part of the overall war effort. The experience of WACs in Vietnam demonstrated that women could perform a wide range of military duties, leading to increased opportunities for women in the military in the years following the war.
In 1978, five years after the end of the Vietnam War, the Women’s Army Corps was disbanded, and women were fully integrated into the regular Army. The legacy of the WACs, particularly those who served in Vietnam, lives on as an important chapter in the history of women in the military. Their service helped to challenge traditional gender roles and opened the door for future generations of women to serve in more diverse and challenging roles within the armed forces.
Only after decades of protest and court challenges were these discriminatory policies amended. And it wasn’t until 2015 that the Department of Defense ended all restrictions on women’s service.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!
Come to our live, in-person breakfast in Sewickley, PA.
We meet at Christ Church Grove Farm (249 Duff Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143). You’ll walk in, pick up your name badge, pay $15 if you plan to eat (no cost for those who don’t), and meet others who are there to hear and share the stories. Breakfast is served at 8:30am. At 9:00am, we start the program. For the next 90 minutes, we circulate the room with the microphone and have veterans share a slice of their service experience. You never know what you’re going to hear, and there’s always new people with new memories to offer.
RSVP by calling 412-623-9029 or emailing betty@veteransbreakfastclub.org. Please make sure to RSVP for events at least two days in advance. We understand that your schedule can change quickly, but advance notice of attendance always helps us and our venues prepare the program. Thank you!