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!
Poet Jehanne Dubrow has written much about life in the military community. Her latest poetry collection Civilians delves into the profound transition from military to civilian life, reflecting her personal journey as a Navy spouse alongside her husband, LCDR Jeremy Schaub. This work serves as the concluding volume in her trilogy exploring the military spouse experience, following Stateside (2010) and Dots & Dashes (2017). We welcome Jehanne and Jeremy to talk about their life together with Daria Sommers.
In Civilians, Dubrow examines the complexities that arise when a service member retires after decades of military service. The collection addresses the challenges both partners face as they navigate the shift from structured military roles to the uncharted territory of civilian life. Dubrow’s poems candidly explore questions such as: What becomes of a sailor removed from a world of uniforms and uniformity? How is his language changed? His geography? And what happens to a wife once physical and emotional distances are erased, and she is reunited with her husband, a man made strange and foreign by his contact with war?
Drawing inspiration from classical literature, Dubrow intertwines themes from works like Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Homer’s Odyssey, Euripides’s The Trojan Women, and Sophocles’s Philoctetes. This intertextuality enriches her exploration of transformation, displacement, and the search for identity post-service. For instance, she reflects on Penelope’s role in The Odyssey as a parallel to her own experience, contemplating the challenges of loyalty and autonomy during her husband’s deployments.
The collection also addresses the emotional landscape of reintegration, highlighting the subtle yet profound shifts in marital dynamics. Dubrow’s poetry captures the tension between longing for reunion and the reality of change, as both partners must reconcile their evolved identities within the marriage. Her work offers readers a candid look at the experience of watching a loved one adjust to home life after a career of military service, blending formal and free verse with materials ranging from the historical to the personal.
Through Civilians, Dubrow provides a nuanced perspective on the often-overlooked experiences of military spouses, shedding light on the intricate process of redefining relationships and selfhood beyond the military sphere. Her poetry not only personalizes the broader narrative of military families but also invites readers to empathize with the universal themes of change, resilience, and love amidst uncertainty.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!
VBC Open Conversation is a friendly, interactive gathering of veterans, friends of veterans, and history nerds where we discuss whatever aspects of military service, past or present, or the veterans community that are on our minds.
Join us to swap stories, good and bad, at home and overseas, old and new. At the VBC, veterans from every era and branch are drawn together by the warm glow of shared purpose.
The stories bridge the gap and the years with veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, late Cold War, Iraq and Afghanistan, and other eras and deployments. Non-veterans also join the circle, eager to understand, to listen, to learn.
They ask questions with genuine respect and a desire to honor the sacrifices made. This intergenerational dialogue, forged in the crucible of shared experience, builds bridges of empathy and understanding.
These stories aren’t just for veterans; they’re for everyone who wants to understand the lives of those who served. Whether you’re a veteran seeking camaraderie, a civilian wanting to learn, or simply someone who appreciates the value of service, the VBC welcomes you with open arms. Join us online – become part of their mission to honor stories, build bridges, and ensure that every day is Veterans Day.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!
We look forward to our first breakfast at Monroeville United Methodist Church, whose pastor, Rev. Kelly J. Smith, has kindly embraced our mission by having the church pay for everyone’s breakfast!
We’ll meet at Monroeville United Methodist Church (219 Center Rd, Monroeville, PA 15146) in their fellowship hall. We’ll show photos of veterans on a screen and hear from as many veterans as possible during the program.
You’ll walk in, pick up your name badge, 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, veterans share slices 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!
Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this event!
Glenn Flickinger, Colin Heaton, and Greg Yoest continue their analysis of the Battle of Okinawa, focusing on the Navy part of the battle.
The naval battle of Okinawa, fought from March 26 to July 2, 1945, was one of the most intense and costly engagements in the Pacific War. It was defined by relentless kamikaze attacks, extensive naval bombardments, and fierce engagements between the U.S. fleet and Japanese air and sea forces. The U.S. Navy played a critical role in supporting the invasion, defending against aerial attacks, and maintaining supply lines for ground forces.
Before the landings on April 1, the U.S. Navy conducted an extensive pre-invasion bombardment. Fast carrier task forces launched air strikes on airfields in Kyushu and Formosa to reduce the threat of Japanese air power. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers shelled Okinawa’s coastline and defensive positions for days. However, the bombardment was less effective than expected due to the Japanese defensive strategy of hiding in underground fortifications.
The defining feature of the naval battle was the massive use of kamikaze (suicide) aircraft by the Japanese. Operation Kikusui, a series of coordinated kamikaze waves, targeted U.S. and Allied ships in an attempt to disrupt the invasion. Between April and June, over 1,500 kamikaze aircraft were launched, causing significant damage.
One of the hardest-hit ships was the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill, which was struck by two kamikazes on May 11, killing nearly 400 crew members. The destroyers USS Laffey and USS Hugh W. Hadley were nearly sunk by repeated kamikaze strikes but managed to stay afloat. The British Pacific Fleet, equipped with armored carriers, also faced attacks but withstood damage better than American wooden-deck carriers.
To counter the kamikazes, the U.S. Navy implemented a picket line system, stationing destroyers and radar-equipped ships around Okinawa to detect incoming attacks. These ships suffered heavy losses, with dozens sunk or severely damaged. Despite these efforts, the Japanese inflicted the heaviest U.S. naval casualties of the war, sinking 36 ships, damaging over 350, and killing nearly 5,000 sailors.
On April 7, the Japanese battleship Yamato, the largest battleship ever built, was sent on a suicide mission to attack the U.S. invasion fleet. Lacking air cover and low on fuel, Yamato and its escort force were intercepted by U.S. carrier aircraft before reaching Okinawa. Over 300 American planes bombed and torpedoed Yamato, sinking it with massive loss of life. The battle demonstrated the complete dominance of air power over traditional naval forces.
Throughout the battle, the U.S. Navy maintained an effective blockade around Okinawa, cutting off Japanese reinforcements. Naval supply ships provided ammunition, fuel, and medical aid to ground forces. Battleships and cruisers continued shore bombardment, assisting the Army and Marines in breaking through Japanese defensive lines.
The naval battle of Okinawa was one of the most costly for the U.S. Navy, with significant losses from kamikaze attacks. Despite this, naval forces succeeded in protecting the invasion, securing sea lanes, and neutralizing the Japanese fleet. The air and sea battle at Okinawa showcased the growing dominance of aircraft over traditional naval power, foreshadowing the role of air superiority in modern warfare.
We’re grateful to UPMC for Life 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!
Join us in Bethel Park, PA, for a VBC storytelling event where you’ll meet a remarkable collection of people, each with a story to tell.
Our breakfast location in Bethel Park, PA, is our largest, where the group can reach over 250 people. Our veteran attendees range from WWII and Korean War through the Post-9/11 era. The program is fast-moving and wide-ranging with lots of participation. Everyone is welcome to join us.
We meet at Christ United Methodist Church (44 Highland Rd, Bethel Park 15102) in a large hall that also serves as a gym. We show photos of veterans on the three screens at the front and interact with as many veterans as we can. You’ll walk in, pick up your name badge, pay $20 ($15 for VBC Members) 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, veterans share slices 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!
Thank you to our event sponsors UPMC for Life and John F. Slater Funeral Home!
