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.

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Featured Stories

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UPCOMING EVENTS

The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers: The Men Behind the Iconic Photograph

Date: February 20, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Zoom, Facebook, YouTube
Events | Online Events
Iwo Flag Raising

We are proud to welcome two amateur historians who have changed our understanding of one of the most iconic images in Americans history. Eric Krelle and Brent Westemeyer, through expert and diligent research, uncovered the true identities of the men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, an act forever enshrined in American memory as a result of Joe Rosenthal’s famous photograph.

The flag-raising photograph taken by Rosenthal on February 23, 1945, atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima became one of the most enduring symbols of American unity and sacrifice during World War II. The image captured six men hoisting a large American flag after a grueling campaign to secure the island, a strategic foothold in the Pacific. Unbeknownst to Rosenthal at the time, his photograph would resonate deeply with the American public, becoming a symbol of hope and perseverance during a critical period of the war.

The photograph had an immediate and profound impact when it was published in newspapers across the country. For a nation weary from years of war, the image embodied the courage, determination, and teamwork of American service members. It quickly became a rallying point for the war effort, inspiring patriotism and boosting morale on the home front. The photo was also instrumental in a nationwide war bond campaign, helping to raise billions of dollars to support the war. Its significance was further cemented when it won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1945. For the Marine Corps, the photograph symbolized the core values of honor, courage, and commitment and became an integral part of their identity, eventually immortalized in the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

In 1947, the six flag raisers were identified as Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, Michael Strank, John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Harlon Block. However, this identification was later found to be inaccurate, with errors corrected decades after the war through the efforts of amateur historians Eric Krelle and Brent Westemeyer.

Eric Krelle first noticed discrepancies in the iconic image while comparing it with other photographs and records. Krelle observed that John Bradley’s uniform and gear did not match the individual thought to be him in Rosenthal’s photograph. His research suggested that Harold Schultz, a Marine who had never been publicly credited, was one of the six flag raisers. Schultz, who died in 1995, had reportedly mentioned his role to family members casually but never sought recognition.

At the same time, Brent Westemeyer conducted a parallel investigation into the photograph’s details. Using archival materials, personal accounts, and photographs, Westemeyer concluded that Rene Gagnon, another Marine initially identified in the photo, was not present in the iconic scene. Instead, he determined that Harold Keller, another Marine previously unacknowledged, was one of the flag raisers. Both Krelle and Westemeyer also confirmed that John Bradley, despite long-standing claims, was not in the photograph.

The Marine Corps responded to these findings with a formal review in 2016, ultimately validating the conclusions reached by Krelle and Westemeyer. The Corps officially recognized Harold Schultz and Harold Keller as among the six flag raisers and acknowledged that John Bradley and Rene Gagnon had been misidentified. They expressed gratitude for the independent researchers’ meticulous work and reaffirmed their commitment to historical accuracy. The corrections, while significant, did not diminish the photograph’s symbolic power but instead deepened its historical narrative by honoring the overlooked contributions of Schultz and Keller.

Rosenthal’s photograph continues to be a powerful emblem of the collective sacrifice of all those who fought in the Pacific. Its impact on the American public in 1945, as both a source of inspiration and a tool for unifying the nation, remains a testament to the resilience of the human spirit during times of adversity. The efforts of Krelle and Westemeyer ensured that the story of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi reflects not only its symbolic importance but also the truth of the moment and the individuals who made it possible.

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

Stories from Gold Star Families

Date: February 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Zoom, Facebook, YouTube
Events | Online Events
Gold Star

We welcome back Vietnam Marine Corps veteran and author Ron Farina to talk about his new book, Sacrifice: The Final Chapter, a poignant exploration of the profound impact of military service on both Service Members and their families. The book delves into the personal narratives of American servicemembers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the enduring effects on their loved ones.

Sacrifice profiles courageous Gold Star family members and friends who, in the wake of untimely and tragic loss, are left to endure countless unanswered questions, unfulfilled dreams, and an unfathomable range of emotions.

Among the stories featured is that of Kermit Hugo from Wisconsin, who, on an early autumn morning, peers through his window to see soldiers in dress blue uniforms standing at his front door, bringing the devastating news of his daughter’s death. Another narrative follows Marine Sergeant Bob Kugler, serving in Iraq just a few miles from his brother Mike, who collapses upon hearing that Mike has been killed. The book also recounts the experience of Misty Herrera Fuoco in California, who anxiously watches the news, wondering if her sister, Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee, survived a suicide bomber’s attack at Hamid Karzai airport.

Farina’s storytelling provides an emotional look into the specific acts of sacrifice, using each person’s unique perspective to tell their stories. His Vietnam War experience enables him to capture the essence of military service and sacrifice, not only by these inspirational men and women warriors but also by the remarkable people left behind. The book is a testament to the resilience and strength of these families, highlighting how they navigate their grief and find ways to honor their loved ones’ memories.

Sacrifice: The Final Chapter is not just a collection of stories; it is a call to remember and honor the service and sacrifice of servicemembers and their families long after the news stories fade.

This book serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war, urging readers to acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifices made by servicemembers and their families. Through vivid and haunting narratives, Farina ensures that the stories of these heroes and their families are not forgotten, but rather honored and remembered.

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

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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...
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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!

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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.

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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...
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