Executive Order 9981 officially desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces on July 26th, 1948. But racism within the integrated Air Force continued to affect pilot and engineer George Hardy’s service and sacrifice.

Japanese American citizens were prisoners of war in the U.S. during WW2. The Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd “Purple Heart Battalion” are the most decorated outfit in military history to this day. Lawson Ichiro Sakai shares a gripping story covering it all. (Free history lesson plans for this episode!

In this very special two-part episode, we explore how veterans from WW2 through today seek healing after their traumatic wartime experiences. And how civilians are using food to help. (Free history lesson plans for this episode!)

What did it take for an African American sailor to achieve rank in WW2? Navy veteran William Walker shares hardships and triumphs in his rise to Chief Petty Officer 1st Class, how soldiers, sailors, and civilians were fed in the Pacific, and how his Service was received on the homefront after the war ended. (Get free World War II history lesson plans for this episode, too!)

What was it like to be one of the first Black Air Corp pilots in history? George Hardy takes us from segregated training camps in the U.S. to escorting bomber planes in Europe, sharing food stories, hard memories, and high times alone the way.