As a soldier in the Virginia Army National Guard, Bryan and his team cleared obstacles, swept for IEDs, and set up barriers behind moving convoys, making sure the road stayed safe for the next mission.
Not ahead of the danger — in it. Right where the risk hides in plain sight.
But this isn’t just a war story.
It’s a brotherhood story.
Because Bryan deployed with people he knew — friends from back home, guys he’d grown up with, and coached with. That kind of bond doesn’t happen in basic training. It happens when your war is local — and your team feels like family.
He tells it all with humor, humility, and the kind of honesty that sneaks up on you. Including the injury that ended his career and sent him home with an honorable discharge — and a whole lot of questions about what comes next when the uniform’s gone but the mission isn’t.
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Listen & Subscribe to Veteran Story Hour: Voices of Valor, Presented by SALUTE of Virginia, everywhere podcasts can be heard
Every veteran has a story worth preserving—stories of courage, sacrifice, humor, and humanity. Veteran Story Hour captures these remarkable personal histories directly from the voices of the men and women who’ve served our nation.
Recorded live each week at SALUTE of Virginia in Waynesboro, this podcast creates a living history, ensuring these powerful memories are preserved and shared for generations to come.
Hosted by John Fairbanks of the Shenandoah Valley Story Network, join us as we honor those who served by listening, reflecting, and remembering.
Because every veteran’s story deserves to be told—and every voice deserves to be heard.
