military

"Roland" Hayes enlisted in 1966 at the age of 18. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and the following year, he was stationed at a base in Vietnam, where he served as a cook. But he'd soon end up on the front lines.

"My first stop in New York City was a gay pride parade. I thought to myself I didn't know how this was going to go - you know, Army guy, uniform, Medal of Honor - they saluted me. They told me to go get ISIS. They thanked me for my service."

The training center welcomes hundreds of people each summer who want to see the "regals."

"I don't really think a person receives an award. I think it's the award is what people respect and the person is just the custodian of it."

The accident occurred around 6:45 a.m. ET near a training area in New York state and involved a light medium tactical vehicle — the military's multipurpose transport truck — the academy says.

Leslie Cruise served as a paratrooper during the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944. The 95-year-old veteran reflects on his survival often and believes he has an obligation to share his story.

An estimated 90,000 veterans have been denied coverage. These are the Blue Water Navy Veterans, who served on ships off the Vietnamese coast but may have also been exposed to the chemical.

They came to Buffalo from places including downstate New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to renew an annual tradition.

"My grandfather was my hero growing up. He used to tell me every day, be nice to everybody every day, especially the downtrodden. And this guy is more downtrodden than anybody else I've ever seen."

For many, it means a childhood involving multiple relocations. It also means long-term separations from parents who are called to active duty or deployed overseas.