On this episode of Our American Stories, Dennis Peterson's father built his own home, hated debt, and believed almost anything could be repaired, reused, or repurposed. Years of bricklaying alongside his dad taught Dennis that a "make do" attitude could save money, create lasting memories, and occasionally lead to spectacular close calls. Our American Stories listener and regular contributor Dennis Peterson from South Carolina shares this affectionate tribute to a father shaped by the Great Depression.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Dennis Peterson's father built his own home, hated debt, and believed almost anything could be repaired, reused, or repurposed. Years of bricklaying alongside his dad taught Dennis that a "make do" attitude could save money, create lasting memories, and occasionally lead to spectacular close calls.&nbsp;Our American Stories listener and regular contributor Dennis Peterson from South Carolina shares this affectionate tribute to a father shaped by the Great Depression.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

My Depression-Era Dad Would Do Anything to Save a Dollar

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6935f511-2595-423a-a679-b482016e0343/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Fernando Arroyo knew exactly what he wanted to do after watching the September 11 attacks unfold from his high school classroom. Within weeks, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and volunteered for the 82nd Airborne Division. By 19, Arroyo was fighting in Fallujah, where his first combat mission ended with him killing an insurgent and confronting a question that would follow him home: What kind of man had war made him?

After three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Arroyo returned home carrying nightmares, anger, and a loss of purpose he couldn't escape. Eventually, with a gun in his mouth, he asked God for help. What happened next began a long road through counseling, faith, and a new calling to serve fellow veterans. Fernando Arroyo, author of The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul, shares his story

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Fernando Arroyo knew exactly what he wanted to do after watching the September 11 attacks unfold from his high school classroom. Within weeks, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and volunteered for the 82nd Airborne Division. By 19, Arroyo was fighting in Fallujah, where his first combat mission ended with him killing an insurgent and confronting a question that would follow him home: What kind of man had war made him? After three combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Arroyo returned home carrying nightmares, anger, and a loss of purpose he couldn't escape. Eventually, with a gun in his mouth, he asked God for help. What happened next began a long road through counseling, faith, and a new calling to serve fellow veterans. Fernando Arroyo, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F1737176327%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C9f8c97328e424ec3cda508deffc8aa71%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639229434530878968%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=8I0jbSRFJNQ1VTo%2FPZKtzAAuHcbLmks394wijD08bLA%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">The Shadow of Death: From My Battles in Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul</a>, shares his story
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

From the Battle of Fallujah to the Battle for My Soul

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/513bcda2-3d40-4ba8-87a9-b4b0011fe135/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, when automobiles first took over American roads, drivers had speed but few of the rules we now take for granted. Roads often had no marked lanes, traffic laws varied from place to place, and thousands were dying in crashes each year. Then a handful of Americans began experimenting with an extraordinarily simple solution: paint a line down the middle of the road.

The History Guy tells the surprising story of Edward Hines, whose inspiration may have come from a leaking milk truck, and the decades-long effort to turn a stripe of paint into one of the most universal safety features on the American road.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, when automobiles first took over American roads, drivers had speed but few of the rules we now take for granted. Roads often had no marked lanes, traffic laws varied from place to place, and thousands were dying in crashes each year. Then a handful of Americans began experimenting with an extraordinarily simple solution: paint a line down the middle of the road. The History Guy tells the surprising story of Edward Hines, whose inspiration may have come from a leaking milk truck, and the decades-long effort to turn a stripe of paint into one of the most universal safety features on the American road.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Centerline: How a Stripe of Paint Saved the American Road

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7a6220bc-e5db-406a-9431-b4b0011fe138/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ralph Stayer had built Johnsonville Sausage into a tremendous success, but the wealth that came with it left him deeply uncomfortable. Raised Catholic, he couldn't shake Christ's warning about the difficulty of a rich man entering heaven. He prayed about giving his money away, moving into a small apartment, or leaving everything behind to serve others.

Then one afternoon, Stayer read about a Johnsonville employee who had traveled to Hong Kong to adopt a child with special needs. In that moment, he says, the answer finally came. Stayer shares the story.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, Ralph Stayer had built Johnsonville Sausage into a tremendous success, but the wealth that came with it left him deeply uncomfortable. Raised Catholic, he couldn't shake Christ's warning about the difficulty of a rich man entering heaven. He prayed about giving his money away, moving into a small apartment, or leaving everything behind to serve others. Then one afternoon, Stayer read about a Johnsonville employee who had traveled to Hong Kong to adopt a child with special needs. In that moment, he says, the answer finally came. Stayer shares the story.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Sausage King Who Felt Guilty About His Success

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fd5c5a86-138f-49a9-b8e9-b4b0011fe133/transcript

My Depression-Era Dad Would Do Anything to Save a Dollar

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