On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1850s, William Walker had an extraordinary idea: Why not conquer a country of his own? The Tennessee-born doctor, lawyer, and journalist gathered a small army of Americans, invaded Mexico, and declared himself ruler of a new republic. When that collapsed, he tried again. This time, he set his sights on Nicaragua.

Mark Kawar, author of America, but Bigger, shares the remarkable story of an American filibuster who dreamed of an empire stretching across Central America.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, in the 1850s, William Walker had an extraordinary idea: Why not conquer a country of his own? The Tennessee-born doctor, lawyer, and journalist gathered a small army of Americans, invaded Mexico, and declared himself ruler of a new republic. When that collapsed, he tried again. This time, he set his sights on Nicaragua. Mark Kawar, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GX34L3Z7%3Flv%3Dshuf%26channelId%3D500%26plpRedirect%3DmhFallback&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cea208cdca7e046fb4d5708def892e543%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639221507021698891%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=EywkmW2%2FsmiuIbveXKw5k7K%2BESQ6ygXB4BwAz%2BqWf5c%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">America, but Bigger</a>,&nbsp;shares the remarkable story of an American filibuster who dreamed of an empire stretching across Central America.
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.

William Walker: The American Adventurer Who Conquered Nicaragua

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ef3db6a5-5c75-4df9-91ff-b4a6017389aa/transcript

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on Easter Sunday 1972, 53-year-old Air Force navigator Gene Hambleton was shot out of the sky over Vietnam. He landed wounded and alone in the middle of the North Vietnamese Army's massive Easter Offensive, surrounded by tens of thousands of enemy troops. Worse, Hambleton possessed some of America's most sensitive knowledge of missiles, electronic warfare, and nuclear targeting. The order was clear: bring him home.

What followed became the largest and most complex search-and-rescue operation of the Vietnam War. This is the extraordinary story of Bat 21 Bravo and the astonishing price Americans were willing to pay to leave no man behind.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, on Easter Sunday 1972, 53-year-old Air Force navigator Gene Hambleton was shot out of the sky over Vietnam. He landed wounded and alone in the middle of the North Vietnamese Army's massive Easter Offensive, surrounded by tens of thousands of enemy troops. Worse, Hambleton possessed some of America's most sensitive knowledge of missiles, electronic warfare, and nuclear targeting. The order was clear: bring him home. What followed became the largest and most complex search-and-rescue operation of the Vietnam War. This is the extraordinary story of Bat 21 Bravo and the astonishing price Americans were willing to pay to leave&nbsp;no man behind.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Bat 21 Bravo: The Most Daring Rescue of the Vietnam War

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b637e231-1fa3-4a39-bf21-b4ac004524b7/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz never imagined himself as a cop. He had a degree in astrophysics and considered himself an intellectual, not the kind of guy who wrestled criminals or rushed toward danger. But when he needed a job, law enforcement unexpectedly became his career.

Then, two days after Christmas, Muniz was called to a horrific wreck outside Antonito, Colorado. A semi had crushed a car carrying four young people, and Muniz suddenly found himself covered in blood and desperately performing CPR on a dying man. The experience nearly convinced him to leave law enforcement for good. Then, weeks later, a young cheerleader walked up to him at a basketball game and said something he would never forget. Our regular contributor Richard Muniz shares the story of the night that changed the way he understood his badge forever.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, Richard Muniz never imagined himself as a cop. He had a degree in astrophysics and considered himself an intellectual, not the kind of guy who wrestled criminals or rushed toward danger. But when he needed a job, law enforcement unexpectedly became his career. Then, two days after Christmas, Muniz was called to a horrific wreck outside Antonito, Colorado. A semi had crushed a car carrying four young people, and Muniz suddenly found himself covered in blood and desperately performing CPR on a dying man. The experience nearly convinced him to leave law enforcement for good. Then, weeks later, a young cheerleader walked up to him at a basketball game and said something he would never forget. Our regular contributor Richard Muniz shares the story of the night that changed the way he understood his badge forever.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Fatal Car Wreck That Changed a Deputy Forever

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1df42843-05c5-4824-b495-b4ac004524b4/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in November 1913, Great Lakes captains were racing to make their final runs before winter shut down the shipping season. Coal, iron ore, and grain still had to move, and the promise of bonuses gave crews another reason to push their luck. Then the weather turned.

For days, hurricane-force winds, blinding snow, ice, and waves reaching 35 feet battered ships across the Great Lakes. Some captains made desperate runs for shore. Others disappeared without a trace. By the time the storm passed, 12 ships had gone down with all hands and more than 250 sailors were dead. Ric Mixter of Lake Fury shares the story of the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.

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

On this episode of Our American Stories, in November 1913, Great Lakes captains were racing to make their final runs before winter shut down the shipping season. Coal, iron ore, and grain still had to move, and the promise of bonuses gave crews another reason to push their luck. Then the weather turned. For days, hurricane-force winds, blinding snow, ice, and waves reaching 35 feet battered ships across the Great Lakes. Some captains made desperate runs for shore. Others disappeared without a trace. By the time the storm passed, 12 ships had gone down with all hands and more than 250 sailors were dead. Ric Mixter of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lakefury.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7Cc5cbc9aefd2e4da9782e08defc7672be%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639225782844823525%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6QNJeS9%2BU9Y6B6JkZphZKWv%2BkgcvtpN1%2B1bD1QFhZf8%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Lake Fury</a>&nbsp;shares the story of the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

The Storm That Swallowed 12 Modern Ships

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/765fc2cd-df55-4a03-8143-b4ac004524b4/transcript

William Walker: The American Adventurer Who Conquered Nicaragua

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