Video: See interviews with veterans
Read a profile of a surviving World War I veteran

Buddy Tingler, pictured in the living room of his New Castle home, fought in Europe and can still fit into his uniform.

WORLD WAR II

Francis “Buddy” Tingler, 88

Years in service: 1941- 45

Military service: Army

Wounds: Shrapnel injuries (Tingler did not receive a Purple Heart, because he said he didn’t "turn in" his injury report)

Awards and decorations: Four-time Bronze Star recipient for bravery

Occupation: Retired plumber

"It don’t hurt you while you’re doing it. When it hurts you is afterwards. That’s when it gets you. It’s something that you never forget as long as you live. There ain’t no cure for it. You went through it, and it’s going to stay up there. You have some good days, but you have a lot of bad days. You just have to be able to take it.”

Robert Gray of Roanoke gazes at the medals he earned while serving in Korea.

KOREAN WAR

Robert Gray, 76

Years in combat: 1950- 53

POW for 34 months (Nov. l 4, 1950 - Aug. 30, 1953)

Military service: Army

Rank: Corporal, communications battalion

Wounds: Injured right leg, shrapnel wounds

Awards and decorations: Purple Heart, POW Medal, U.N. Medal, Korean Medal

Occupation: Retired electrician

“Being a prisoner of war, you’re as close to death as you’ll ever get without dying. For all intents and purposes you’re dead. You wonder whether anyone really does care. Dead bodies didn’t really mean much after I became a prisoner of war. Dead people just became a normal thing. The first three months, almost every night someone died in the room you were in, and the conditions you lived in were horrible.”

Miguel Villarini served in the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991.

GULF WAR

Miguel Villarini, 57

Years deployed or in combat: 1990- 91

Military service: Marine Reserves 1985-1995

Injury: Partial hearing loss from explosives

Duties: Platoon Sergeant with Combat Engineers

Occupation: Roanoke County Police sergeant (will retire in January)

“The reception we got in Kuwait [City] as liberators. The kids walking up to you giving you the thumbs up or the sign of victory, that was really something to see. They were blowing kisses and things like that. That felt great. At that point I was still cautious. I couldn’t tell the difference from an Iraqi and a Kuwaiti. You greeted them with one hand and still had your M-16 in the other, but I felt glad for them. They went through hell as far as I know.”

Former MP Joe H. Adkins is now a bishop at Bibleway Pentecostal Apostolic Church of Christ on 13th Street in Roanoke.

VIETNAM WAR

Joe H. Adkins, 61

Years in service: 1968- 69

Military service: Air Force

Specialty: Military Police, supply division

Awards and decorations: Commendation Medal

Occupation: Church pastor

“I watch the news all the time and I pray for our young men and our young women in Iraq and Afghanistan. A war zone is a war zone. They’re giving their life every day. They’re going out on missions, not knowing whether they’re going to return or not. It’s hard for the American people to understand what’s going on in their mind and what they face. When I see this, my heart goes out for them, and I have to pray.”

Paula Fitzgerald, pictured in her Roanoke home with her cat Morgan, said her time in Iraq changed her. “Bitter is the word,” she said.

IRAQ WAR

Paula Fitzgerald, 25

Year in combat: 2004

Military branch: Marines

Rank: Sergeant, served as combat correspondent photographer

Wounds: No injuries

Awards and decorations: Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Occupation: Roanoke College student

“Normally I get the same four questionsfrom people when they find out I was a Marine. They want to know if I got to kill anybody, did I see any dead bodies, do I know anybody who died, and do I support the war. And I don’t want to answer any of those questions. From someone who’s been there and understands what I’m going through, why would you even ask those things? Those are none of your business.”