In this episode of Gold Star Stories, we share the life and sacrifice of Corporal Thomas Steven Hickman, a young soldier from Loogootee, Indiana, who served with courage and heart during the Vietnam War. Told through the voice of his younger brother Scott Hickman, this story reflects the love, loss, and resilience of a family forever changed by war.As time passes, stories like Steve’s risk being forgotten — but through Gold Star Stories, we’re making sure their names remain spoken and their legacies live on.⚠️ AI & Visual DisclaimerWhile this episode focuses on the audio story, accompanying visuals shared online include AI-assisted recreations used to enhance storytelling.Some scenes may not be historically or visually accurate. With limited surviving photos and resources, these recreations help illustrate moments that would otherwise be lost to time.Gold Star Stories operates on limited means, often working with only a few affordable AI generations and restored family photos to tell each story.With your support, the quality of these episodes and documentaries can grow exponentially — helping us restore real images, capture new interviews, and preserve even more voices from America’s Gold Star Families.🎖️ Support the mission:Visit GoldStarStoriesUSA.comYour tax-deductible donation through Veterans Collaborative helps us record, restore, and remember.Say their name. Remember their story. Honor their sacrifice.#GoldStarStories #Vietnam #GoldStarFamily #SayTheirNames #Veterans #Legacy #DocumentaryPodcast
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In this episode of Gold Star Stories, we share the life and sacrifice of Corporal Thomas Steven Hickman, a young soldier from Loogootee, Indiana, who served with courage and heart during the Vietnam War. Told through the voice of his younger brother Scott Hickman, this story reflects the love, loss, and resilience of a family forever changed by war.As time passes, stories like Steve’s risk being forgotten — but through Gold Star Stories, we’re making sure their names remain spoken and their legacies live on.⚠️ AI & Visual DisclaimerWhile this episode focuses on the audio story, accompanying visuals shared online include AI-assisted recreations used to enhance storytelling.Some scenes may not be historically or visually accurate. With limited surviving photos and resources, these recreations help illustrate moments that would otherwise be lost to time.Gold Star Stories operates on limited means, often working with only a few affordable AI generations and restored family photos to tell each story.With your support, the quality of these episodes and documentaries can grow exponentially — helping us restore real images, capture new interviews, and preserve even more voices from America’s Gold Star Families.🎖️ Support the mission:Visit GoldStarStoriesUSA.comYour tax-deductible donation through Veterans Collaborative helps us record, restore, and remember.Say their name. Remember their story. Honor their sacrifice.#GoldStarStories #Vietnam #GoldStarFamily #SayTheirNames #Veterans #Legacy #DocumentaryPodcast
Sergeant Jonathan Lootens – Through the Eyes of a Sister - Andi Hefti's Story
Gold Star Stories
49 minutes
6 months ago
Sergeant Jonathan Lootens – Through the Eyes of a Sister - Andi Hefti's Story
In this episode of Gold Star Stories, host Nick Letendre sits down with Andi Hefti to share the story of her brother, Sergeant Jonathan Lootens, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.Andi opens up about the moment she got the call, the overwhelming aftermath, and what it felt like to carry the weight of planning, paperwork, and public attention—while everyone else asked how her mom was doing. Her honesty sheds light on what it means to be a Gold Star sibling, and how grief shows up in ways the world rarely sees.This conversation explores:What happens after the knock at the doorBeing overlooked as a grieving siblingNavigating family conflict and the chaos that followedFinding healing and identity through TAPSAnd honoring Jonathan every year—with a sub sandwich.This episode is about more than military service.It’s about family. Resilience. And what it takes to carry someone’s story forward when the world expects you to move on.🕊️ Say his name: Sergeant Jonathan Lootens💛 Learn more or support the mission: GoldStarStoriesUSA.com
Gold Star Stories
In this episode of Gold Star Stories, we share the life and sacrifice of Corporal Thomas Steven Hickman, a young soldier from Loogootee, Indiana, who served with courage and heart during the Vietnam War. Told through the voice of his younger brother Scott Hickman, this story reflects the love, loss, and resilience of a family forever changed by war.As time passes, stories like Steve’s risk being forgotten — but through Gold Star Stories, we’re making sure their names remain spoken and their legacies live on.⚠️ AI & Visual DisclaimerWhile this episode focuses on the audio story, accompanying visuals shared online include AI-assisted recreations used to enhance storytelling.Some scenes may not be historically or visually accurate. With limited surviving photos and resources, these recreations help illustrate moments that would otherwise be lost to time.Gold Star Stories operates on limited means, often working with only a few affordable AI generations and restored family photos to tell each story.With your support, the quality of these episodes and documentaries can grow exponentially — helping us restore real images, capture new interviews, and preserve even more voices from America’s Gold Star Families.🎖️ Support the mission:Visit GoldStarStoriesUSA.comYour tax-deductible donation through Veterans Collaborative helps us record, restore, and remember.Say their name. Remember their story. Honor their sacrifice.#GoldStarStories #Vietnam #GoldStarFamily #SayTheirNames #Veterans #Legacy #DocumentaryPodcast
