This is far from your standard school assignment.

n Ohio mom was was pleasantly surprised when her son — who she hadn't seen in two years — turned up unannounced at one of her chemo appointments.

Private Hannah Foraker said goodbye to her best friend, her 13-year-old dog Buddy, before going away for 10-week basic training. Watch how Buddy affectionately greets her when she comes back!

As veterans get the opportunity to experience the beauty of the world they've helped protect, a new mural at the University of Missouri-St. Louis serves as a reminder that the campus is equally as committed to them.

Former Marine Sgt. Marjorie "Marge" Hoffman, who served as a paymaster during WWII, is one of the last living veterans of that war, and proud of her service to her country.

There is bravery in the face of long odds, and then there is retired Sgt. John Peck of the United States Marine Corps. Two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan ended with Peck losing all four of his limbs after he stepped on an IED mine in 2010. That didn't keep the young man down.

From Bruce Springsteen to Bob Dylan, songwriters have given voice to the struggles of soldiers who served in Vietnam.

Having your children leave home is a tough experience for any mom, but for the moms of America's heroes, it can be especially trying. Loneliness, sadness and fear for the safety of family members out on deployment can beleaguer those left at home.

An innovative program called Urban Warriors in Chicago's rough neighborhoods pairs military veterans with kids who share one thing in common. The vets and children both suffer from PTSD.

The U.S. Army has a saying, "Never leave a soldier behind." That adage is true when it comes to describing the life and final moments of the late Staff Sgt. Matthew Whalen.