Nick Bennett and Dan Miller, driven by family legacies of military service, found themselves in the crucible of the Iraq War’s “Triangle of Death” in 2004. Nick, following in his World War II veteran grandfathers’ footsteps, joined the Marines with a deep-seated commitment to serve. Meanwhile, inspired by his uncle’s legacy, Dan also enlisted, eventually rising to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Amidst the intense violence of their deployment, Nick’s role in maintaining soldier-family connections contrasted with his desire for frontline action.
This shared journey led them to StoryCorps, reflecting on their experiences and the bonds forged amidst conflict which originally aired on April 27, 2024 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
In a follow-up to his initial StoryCorps conversation, Nick Bennett, a veteran of the Marines, delves deeper into his experiences from the “Triangle of Death” in Iraq. As he revisits his role and emotions from that turbulent time, he shares new insights and perspectives gained since his first interview.
Have any new insights or perspectives emerged since your StoryCorps conversation?
There were dark days, scary times, moments of pure chaos, extreme loss, and loneliness in Iraq. I have realized that the friendships made during these times, even though I have felt alone many times since then, I have never truly been alone due to the amazing brotherhood forged in Iraq.
In what ways have you continued to process and come to terms with the emotions surrounding your experiences in Iraq?
I had a great Marine and an awesome friend pass away shortly after doing the recording. LCpl Self was one of six Marines from Indy that deployed with me in 2004. LCpl Self was one of the reasons I was so passionate about moving to base security, and up until I was injured, LCpl Self, two other Marines, and I were assigned to Gate One twice a day. LCpl Self was my driver when we went on missions. My son and I were able to go to Texas for his memorial and talk with his family about our time in Iraq. That night, we went through all the pictures he had from our deployment, and to be able to share not only with his family but my own son, was a chance to heal myself and hopefully bring
some healing to his family.
Have you found any new ways to honor or commemorate the sacrifices made during your service, both personally and within the veteran community?
Nothing new, I try to continue living life in their memory and if something new comes along going ahead and trying it. This is just one of the ways I can think of to honor and thank everyone who put me back together and has helped me get to this place in my life.
How has your relationship with each other as veterans and as individuals progressed since we last spoke? Have there been any significant moments of growth or understanding?
I wish I could take away all the pain Dan Miller went through all those years before we reconnected. I understand now that it had a purpose and a reason. I am so incredibly proud of Dan and how far he has come. Dan is saving lives and giving hope to so many people. Dan has helped me heal, grow in my relationships with others and helped me become a better person. I have realized that I am not a failure as a dad and a grandfather. This Father’s Day, I was able to toss a football with my 7-year-old grandson. I thought I was unable to do it with my kids since I was injured 19 years ago, and this led me to feel like a failure. Even though it was with a Nerf football and modified for me to be successful, I didn’t feel guilty or ashamed and was able to be in the moment.
Reflecting on the support you’ve received from the Wounded Warrior Project and the veteran community, how has this impacted your sense of belonging and purpose?
As my mom was passing away, my dad always said, “It is ok not to be ok.” That describes me in so many ways. I have learned that my kids, my family, and my friends are just happy to have me home, warts and all. I don’t need to be whole or unbroken to be a great dad, grandpa, son, brother, and a whole list of other relationships. I just need to be me, and that is where I belong. My purpose in this world is to continue to let the world know about the ultimate sacrifices that too many of my friends have made and to continue to live my life in their memory.
In what ways have you found strength and resilience in your personal journey as veterans since our last conversation?
I recognized the signs that, mentally and emotionally, I wasn’t in a good position to be the person I needed to be, so I reached out and got back into counseling and back on medication. It is ok and not a failure if you need to ask for help or if those scary times come back even though you were doing good. Sometimes life throws things at us like a ton of bricks. Looking back at all we have overcome helps us look forward to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is just a little foggy and we need help navigating our way to it.
Looking ahead, what aspirations or goals do you have for the coming year in terms of your personal growth and well-being as veterans?
I look forward to getting back to nature. When hiking, camping, or fishing I find peace inside of me. There are no doctor appointments, people trying to kill me, and all the ugliness that is going on in this world fades away. I am also planning more trips with my family this year.
How do you envision your ongoing relationship with each other and your involvement in the veteran community as you continue to navigate life after service?
Growing up, I always looked for a brother. My two sisters talked about having one, so I figured I must have one as well!! After Iraq, I finally found my brother. I will always love Dan Miller; whenever he needs me, I will be there for him.
It is all about saving lives and getting veterans the help they need. The saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” applies to the veteran community. The scariest part is walking through the door is because of the uncertainty of what is on the other side, but we must continue to educate each other about the health risk we were exposed to, Agent Orange for the Vietnam Veterans, and that getting help is not a sign of weakness but one of strength and courage.
What has recording your story with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative meant to you?
It meant the world to me! I had the opportunity and privilege to record it with Dan Miller, who saved my life in Iraq. Now, instead of just talking about him, I can share our story with friends and family and let them hear in his own words about that day and the steps he took to make sure I made it back home.
Why do you think veterans, service members, and military families should record with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative?
I have been blessed with numerous family members who were in the military and made friends with Vietnam Veterans. When I have days when I don’t think I can make it in this world, I have been able to turn to them for advice or look to them and see how they have become successful and learned to live life in what I call a new normal. StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative is a place for people to turn to and realize they are not alone in this world. There are many people out there struggling with the same feelings they have. What is also most important is that the families usually get lost and don’t have the resources service members have, so this gives them a platform to heal and help one another out. Lastly, it is a recorded history so future generations can go to it and learn about their family.
How did recording your story with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative feel?
It was an amazing experience. We went an hour over our allotted time, and it wasn’t even a question of doing so. Most of the time, there is a time restraint and a pressure to try and fit everything in; in this experience, we were able to relax and just be ourselves. I felt totally safe if I needed to cry or just take a moment to breathe and take a mental break.
Want to record your story? Meet us at one of our stops!
| Event | Partner | Booking Links & Dates |
| In-Person Virginia: Williamsburg | WHRO (Hampton Roads) 1408 Richmond Road Williamsburg, VA 23185 | July 10-July 13 |
Virtual Appointments
| Event | Partner | Booking Links & Dates |
| Virtual Pennsylvania | WHYY | July 15-18 August 12-15 August 21-25 |
| Virtual Arizona | Arizona Public Media | July 24-27 August 12-15 August 21-25 |
| Virtual Virginia | WHRO (Hampton Roads) | July 29-August 1 August 12-15 August 21-25 |
Not in a city that we’ll be visiting? You can record anywhere with the StoryCorps App. Learn more here.