Welcome to Gold Reels: American Archives—your gateway to powerful, personal narratives from the heroes who served. Created by Caleb Stewart, an award-winning documentarian whose own grandfathers flew in WWII, Gold Reels curates impactful clips from the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project. Each short video provides a vivid snapshot of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience, told directly by the veterans who lived it.
Gold Reels shines a spotlight on the stories history might otherwise forget, offering a front-row seat to humanity at its most courageous. Our motto is "Real Stories, Real Voices."
Subscribe now to honor these extraordinary lives, engage with meaningful content, and help preserve these stories for future generations. Every story matters, and at Gold Reels, their legacy lives on.
Awards:
Best Cinematography – Silicon Beach Film Festival 2024
Best New Director – Independent Shorts Awards 2024
Subscribe to stay updated on our journey and future releases!
Gold Reels: American Archives
Because his story is too good to hear in just snippets, we have decided to post the entire interview with World War Two hero Don Mcgriff. @GoldReelsUSA https://youtu.be/EoT5jh7Y9Vw
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Gold Reels: American Archives
This World War II soldier who barely survived Pearl Harbor and its aftermath has truly touched my heart. His pain, carried silently for so many years, brought me to tears. Watching his story reminded me of when I first visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial as a child — standing above the sunken USS Arizona, I felt the weight of history and the quiet sorrow of those who never came home. That memory has stayed with me all my life, and seeing his face today brought it rushing back.
Please take a moment to watch his story. I’ll be posting his full account soon in the long-form section of our YouTube page. May we never forget his sacrifice. God bless Jesus R. Soto…
3 months ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Gold Reels: American Archives
“He Touched So Many Lives…” | Honoring Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson
✈️ Meet the most-commented hero on Gold Reels: Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson.
Tuskegee Airman. WWII fighter pilot. POW survivor. Educator. Illustrator. Icon.
His full, unedited interview is now live—restored from VHS to HD—and your responses have already made it one of the most powerful pieces we’ve ever shared.
Two people who commented actually knew him:
One was his former science student
Another called him a man who made them feel like they were “the only one in the room”
That’s not just history. That’s impact.
🎨 We're also sharing this stunning tribute artwork—an imagined portrait of a younger Jefferson. And the wild part? He was an amateur illustrator himself. We didn’t even know that when we made it. ✨Slaytons. Always watching.✨
💬 Drop a comment—I read and respond to every single one.
Whether it’s a memory, a thought, or a favorite moment… I love talking about these heroes and how they still shape our lives.
Fair warning: I can get a little cheeky. A little snarky. But always with heart. Just like the Colonel would've wanted.
🕊️ Let’s keep his story flying. Share it. Talk about it. Invite others into the legacy.
10 months ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply