War Stories

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of actor Julianne Moore, comedian Bill Hader, and painter Kehinde Wiley, revealing how their ancestors’ military service left an indelible mark both on their families and on their country.

Bill Hader is a descendant of a Patriot! His sixth great-grandfather fought in
the American Revolution in 1775 under George Washington’s command. #FindingYourRoots

Kehinde Wiley’s great-grandfather was one of 370 black soldiers to serve in
WWI when the military, like almost all of America at the time, was segregated. His grueling
assignment was to remove dead bodies from temporary graves for reburial in army cemeteries.

Julianne Moore’s father served in the US Army where he completed 550
combat missions & received multiple medals. After delving into Julianne's ancestry, we found
her military roots run deep – her great-grandfather served in the Mexican-American & Civil War!