Coal miners were the backbone of this country for a long, long time...steel without coal-nope; railroads without coal-nope; abundant electricity without coal-nope. Coal made this country possible. Thanks to your family's hard work all our lives are easier.

I love your stories, man. These are stories that will disappear if no one tells them, and the voice of someone who lived it is way better than a second hand voice. Thank you, Donnie.

As a man who would rather be educated than entertained, your videos have become some of my favorites. It doesn’t matter if its old Appalachia info, metal detecting in the mountains or any other subject, your videos always teach me something. The eastern Tennessee mountains are our favorite vacation spot since my wife and I both grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina. Thanks for your great videos and please keep up the good work!!

My dad put in 33 yrs in the mines. He passed away Dec. 2020 at 86 yr old. He told me many a story about working in the mines. He was in during the 70's also. He worked in a mine near Farmington,WV called Loveridge. I have his old lunch bucket, belt and tag. Miss you Dad, rest in peace your shift is over.

Bless your soul. All the dangerous, hard work previous generations have done just so we could all live. Makes me appreciate my life so much more.

It was a hard life. For sure. Thank God for the Union, it saved many a Miner's life. I always enjoy your stories, Donnie!💖

My hunting buddy's father (from Clintwood, VA) told me stories from his times in the coal mines. I remember him telling me about the "sumpin' up" action of the mining machines. Being a city dweller, I had never heard about it before then. You are the real deal, Donnie. Don't ever let anyone accuse you of anything different! You are keeping it 💯! Thank you for this video! 👍😊

I see the trains full of coal pass through all the time. I will be looking at them in a different light now. Thanks for another great story.

Donnie, thanks for the awesome video. I'm 62 years old. My dad was born in 1918 in southwest Pennsylvania. I knew he worked in the coal mines at age 16. My dad passed away when I was 20 years old. I never got to have those adult conversations with him about life. I have been studying our family tree and reading documents and looking online at these types of documentaries. At 22 years old dad was still working there. They rented a house from the mining company for $7 a month. My grandfather was a "pumper" and my Uncle was a motorman." When I was about 8 years old my (1968) my dad showed me the mine he used to work at. The entrance was "boarded up" with wood planks. It was long since abandoned and the field where his house was, was long taken back by nature and all that remained was the brick fireplace and chimney. He called his town Lamberton in German Township, Fayette County. Today Lamberton is not listed as a town rather a neighborhood. It was coal mining company property. I get very angry these days when I hear left wing activists and politicians trying to kill the coal mining industry. It is a livelihood for generations of families, and they have no concern for them. When they say "transition" to other energy, it's an outright lie. They shut things down outright and leave good people to fend for themselves as best as they can. THANK YOU for being the backbone of this country and I hope people get to see this. It is an important story. It's OUR history! God Bless!!

My grandpaw use to tell us about his coal mining day's, he also worked what he called the owl shift, and said he would be out there in the mines for days at a time idk much about all those days in the mine but he did struggle back then..thanks for sharing your story of your life in the mines I respect all the miners even today that's what kept us warm and cozy on the winter , along with wood but we used alot if coal as well..✌️🙏❤️

I want to thank your grandfather, father and you for your sacrifices in helping me and all others warm in the winter.

Thank you for telling your story. We take coal miners for granted, but it was an important job. This country ran on coal, now the mines are shutting down and the men’s livelyhood taken from them. Thank you and your brothers for their hard work.

My Daddy worked for Linde Aire, in Tulsa Oklahoma. It was a division of Union Carbide. Union Carbide made the Carbide- Calcium Carbide used in the Carbide lamps. Daddy had several of these lamps. We used them when we went to the cellar- you do that quite a bit in Oklahoma. We also used them when we went hunting and fishing. When I saw those Carbide lights in your video seems I could almost smell them! Daddy worked 31 years, he filled cylinders - Oxygen, Acetylene, etc. I thought I'd share that with you. Thank you for another great video, I enjoy them. Reminds me of my relatives, many of them long gone now, but they had so many of the same ways you talk about. My mom's side of the family are Cherokee and Irish. Their Cherokee ancestors came from the Georgia area. They made the trail of tears. My mom's great grandma was Cherokee, Leona Dover. Though she was educated, when she got to Oklahoma she would not accept her roll number and refused to ever speak English again. I remember the stories the old folks told. Keep telling these stories, they are an important, precious part of our history that we are quickly losing. Stay safe and GOD bless.

Sending my respect and honor for your labor. This story is so compelling and a genuine testimony to the real men who built America. You are one of them.

I stand and tip me hat to you Sir, thank you for sharing a part of your life and the land that you're so committed and connected to...ATB

Much respect for you Donnie. And Much respect for those hard working men who went down in that mine not knowing if they would see the sunrise the next day.

Thanks again Mr Donnie for another great video. My daddy worked at a big paper mill in VA for near bought 25 years until he fell ill with cancer bought 25 years ago now. I worked there after he passed for awhile also. I would remember middle of night when I'll be working at the power house part of it, they would bring the coal cars by railroad coming out them ole mountains in the coal yard there in one by one they'd dump the coal in grid or pit in the ground in it would belt out to a big pile. Look like it took forever coal car at a time especially when be cold n raining or snowing at on night shift, ha. I was younger then but I thought it was so cool that that train wood come in there with all that tons of metal n coal like that. Sorry so long Mr Donnie, I was just thinking of that when I was watching ya video. I always appreciate you Sir l really do and I know other fans do also.

I'm a Hatfield from McDowell County W.V. I live in northeast Ohio now but I remember the stories from my pawpaw and my uncles who all spent their working lives in those coal mines! I enjoy your videos and appreciate the work you and many men like you have done for us all! Thank you!

4th generation miner here. Graduated high school in 1977, went to work the day after.

Another great video! I used to look down on my Appalachian relatives being raised in the SC low country planter class. Now that I’m older I realize that they have more in common with my Irish fathers side of the family than the gentry side of my moms family.

Thanks brother Donnie 👍 my ancestors were coal miners and my father in-law coal mined for thirty years and has black lung. Us mountain people work hard for our family to get by. Choose Jesus Christ today folks 👍

I'm a 5th generation miner from Indiana. I started back in 98'. Worked mines in Ind,I'll, and Longwall in Waynesburg Pa. It's a good living for my family. But I have to agree with Donnie. It stops with me. Thankyou for a great story Mr.Laws I thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of people don't know what it takes to make a simple thing such as a light switch work. Once again Thanks.

Coal mining has come a long way since the 20's, 30's and 40's when my Grandfather and his two brothers worked the mines in southwestern Pennsylvania. They shared some hair raising stories in their later years. Some of the stories were so devastating that tears flowed when we heard them - fires, explosions, entrapments, and more. But, most of the stories were centered around the camaraderie of the men while working in rather bleak conditions. Not only the fun they had, but the trust they had in each other to stay alive was commendable and absolutely necessary! My sincere thanks to ALL the coal miners who have paved the way and dedicated their lives to the industrialization of America.

Really liked your comments about working night shift. I too started in the mines in the 70's. Worked for 14 years before finally being laid off and moved on to power plant work. I would have stayed my entire life if I could have, but probably best thing that ever happened to me when I got laid off the last time. UMWA has done so much for so many people.

Your stories ALWAYS take me back to my child hood. I lived across the street from a coalyard in Ohio. I can remember the MEN leaving at the end of day and they would be couphing and covered in sut😢

This was incredible Donnie, to learn all about this from someone that lived it is just priceless. I'd read a book, Rocket Boy? (it became a movie), so I only had a glimpse of what it might have been like. I honestly can't imagine how hard the work must have been for you and your friends. Hats off friend. A fine job telling the story, and a fine job touching folks everywhere here and warming the hearts and homes of so many Americans.

Donnie, you are an excellent story teller, I enjoy listening to you. This segment on coal mining was very interesting and educational. Thank you for sharing your story :-)

Thank you for that video just got done watching it ive moved belt pinned top robbed pillars and longwalled i dont miss it i miss the people again thank you

There are no words to express respect, gratitude and awe for your xtory.

Thank you Donnie for sharing your story of working in the mines.

I have new found appreciation for coal miners now. I always new it was a hard, dirty and dangerous job, but to hear it first hand sheds a different light on it. A person always thinks their job was the worst one every, in one way or another, but miners, wow! I would’ve moved, I can’t stand tight places, very low places nor very heigh places. I once went a mile and a half into a gem mine, oh man, it was cold. Ninety five degrees on top but where I was it was forty’s, too cold for me to stay with shorts. I completed what I was there for and I went topside. Take care and be well! Your job was more dangerous than anyone’s job that I personally know. Hats off to all miners.

I was a Union Business Agent for SEIU. I'm happy that you recognize and give credit to your union for their actions. Love your stuff Donnie,

Thank you for this video Donnie! In 1981 we lost 13 miners here where I live in Tennessee because of an explosion, They were 3 miles deep I believe!

VERY GOOD STORY........I DID NOT KNOW YOU WERE A COAL MINER--

Thank yall for what ypu do and have done. Hard work and dangerous. Yall have earned every penny and deserve more.

The Father in law and I would set at the kitchen table for hours loadin' coal, he about the old times and me about the new. As he was headed out he'd apologize to his daughter for dirtying up her kitchen, smile at me and tell me I better rock-dust it for her. He passed at 92 years old. Thanks Donnie for sharing your recollections. Once coal gets in your blood it stays there. Pennsylvania u.g. coal miner.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE SO PASSION TOWARDS THE PEOPLE AND THE MOUNTAINS ...................

Wow. I love hearing this stuff. Eventually none of us will be around to tell how it was. Glad you’re keeping history alive. Ty, and we called owl shift graveyard shift 😀

Sir I truly appreciate this video. I'm from eastern ky. I moved away and went to college. My dad, grandfather and brothers were all coalminers . This took me back to my early days. Thank you

Thank you, Mr. Laws. My great grandfather was a coal miner in West Virginia. My Grandma would tell us stories about how scared she was when her father was down in the mine when she was a child. My sister and I took her back to West Virginia 23 years ago and thought she would enjoy visiting the Beckley Exhibition Mine. We went in to pay for admission and she flatly refused to go underground until the Good Lord put her there. Needless to say, we did not do the mine tour that day (my sister and I had been as children). The sacrifice these men made and make for their families, and the worries to their families cannot be overstated. Love all your videos. Thank you.

Born in Carbondale PA. Family in the mines, black lung, coal fires, sinking land under your house. We owe the coal industry more for past contribution than we can pay. Thank you for this historic account of life in coal country.

No words. Unimaginable. You have earned those mountains.💚

Loved this video. That shot of those timbers giving out was pretty wild. We have old coal mines all through the hills around here and me and my brother used to play in them when we were kids. We didn’t have no sense lol.

Papaw always talked about how good it was when the drills got clutches. He said the ones he started with would break a man. He said he knew people who died. He had Black Lung. He coughed up coal till the day he died. Despite a hard job, he told a lot of stories about how they managed to have a good time.

Thank you Donnie for showing us the life of a coal miner first hand and the process through video, photos and drawings to get the coal mined. You and your fellow miners have done sometimes dangerous work so we can live comfortably. I Appreciate and Applaude ya'll. 👏 Like someone commented no coal no electricity. After 23 years working underground I understand now why you love spending your time enjoying nature in all of your outdoor activities and I pray that you'll be able to do this for many more years to come. God Bless

I did 3 years low coal about 38 inch seam for united coal for my first mining job after getting black hat..then went on and got a job at a union mine working on the longwall last 12 years and couldn't see myself doing anything else.

Excellent story. You all are national heros. Thank You Sir.

Thank you, Donnie. What you are doing is not only important, it is a gift to everyone. I've only just found you, and I am working my way through your videos. Please stay with it, and THANK YOU, sir!!

Hard work men ,GOD BLESS THEM ALL AND THANK YOU ALL.

Thank you for sharing! We appreciate you and all our hardworking coal miners....past and present! ❤🙏

Thank you so much Donnie for telling these stories. They remind me of my pawpaw and the stories he used to tell me when I was young.

Mining is deeply woven throughout a great many generations. Owe my soul to the company store. Thank you Donnie for another wonderful video.

Fascinating video Donnie. There isn't any coal mining in my area of Appalachia so I know very little about the whole process. I admire the hard work you did to provide for your family.

My brother-in-law died in the VA coalmine when a rock fell on him, his wife ( my sister ) was pregnant with their 9th child, he was in his 30's My nephew just had a double lung transplant because of black lung.

Trust me my friend I started underground when I was 29 and love it. We had scoops that had the old contact point drive system. When they got hot they tended to stick or jump into whatever position left in. Very dangerous! Thank you for the stories.

I left Mining in 1994 after 15 years in British mines. Once a Miner always a Miner. Great Video

Thank you for posting this story Donnie it has rekindled memories from my youth. In the mid-70s, I had met some kids that had moved to our community from a coal mining town. Their father had worked in the coal mines and had developed black lung so they moved here to get away from that. I regret that I had never inquired about the coal mining way of life. After all, I was just a kid. My brothers and I grew up with those kids and had a great relationship with them. They were some of the most genuine people you could ever possibly meet. We had great times with those kids. Their father passed away from complications of black lung and the early 80s. Until I had seen your video this evening I was totally clueless about the operations of mining coal. It is sad in a way that people take energy for granted and have no idea of the blood, sweat and Ttears that goes into powering their cell phones. Thank you for posting this story it is always a pleasure to watch your videos.

Thank you ,Donnie, for sharing your experience in the Cole mine. God bless.

How times have changed right 🫣. Both men & women had to strong to survive. Thank you for sharing these stories of the past…. And who knows, maybe even the future. 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

Hats off to you Donnie , your co-workers, and all that came before you. Your presentation of this process was amazing. Thank you for the education about this industry. Your friend, Louise

I love all your stories from our mountains. You are a very wise man.

I did not work in the mines but I worked at a coal transfer from rail to barge we wood open the bottom rail car with hammer and the coal wood Drop in a pit and load on the river you wood be coal black buy the time you go home you spit black and sweat black You could tell ware the coal came from buy the taste Keep up the good work👍👍

I remember my daddy telling me about being in 26in coal and laying on his side helping his daddy load coal...god be with them both...ty for this video...

Thanx Donnie for the video. My Father worked 23 years in the West Virginia mines. He told me one day to never work in a coal mine or join the army. I asked him which was the worst and he said coal mining. My Father was a hand loader for about 15 years then the mines went to mechanical. When he heard the song 16 tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford my Father laughed and said I loaded more coal than 16 tons per shift, he called it "fist and skull work." When people would ask my Father why he worked in the mines, he would laugh and say " I'm a brute for punishment." God bless the coal miners.

Virtually a mirror image of myself Donnie, I started in 1980. The only difference being I worked longwall as opposed to stall and pillar as we call it n England. Brilliant films, educational, informative, and interesting 👍

I learned a lot more watching this. I was with a coal miner just over 3 years from 1976 to 1979. I remember getting up real early cooking a full breakfast and packing his lunch in the big round silver bucket with ice water in the bottom. The man had pinned roof top for years and was muscled up like a weight lifter. Thank you for a great lesson on Mining.. The pay was good but there was always mines closing and then searching for a new job with long drives sometimes.

I'm a old retired coal miner, 43 years under ground. Love your video, I also started back in the 70's ,I'm glad I'm out never go back but it was a good job. If you had commen since and worked safe. Miss the coal mines.

I am an Electrician, I enjoy learning and hearing about the mines and your stories. Keep em coming brother.

God bless you mr laws and all the other miners present and past ty for keeping us warm and the power on god bless you all 😊

I worked 30 years in a southwest Pa coal mine. It looked similar to what you have shown. I started in 1971. We called them load centers. I worked in maintenance as a mechanic. I got my mine electrician papers. The mines sure teach you a lot about electricity. Everything is mostly electrical, hydraulic and battery powered.Did about everything except running a miner. It was a love hate relationship for me. Good and bad times.

HELLO. SIR. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. !!!! Most all the small coal mines. Now are all filled with water. From the 1800s. In kittatas. County. Cle Elum. Washington. Your. Voice is. Very. Relaxing. And enjoying. Thank you. GREAT. JOB. !!!!! Thank. You. The same area. Where. NORTHERN. EXPOSURE. WAS FILMED. HERE IN. CICELY. ALASKA. !!!!!

Im a miner to this day. Although in limestone in the Appalachias, I recognize everything in this amazing video. Even the w-65 that we're still required to carry. Nothing but respect to all miners everywhere, past and present.

As someone who used to heat my old house with coal until 12 years ago, Thanks! I loved heating with our American coal, it was so nice and warm, I even liked the smell from it outside the house. I saved so much money over burning oil by using coal. There was some work involved but with the coal stove but you could walk around in shorts & a t-shirt in the dead of winter, whereas with oil we kept it to 68 because of the cost. I'll end up using coal again someday if I move away from a natural gas line. Love your stories, Donnie!

I can't believe this only has 50,000 views. Deserves 5 million or more. In due time, I'm sure. Donnie, you always put me to mind of The Balladeer, Waylon Jennings, narrating The Dukes of Hazard when I was just a little kid in the early 80s.

Hello Donnie, coal mining, very hard and dangerous work. I've heard of coal mines having explosions and collapsing trapping men. I know that had to be on every coal miner's mind evertime they entered the mines. God bless the coal miner's. Donnie did you retire from the coal mining industry. Enjoyed the story. God bless

I started in the coal mines of southern WVA and SW Va in 1974. This video brings all those memories back as if it was just yesterday! I ended up going to college later and then returned for about 8 years before going to work on the railroad. Like you, I was in the maintenace shop for almost the entire time I worked in the mines. Thanks for an awsome video....most people have no idea what a coal miners life is like!

I'm just recently early retired from a power co were my first 3 years was at a Steam Plant. I worked there all hours of the day and night supporting the communications needs .. Thre are places in those plants that humans shouldn't never be and yet they are day in a day out. My father was a railroad man and I still today go watch the Trains ... Watching the trains brings in and dump and repeat. I was once told that an 800 mega watt unit running full load in 24 hours used one train load of coal.. Great video There is a channel that is called Underground Birmingham and Mr tropis 64 that they explore those mines in and around the areas

I know this wonderful video is two years old now, I just wish there was some way I could give it one Million likes!!!!

Donnie I’m a coal miner and I respect you and all of your knowledge and thank you for the videos very good I appreciate it I’ve did a lot of what you have done in the mines

Howdy Donnie- thank you so much for sharing coal mining experiences. I never had a hankering to go under ground. Take care and God bless y’all

Coal Miners, Steel Workers, Iron Workers, Oil Drilling Workers. We are a special breed. But I have to give my respect to The Coal Miner.

Thank You, Donnie. For this story, of the miner.

Sir, I just want to say you are a great story teller, you hit on the main things about coal mining. I have a lot of respect for you Sir. I worked in the mines of western Colorado , all of the minds out here are high seam mines, anywhere from 8-12 feet high. I spent 36 years in several different mines over the years. I too started out as a shuttle car operator, then I ran the continuous money. I spent about 3 years on the Longwall I didn't enjoy that as much as section mining. My last years I was a roof bolter. I had seen so many changes in equipment in the mine in those 36 years. Im sure if you and I could sit down with a big pot of coffee, we could spend hours telling stories of our adventures in the mines. On average we had between 2400-2900 feet of overburden above us, that made for some big old bounces . One time we were cutting in entry 4 of a 5 Entry section and we usually went rock to rock as not to leave any coal behind. This one day we got into some sandstone and found a set of dinosaur tracks from a large one and a small one, they closed our section down for several months to recover those foot prints and study the top. I sure wish I had someone to share all of my stories with. Unfortunately the tree huggers and environmentalists have succeeded in closing down all of our mines . There is only one mine left that is open and working. This area had at one time seven or eight big mines , I guess like you said times are changing. I raised five kids up on those wages. Those were the best years of my life. I sure do miss them days!! Good luck to you Sir, you did and excellent job on your story of coal mining.

Thank you mr Donnie for keeping history alive. You know what hard work truly is. I hope you have a wonderful day You deserve wonderful days. 🙏🏻

I worked at number 8 tipple in big rock Virginia back in the early 80’s brings back memories

I love these stories.

Donnie, I really enjoyed your story of your coal mining days.Coal miners stick together and that's what counts in the Coal Mining Industry. Thanks For Sharing My Friend 🙂.

Thank you sir for these great videos. My dad died in a mining accident in Manitouwadge Ontario Canada in 1958. He was a scaler for Geco mines. He had no family attend his funeral just his co workers, because me mom and my siblings where in Portugal. We finally came to Canada and visited his grave site 20 years later. I was 2 years old when he died, and I always used to think why did he have to die, but as I got older I realized that thousands of miners lost their lives. God bless all those miners who left us too early. Canada

Thank you for this priceless information. I just don't know how to put into words the response I want to give as a tribute to you and these sacrificial, brave, hard working men.

Thank you Donnie for sharing this. For ALL the great American's such as you brother! What made this country great!🇺🇲

Thank you Donnie you are a rock star..very interesting..i learned a lot today

Thanks for showing me what my Dad, and his Dad, did for a living back in the 40s, 50s, 60s. I never saw inside the mines. That's good for me. I appreciate it. Grandpa never got hurt. He was in maintenance, like you, mostly Dad, not so lucky. Bishop Va, Feb 4,1957, asphyxiation from an explosion. It's dangerous, like you said. Things have changed but men still get hurt and die. Not a good way to make a living for me but I'm glad it was good for you. God bless.

Thanks for keepin our lights on!

Mr. Donny I truly understand in a way what you and them boys had to go through. I worked in a underground gravel mine in Indiana back in 1995 to 2000 and boy was that a dangerous job. Sometimes it was so foggy you couldn't see your hand in front of your face...

Wow, what an amazing story! Thanks, I have watched it about five or six times in a row already.

I am sure I will like this video as well,but I loved the one about your Christmas as a kid.It was a lot like mine.Parade,candy,Santa Clause,going to my dad's parents house,Mamaw & Papaw's house.My Mom was an orphan and we didn't know her parents but her mother's people raised her.

I'm from a coal miner town in Germany .My gramp worked in a cole mine ,and also had two fingers missing .It sound pretty much the same like the things he told me . Respect that you have done that dangerous and hard work .I hope someday they'll respect workers more ,they're the people who keep a society working .Unfortunatly many educated people think they're better .

Coal miners are BRAVE!!!! . And thank you very much for electricity, appreciate it🙌🏻

This reflects my life in the UK in so many ways. That was also in the 70s We had steel Hydraulic chocks There are now no mines in the UK worth talking about

Thank You for this video Donnie. I have never met you Sir, but I have all the Respect in the world for you. This is one great video you have made here, and I appreciate it very much. I pray all is well for you and your family these days. Thanks again for such a interesting video!! God Bless You Sir.