Blog

The Bridge Worth its Weight in Gold

I had heard about the battle for Remagen Bridge from several World War II veterans during interviews, but it was entirely different being there in person. Our tour group left the Belgium Ardennes area and continued east through the Eifel Mountains. We followed the advance of the US 1st Army through to the Remagen Bridge... Continue Reading →

Sneak Peak – They Did It for Honor: Stories of American WWII Veterans

I’m putting finishing touches on my second book of World War II stories -- They Did It for Honor: Stories of American WWII Veterans. It contains 34 stories of men/women of every branch- Army, Navy, Army Air Corps, Marines, Merchant Marines, Coast Guard. It will be available for purchase by the end of summer. I’ll announce... Continue Reading →

Historic Ceremony Witnessed at Pegasus Bridge –Part 1

Tomorrow is our nation's birthday. I'm so proud to be part of America and it's glorious history and fantastic citizens. We're not perfect but I'd still rather live here than anywhere else. Celebrate by thanking a vet for his/her service! This photo was taken of a young girl awaiting arrival of Honor Flight of Northeast... Continue Reading →

Bucket List: Take WWII Tour of Europe– Done!

My husband and I just returned from a 2-week World War II tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany! The photo of my husband and me is on the patio of the 'Eagle's Nest', Hitler's retreat center, above the village of Berchtesgaden, Germany. We went with a group of 29 Americans and 3 Australians and one... Continue Reading →

Vets Describe D-Day

D-Day. June 6, 1944. Possibly only a handful of dates in our nation’s military history are more well- known other than Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941). D-Day was a top secret event that had been planned for months. Every branch was involved in storming the beaches of Normandy France to overcome Hitler's forces. Here are a few... Continue Reading →

WWII Soldier Shocked by Graves at Guadalcanal

(This is an excerpt of a story from my soon-to-be-released book, They Did It for Honor: Stories of American WWII Veterans) Gaylord Conrad’s most vivid memories of the Pacific during World War II was not that of a bloody battle field but what came after it. In late 1943 Conrad from Leo, IN, was attached... Continue Reading →

WWII Soldier Pens Memories of Ohrdruf’s Liberation

I regret missing the opportunity to post on Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed around the world on April 24, 2017. Hopefully, this special essay written by a soldier who was one of the first to liberate Ohrdruf, one of the first death camps discovered in Germany, will make up for the lateness. I met Edward Thomas... Continue Reading →

WWII Soldier Fought Japanese; Liberated Prisoners

  Paul Rider of Fort Wayne is an interviewer’s dream. He could recite his story during World War II in clear fashion, had a scrapbook full of memories, a diary and many photos – and a story that had a peaceful resolution decades after the war. Remember to thank a veteran today for his/her service... Continue Reading →

Marine felt “lucky to make it out alive” from Vietnam, Cuban Missile Crisis

At this site I mostly post stories I’ve written from interviews with World War II vets. Many people think those are the only vets I interview. Due to my association with another military-related publication, I have interviewed dozens of vets of all eras/branches, including Korean War, Vietnam War, post-911 and everything in between. This publication... Continue Reading →

“Fear Has an Odor”

One of the strongest quotes I was ever given during an interview was by a World War II veteran was by Simeon Hain, Naval Aviator in the Pacific. “Fear has an odor,” he said. “It permeates your clothes and stinks. After getting back from a mission, I couldn’t wait to take a shower.” In honor... Continue Reading →

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑