George Grau, a member of the 457th Bombardment Group, remembers his World War II experience as a part of a heavy bomb group. Grau was activated on July 1, 1943 as a copilot and was inactivated on August 18, 1945. World War II began in 1939, but the U.S. did … Continue reading
VANDERBILT’S HEROIC END. [Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] LONDON, May 9.—Two survivors of the Lusitania disaster have given testimony that Alfred G. Vanderbilt died heroically; that he went to death to save the life of a woman. Thomas Slidell, a friend of Mr. Vanderbilt, who lives at the … Continue reading
Veteran Harry Boland describes the atmosphere in New York City on V-E Day and recalls the fancy dinner he was invited to in celebration of the German surrender.
CHARLES FROHMAN’S DEATH. [Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] LONDON, May 10.—A highly interesting story was told tonight by Rita Jolivet, the actress, who stood calmly chatting with Charles Frohman and Alfred G. Vanderbilt during the last tense moments before the Lusitania sank. The three of them, together with … Continue reading
U.S. Veteran Tony Basciano details his celebration of V-E Day in Belgium on May 8, 1945 and discusses his what he did in the military and after the war was over.
U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Joseph C. Beyer recalls his experience of dropping paratroopers in the town of Carentan in the Cherbourg Peninsula on D-Day. A few weeks later, the Americans had cleared the air fields so that Beyer and others could land in France and bring-in supplies and haul … Continue reading
Survivors of the German attack on the RMS Lusitania recall the torpedo that struck the ship and explain what happened in the aftermath of the disaster.
Richard Dorff signed up to enlist in the U.S. Navy at 18 years old, becoming a first-class seaman that helped to guide a landing craft onto the beaches of Normandy during D-Day.
Sergeant Mike Fitch of the U.S. Army’s 29th Infantry Division remembers storming the most dangerous zone of Omaha Beach on D-Day. He describes the chaos of getting into his landing craft and how he was “scared to death.” Fitch explains how he looked for potential areas for cover as he … Continue reading
Math teacher Jaime Escalante discusses what skills it takes to be a great teacher and explains how he evolved as an educator throughout the years. His inspirational story as a teacher was depicted in the 1988 film, “Stand and Deliver,” where he was played by Edward James Olmos.
