Images of some of the World War II Veterans who have a story on this web site. There are many, many more who have added their story since these veterans shared their story Read on to experience the stories of men in war...
HUNT AND KILL U-505 and the U-Boat War in the Atlantic by Theodore P. Savas, ed.        The first definitive study of U-505 and its brilliant capture by the USS Guadalcanal Task Force 22.3.      Chapters include everything from U-505's construction and combat history, to the Allied naval intelligence, brave capture, and final transportation and restoration for posterity as a memorial for those who perished in the war and the Americans responsible for U-505's capture.      You can see more about this new book and order your copy today! Check out the following link... Hunt and Kill      Mention this web site, World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words, and receive a signed copy.     Veterans Bulletin Board September 6, 2004. WW II Stories: BULLETIN BOARD     Veterans Survey Form September 5, 2002. WW II Stories: Veterans Survey Form     Show That You Care! Remember YOUR WWII Veteran National WWII Memorial: Remembrance Registry     WW II Stories Story LINKS Page! Added on 27 August 2003 WW II Stories: Story LINKS Page		America's Greatest Generation Living Their Finest Hour: World War II -- 1941 - 1945        Stories of Men and Women who experienced the greatest event in the history of the world -- World War II...As seen through their eyes and told in their words.      This series of pages will be a sounding board, have you, for the generation referred to as "America's Greatest Generation". This generation, collectively, experienced the most turbulent and terrifying era in the history of this great nation. In their own way they played their role in World War II -- helping to shape the world and stopping the tide of world domination by some of histories greatest tyrants.      We are collecting and building a database of tales by ordinary folks who did their part in World War II -- from soldiers who jumped into Normandy to an uncertain future, to guys who watched in horror as the onslaught of wave upon wave of Japanese dive bombers decimated the American bastion at Pearl Harbor and the airfields of Oahu.      The tales will not stop there, for there are many other tales about terror in the skies while flying as a B-17 pilot experiencing 35 missions over fortress Europe only to see his best friend killed in a head on collision. Or the experiences of a navigator who flew over 35 missions during those same raids into the heartland of Hitler's 3rd Reich and to this day carries a memento of a raid over Berlin -- a piece of schrapnel in his skull. Or a sailor witnessing firsthand the agony of having his ship hit by bombs as it sat in dry dock at Pearl Harbor.      Also look to read the tale of a U. S. Marine Raider who witnessed first hand just what it was like to experience "island hopping". Some of the islands that he saw action on were Bougainville, Guam, and Okinawa.      There is even a story about a sailor who after his landing craft became disabled, spent a harrowing experience on the landing beaches of Iwo Jima -- during the first days of this bloody campaign.      We also are collecting tales of folks, just ordinary folks such as you and I who were there on the home front, doing their part to help win the war. Or you might read the tale of a small town girl going to town each weekend to see German POW's doing their weekly marketing in the local dry goods store.      These tales and so much more are here for you to read and appreciate the folks who lived these experiences...just ordinary folks thrust into one of the world's most dramatic events: World War II. We hope to bring to you many more stories -- as these pages unfold into a tribute to the men and women who were heroes and have come forward to tell their stories -- IN THEIR OWN WORDS.      Our intention here is to begin by relating stories by folks who currently live and reside in south Louisiana -- a small portion of the population of this great country. But this is but a beginning for this series of stories will eventually extend to reach out and touch any and all Americans who wish to place their small piece of American history on this collection of stories.      It has recently been said that today, the generation that went off to war during those dark and terrible years is currently dying off at the rate of "1000 a day" [the figure has now risen alarmingly to "1500 a day"] across this vast country of ours. Most of these men and women have their story to tell -- their finest hour and probably have never written down their experiences about the war.

	Our Newest Story. The story below is by one of the men who flew some of the same missions that Bill Brown flew [See Bill Brown story in the Army Air Corps Section]. H. Cameron Murchison, 453rd Bomb Group (Heavy), 733th Bomb Squadron "Our Longest Day -- 4 April 1945" Story Added on 7 August 2004 "...The gunners noted several holes in the horizontal stabilizer, the fins. and wings outboard of the engines. Another miracle - not a single control cable, trim tab, aerial, nor any radio equipment was hit. Final count late that day showed 28 holes in the A/C, but no large, tearing gaps, thankfully..."
	Another New Story! Rita Kinter Boehm Mater Memories of the War Years Nurses Aide, USO Dances Story Added on 23 August 2004 "...they would all come over and mother would have all kind of refreshments and we had linoleum squares on wooden floors. They got worn out -- we had to have it replaced. The girls in our neighborhood would spread the word and all these girls and the guys would come over..."
	Another New Story! Manuel Lemes December 7, 1941, Diary: When the Lights Went Out On Oahu -- And Stayed Out Story Added on 2 August 2004 A year plus of the diary of an Hawaii civilian who witness the attack on Pear Harbor...and the devestating aftermath. A true personal interest story. (Note: the image displayed here is from another story about the attack on Pearl Harbor.)
	Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945, First Flag Raising An Eyewitness Account by Radioman Raymond Jacobs Story added on 16 March 2004. "...Today, almost 60 years after the event, inaccurate information continues to be circulated about the identity of the Marines and Corpsmen who took part in the events that day on Suribachi..." Mr. Jacobs has contacted us at World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words and has asked us for assistance in "telling his story" of his participation on the patrol which ascended Mt. Suribachi to raise the FIRST American Flag as the battle for the Iwo Jima raged on down below. Read his account and look at evidence that places Mr. Jacobs in the patrol led by. Lt. Shrier on February 23, 1945.
Updated Weekly! Now 93 Stories & Growing Our LARGEST Section of Stories and Still Growing	Our LARGEST Section of Stories AND Still Growing!!!!! Stories of the 102d Infantry Division Additional Kitchen Histories from the Men Who Lived Them... Stories of the Men of the 102d Infantry Division Section Updated 26 July 2004. Now Up To NINETY-THREE Stories and Growing!!! Look to this Updated Section of World War II Stories -- In Their Words for a new series of oral histories of the men who served in the various units to make up the 102d Infantry Division. This is a New and exciting section. We know that you will enjoy reading these new stories written by the men who made history in their exploits as the 102d Division moved into Germany in the latter part of 1944 and into 1945. We are proud to place these stories as a sequel to the series of stories we have just completed of Co. F., 405th Infanty Regiment (2nd Battalion) -- Those Damn Doggies in F.

Below, Please Find our CATAGORY LIST... Army, Navy, Air Corps, Marines, etc.

CATAGORY: ARMY

One Hundred & Eighty-Five Stories now in this Section. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Army Heroes Section Updated on 19 April 2004. Exciting Accounts of the Huertgen Forest Campaign in 1944-1945. Read Accounts of BOTH Sides from Survivors who Lived it. Joseph Salzano: 8th Infantry Division, 13th Regiment Stories Updated on 30 September 2003. "...I always felt a twinge of sadness when a soldier of either side was killed knowing that their families did not know that on this day their relative was no more. And how they passed was also disturbing..." 47th Volks Grenadier Division at the Western Front Stories Updated on 20 October 2003. The following account is unique. Besides Mr. Salzano recalling his experiences while serving the Huertgen Forest Campaign, Mr. Salzano has graciously allowed us to place a number of additional pages of accounts of these horrendous engagements as viewed from the German side including accounts by civilians and soldiers alike. This first section contains TWENTY-SIX accounts by soldiers amd civilians who were a part the actions of the Huertgen Forest Campaign. 47th Volks Grenadier Division at the Western Front Updated on 20 October 2003...TWELVE New Stories A Chronicle Experiences of Johann Trostorf & Wilhelm Brvenich Updated on 20 October 2003...FOUR New Stories Memories of Hubert Gees Selections from the History of 363rd Infantry Division Miscellaneous German Units Updated on 20 October 2003...FOUR New Stories German Paratroopers Updated on 20 October 2003...SIX New Stories Most interesting reading! Story Added on 10 October 2002 The following is an exerpt from the story by Paul Bouchereau, 508th Parachute Reg, 82nd Airborne. "...Then a German soldier came over, rolled me onto my back, cocked his rifle and put the end about 6 inches from my head," Bouchereau said. I literally looked down the barrel of a Mauser rifle. What I did was, I prayed. I must have set an all-time speed record saying the rosary..."

CATAGORY: ARMY AIR CORPS

Fifteen Stories now in this Section. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Army Air Corps Heroes Story Updated on 16 August 2003 A THIRD crew member is located! The following is an exerpt from the story by Lloyd F. Conklin, 94th Bomb Group, 332 Squadron "...It looked like two flocks of birds coming head on. Planes were diving & turning all over the sky. I made a diving turn to my left. Just in time to see two B-17's come together in a blinding flash. In seconds, two planes and 20 men disappeared. Several days later, to my dismay, [I found out that] one of the planes carried my good friend James Cawley..."

CATAGORY: NAVY, COAST GUARD, and SEABEE

Seven Stories now in this Section. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Navy/Coast Guard/Seabees Heroes Story Added on 8 September 2002 The following is an exerpt from the story by William Newbauer, L.C.V.P. Engineer, U S. Navy "...These high swells continued in to shore, although now a little smaller but still very strong with a rip tide effect. We immediately broached, the starboard side was crushed in and we were pulled out about a hundred feet, to be tossed about. We scrambled over the lowered ramp and made it to shore..."

CATAGORY: MARINES

Fourteen Stories now in this Section. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Marine Heroes Story Added on 14 October 2002 The following is an exerpt from the story by James "Jim" Wood, U. S. Marine Corps Raiders "...Well anyway, here comes the Jap - running. His helmet was off. But he had two grenades. He had one in his right hand and he had one in his left hand. He threw the one in his right hand and hit me in the groin. It didn't go off. Then he threw the one in his left hand at my head and it went behind me. The reason they didn't go off was because his helmet had come off..."

CATAGORY: HOME FRONT

Seven Stories now in this Section. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Heroes at Home Story Added on 17 June 2002 The following is an exerpt from the story by Ollie M. Fuselier, Homemaker, Southwest Louisiana "...I secretly looked forward to Saturday at work, for along with my girlfriends, I would wait and watch for them to come in. The men would come in about the same time on Saturday morning, along with their guards to do shopping..."

CATAGORY: POW

One Story now in this Section. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: P.O.W. Heroes Story Added on 17 June 2002 The following is an exerpt from the story by Herman Knight Beaber, World War II Diary 1942-1945 "...at 7:00 a.m. sharp, we heard and saw nine large transport planes flying low, and passing close to the camp; perhaps one mile to the east. Even as we all watched, we saw doors open and paratroopers came tumbling out. OH WHAT A SIGHT! With a tropical sunrise for a background, we saw about 150 parachutes open one after another and settle slowly earthward out of our sight behind the distant trees..."

CATAGORY: PHOTO SERIES

Three Photo Series currently in this section WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Photo Series Collections Added on 17 June 2002 The following is a listing of the current entries in this section of photographs Currently, there are three photo series in this section including some images from Pearl Harbor, some battle images from the Pacific Campaign along with a series of images, by this webmaster/researcher, taken 20 years following the battle for Iwo Jima.

PHOTO ALBUM & SCRAPBOOK

Our Latest Section for folks, such as yourself to offer a lasting tribute to their World War II Veteran. Photo Album & Scrapbook - Commemorative Section Added on 17 June 2002 The following is a listing of the current entries in this section of tributes to WWII Veterans! Currently, there are seventeen tribute pages located in this fast growing section. We are always looking for new material to place here as a rememberance for the special veteran in your family. Contact us at the e-mail address listed on this page for your tribute page.

CATAGORY: CANADIAN ARMY

We have begun collecting stories from our good neighbors to our north: Canada. Care to add your story? World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words Canadian War Stories Added on 16 February 2002 Currently we have 29 stories in this section. The following is an exerpt from one story by Stanley Scislowski, Not All of Us Were Brave "...All around them, bodies lay scattered about amidst the flourishing grain -- their faces in the gray pallor and serenity of death. The wounded were intermixed with the dead. As Bill Greaves describes it, he had to step around and over the bodies of Sasks carpeting the slope..."

CATAGORY: RELATED LINKS

This section is fairly new and we are looking for web Links. Add you World War II Link or banner. WWII Stories -- In Their Own Words: Related LINKS Added on 8 November 2001 Do you have a World War II related page and are looking to exchange links? Contact this webmaster at the e-mail address on this page and I will happily exchange links with you. If you have an image to exchange, that can be done as well.

TELL YOUR STORY

Add YOUR Story Here: Infantry, navy, marines, air corps, support troops, war effort workers at home, etc. Story Added on ------- "Now you can add your story to the growing list of men and women who have come forth with their stories of World War II. We are collecting stories -- anyone who did their part! No story is too small, nor insignificant. Contact this webmaster to tell YOUR Story"

Sub categories will be of course added as time goes on...for this web site will evolve and grow with time.

 

About the Webmaster.

Joe Richard is a successful web master with two additional web sites to his credit having begun, developed and expanded these sites over a five year period learning from his experiences from knowing absolutely nothing about web page design to building and daily maintaining two of the premier web sites on the world wide web on the subject of the American Civil War. His background is in newspaper advertising and commercial art.

Mr. Richard's other web sites are:

Patrick M. Richard My Brother the Portrait Artist

and the

18th Louisiana Infantry Regiment Volunteers

and the

Thomas' 28th Louisiana Infantry Regiment Volunteers

These web sites are databases of materials, information, rosters, histories, testaments, and collections of materials with regards to the men who served in these historic Louisiana regiments during one of America's most troubling times...

With a little luck and time this new and exciting undertaking will also blossom into a rousing tribute to the men and women of America's Greatest Generation.

Let us begin...

 

We are adding links to our favorite world wide web sites to help you in your search for information on World War II. Check back often, for as we find a good link, we will add them here.

 

Searching for information on World War II? The Civil War? Check out eHistory.com

 

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Updated on 11 September 2004...1326:05 CST

 

 

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