Stories tagged "Veteran": 18
Stories
Returning Home
“Well, we were in the Army of Occupation in Austria for about nine months. We left there in March, middle of March 1946, and we were on a liberty ship called the SS Madagascar. And we—I guess it was a seven-day trip. And of course, when we saw the…
Retirement
“Well, it brings back good memories. It brings back some bad ones. But — whatever I know is over — and I don’t have to live them again.”“I guess I should [feel proud]. I went into a country that was against us and I made it. And I hope that I…
Prisoner of War Medal
“My father was also awarded a Prisoner of War Medal, and that was approved by President Ronald Reagan. That anyone who was or had been a prisoner of war would be awarded a prisoner of war metal. Congressman Roy Rowland, from Dublin, awarded that to…
The Bronze Star
“I was awarded the Bronze Star on September 30, 1985, at Robbins Air Force Base. It was through an act of Congress that had been signed by the President that awarded to all personnel that had been in the Philippines. To all personnel who helped to…
Bataan Survivors Reunions
“I have been to 8 or 10 in Fontana Village, North Carolina the 4th Sunday in August of every year. Those who will and want to meet in Fontana. It begins on Saturday and ends on the Thursday after… There are 400 or 500 of us there, different ones.…
Bakers from Bavaria
"Well [my father, Manfred Heinemann] was born in 1922, and he lived in a town called Treuchtlingen, which was in Bavaria. And they lived a very comfortable life. My grandfather sold baking supplies. And eventually [my father's] brother was born in…
Unconditional Surrender
“August 1945. We drop anchor in Tokyo Bay, begin unloading equipment, and send the troops ashore in attack waves. A few weeks ago the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and just a few days ago the Emperor Hirohito went on…
Homecoming
“I got into Louisville middle of the afternoon, I left my bags at the bus station, just had a little overnight bag with me, so I took a taxi to Rene’s house which was at 18 Algonquin Parkway in Louisville. Rene was outside her house, this was in…
Marriage and Family
“He came down from Massachusetts. He was transferred to Georgia and he had two children who at that time were seven and nine and they were a girl and a boy. Girl, seven. Boy, nine. He had full custody of them, and he had to find a place for them to…
What are We Going to Do?
“When the war was over, it was exciting, and it was a letdown. It was that we’re not needed anymore. We’d been needed and we’d been, you know, we’d been doing all these things. Now we’re not needed anymore. What are we going to do? And they gave, I…