Hershel i was born and raised in the country. At the time of growing up, myhed father was in the dairy business. We were farm people, and we lived in a farm community. There were 11 kids born to our family. Some of them back in the teens, and when the flu hit in 1918, the epidemic came along, we lost most of them. But five of us survived. I wasnt born yet. I wasnt born until 1923. Of course, the flu epidemic ended in 1919. But we had no military influence in our community at all. There was no bases. People who went in the army back at that time, and we didnt know there was any other branch of the service, because we thought everybody went into the army. The army was the army and included everybody. The army or military service was not too well thought of in those days. You went in the army because you were in trouble with the law or you were too lazy to work. Thats the only reason you went into the military. We had a couple of fellows in our community who apparently didnt like to farm.
Up up, my father was in dairy business. We were farm people and we lived in a farm community. We had 11 kids born to our family. Some of them back in the teens and when the flu hit in 1918, the epidemic came along, we lost most of them. But five of us survived. I wasnt born yet. I wasnt born until 1923. Of course the flu epidemic ended in 1919. We had no military influence in our community at all. There was no bases. People who went in the army back at that time and we didnt know there was any other branch of the service. Because we thought everybody went into the army. The army was the army and included everybody. The army or military service was not too well thought of in those days. You went in the army because you were in trouble with the law or you were too lazy to work. Thats the only reason you went into the military. We had a couple of fellows in our community whoa apparently didnt like to farm. They didnt like hoeing corn and putting up hay and whatever. Those two fellows thou
Raymond e. Mason jr. Distinguish lecture on world war ii. General raymond e. Mason junior served under general George Patton in world war ii. He worked his way through the rankses including important posting at the pentagon. After his military career, he was a successful businessman and concert with his wife margaret, became a generous philanthropist. A gift from the Mason Foundation created an endowed lecture series here at the museum which we have been hosting 2008 and with which we will be bringing in here for multiple events many distinguished speakers such as the gentleman who will be joining us in a moment. For the final session of the morning, were bringing one of our oldest friends from the museum best selling author, alex kershaw. Who i joke one or two may know him, i think all of you know him, anybody who has any interest in world war ii or military history generally has Great Respect for alex and his many books which include the bedford boys. Longest winter escape from the d
Message to troops as they prepare for the assault at normandy. [video clip] soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied expeditionary force, you are about to embark on the great crusade. Eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In companies with our brave allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the german war machine, elimination of snazzy and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped in battle hardened and he will fight savagely but this is the year 1944, much has happened since the nazi triumphs since 19401941. They inflicted upon the germans great defeats in open battle man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced them in the air and those to wage war on the ground. Our home front have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war and placed at our disposal great fighting
The normandy invasion, which is taking place this summer. And we thought it certainly fitting to commemorate that event. And us putting on these old uniforms, wearing old equipment, it certainly gives us a better perspective and appreciation of what the greatest generation went through. And if we can impart even a small inkling of that to passersby and families who visit this place, then we feel like we have done a good job. The unit we portray is the Fourth Infantry Division. It is a unit that is sometimes overshadowed in the realm of world war ii history. Nonetheless, it was one of the spearhead units involved in the normandy invasion. It was some of the first amphibious troops who were ashore. And they waded ashore on utah beach. Unbeknownst to many of them, they had landed on the wrong sector. They had landed half a mile off course. And there was a little bit of uncertainty, perhaps hesitation as to what they should do. But the assistant Division Commander, Theodore Roosevelt junio