War ii museum, hershel Woody Williams recounts his time serving as a marine. Watch over the weeshgd kend on cspan3. May name is jarrod frederic. Im an instructor of history in Penn State Altoona and also a reenactor with the world war ii living history group. And we are here at Army Heritage days at the u. S. Army heritage and Education Center in carlisle, pennsylvania. And at this event, it is a major complex. Were here on the Army Heritage trail. My group, though, is here this weekend to discuss the 75th anniversary of 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 ink liling to passers by families that visit this place, we feel weve done a fairly good job. The unit that we portray is the fourth Infantry Division. And its a unit thats sometimes overshadowed in the realm of world war ii history. But nonthe less, it is one of the spear head units involved in the normandy invasion. The first amphibious troops that waded on to the beach. They landed on the wrong sector. They landed about a half mile off course. And there was a little bit of uncertainty, perhaps hesitation as to what exactly they should do. Theodore roosevelt jr. , son of the president , the o oldest participant in the invasion said defiantly were going to start the war right here. And, indeed that, is what they did. They carried the fight inland where they really began to talley up casualties. The unit fought all throughout mainland europe. They were the First American troops into paris. They were the First American troops into germany. But unfortunately, it inflicted a very grim toll. The unit and its entirety throughout the war suffered about 250 casualties. There is just a perpetual stream of wounded killed and then replacements and replacements after that were being killed and wounded as well. So it was an absolutely devastating affair. But many of the men in the unit had the Firm Conviction that they needed to do this because there was really no other choice. This was the price of stopping fascism and its spread. And as many world war ii veterans say to this very day, its something that had to be done. And 75 years later, that something they still firmly believe in. Of course, Theodore Roosevelt jr. Had a long military lineage in his family. His father, of course, stormed up San Juan Hill in 1898 during the spanishamerican war. And then Theodore Roosevelt expected all of his sons to serve in world war ii. And Theodore Roosevelt said of his sons, he said, i would walk upon them with shame if they didnt serve in the same way i would walk uplook upon my daughs they didnt have children. Those are the two expectations for his kids. And junior really lived up to those expectations. He served in world war i. He was a political rival with cousin Franklin Roosevelt during the great depression. But when world war ii started, the two cousins put their differences aside, theodore jr. Wanted to get into the military once again. Initially, he served as a commander in the First Infantry Division. And he served in the big red one. Which was one of the few Battle Tested divisions to go into normandie. However, roosevelt didnt gain a lot of acclaim or trust in the eyes of omar bradley or George Patton. Theodore roosevelt jr. Had a very laid back command persona. And that didnt that wasnt up to snuff with somebody who was spit and polished as George Patton was. He got a little too comfortable, too cozy and laid back with some of the soldiers and there wasnt that sort of rigid discipline that makes a good soldier a good soldier. So he was removed from command in the First Infantry Division that he wasnt downandout. And he landed a spot as the assistant Division Commander in in the fourth Infantry Division in the months immediately prior to the normandy invasion. And roosevelt pleaded with his commander, general raymond tubby barton, that was his name. His nickname. And he was just unceasing. He wanted to go ashore with his men. And barton finally acquiesced and barton realized at that moment that this is probably going to be the end of this general. His health was failing. He was suffering from chest pains. Wasnt telling anybody about it. He had very bad arthritis. His mobility in some cases was very limited. But nonetheless, he went ashore with the Fourth Division and one of the secondary waves on june sixth. He had a cane in whaunone hand revolver in the other. He stayed with his men through, you know, thick and thin. He rode around in the jeep, rough rider. That is named after his fathers unit. Unfortunately, though, his poor health did catch up with him. Only a few weeks after the invasion he suffered a fatal heart attack. And he also becomes one of the highest ranking americans to be killed in france as the invasion was on going as well. And he rests in the normandieamerican cemetery to this very day. Right next to the remains of his brother quenton who was quikill in the first world war. So right now we would like to walk us walk you through our camp here a little bit. And perhaps offer a little bit of perspective on the gi experience. So well start here around the back. Now often when americans think of the Second World War, they think of helmets. They think of weapons. They think of tanks. But war is this stuff too. It is the subtle, small stuff, the every day stuff that soldiers used on an every day basis. And they certainly werent eating five star meals as they were out in the fields of france in 1944. And these units of food that would come for breakfast, dinner and supper were really the staple of the gi diet. And often there would be a small can of food inside, some crackers, some bubble gum and other instances they would even include cigarettes which was actually part of the ration. If they were lucky they might be able to acquire a radio along the way. But, you know, when folks look at this sort of stuff, it offers them a moment of empathy. You know, when you look at Something Like toothpowder or soap or a razor blade, these were the things that, you know, we would see on our fathers and grandfathers, you know, bathroom shelves as we were growing up. And so its often the common every day stuff that fascinates me and sometimes fascinates visitors as well. So well talk a little bit more about magazines, about the press, about newspapers at the time as well at one of our later stops. So well head over here to our recreation of a rather small gi encampment. And as can you see our members here are having lunch, chowing down in a very authentic way and authentic to nap as well. A very common staple of the gi perns there too. On average, an american soldier was about 22 years of age, weighed about 150 pounds. He had gone through the great depression. He was used to sacrifice and perhaps being short on supplies and unfortunately that Economic Hardship well prepared a lot of American Youth for the forthcoming struggles in this global war. Among some of most iconic features of the american uniform is the helmet itself. And for all intents and purposes, this was the home of the american gi. And it was a multipurpose tool. It is used not only for protection against raining fragments, shells, splintserers rocks, what you have, he could also use it for a lot more things. This is an original helmet. I dont know who us autoed it. But i carry it on in his memory n nonetheless. What manufacturers would do with the steel pots in order to diminish the shine and enhance the camouflage of it, they would actually mix sand within the green paint and that rough texture that you see on the helmet would diminish the shine and offer some additional camouflage. Now there are a lot of other things that a soldier could do with this as well. He could use it as a digging tool. If he wanted to, he could take out the insideliner and he could use it as a pot. After all, it was a steel pot. If he were lucky enough to find an egg, you might be able to cook it inside of. That and also you could use it as a wash basin. Hold it right under you, be able to shave your face. Use it as a chair, use it as a pillow, one of the really notable phrases of Second World War ii is helmet for my pillow. And then finally, it could used as storage in a way. Something that was really popular among the troops were small compact books that were called arms service editions. They gave them out by the tens of millions during the war. And american soldiers love of reading and literacy that they would later use after the war to use the gi bill and attain Higher Education is really instilled during that time. So they could shove those books in here. But what they did most is they would put photographs inside. And this is actually a photo of my grandmother and what she looked like during world war ii years. And like many Young American women, she married a world war ii veteran when he came home from the service. And i carry this photo not only in honor of her but in honor of the man that she married at the end of the war. Its many i way of paying small tribute to some of my family history. And if i could have an m 1 grand please, ill show them that. Thank you. This was the primary weapon of an american soldier that was fighting in europe. This could be slid back like this. You could put a eight round block there within the rifle. And, you know, general patton said that this was essentially the weapon that would help win the Second World War. And it quite hefty, quite heavy. All things considered. But it really made a major contribution to the american war effort. And indeed, it was used on through the korean war and even some circumstances the vietnam war. And there are some militaries to this very day that have surplus of these and still use them in their active military. Thank you very much. As we browse the camp here and look at all the equipment, it really gives us a sense of the things that these soldiers carried. When some of the first initial waves of the normandy invasion took place, a lot of the combatants had 80 pounds of gear on them. The code name was known as operation overlord. It could have been named operation overload because they were packed down like mules. And when i talk about this in the classroom or some time when a young family comes in we might dress up, you know, a young person in a d day kit to give him the sense of weight of war so to speak and something i do in the classroom, too. You know, it really, you know, weighs down on them. Both physically and psychologically. To think they were wearing 80 pounds of gear and being heefd off the Landing Craft into seven feet of water while people are shooting at them, they then need to waddle up 700 yards of beach and have land mines and obstacles throughout it. And when you take that into consideration, it really gives you a humbling perspective on what the d day experience was. Not only for americans but also for the british, french, and canadian troops that stormed ashore that day as well. So were well to consider this weight of war and the thing ts z they carried as we think about this 75 years later. The american tents that u. S. Gis used was often called the shelter half tent. And many ways it symbolized the notion of team work, the very essence of camaraderie. There would be one half of a tent. Each soldier would make one half of a tent. And you need to team up with a battle buddy. So he could bring his other half and then share one. And there were a lot of different variations on this and how they used it and the tents often got as large as creativity and materials would allow american sell engineers and sometimes they would get six or eight of them together to make really big tents. Because then you could pile eight guys into it and then, you know, if youre in the fall or in the winter, all of those additional people inside a tent will offer additional body heat, might keep you a little bit warmer. For a lot of guys they moved so frequently and quickly that a lot of times they didnt have the opportunity to set up a sent or an encampment like we have here today. And, you know, the advance into europe was monotinous, strenuous, and it brought about some of the most enduring of hardship thats could be imagined. There is one story of an american lieutenant that we often like to share with visitors and students and there is a lieutenant in the fourth infantry by the name of george wilson. And he wore the same pair of socks for five months. And he never once had the opportunity to take off his shoes and wash his feet. And come spring of 1945 when he finally had an opportunity to bathe, he went to take off his socks and it peeled the skin off of his feet. So, you know, when we think of world war ii, we think of combat. We think of big planes and tanks. But really, its, you know, small Human Interest stories like that that illustrate the gi experience more than anything else. Short on supplies. They go into winter time combat without the proper clothing or equipment. And it was certainly no vacation. The story of artifacts, of course, is nothing without the story of people. And when visitors come into our various displays, we like them to reflect upon that Human Element as well. And here on this board we have a few tangible reminders of all of that. Perhaps most notably are copies of d day diary that was kept by a lieutenant in the fourth Infantry Division. This gentleman pictured over here on the right. And his name was sidney monts. And he and his men operated in 81 millimeter morter, one of which well be showing you in a moment. As they landed on utah beach. And some of the words that he has to offer about his experiences are quite profound. He talks about his men and his comrades falling to his left and right. He is scavenging the beach and looking for loose pieces of ammunition and equipment he knows hell need later along the way. And, you know, once more, that personal element, it really helps bring history to life and thats really one of the fundamental reasons of why were out here to impart this knowledge to judgyounger generations. We see ourselves as important conduit of sorts in transferring on this knowledge to other people. Another notable individual that we see on here is another lieutenant in the fourth Infantry Division whose name was bill chapman. And like sidney monts, he operated, he and his men in, 81 millimeter mortar. And, you know, he offers all sorts of unique perspectives. Theres a book recently written about hichlt and, you know, later on in the war the fourth Infantry Division served in the hurtkin forest. For those lucky enough to survive it, they called it the death factory. Because it was just like this perpetual Conveyor Belt of men being sent to the front lines almost needlessly. And mr. Chapman was one of the lucky survivors of that carnage. Now as a lot of these Service Members were working their way across the european continent, some things that gave them some added pepper, inspiration or information was things like this. And this is a reproduction of stars and stripes, the official Army Newspaper and it is still in publication to this very day. And this issue is a a copy from june 7th, 1944. And there were two really big events that happened there in the first week of june. One of them is a bit overshadowed because just two days before the invasion of normandy took place the city of rome was also liberated so there was a mad dash for the headlines, who would grab the most attention and news and unfortunately for those serving in italy and general mark clark their Commanding Officer among them was a bit jealous by the level of head lines that the normandy invasion grabbed. And indeed there were about 150,000 troops involved in the opening phases. And soldiers got fragmentary reports here and in this Early Edition talking about the invasion. But periodicals like this underscored a bigger point about why americans believed they were fighting this war. And they saw a freedom of speech, the freedom of the press and the sanctity of german and literacy as a fundamental element of why they were fighting this war. Their access to information and books, they believe that is part of the democratic notion that represented their country. And in some ways those notions are outlined in the speech that generalizen hour issued to his troops on the eve of dday. It is a very short, concise address. This is issued by the tens of thousands in leaflet form to the troops. And he also delivered a radio address where he outlined this as well. And in many ways it could be considered the 1944 equivalent of the gettysburg address. Eisenhower saying we have a fight to continue. It is a horrible fight. But it must go on because the consequences of not doing so or losing it are almost too horrific to take into comprehension. Much like how slavery needed to be destroyed, fascism in the form of slavery that came with it was also something that needed to be defeated. So his men took this message to heart. Eisenhower developed a spirit decorp and they cared about him and they knew it and that is why they fought so hard and diligently on his behalf. And the harder they fight the war, the sooner the war will be over. Another element i would like to show you is a weapon that we