I got to know four WWII veterans. Here are some of their stories, recorded between 2009 and 2011.

Harrison West (1925-2015) was the father of a friend and served in Europe as a “BAR Man” (Browning Automatic Rifle) with the US Army's 79th Division, 315th Infantry Regiment. In 1944, at the age of 19, he was hit in the neck by a sniper's bullet in Rittershoffen, France. This injury probably saved his life—it removed him from his unit, which was then overrun during the surprise beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. Harrison's book is Sunshine Soldier: A WW2 Combat Infantryman's Story.

Shown at right: The 79th Division's "Cross of Lorraine" patch.

Tom Linneman (1923-2010) was a neighbor who served in Europe in the US Army in the 29th Division. When I invited him to our family’s “WW2 Story Day” on Veterans’s Day in 2009, I mentioned Anzio. He put down his leafblower, looked straight up and said, “Ahhh, Anzio..” followed by a long silence. He then turned to me and said, “My brother fought there. He's still there.” Here's Tom telling his POW story.

Al Lewis (1924-2014) was a friend of my wife's aunt. He served in Europe in the US Army Air Corps with the 388th Bomb Group and at age 20 was a waist gunner on a B-17 bomber. These videos were made in 2011 at the USAF Museum. Part 1: Remembering the fog of Knettishall, England. Part 2: Salvoing the bombs in a B-17 and avoiding prop overspin by changing the prop pitch before advancing the throttle. Part 3: After seeing a plane get hit and watching fellow waist gunners fall out without their parachutes, Al rigged up a strap to secure his chute to his leg.

Sam Pasqualetti (1920-2010) was a neighbor who served in the Pacific with the US Marines in Okinawa. If Sam was out on his front porch, we could always stop by and hear some stories.