As he advanced across Guam, Marine Joseph Hiott (B Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment) encountered the Japanese "knee mortar." It was an effective weapon, though misnamed, he says. It would break your leg if you set it on your knee. Island fighting in the Pacific meant battling

Herbert Braselton recalls the terrible aftermath of a torpedo attack on the USS Pennsylvania on August 12, 1945 while anchored at Nakagusuku Bay off the island of Okinawa, during which time several men were trapped and lost their lives. "This is heartbreaking...I got there and

AUGUST 12, 1944: Alexander Jefferson had flown nearly every day since he arrived in Europe. The casualty rate among airmen was statistically very high, and the P-51 he flew didn't have the survival functionality we might expect on an aircraft today. So when he was shot down

Walt Lineberger (River Assault Division 91) was on an operation to catch a large formation of the enemy in a pincer movement using infantry and Riverine boats when one of his men, Sammy Joe Cross, was killed. Shortly after, Walt saw a recoilless rifle round coming right for his

After a sleepless night along the riverbank, heading out the next morning, their own artillery was getting too close for comfort. Trying to call it off, they realized they were in a radio blackout. Walt Lineberger (River Assault Division 91) knew the next shell would hit his

OPERATION DRAGOON, AUGUST, 1944: After Anzio and Rome, Jack Simpson (179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division) entered Southern France and, at that point, it became a chase. The Nazis were in full retreat and the 45th was right behind them. There was delight on the faces

OPERATION DRAGOON, AUGUST, 1944: The glider pilots had new instructions regarding the tow rope in light of some problems during the Normandy invasion. The 1st Airborne Task Force was preparing for the invasion of Southern France and Herman Krum was part of it. As he was

The news of the atomic bomb strikes was huge for Jim Starnes aboard the USS Missouri. The war was finally going to come to an end. Then came more news. The Missouri would be host to the surrender ceremony and, as officer of the deck, it would be his responsibility to make sure it

When Marine Joseph Hiott arrived in Guadalcanal, he was assigned to the 2nd Raider Battalion, a new unit created under orders from Franklin D. Roosevelt, who admired the British Commandos and wanted an American unit to perform special operations. The Raiders, like the enemy,

Rocky Bleier (Americal Division- 23rd Infantry Division) recalls trying to retrieve the bodies of other fallen servicemen when he felt a thud in his leg. Thinking he'd been hit with a rock, he looked down to see 2 holes in his pant leg. Hear this full story:

Rocky Bleier (Americal Division- 23rd Infantry Division) was in the hospital recovering from his wounds. There was another young man next to him who was a triple amputee, who was always more concerned with his fellow soldiers than himself. Rocky recalls what a big influence this

Rocky Bleier (Americal Division- 23rd Infantry Division) had already been shot in the left leg when a grenade found him. Armed with a grenade launcher and one round, he hoped to scare the enemy off. Hear this full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stories… Follow us on:

Bill Adair (Advisor to Philippine Army) was suffering from the effects of a concussion when the battle for the Philippines came to an end for him. Along with thousands of others, he was forced to surrender and was facing the prospect of joining what would become known as the

Bill Adair (Advisor to Philippine Army) was suffering from the effects of a concussion when the battle for the Philippines came to an end for him. Along with thousands of others, he was forced to surrender. Eventually, they were loaded into hot boxcars. Hear this full story:

"I literally thought that was it. That was going to be my last day, my first mission." While flying a Huey over the Mekong Delta, Joe Ponds (13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 121st Assault Helicopter Company) was called into reinforce the ground troops who had come across a large

"It's one of those days you never forget." Bill Acebes (173rd Airborne Brigade) remembers the lack of drinking water in the field and the teak trees he used for cover. Ponchos were used to collect rainwater but there was something wrong with that and he can taste it to this

"My rucksack was so heavy, I fell backwards." Bill Acebes (173rd Airborne Brigade) literally dodged a bullet when he fell down during an operation in Vietnam and the ricochet hit a WWII veteran who was still serving. Hear this full story: witnesstowar.org/combat_stories… (Interview

Harry Beeman (USS Ellet- DD-398) had pushed for a real combat assignment and he sure got one. His destroyer was part of the task force that launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Not bad for a first mission. (Interview conducted on February 15, 2014) Hear this full story:

During the battle of Midway, Harry Beeman (USS Ellet- DD 398) was part of a crack swim team aboard the USS Ellet that pulled survivors from sinking warships out of the water. They did this while dodging torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. (Interview conducted on February 15,