D-Day +75 Years-- Part 3: Oral Histories Are Setting the Record Straight

Stephen Ambrose is a historian and an author, best known for his books "Band of Brothers" and "Citizen Soldiers.  He has a knack for convincing veterans that every thing they have to say about their experience is worthy of being preserved.

'He knew that the voices of those who fought at Gettysburg are long gone, but thanks to recorded oral histories, those of the D-Day veterans will be with us long after they are gone.

Leonard Lomell was a sergeant in th 2nd Ranger battalion explained why he participated in Ambrose's D-Day oral history project at the University of New Orleans.  "I've kept a low profile for fifty years as have most of my men.  We weren't heroes, we were just good Rangers, as we believed the record would forever show.

But, inaccurate accounts by those who were not there, Lomell realized that time was running out to set the record straight, so he did.

--GreGen

Deaths: Werner Husemann (Luftwaffe Ace)-- Roderick Bain (Band of Brothers)

From Wikipedia. //// WERNER HUSEMANN (1919-Feb. 2, 2014) German Luftwaffe ace and received the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, one of Germany's highest awards, for shooting down 34 Allied planes. He was part of the 1st Night Fighter Wing and recorded his first victory the night of 17/18 August 1942. By the end of 1943, he had 17 kills. //// On the night of 25/26 June 1943, he shot down three British Avro Lancaster bombers. Altogether, he flew 250 combat missions. //// RODERICK BAIN (1922-Feb. 5, 2014) //// NCO of Second Platoon of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of 101st Airborne Division. Otherwise known as "The Band of Brothers" from the TV miniseries. //// He was one of the original 140 Toccoa men of Easy Company. //// In 2009, he wrote the book "We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from Band of Brothers." ////

Oldest Member of "Band of Brothers" Dies

By Timberly Rose, January 22, 2011.

ED MAUSER, 94 died Jan. 21st.

Mr. Mauser kept his military service secret until the mini-series came out.

He was born in 1916 in LaSalle, Illinois, and drafted in 1942 ad volunteered to join the 101st Airborne Division and was assigned to Co. E, 506th Regiment.  With them, he was at D-Day and Operation Market Garden, but was not one of the soldiers portrayed in the mini-series.  He loved the TV show and watched it many times.

GreGen