07/05/2024
Happy 4th of July!
Many thanks to the men and women of our U.S. Armed Forces - past and present - and to all those who have helped to advance the cause of freedom around the globe. We thank you for your service and sacrifices.
Friends of the National World War II Memorial
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Friends of the National World War II Memorial (Friends), based in Washington, D.C., is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to teaching lessons of yesterday to unite generations of tomorrow. Founded in 2007 by the creators of the National World War II Memorial, Friends brings visitors together for national ceremonies and experiences at the Memorial and for educational programs centered around the themes of unity, shared values and ideals, and the spirit of community.
07/04/2024
Celebrating 100 Years of Harry Stewart!
Today, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Lt. Col. Harry T. Stewart Jr., a retired United States Air Force officer, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, and fighter pilot who served with the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Born on July 4, 1924, in Newport News, Virginia, Stewart’s life is marked by remarkable achievements and historic contributions.
After living near Langley Field, Stewart and his family moved to Queens, New York, near LaGuardia Airport when he was two years old. At 18, Stewart volunteered for the United States Army Air Forces, taking and passing the Pilot Cadet exam. On June 27, 1944, he completed cadet pilot training, earning his wings and graduating with the Tuskegee Airmen Class 44-F-SE. Remarkably, Stewart learned to fly before he learned to drive.
Following combat and fighter training at Walterboro Army Air Field in South Carolina, Stewart was assigned to the 15th Air Force in Italy with the 332nd Fighter Group’s 302nd Fighter Squadron. After the disbandment of the 302nd Fighter Squadron on March 6, 1945, he was transferred to the 301st Fighter Squadron for the remainder of the war. During training, Stewart faced an unexpected mock dogfight challenge from a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP), which he lost.
Stewart is renowned for shooting down three German aircraft in one day during World War II, making him one of only four Tuskegee Airmen to achieve such a feat. He was also a member of the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group Weapons pilot team that won the United States Air Force’s inaugural “Top Gun” team competition in 1949. Stewart, along with George Hardy and fellow 1949 Top Gun winner James H. Harvey, is among the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen.
The 1949 “Top Gun” competition was a grueling 10-day event featuring aerial gunnery at different altitudes, dive bombing, skip bombing, rocket firing, and panel strafing. Stewart’s team led from start to finish, flying the obsolete F-47Ns against more advanced aircraft. Despite their victory, the results were kept from the Air Force archives until 1995. Stewart’s teammate, James H. Harvey, remarked, “They knew who won, but did not want to recognize us.” In 2006, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service and bravery.
Stewart’s military career is filled with notable moments. After flying 43 bomber es**rt missions during World War II, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down three enemy aircraft on Easter Sunday, 1945. He continued his service during the Korean War and later in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
After World War II, Stewart worked as a baggage handler and pursued a career in aviation, facing racial discrimination along the way. He later earned a degree in mechanical engineering from New York University and became Vice President of ANR Pipeline Company in Detroit, Michigan. In 2019, Stewart co-authored “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman’s Firsthand Account of World War II” with Philip Handleman.
Stewart was married to Delphine Alice Friend Stewart, the sister of fellow Tuskegee Airman Robert Friend, until her passing in 2015. They had one daughter, Lori Collette Stewart. Stewart currently resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Harry Stewart’s life is a legacy of courage and excellence and continues to inspire.
Happy 100th birthday, Harry Stewart!
Click the link below to leave a message for Lt. Col. Stewart.
https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/birthday-card/harry-stewart
07/03/2024
On July 3, 1943, the Battle of Wickham Anchorage ended in American victory.
The Battle of Wickham Anchorage occurred during the New Georgia campaign in the Solomon Islands during the Pacific War from June 30 – July 3, 1943. US Marines and US Army troops landed by ship around Oleana Bay on Vangunu Island during the operation. They advanced overland towards the anchorage, where they attacked a garrison of Imperial Japanese Navy and Army troops. The purpose of the attack by the US was to secure the lines of communication and supply between Allied forces involved in the New Georgia campaign and Allied bases in the southern Solomons. The US forces successfully drove the Japanese garrison from the area and secured the anchorage, which would later be used to stage landing craft for subsequent operations.
07/03/2024
Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Richard Aldred
Richard Aldred, of Cornwall, England was born on July 3, 1924. A D-Day veteran, Richard served as a Cromwell tank driver with the 7th Armoured Division of the Royal Tank Regiment. At 18, he drove his tank from Normandy through France, Belgium, Holland, and into Berlin, even passing through the Brandenburg Gate. Richard fondly recalls, “It sometimes felt like a sports car; I got it up to 50mph once, going downhill!”
His incredible journey is a testament to his bravery and resilience.
Happy 100th birthday, Richard Aldred!
07/03/2024
On July 3, 1943, the new town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, constructed for workers on the secret atomic bomb project, had its first residents arrive as a family moved into a trailer on the 92 square mile area. It would have 75,000 people within two years, but its existence would be kept hidden until after World War II.
General Leslie Groves, who was in charge of the Manhattan Project, chose Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the site for the Clinton Engineer Works (CEW), the production installation of the Manhattan Project that, during World War II, produced the enriched uranium used in the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, as well as the first examples of reactor-produced plutonium.
It consisted of production facilities arranged at three major sites, various utilities, a power plant, and the town of Oak Ridge. It was in East Tennessee, about 18 miles west of Knoxville, and was named after the town of Clinton, eight miles to the north. The production facilities were mainly in Roane County, and the northern part of the site was in Anderson County. The Manhattan District Engineer, Kenneth Nichols, moved the Manhattan District headquarters from Manhattan to Oak Ridge in August 1943. During the war, Clinton's advanced research was managed for the government by the University of Chicago.
Construction workers were housed in a community known as Happy Valley. Built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1943, this temporary community housed 15,000 people. The township of Oak Ridge was established to house the production staff. The operating force peaked at 50,000 workers just after the end of the war. The construction labor force peaked at 75,000, and the combined employment peak was 80,000. The federal government developed the town as a segregated community; black residents lived only in an area known as Gamble Valley, in government-built "hutments" (one-room shacks) on the south side of what is now Tuskegee Drive.
07/02/2024
WWII Veteran Edward Burke, of Cincinnati, OH, died on June 22, 2024 at the age of 104.
Burke joined the ROTC artillery group while attending Xavier University and began active military duty the day after he graduated in 1942.
He served in several military campaigns with his unit, the A-821st Tank Destroyer Battalion. His service took him to Normandy, the Brittany peninsula, northern France, the Rhineland and central Europe.
Burke was eventually chosen by Gen. George Patton to command the A-821st Tank Destroyer Battalion attached to the 29th Infantry Division through the Battle of the Bulge.
He received the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, the third highest personal decoration for valor in U.S. combat, for his service in the Battle of the Bulge. He was also honored with the Bronze Star for his service at St. Lo, Villebaudon, Vire and Brest, the French Croix de Guerre for the battle at Vire, the French Legion of Honor and the Medal of Honor of Luxembourg.
Burke wrote three books covering his service and the various battles he faced over his four years of service that took him from the rank of lieutenant to a major.
Burke's death was preceded by his wife of 65 years, Betty Lou Hudepohl. The couple had four daughters − Pat, Pam, Jennifer and Jayne − and one son − James Edward Burke.
Rest in Peace, Sir!
07/02/2024
World War II Veteran Charles H. Audet, of Framingham, MA, died on May 27, 2024 at the age of 105.
Charlie, a U.S. Army corporal, was one of the first combat paratroopers in U.S. history and the final survivor of the original members of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an elite paratrooper unit that fought in some of the war’s fiercest battles, including North Africa, Anzio, and the Battle of the Bulge. He was the recipient of a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
At just 5-foot-2-inches, Charlie was one the smallest soldiers in the war. His uniform was custom-made, and because of his size, agility and close relationship with senior officers, he was often assigned to run messages between top commanders on the battlefield.
After the war, Charlie graduated from Boston University and went on to a 27-year career running cost management at Fenwal, a maker of temperature-control systems. He retired in 1984.
Charlie was married to his wife Ellie for 58 years until her death in 2011.
Rest in Peace, Sir!
07/01/2024
Seven Americans who fought and died in Bataan in World War II have been identified in recent months by a specialized military lab in Nebraska. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced last week it had identified, or ‘accounted for,’ the remains of these soldiers this spring.
The seven Army and Army Air Forces soldiers indentified had been captured in the Philippines and imprisoned at Bataan. Japanese guards forced the American and Filipino service members into the marching groups of 100 on the only paved road on the Bataan peninsula at the time. Four Japanese guards were assigned to each group and forced the POWs to march north toward Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac province, 65 miles away. Approximately 12,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipinos died as POWs on the island, though exact numbers remain unknown.
WW II veterans accounted for:
Army Air Forces Sgt. Jack H. Hohlfeld, accounted for May 29, 2024.
Army Corporal Raymond N. DeCloss, accounted for Apr. 29, 2024.
Army Sgt. Sam A. Prince, accounted for Apr. 25, 2024.
Army Tech. Sgt. Charles E. Young Jr., accounted for Apr. 17, 2024.
Army Air Forces Private Robert W. Cash, was accounted for Apr. 3, 2024.
Army Private Jacob Gutterman, accounted for Mar. 26, 2024.
Army Pfc. Joseph C. Murphy, 20, accounted for Apr. 1, 2024.
07/01/2024
This photo taken on July 1, 1944 is of the crew of the USS South Dakota standing with bowed heads, while Chaplain N. D. Lindner reads the benediction held in honor of fellow shipmates killed in the air action off Guam on June 19, 1944. (National Archives)
06/30/2024
On June 30, 1943, General Douglas MacArthur launched Operation Cartwheel, a multi-pronged assault on Rabaul and several islands in the Solomon Sea in the South Pacific. The joint effort took nine months to complete but succeeded in recapturing more Japanese-controlled territory, further eroding their supremacy in the East.
The purpose of Cartwheel was to destroy the barrier formation Japan had created in the Bismark Archipelago, a collection of islands east of New Guinea in the Solomon Sea. The Japanese considered this area vital to protecting their conquests in the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. For the Allies, Rabaul, in New Britain, was the key to winning control of this theater of operations, as it served as the Japanese naval headquarters and main base.
On June 30, General MacArthur, strategic commander of the area, launched a simultaneous attack, on New Guinea and on New Georgia, as a setup and staging maneuver for the ultimate assault on Rabaul. The landing on New Georgia, led by Admiral William Halsey, proved particularly difficult, given the sizeable Japanese garrison stationed there and the harsh climate and topography. Substantial reinforcements were needed before the region could be controlled in August.
One consequence of Cartwheel was a lesson in future strategy. By establishing a “step-by-step” approach to invasion, the Allies unwittingly gave the Japanese time to regroup and establish their next line of defense. The Allies then decided that a new strategy was to be deployed, that of leaving certain islands, or parts thereof, to “wither on the vine” rather than waste valuable time and manpower in fighting it out for marginal gains. A leapfrogging strategy was then employed by MacArthur, whereby he left in place smaller Japanese strongholds in order to concentrate on “bigger fish.”
06/29/2024
World War II Veteran Bill Cheolas of Melvin, Michigan, turned 100 on June 23, 2024.
Bill was a glider co-pilot with the 437th Troop Carrier Group in the Army Air Forces Corps. He flew across the Rhine River on March 24, 1945 in what was called Operation Varsity, the largest airborne operation ever conducted on a single day and in one location.
Cheolas spent a total of seven years in the Air Force, before being discharged in 1950, six months before the Korean War began.
Happy Birthday Captain Cheolas!
06/28/2024
On June 23, 2024, 80 years after his death during World War II, Jewish-American U.S. Army soldier 1st Lt. Nathan B. Baskind, of Pittsburgh, PA, was buried with full military honors at Normandy American Cemetery, France.
In June 1944, Baskind was assigned to Company C, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion, as a platoon commander of four M-10 tank destroyers. Baskind landed on Utah Beach on D-Day and lost his life in the Battle of Cherbourg 17 days later, on June 23, 1944.
In late 1957, the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK) discovered one of Baskind’s identification tags along with remnants of an American-type shirt with a first lieutenant rank and tank destroyer insignia. The remains being commingled in a mass grave, it was determined impossible to separate remains into individual sets. They were re-interred in the Marigny German War Cemetery, 40 miles south of Cherbourg. Subsequent attempts to identify the remains of Baskind by U.S. and German investigators were unsuccessful.
As Normandy American Cemetery was being consolidated in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, the name of Baskind was engraved on the Wall of the Missing.
Operation Benjamin, an organization devoted to ensuring the graves of U.S. Jewish soldiers buried abroad have Stars of David headstones, recovered the first lieutenant's remains with the help of numerous national international agencies.
His identification was confirmed by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in May.
Rest in Peace, Sir!
06/28/2024
Happy 98th Birthday to Mel Brooks!
Some people may not know, but Mel Brooks is not only an actor, comedian, filmmaker, and EGOT winner, but he is also a World War II Veteran.
Brooks joined the United States Army in 1944. He arrived in France in November 1944, and later to Belgium, serving with the 78th Infantry Division as a forward artillery observer. In December 1944, Brooks was transferred to the 1104th Engineer Combat Battalion as a combat engineer, participating in the Battle of the Bulge.
Stationed in Saarbrücken and Baumholder, the battalion was responsible for clearing booby-trapped buildings and defusing land mines as the Allies advanced into N**i Germany. Brooks was tasked with land mine location.
Brooks' unit constructed the first Bailey bridge over the Roer River, later building bridges over the Rhine river. In April 1945, his unit conducted its last reconnaissance missions in the Harz mountains, Germany.
After the war ended in Europe, Brooks joined the Special Services as a comic touring Army bases and he was made acting corporal, put in charge of entertainment at Wiesbaden, and performed at Fort Dix. In June 1946, Brooks was honorably discharged from the Army as a corporal
Happy Birthday Mr. Brooks!
06/27/2024
On June 27, 1944, U.S. troops, under the leadership of Commander Major General J. Lawton Collins, liberated the fortified town and port of Cherbourg in northwest France, freeing it from German occupation.
PHOTO: The mayor of Cherbourg thanks General Collins for liberating the city.
06/27/2024
Today, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Charles Shay, who turns 100 years old. Born on June 27, 1924, into the Penobscot Native American tribe in Bristol, Connecticut, Charles is the eighth of nine children of Leo Shay and Florence Nicolar, the daughter of Joseph Nicolar, author of the 1893 classic book Life and Traditions of the Red Man. At five years old, Charles moved with his parents back to their tribal reservation village on Indian Island in Maine. He attended school in Old Town, crossing the river by ferry or canoe, or walking across the ice in winter.
In April 1943, nearly a year after graduating from Old Town High School, Charles was drafted into the US Army and trained as a combat medic. He joined the 1st Infantry Division, 16th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, then garrisoned in southern England. Known as the Big Red One, this Division had successfully campaigned against German forces in North Africa and Sicily. As a combat medic, Private Shay was assigned to an assault battalion in the first wave of the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944. For his valor on the battlefield, rescuing wounded comrades under enemy fire, he received the Silver Star. After serving in battles such as Aachen, Huertgen Forest, the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and the Rhine near Remagen, he was captured in the Sieg Valley and spent nearly a month in German prison camps before being liberated on April 18, 1945. He was awarded four bronze battle stars and was demobilized after the war.
Shay reenlisted as a medic in the spring of 1946 and joined the Military Police Company headquartered in Vienna. After four years in Austria, where he met his wife Lilli, he returned to the US. In 1950, he was assigned to the Medical Company of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 7th Regiment, which was sent to Japan during the Korean War. Promoted to Master Sergeant, Shay received the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters for Valor and was nominated for a second Silver Star. After his honorable discharge from the US Army, Shay joined the US Air Force Reserve in February 1952 and became an active-duty Master Sergeant. He participated in atomic bomb tests in the Marshall Islands and later served in Germany, where his son Jonny was born.
Shay’s last active duty position was at the US Air Force hospital at Sembach, Germany. After more than twenty years in the military, he retired in 1964 and moved to Vienna. He later worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and as a security officer for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
In 1988, while vacationing in the Penobscot Indian village, Shay inherited his aunt’s property and began restoring it. He dedicated himself to preserving and promoting Penobscot cultural heritage, running a small museum in his tipi and publishing booklets about Penobscots. He facilitated the publication of a new edition of his grandfather’s book, Life and Traditions of the Red Man.
In 2017, Shay was honored at a ceremony dedicating the Charles Shay Indian Memorial in Saint Laurent-sur-Mer Park, overlooking Omaha Beach. The park features a bench, a large turtle carved out of blue granite by Shay’s nephew, Penobscot Indian artist Tim Shay, and a plaque honoring the 500 American and Canadian Indian soldiers who participated in Operation Neptune for the liberation of Normandy on D-Day.
In 2018, Shay moved to France to live with his dear friend Marie-Pascale Legrand, who provides him with exceptional care and has authored a book detailing his extraordinary life. Friends of the National World War II Memorial have had the honor of bringing groups of Americans to Normandy to meet and learn from Charles Shay, celebrating his remarkable contributions and legacy. Friends’ Resident Historian and best-selling author, Alex Kershaw, has also featured Shay in his latest essay, highlighting Shay’s incredible journey and heroism.
Charles Shay’s life is a testament to bravery, dedication, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
Happy 100th birthday, Charles Shay!
Click the link below to leave a message for Mr. Shay.
https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/birthday-card/charles-shay
06/27/2024
Monthly "Top 10" Series on WWII
The Friends of the National World War II Memorial’s monthly “Top 10” series continues with Resident Historian Alex Kershaw’s top 10 female spies during World War II.
Read Now!
https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/blog/top-ten-female-spies
06/26/2024
World War II Veteran Romay Davis, of Montgomery, AL died on June 21, 2024 at the age of 104.
In 1942, Davis joined the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion as one of the 855 Black women who sorted through mountains of backlogged mail for soldiers during World War II. She was the last surviving member. Davis worked in the motor pool, where she drove trucks and cars and kept the vehicles in tip-top shape.
Davis served at a time when the military remained segregated. She received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022.
Davis went on to have a career as a fashion designer and a model. Later in life, she earned her second-degree black belt in Taekwondo at age 70.
She was married for 42 years until her husband, Jerry’s passing in 1999. In 2001, Romay made a decision to come out of retirement. At 81, she put in an application at a Winn-Dixie store in Montgomery. For more than 20 years, she faithfully continued working for the company.
Winn Dixie most recently showered their star employee with affection in October 2023 to mark her 104th birthday.
Rest in Peace Romay!
06/26/2024
The 442d Regimental Combat Team (RCT) was activated on 1 February 1943, composed of American-born Japanese called "Nisei" or second generation. Some volunteered from Hawaii, others from the ten relocation centers on the mainland.
The 442d RCT joined the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy and entered combat 80 years ago today on June 26, 1944, attached to the 34th Infantry Division.
On that day, U.S. Army Private First Class Kiyoshi K. Muranaga of Los Angeles, California, was killed on the first day of action for the 442nd in Suvereto, Italy while single-handedly manning his squad’s mortar weapon in an attempt to destroy an enemy artillery gun.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on June 26, 1944. He was one of the 22 Asian American soldiers who received their medals in 2000.
06/25/2024
Happy 99th Birthday to World War II Veteran Joseph Picard!
Joseph R. Picard was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on June 25, 1925. He was drafted into the Army on August 10, 1943 and was trained as a Cannoneer of a 240mm Howitzer at the Field Artillery Training Center at Fort Bragg prior to being shipped overseas. He was appointed Battery Clerk and in April, 1944, was sent overseas to England. After completing training, they moved across the channel. On June 28 and 29, his unit disembarked on the French coast at Utah Beach and started firing their guns on June 30, 1944. From then on until early September, they supported the 1st Army through Normandy and Northern France. As a descendant of French settlers in New England and Québec, Mr. Picard’s fluency in French allowed him to serve as his battalion’s interpreter, proving to be an asset as the US Army continued its campaign in France.
Later that month, they moved into the vicinity of Aachen, Germany and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in support of the 18th Airborne Corps. On November 5, his best friend, Raymond A. Bolduc was killed by shrapnel from an oncoming artillery shell. After the Bulge, they made their way further into Germany where the 552nd fought from the Roer River to the Rhine River and supported the Remagen bridgehead. At the end of the war they had occupation duty and Joe was honorably discharged on January 1, 1946.
Joseph Picard was awarded several official decorations and citations for his esteemed service, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, the Army of Occupation, the Victory World War II, and a Good Conduct Medal.
On October 26, 2023, Consul General of France Mustafa Soykurt decorated Picard with the French Legion of Honor at his retirement community in Laconia, New Hampshire. Mr. Picard was the only soldier in his battery who survived the war. In a touching speech during his ceremony, Mr. Picard paid his respects to those fallen comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Mr. Picard returned to Normandy for the past three years to attend D-Day celebrations.
Happy Birthday Corporal Picard!
06/25/2024
Today, we honor and celebrate the remarkable life of Harold Bogigian, who turns 100 years old!
Harold was born on June 25, 1924 in Indianapolis, the youngest of four children to Arakel and Arpen Bogigian, Armenian immigrants and survivors of the Armenian genocide. Growing up during the Great Depression, Harold’s family faced many challenges, but they persevered with resilience and determination.
Harold graduated high school in June 1942, as World War II was intensifying. Driven by a sense of duty, he enlisted in the Navy just four months later and began boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He advanced to training school, where he learned Morse code and became a skilled radioman.
His first assignment was on the Liberty ship SS John Stevenson, carrying munitions and supplies to the UK in convoys to evade German submarines. He later embarked on a perilous journey to Murmansk, Russia, in the Arctic Circle—a route known as the “suicide run” due to the constant threat of German submarines and air attacks. Following this, Harold served on the USS PC-612, a sub-chaser patrolling the ports of the Caribbean Sea, which provided a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
After being honorably discharged in 1946, Harold returned to Indianapolis and enrolled at Butler University with the help of the GI Bill. He discovered a passion for advertising and moved to Chicago to study business at Northwestern University. Simultaneously, he started an entry-level job at the Campbell Mithun advertising agency, balancing work by day and school by night.
During this period, Harold met Lucille, and they married, welcoming their first child, Lynn, shortly before he received his BA in Business Administration. Harold and Lucille went on to have two more daughters, Cathy and Janet. He enjoyed a successful career, ultimately becoming the Director of Advertising for Beatrice Foods, a role he cherished until his retirement in 1983.
Harold and Lucille spent many of their retirement years traveling the world together. After 62 years of marriage, Lucille passed away in 2011. Despite this loss, Harold continues to live a fulfilling life in his own home, surrounded by his loving family, which now includes three children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Harold’s life story is a testament to his dedication, resilience, and love for his family and country. His journey from the challenges of his early years to his service in WWII, and his successful career and cherished family life, exemplifies a life well-lived.
Happy 100th birthday, Harold Bogigian!
Click the link below to leave a message for Mr. Bogigian.
https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/birthday-card/harold-bogigian
06/24/2024
"US Navy Chaplain O. David Herrmann preparing to hold religious service for US Marines on Saipan, Mariana Islands, June 24, 1944" (United States Marine Corps)
06/24/2024
The remains of a World War II airman that have been missing for more than 80 years are now resting peacefully in his hometown of Charles City, Iowa.
U.S. Army Air Forces Second Lieutenant Max E. Dailey was a pilot whose plane was shot down during a bombing mission over Ploesti, Romania. The bombing mission was to help destroy 9 oil refineries that were surrounding the city of Ploesti. He was one of 224 other airmen who were killed in action on August 1, 1943, many of whom remain unidentified and are buried in Romanian graves marked "Unknown."
Max Dailey was officially identified in 2023, and he was laid to rest on June 12, 2024.
Rest in Peace, Sir!
06/23/2024
Winston Churchill called Ploesti, Romania, "the taproot of German might", because this is where the N**i Third Reich obtained much of its oil. Five oil refineries circled the city. Ploesti was "the premier oil target of the continent", thus one of Europe's most heavily-defended cities.
On June 23, 1944, the Fifteenth Air Force's mission was the Romanian oil fields and refineries around Ploiesti as the primary target for 761 B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.
Second Lieutenant David Richard Kingsley of Portland, Oregon, was serving as a bombardier in the 97th Bombardment Group.During the raid on June 23, 1944, his aircraft was severely damaged, and several crewmen were wounded by fire from enemy fighters. When the pilot gave the order to bail out of the crippled plane, Kingsley voluntarily gave his parachute to SSgt. Michael Sullivan, whose chute had been lost. Kingsley was killed when the aircraft crashed a short time later.
Kingsley was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on this day.
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Videos
D-Day 80th Anniversary Reading of the Names (Part 3)
D-Day 80th Anniversary Reading of the Names (Part 3)
D-Day 80th Anniversary Reading of the Names (Part 2)
D-Day 80th Anniversary Reading of the Names (Part 2)
D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration at the World War II Memorial
D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration at the World War II Memorial
D-Day 80th Anniversary Reading of the Names (Part 1)
D-Day 80th Anniversary Reading of the Names (Part 1)
From the Sea and Air! Yesterday we relived the story of the American airborne operation on D-Day and the extraordinary success of the Utah landings as we continued with the Friends of the National World War II Memorial “Victory in Europe” tour with New York Times best-selling author and Friends' Resident Historian Alex Kershaw. We explored the story of the U.S. airborne operation by visiting Sainte-Mère-Église, its famous church where John Steele got caught on the steeple, and then the magnificent Airborne Museum. Alex Kershaw continue to lead us through this world-changing history with a visit to the site of the most successful U.S. operation on D-Day – the landings at Utah Beach – pausing at the very spot where Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt came ashore and where the first American to land on D-Day stood. Today: Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and Normandy American Cemetery #VictoryinEurope
V-E Day at the WWII Memorial
V-E Day at the WWII Memorial
Today is the Day! Join us in celebrating the exceptional achievements of Steven Spielberg as he receives the esteemed 2023 Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Unity Award. Watch the exclusive video award presentation below! Spielberg's unparalleled impact on film, society, and the memory of World War II and the Holocaust is truly extraordinary. His narratives, transcending generations, inspire unity, understanding, and positive change. Watch below to be part of this momentous occasion! #McGeeUnityAward #LegacyInUnity #Spielberg2023
Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin “First-Strike” Event at the Philadelphia Mint On Wednesday, December 13, at 11:00 a.m. ET, the Friends of the National World War II Memorial took part in a ceremonial “first strike” of the Greatest Generation Commemorative Coins at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act, signed into law on August 3, 2022, authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint coins in 2024 in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the World War II Memorial. Participants included: -Kristie McNally, deputy director, United States Mint -Jane Droppa, chair, Friends of the National World War II Memorial -Jeff Reinbold, superintendent, National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service -Harry Miller, World War II veteran -Mae Krier, an original “Rosie the Riveter” -Roberta Nolan, WWII War Orphan Deputy Director McNally, Friends Chair Droppa, and Superintendent Reinbold delivered remarks. Guests were then invited to “strike” the first coins. Proceeds from the sales of the coins will support maintenance and repairs of the Memorial, as well as for commemorative and educational programming. The coins will be available for purchase from the U.S. Mint, beginning in late February of 2024 and throughout 2024 only.
Commemorative Coin Unveiling
Commemorative Coin Unveiling
8th Annual Teachers Conference
8th Annual Teachers Conference The Friends of the National World War II Memorial brings educators from around the nation together for an annual conference to learn about the every day men and women of the WWII generation whose character, courage, creativity, determination, and innovation not only led to the winning of the war, but also reshaped America.
8th Annual Teachers Conference
8th Annual Teachers Conference The Friends of the National World War II Memorial brings educators from around the nation together for an annual conference to learn about the every day men and women of the WWII generation whose character, courage, creativity, determination, and innovation not only led to the winning of the war, but also reshaped America.
Activities aboard USS Monterey (CVL-26). Navy pilots in the forward elevator well, playing basketball. (Source: National Archives) #WeRememberThem
We Remember Them *Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial*
D-Day Observance & Dedication of FDR’S D-Day Prayer at the World War II Memorial 2023
D-Day Observance & Dedication of FDR’S D-Day Prayer at the World War II Memorial 2023
2023 Memorial Day Observance at the World War II Memorial
2023 V-E Day Observance at the World War II Memorial
“Deep love for country, support of our military, and the desire to see our nation evolve into a greater state of justice are not at odds with one another. They’re all part of the same vision for the American idea." This Super Bowl Sunday, let's remember inspiring figures like our very own Super Bowl LIV hero, the late Brigadier General Charles McGee, USAF (Ret.) who spoke with Washington Commanders President Jason Wright and Team Vice President of Player Development Doug Williams back in 2020. The discussions covered WWII veteran General McGee’s historic military background as one of the original Tuskegee Airman; Jason Wright and Doug Williams’ accomplishments in the NFL as the first black president of an NFL team and the first black quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl, respectively; and dealing with inequality, adversity, and injustice at this pivotal moment in American history. It touches on issues that cross generations and sports and that impact all of us today. You’ll be moved by the discussions between these three gentlemen. Jason Wright summed up the event with this insightful comment: “Deep love for country, support of our military, and the desire to see our nation evolve into a greater state of justice are not at odds with one another. They’re all part of the same vision for the American idea." #WeRememberThem #SuperBowlLVII
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Our Story
Founded in 2007, the Friends of the National World War II Memorial (Friends) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring and preserving the national memory of World War II and to creating the next “Greatest Generation” of tomorrow. To meet this mission, Friends sponsors an annual public lecture series featuring prominent historians; hosts an annual teachers conference in Washington, DC; and collects and archives video interviews of World War II veterans and other members of the Greatest Generation. Additionally, Friends has the lead responsibility in planning, staging, and funding five or more major national commemorative events annually and is currently sponsoring a national four-year World War II 75th anniversary commemoration. Friends relies on private support to breathe new life into the Memorial and to ensure that it continues to serve as a living lesson for all Americans.
Other Washington D.C. museums
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Monroe Street NE -
& G Sts. NW
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National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian In
Independence Avenue At 6th Street -
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural Histor
Street & Constitution Avenue NW -
Jefferson Drive SW
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F Street NW
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Constitution Avenue NW
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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Independence Avenue At Seventh Street -
National Museum of Women in the Arts
New York Avenue NW -
National Museum of American History
Street and Constitution Avenue
