Friday, August 23, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
(I know of a WW2 vet, just turned 100. He flew P47 then a P51 in the pacific theatre.
(I know of a WW2 vet, just turned 100, April 3. He flew P47 then a P51 in the pacific theatre. He was there thru the end, flew over Hiroshima after the bomb. He’s in Minnesota. Born in North Dakota, family of farmers. You could interview him thru his daughter, his hearing is bad—mind is sharp tho! Interested?) to help me ask questions, thanks, Ron]
First LT. Kermit BJORLIE (Army Air Corps) joined after grad. North Dakota State.
IN LAST YEAR OF WAR GOT TO New Guinea in early1945, saw a brother pilot go down in the ocean shooting at boats. Island hopped up to Okinawa, where there was lots of action, then hopped over to the Phillipines after MacArhur's invasion force. From there, they switched to P-51's which he did not like as well. Flew over Nagasaki and Hiroshima seeing ships turned over in the bay, and only two buildings left standing. He remained as occupying force in Japan for 3 months, then shipped home.
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II era fighter aircraft produced by the United States from 1941 through 1945. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack role it could carry five-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 pounds
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Save our VA
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Saturday, February 23, 2019
Pres. Trump's former lawyer will testify before three Congressional committees next week as the White House braces for the Mueller report. Rep. Jim Himes of the Intelligence Committee previews Cohen's testimony and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says Dems might subpoena the Mueller report if it is not made public.
Friday, February 22, 2019
The Office: Michael Scott Times Sq
Billionaires paying to put up anti-progressive propaganda in Times Square is like the obscenely rich version of the scene where Michael Scott points to the Bubba Gump and saying “This is it, this is the heart of civilization, right here.” 
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Friday, February 15, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
This is the courageous man Robert Redford played in A BRIDGE TOO FAR
South Carolina lost one of its heroes Jan. 4 when World War II veteran Moffatt Burris died at age 99. He was one of many heroes who helped save the world from tyranny in the 1940s. He fought to liberate Sicily and at Anzio to free Italy. But perhaps his most memorable exploits, described in his memoir "Strike and Hold," came as paratrooper who participated in Operation Market Garden, a failed attempt to hasten the end of the war with a massive troop jump into Holland.
This battle was later documented in the book "A Bridge Too Far" and the motion picture of the same name. In 2016 Burris sat down with South Carolina Public Radio to recall his experiences, and we now present a few of those recollections again in his memory.
Major Burris was the man who cursed the English Colonel who would not take his tank brigade across the bridge to fight the Nazis who had the 10,000 British Parachuters surrounded, after they were foolishly deployed at command of Montgomery. He obtained some inflatables and got his men (some of them) over as they were being shot at by Nazis. Then he met up with a Nazi division who were fleeing Berlin and the Russians. He had two officers and a jeep driver with him, and they talked the Nazis into surrendering. "You it rather be us or be the Russians?" Then later he was the first American into Berlin both times defying orders. He later met up with the British Colonel who he had called a scumbag coward for not taking his tank company across the Bridge. At that time the Colonel had become a "Lord" and confronted him again...
This is the courageous man Robert Redford played in A BRIDGE TOO FAR (RIP 4 Jan. 2019 at age 99)
This battle was later documented in the book "A Bridge Too Far" and the motion picture of the same name. In 2016 Burris sat down with South Carolina Public Radio to recall his experiences, and we now present a few of those recollections again in his memory. In addition, Columbia historian Jack Meyer adds commentary on Operation Market Garden.
This battle was later documented in the book "A Bridge Too Far" and the motion picture of the same name. In 2016 Burris sat down with South Carolina Public Radio to recall his experiences, and we now present a few of those recollections again in his memory. In addition, Columbia historian Jack Meyer adds commentary on Operation Market Garden.
To Larry Dandridge and retired Fed. employees: My Father was a retired Federal Employee and a WW2 Marine at Okinawa
I am enjoying presenting my interviews at Library of Congress and American Legion. Most of them are WW2 interviews, and the last one is very good, and can be seen on YouTube. Harry Noisette was on a WW1 ship refitted here in Charleston. And was part of a convoy to protect aircraft carriers across the Atlantic from U-boots, and was credited with sinking a few. Then they landed troops on French Coast during that D day. And also Free French Troops at Algeria. After, Europe WW2 was over, their convoy cruised to Okinawa, where it was sunk by Kamikazis. He was awarded 2 bronze stars for his heroism. I met Harry at Roper, where I did my cardiac rehab, and continue at the fitness center. Harry still uses the fitness center 20 years after triple by-pass surgery and graduating from same cardiac rehab. The ships on the Convoy mostly have local names like Baker, Clemson, Roper, Berry, etc. Clemson was credited with sinking 8 U-boats and was also converted into small aircraft carrier for spotter planes, which helped a lot in spotting the U-boots. Harry saw one large U-boot servicing a smaller one, then was horrified to watch the larger one ram one of the convoy ships. Both vessels sunk, and Harry's boat went to the rescue of the Americans, and was able to pull most of them out of the oil-slick. Another interesting thing about Harry is that he is observing his 70th wedding anniversary Feb. 15th. He is a great role-model, being 20 years older, to keep on working out after graduating from cardiac rehab. The VA center sent me over to Roper, as the Cardiac Rehab there is run by one part-time physical therapist who is dedicated overworked and not much to work with. That could be a next fundraiser Larry! His YouTube video is seen at key words Ron Alexander, Harry Noisette, WW2 Navy Vet. And with my short one about Barry, Dogtags and Body Bags, A tribute to CWO Barry Alexander. Soon I will have one up on The Wisdom of WW2 Veterans.
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This presented interview was with Sgt. Tom Barksdale, the last of Hogan's History, and he was quite a hero there awarded two bronze stars. There is a great book by the tunnel digger called THE FLAMES KEEPER. and credits "Pappy" (he was the oldest at 22) with saving the life of one of the navigators and was a leader in the POW barracks at Stalag 17.
Larry, the Library staff informed me that they are way understaffed and behind several years to digitalize the interviews, so with permission with vets and/or their families to move them to YouTube, are you interested in working with me to get your interview on YouTube? Thanks for your service and support, Ron Alexander
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