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...

‎Ron Alexander‎ to Veterans Against Putintrumpism (VAP)

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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.

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.

Dr. John Wesley Fisher, drafted into Vietnam, has written several books about it , ANGELS IN VIETNAM is my fav. He has severe PTSD, and his interview brought a lot of tears.

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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

Former maid to Adolf Hitler interview

VA: Young veterans' suicide rate has increased