Comments for KETC Your Stories - St. Louis Remembers World War II

Comment on Veterans Day by Michele

Michele — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:04:53 +0000

I am the VP of the WWII War Brides Association. We will be having our 2010 reunion in St Louis. This year it is being held in San Francisco the first week of October.

I have created a DVD with interviews of many WBs and will be doing it again at this year’s reunion. I think it would be wonderful if you were to talk to many of these couples when there are here next year. I would love to get the word out that the Association will be here and it is open to all War Brides and their family. We have nearly 500 members from all 50 states and overseas.

Comment on Help Someone Record a Memory by Margo (Doyne) Saunders

Margo (Doyne) Saunders — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:30:48 +0000

It is extraordinary that I have just come across the information that you posted about the St.Louis glider crash, and the information about your father. I am the granddaughter of Max Doyne, the Director of Public Utilities who was killed in the crash. Max’s death affected my father deeply (he was 16 or 17 at the time). Max’s friends and colleagues were incredibly kind in looking after my father and and my grandmother for years afterwards. My 2 sons and I now live in Australia, but I have taken them to the St.Louis City Hall (wonderful building!) to see the commemorative plaque with their great-grandfather’s name.

Comment on Veterans Day by Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:04:51 +0000

We should be observing this holiday now more than ever. This weekend is the time to be thinking about issues confronting our troops and their families. A good way to get involved is to check out the the Wounded Warrior Project. It’s a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for U.S. troops severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of this conflict. Here’s a link:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebshow

Jeff

Comment on Another D-Day, Part 2 by Edward S. Marek

Edward S. Marek — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:16:40 +0000

I am doing a story for my web site about the planned invasion of Japan’s home islands, and trying to convey how the men felt as they fought their way from the Solomons to Iwo Jima and Okinawa, because these same men, many of them, would next have to invade Japan had the Japanese not surrendered, which they almost did not do even after the A-bombs. These two Marines interviewed in this piece are so typical of the courageous warriors who fought that war. I had a lump in my throat listening to them and watching them. I took some notes and will include them in my effort. I would emphasize that there were three plans on the table at bout this time, and the first two had execute orders issued to General MacArthur, Admiral Nimitz, and General Arnold: drop the Atomic bomb, invade the home islands using three Armies and, if necessary, use more A-bombs as tactical weapons; hurry up and occupy the home islands should the Japanese government and emperor collapse, a plan which would have roughly followed the invasion plan.

Comment on Help Someone Record a Memory by Barbara Martin

Barbara Martin — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:52:55 +0000

I remember the glider crash because of how it affected me personally. At the time we were living in Jefferson City as my father, Milton M. Kinsey, was serving as chief engineer of the Missouri Public Service Commission. When the mayor and city officials were killed, Alyois Kaufman – then chairman of the Board of Aldermen – became mayor. He had to replace two of the officials and asked my father to come back to St. Louis to become Director of Public Utilities. He later became Chairman of the Board of Public Service, a position also held by my grandfather, E.R. Kinsey, 20 years earlier. My father had served in WWI as an engineer and had volunteer during WWII because of his engineering experience but was not called to active duty.

Comment on Ken Burns, Live from the Sheldon by Sharon Boyd-Davis

Sharon Boyd-Davis — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:18:37 +0000

I was glad Mr. Burn defined the “greatest generation” by their sacrifice. I also agree sacrifice was the key to their greatness. I recently wrote a tribute to my grandfather for a book being published, and I also referred to ‘the sacrifices’ as defining that generation.

Excerpt: “The men and women who fought during World War II have been referred to as the “Greatest Generation.” A generation of people who have lost everything and still managed to hold on to their beliefs and common sense. The selfless actions taken to aid others by these brave soldiers, who had no promise of reward, cannot be rivaled. This elite generation consisted of a diverse group of individuals. There were the upper echelon, the poor immigrants, the proud farmers, the African Americans, the Native Americans, and a host of others. From this “melting pot” of citizens comes the common bond of patriotism. This bond was a driving force behind the determination and the will to overcome the spread of evil.” “There was no political outcry by the thousands protesting our mission, instead men rising above there own limitations to secure our freedoms.” “What other generation has rose above their diverse backgrounds, economic disaster, ethinic prejudice, and moral consciousness. This group of individuals pulled together for a cause that was greater than themselves. The amount of patriotism and bravery distributed by these average citizens, has yet to be challenged.” “As a country, we sacrificed together for a greater good. I don’t think we will ever see that number of selfless sacrifices again.”

My grandfather, Teddy Sutherland, served during World War II in L Company of the 324th Infantry Regiment of the 44th Division under Lieutenant General Alexander M. Patch, Commanding General of the U. S. Seventh Army.

Comment on Getting the Word Out—1940s Style by Kate Shaw

Kate Shaw — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:12:49 +0000

Who knew that Bauhof was such a sap for vintage art?? I guess we know what to get you for your birthday now. I see why everyone loves these posters though–they are heroic but also kind of sexy, like the pulp fiction book covers from that time. I definitely would have given Capt. Gable, oops, I mean the Red Cross, all that I could…

Comment on 4,889 Individuals by Kate Shaw

Kate Shaw — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:31:56 +0000

Until it went into production, the list of names was a 2-inch stack of papers that Dale carried with her wherever she went. I remember seeing this stack for the first time at one of our meetings and I was kind of stunned by the significance of it. I went through the names then and found some of the friends and family members mentioned by people I had interviewed. It made all of the talk of death very, very real. I am so glad that we are paying tribute to these folks who are still so vividly remembered so many years later…I will be watching Saturday night for the same reason, with my heart going out to all of the people who lost someone in WWII.

Comment on Help Someone Record a Memory by robpatrob

robpatrob — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:15:40 +0000

Here is a lot more information about Waco Gliders and the crash in St Louis – posted on the Ohio War Stories Site

http://www.ohiowarstories.org/wp/?p=26

The glider in St Louis was made by Robertson’s a subcontractor to Waco. The faulty part by of all things a coffin making firm!

Comment on Help Someone Record a Memory by In Extraordinary Times, There Are No Ordinary Stories | Ohio War Stories » Blog Archive » WACO Gliders built in Troy

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:27:05 +0000

[...] 87 year old woman who had also witnessed the crash phoned in the story to KETC St Louis this weekend. Posted by robert.paterson Filed in Videos, [...]