[Music] you know when I was talking to sunny
you know when I was talking to sunny
you know when I was talking to sunny yesterday he asked me when did you
yesterday he asked me when did you
yesterday he asked me when did you become interested in World War two and I
become interested in World War two and I
become interested in World War two and I told him when I was 8 years old
told him when I was 8 years old
told him when I was 8 years old and immediately I knew that was a
and immediately I knew that was a
and immediately I knew that was a mistake because I figured if he said
mistake because I figured if he said
mistake because I figured if he said that in front of a crowd like this they
that in front of a crowd like this they
that in front of a crowd like this they would immediately think Oh bet he had a
would immediately think Oh bet he had a
would immediately think Oh bet he had a normal childhood World War two was the
normal childhood World War two was the
normal childhood World War two was the greatest conflict the world has ever
greatest conflict the world has ever
greatest conflict the world has ever seen
seen
seen it ended more than 71 years ago with a
it ended more than 71 years ago with a
it ended more than 71 years ago with a peace surrender on the deck of the
peace surrender on the deck of the
peace surrender on the deck of the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay you
battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay you
battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay you would think that now that we’re in the
would think that now that we’re in the
would think that now that we’re in the 21st century everything possible would
21st century everything possible would
21st century everything possible would have been written about World War 2 and
have been written about World War 2 and
have been written about World War 2 and no I guarantee you there’s still plenty
no I guarantee you there’s still plenty
no I guarantee you there’s still plenty of history to write there’s still plenty
of history to write there’s still plenty
of history to write there’s still plenty of stories to be told
of stories to be told
of stories to be told here’s one I bet you haven’t heard my
here’s one I bet you haven’t heard my
here’s one I bet you haven’t heard my stepmother was an English woman from a
stepmother was an English woman from a
stepmother was an English woman from a Royal Navy family her stepfather
Royal Navy family her stepfather
Royal Navy family her stepfather bear with me here was a lieutenant in
bear with me here was a lieutenant in
bear with me here was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1940 he told me the
the Royal Navy in 1940 he told me the
the Royal Navy in 1940 he told me the story at once of how he was in the
story at once of how he was in the
story at once of how he was in the destroyer hero in a battle in a
destroyer hero in a battle in a
destroyer hero in a battle in a Norwegian Fjord now there were
Norwegian Fjord now there were
Norwegian Fjord now there were explosions torpedoes shells and it was a
explosions torpedoes shells and it was a
explosions torpedoes shells and it was a bad day for the fish in the fjord
bad day for the fish in the fjord
bad day for the fish in the fjord apparently lieutenant Alcock didn’t have
apparently lieutenant Alcock didn’t have
apparently lieutenant Alcock didn’t have enough to do so during the battle he
enough to do so during the battle he
enough to do so during the battle he spent his time fishing these poor fish
spent his time fishing these poor fish
spent his time fishing these poor fish out of the water
out of the water
out of the water and I thought okay well that’s a
and I thought okay well that’s a
and I thought okay well that’s a different story I don’t think that ended
different story I don’t think that ended
different story I don’t think that ended up in the captains report of the battle
up in the captains report of the battle
up in the captains report of the battle if it had it might have gone like this
if it had it might have gone like this
if it had it might have gone like this may it please their Lordships in this
may it please their Lordships in this
may it please their Lordships in this action my ship sank two German
action my ship sank two German
action my ship sank two German destroyers and oh yes lieutenant alcohol
destroyers and oh yes lieutenant alcohol
destroyers and oh yes lieutenant alcohol collected 47 fish it’s not how it went
collected 47 fish it’s not how it went
collected 47 fish it’s not how it went here’s another story that I bet you
here’s another story that I bet you
here’s another story that I bet you haven’t heard before that’s begging to
haven’t heard before that’s begging to
haven’t heard before that’s begging to be completed in 1942 an American naval
be completed in 1942 an American naval
be completed in 1942 an American naval task force was making its way across the
task force was making its way across the
task force was making its way across the North Atlantic to join the British
North Atlantic to join the British
North Atlantic to join the British it was led by Admiral Billy Wilcox the
it was led by Admiral Billy Wilcox the
it was led by Admiral Billy Wilcox the weather was awful high seas wind and
weather was awful high seas wind and
weather was awful high seas wind and rain one day when they were in the
rain one day when they were in the
rain one day when they were in the middle of the North Atlantic and where
middle of the North Atlantic and where
middle of the North Atlantic and where Wilcox was seen on the quarterdeck of
Wilcox was seen on the quarterdeck of
Wilcox was seen on the quarterdeck of his flagship the battleship Washington
his flagship the battleship Washington
his flagship the battleship Washington alone a few minutes later a sailor
alone a few minutes later a sailor
alone a few minutes later a sailor called out man overboard but the weather
called out man overboard but the weather
called out man overboard but the weather was so bad the man couldn’t be saved
was so bad the man couldn’t be saved
was so bad the man couldn’t be saved well it turned out the man overboard was
well it turned out the man overboard was
well it turned out the man overboard was Admiral Wilcox it also happened that in
Admiral Wilcox it also happened that in
Admiral Wilcox it also happened that in his cabin his suitcase was packed
his cabin his suitcase was packed
his cabin his suitcase was packed now people had a lot of theories but
now people had a lot of theories but
now people had a lot of theories but nobody saw what happened to him I’ve
nobody saw what happened to him I’ve
nobody saw what happened to him I’ve learned that in an archive somewhere
learned that in an archive somewhere
learned that in an archive somewhere there’s a file on Admiral Wilcox that’s
there’s a file on Admiral Wilcox that’s
there’s a file on Admiral Wilcox that’s closed until the year 2018 maybe then
closed until the year 2018 maybe then
closed until the year 2018 maybe then we’ll find out what really happened to
we’ll find out what really happened to
we’ll find out what really happened to him and that story will be completed now
him and that story will be completed now
him and that story will be completed now there’s more to the history of world war
there’s more to the history of world war
there’s more to the history of world war 2 than just stories like these but
2 than just stories like these but
2 than just stories like these but stories like these can teach us so much
stories like these can teach us so much
stories like these can teach us so much a few years ago at the Pacific War
a few years ago at the Pacific War
a few years ago at the Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg I listened to
Museum in Fredericksburg I listened to
Museum in Fredericksburg I listened to Marine corporal Hershel Williams tell
Marine corporal Hershel Williams tell
Marine corporal Hershel Williams tell his story he was at the Battle of Iwo
his story he was at the Battle of Iwo
his story he was at the Battle of Iwo Jima the one where a photographer Joe
Jima the one where a photographer Joe
Jima the one where a photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the famous flag
Rosenthal captured the famous flag
Rosenthal captured the famous flag raising corporal Williams was given a
raising corporal Williams was given a
raising corporal Williams was given a flamethrower and he was ordered to take
flamethrower and he was ordered to take
flamethrower and he was ordered to take out Japanese pillboxes and that is what
out Japanese pillboxes and that is what
out Japanese pillboxes and that is what he did with the help of marine riflemen
he did with the help of marine riflemen
he did with the help of marine riflemen who were assigned to protect him at one
who were assigned to protect him at one
who were assigned to protect him at one point Japanese soldiers charged him with
point Japanese soldiers charged him with
point Japanese soldiers charged him with their bayonets but he fought them off he
their bayonets but he fought them off he
their bayonets but he fought them off he won the Medal of Honor for this but what
won the Medal of Honor for this but what
won the Medal of Honor for this but what I remember most about corporal Williams
I remember most about corporal Williams
I remember most about corporal Williams is that he took no credit he gave all
is that he took no credit he gave all
is that he took no credit he gave all the credit to the marine riflemen who
the credit to the marine riflemen who
the credit to the marine riflemen who protected him especially the four who
protected him especially the four who
protected him especially the four who were killed doing it
were killed doing it
were killed doing it from corporal Williams we learn what it
from corporal Williams we learn what it
from corporal Williams we learn what it took to defeat the Japanese in World War
took to defeat the Japanese in World War
took to defeat the Japanese in World War two and we learn about courage and
two and we learn about courage and
two and we learn about courage and humility World War two created an entire
humility World War two created an entire
humility World War two created an entire generation of veterans with stories that
generation of veterans with stories that
generation of veterans with stories that we can learn from it’s the job of
we can learn from it’s the job of
we can learn from it’s the job of historians to tell those stories and to
historians to tell those stories and to
historians to tell those stories and to tell the history of the war not to
tell the history of the war not to
tell the history of the war not to glorify war hopefully not to glorify
glorify war hopefully not to glorify
glorify war hopefully not to glorify that war but to learn from it and maybe
that war but to learn from it and maybe
that war but to learn from it and maybe to humanize it now there’s no time limit
to humanize it now there’s no time limit
to humanize it now there’s no time limit on writing history but the people who
on writing history but the people who
on writing history but the people who made history the people who fought the
made history the people who fought the
made history the people who fought the war can’t live forever and we’re rapidly
war can’t live forever and we’re rapidly
war can’t live forever and we’re rapidly losing the veterans of the World War two
losing the veterans of the World War two
losing the veterans of the World War two generation to me this becomes very real
generation to me this becomes very real
generation to me this becomes very real when I pick up the phone and I call up
when I pick up the phone and I call up
when I pick up the phone and I call up one of the veterans I know who’s still
one of the veterans I know who’s still
one of the veterans I know who’s still alive this by the way is corporal
alive this by the way is corporal
alive this by the way is corporal Williams this by the way is a ship
Williams this by the way is a ship
Williams this by the way is a ship called HMS Eagle this ship was the one a
called HMS Eagle this ship was the one a
called HMS Eagle this ship was the one a friend of mine in Fred Davenport was in
friend of mine in Fred Davenport was in
friend of mine in Fred Davenport was in I called him up a few days ago and hoped
I called him up a few days ago and hoped
I called him up a few days ago and hoped that he would answer the phone
that he would answer the phone
that he would answer the phone Fred had told me the story about how his
Fred had told me the story about how his
Fred had told me the story about how his ship was hit by four u-boat torpedoes
ship was hit by four u-boat torpedoes
ship was hit by four u-boat torpedoes and sank in five minutes if Fred had
and sank in five minutes if Fred had
and sank in five minutes if Fred had been in his usual battle station in an
been in his usual battle station in an
been in his usual battle station in an ammunition magazine down below he
ammunition magazine down below he
ammunition magazine down below he wouldn’t have gotten out but thankfully
wouldn’t have gotten out but thankfully
wouldn’t have gotten out but thankfully he did thankfully he answered the phone
he did thankfully he answered the phone
he did thankfully he answered the phone when I called but Fred is 95 all of the
when I called but Fred is 95 all of the
when I called but Fred is 95 all of the World War two veterans I know are in
World War two veterans I know are in
World War two veterans I know are in their 90’s except for one a marine named
their 90’s except for one a marine named
their 90’s except for one a marine named ron van Stockham who just turned a
ron van Stockham who just turned a
ron van Stockham who just turned a hundred now these veterans are priceless
hundred now these veterans are priceless
hundred now these veterans are priceless we’re lucky to have them but they’re not
we’re lucky to have them but they’re not
we’re lucky to have them but they’re not going to live forever
going to live forever
going to live forever but maybe all is not lost if we talk to
but maybe all is not lost if we talk to
but maybe all is not lost if we talk to the veterans we now have we record what
the veterans we now have we record what
the veterans we now have we record what they say
they say
they say and if we look for things that the
and if we look for things that the
and if we look for things that the veterans who are no longer with us left
veterans who are no longer with us left
veterans who are no longer with us left behind like memoirs diaries letters
behind like memoirs diaries letters
behind like memoirs diaries letters photographs those things are treasures
photographs those things are treasures
photographs those things are treasures that historians can use to tell stories
that historians can use to tell stories
that historians can use to tell stories sometimes the treasure is in the form of
sometimes the treasure is in the form of
sometimes the treasure is in the form of a letter for instance on the battleship
a letter for instance on the battleship
a letter for instance on the battleship Washington an officer was censoring a
Washington an officer was censoring a
Washington an officer was censoring a letter that a sailor was writing to his
letter that a sailor was writing to his
letter that a sailor was writing to his mother back home and the letter went
mother back home and the letter went
mother back home and the letter went something like this
something like this
something like this dear mom if you knew where we was and
dear mom if you knew where we was and
dear mom if you knew where we was and what we was going to do you’d get
what we was going to do you’d get
what we was going to do you’d get yourself loved Jake
the officer who sent this insert this
the officer who sent this insert this letter said he knew exactly how Jake
letter said he knew exactly how Jake
letter said he knew exactly how Jake felt and that Officer happened to have a
felt and that Officer happened to have a
felt and that Officer happened to have a famous name it was Douglas Fairbanks Jr
famous name it was Douglas Fairbanks Jr
famous name it was Douglas Fairbanks Jr who spent the entire war in the US Navy
sometimes the treasure can come in the
sometimes the treasure can come in the form of a memoir lieutenant Alastair
form of a memoir lieutenant Alastair
form of a memoir lieutenant Alastair Robertson was the navigating officer of
Robertson was the navigating officer of
Robertson was the navigating officer of this ship HMS abdiel his daughter
this ship HMS abdiel his daughter
this ship HMS abdiel his daughter Catherine is the keeper of his private
Catherine is the keeper of his private
Catherine is the keeper of his private memoir of the war in the memoir he tells
memoir of the war in the memoir he tells
memoir of the war in the memoir he tells a story about how one evening he was on
a story about how one evening he was on
a story about how one evening he was on the bridge of the ship talking to a
the bridge of the ship talking to a
the bridge of the ship talking to a signalmen when the cinnamon suddenly
signalmen when the cinnamon suddenly
signalmen when the cinnamon suddenly blurted out to see them pulposus over
blurted out to see them pulposus over
blurted out to see them pulposus over there well all eyes looked over in that
there well all eyes looked over in that
there well all eyes looked over in that direction but what they saw was not
direction but what they saw was not
direction but what they saw was not porpoises they were the tracks of
porpoises they were the tracks of
porpoises they were the tracks of torpedos heading straight for the ship
torpedos heading straight for the ship
torpedos heading straight for the ship to avoid them the captain ordered hard
to avoid them the captain ordered hard
to avoid them the captain ordered hard a-port but to lieutenant Robertson the
a-port but to lieutenant Robertson the
a-port but to lieutenant Robertson the ship took
ship took
ship took unconscionable amount of time to turn
unconscionable amount of time to turn
unconscionable amount of time to turn well she finally did just in time
well she finally did just in time
well she finally did just in time and those porpoises missed the ship by
and those porpoises missed the ship by
and those porpoises missed the ship by 30 feet now sometimes the treasure is
30 feet now sometimes the treasure is
30 feet now sometimes the treasure is something that a veteran used in the war
Canadian Spitfire pilot Jerry Smith left
Canadian Spitfire pilot Jerry Smith left behind a log book and a diary and those
behind a log book and a diary and those
behind a log book and a diary and those are kept by his younger sister Wendy
are kept by his younger sister Wendy
are kept by his younger sister Wendy in 1942 Smith flew Spitfire off the
in 1942 Smith flew Spitfire off the
in 1942 Smith flew Spitfire off the American aircraft carrier wasp bound for
American aircraft carrier wasp bound for
American aircraft carrier wasp bound for the island of Malta after he took off
the island of Malta after he took off
the island of Malta after he took off his gas tank didn’t work properly
his gas tank didn’t work properly
his gas tank didn’t work properly and he decided to land back on board the
and he decided to land back on board the
and he decided to land back on board the aircraft carrier problem was no one had
aircraft carrier problem was no one had
aircraft carrier problem was no one had ever landed a Spitfire on an aircraft
ever landed a Spitfire on an aircraft
ever landed a Spitfire on an aircraft carrier before there was a good reason
carrier before there was a good reason
carrier before there was a good reason for that because the Spitfire didn’t
for that because the Spitfire didn’t
for that because the Spitfire didn’t have a hook to catch one of the wires
have a hook to catch one of the wires
have a hook to catch one of the wires along the flight deck to stop it much of
along the flight deck to stop it much of
along the flight deck to stop it much of the crew of the wasp was watching
the crew of the wasp was watching
the crew of the wasp was watching breathlessly as this story unfolded the
breathlessly as this story unfolded the
breathlessly as this story unfolded the first time Smith came in for a landing
first time Smith came in for a landing
first time Smith came in for a landing he was waved off he was coming in too
he was waved off he was coming in too
he was waved off he was coming in too high too fast he came around again this
high too fast he came around again this
high too fast he came around again this time he’d landed on the flight deck and
time he’d landed on the flight deck and
time he’d landed on the flight deck and he started to break nobody thought he
he started to break nobody thought he
he started to break nobody thought he was going to make it
was going to make it
was going to make it except maybe him but he did he stopped
except maybe him but he did he stopped
except maybe him but he did he stopped his plane just short of the bow with six
his plane just short of the bow with six
his plane just short of the bow with six feet to spare the crew went wild he went
feet to spare the crew went wild he went
feet to spare the crew went wild he went down below decks remember this is a dry
down below decks remember this is a dry
down below decks remember this is a dry ship somebody slipped him a whiskey
Smith eventually made it to Malta he
Smith eventually made it to Malta he shot down some German airplanes flying a
shot down some German airplanes flying a
shot down some German airplanes flying a Spitfire off Malta but a few months
Spitfire off Malta but a few months
Spitfire off Malta but a few months later he went missing in action chasing
later he went missing in action chasing
later he went missing in action chasing a German bomber out to sea
a German bomber out to sea
a German bomber out to sea thanks to Smith’s sister Wendy I can
thanks to Smith’s sister Wendy I can
thanks to Smith’s sister Wendy I can tell you his story thanks to lieutenant
tell you his story thanks to lieutenant
tell you his story thanks to lieutenant Robertson’s daughter Katherine
Robertson’s daughter Katherine
Robertson’s daughter Katherine I can tell you his story thanks to the
I can tell you his story thanks to the
I can tell you his story thanks to the families of veterans we can continue
families of veterans we can continue
families of veterans we can continue telling stories from World War two and
telling stories from World War two and
telling stories from World War two and that is where you can come in this is
that is where you can come in this is
that is where you can come in this is where you can help if you still have a
where you can help if you still have a
where you can help if you still have a veteran in your family talk to the
veteran in your family talk to the
veteran in your family talk to the veteran see if he or she is willing to
veteran see if he or she is willing to
veteran see if he or she is willing to talk maybe they’re not as reticent as
talk maybe they’re not as reticent as
talk maybe they’re not as reticent as they were before and record what they
they were before and record what they
they were before and record what they have to say if your family had a veteran
have to say if your family had a veteran
have to say if your family had a veteran from World War two then see if they left
from World War two then see if they left
from World War two then see if they left behind something that can help tell
behind something that can help tell
behind something that can help tell their story of the war in a big way or a
their story of the war in a big way or a
their story of the war in a big way or a small way with help from people like you
small way with help from people like you
small way with help from people like you historians can continue telling the
historians can continue telling the
historians can continue telling the history of the war well into the 21st
history of the war well into the 21st
history of the war well into the 21st century historians are not done with
century historians are not done with
century historians are not done with World War two and I hope you’re not
World War two and I hope you’re not
World War two and I hope you’re not either now believe it or not there’s
either now believe it or not there’s
either now believe it or not there’s more to history than World War two
more to history than World War two
more to history than World War two there’s history all around us we’re here
there’s history all around us we’re here
there’s history all around us we’re here today by the San Antonio River at the
today by the San Antonio River at the
today by the San Antonio River at the Witte museum which tells the story of
Witte museum which tells the story of
Witte museum which tells the story of San Antonio and South Texas see if your
San Antonio and South Texas see if your
San Antonio and South Texas see if your family has something that can help tell
family has something that can help tell
family has something that can help tell that story I’d like to dedicate this to
that story I’d like to dedicate this to
that story I’d like to dedicate this to two veterans first my father up here who
two veterans first my father up here who
two veterans first my father up here who was a lieutenant in the United States
was a lieutenant in the United States
was a lieutenant in the United States Army in World War two he was wounded in
Army in World War two he was wounded in
Army in World War two he was wounded in the Battle of Anzio in 1944 and believe
the Battle of Anzio in 1944 and believe
the Battle of Anzio in 1944 and believe me he had the scars to prove it also to
me he had the scars to prove it also to
me he had the scars to prove it also to a man I never met a marine named Mike
a man I never met a marine named Mike
a man I never met a marine named Mike Flynn Mike Flynn was my mother’s college
Flynn Mike Flynn was my mother’s college
Flynn Mike Flynn was my mother’s college sweetheart at the University of Texas
sweetheart at the University of Texas
sweetheart at the University of Texas during the war he went off to war and he
during the war he went off to war and he
during the war he went off to war and he was killed in the Battle of Okinawa
was killed in the Battle of Okinawa
was killed in the Battle of Okinawa just three days before the end of the
just three days before the end of the
just three days before the end of the war and I’ve been hearing about in most
war and I’ve been hearing about in most
war and I’ve been hearing about in most of my life may we never forget our vet
of my life may we never forget our vet
of my life may we never forget our vet and long may we tell their stories thank
and long may we tell their stories thank
and long may we tell their stories thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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