Viewers' Stories

Read the following World War II stories that our viewers submitted to us online.
Share your own stories here.

From: Monte Rouska

I am a Camp Kearns historian (aka Kearns Army Air Base BTC5). I collect stories about things pertaining to the almost forgotten camp.

I would love to hear from Soldiers and civilian workers who were here. 1942 - 1947. I also collect Pictures. I would copy yours if you desired to keep them. I have also put a small book in the Kearns Library if you want more info on the camp.

Camp Kearns had the largest dental facility in the country, the largest small arms rifle range, (The speed skating oval now sits on the same ground), the second largest hospital in Utah, and was once the third largest city in Utah.... I would love to hear about your stay here.

Monte
Campkearnsman@yahoo.com

From: Lt. Col Blair Hale

I was a bombardier in a B-17 in WWII in the European Theatre. On my seventh mission over Germany my aircraft was shot down and I parachuted out of the plane into the North Sea. I was the only member of my crew to survive. I was eventually captured by the Germans and spent the remainder of the war in a prison camp in Poland. I escaped several times and was a member of a top secret War Department team that had been trained to send and revieve secret coded messages while in the prisoner of war camp. I was eventually liberated by General Patton. I have written a book about my experience and copies have been sent to libraries at Utah State, BYU and Weber State. When I saw your program on WWII I thought you might be interested in the book I have written about my service. I would be happy to provide you a copy. I very much enjoyed the first installment and look forward to the others.

Sincerely, Blair Hale.

From: Jan Hermens

I am collecting The Stars and Stripes newspaper sinds 1944. Made a book about it, see S&S Sunday Magazine October 3, 2003.
Now, I did some research about the issues pubished in 1944, 1945 from D-Day since the end in May 1945. In my opinion, very interesting.
My friend, MG Bowra (ret)is very enthousiast about this part of WWII history.
Greetings,

Jan Hermens

The Other D-Day in the Pacific- The Bennion Boys
By Joyce Luker

Read the story.