World War II

World War II started in 1938 and ended in 1945. To date, more deaths occurred during this conflict than any other war on record. The U.S. officially entered the war with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which killed over 2,000 people and brought havoc to Pacific military battleships and fleet.

As a high school student, it was an honor to interview three American World War II heroes featured on the right of this page. These courageous men fought the wars on two fronts: Europe and the Pacific.

On the European front, CPL Alvin Fehlman served in Europe at the Battle of the Bulge and was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was held in five prison camps as a POW and suffered some of the worst conditions of WW II. On the Pacific front, SSG John DeHesus served on the Isle of Mindanao at the 90th Field Hospital. WT3 John Badamo served on Patrol Craft #290 protecting the U.S. from Japanese submarines and on the weather ship USS Sacramento in preparation for the U.S. invasion of Japan.

Both CPL Fehlman and SSG DeHesus had the privilege and honor of being selected to tour the WWII Monuments in Washington, DC with Honor Flight, which is documented on this website. WT3 Badamo is on the list to participate in 2013.

The videos and photo-galleries featured on this website are the first-hand accounts of WWII veterans who shared their experiences for the Veterans History Project and the Library of Congress Folklore Division. With the aging population of WWII veterans, we are honored to capture their recollections, cherish their memories, and learn directly from their voices. We thank them for being true American Heroes.

To view the World War II Memorial, visit: http://www.nps.gov/nwwm/index.htm