WORLD WAR IIWORLD WAR II1941 - 19451941 - 1945

PORTRAIT OF THE PORTRAIT OF THE AMERICAN AMERICAN

EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE

From 1939 – 1945, the From 1939 – 1945, the world went to war. In all, over world went to war. In all, over 50 countries were involved 50 countries were involved contributing more than 80 contributing more than 80 million soldiers. The conflict million soldiers. The conflict included 16 million Americans. included 16 million Americans. In all, 410,000 Americans In all, 410,000 Americans were killed in places never were killed in places never before known in America like before known in America like Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, and Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Known as the Okinawa. Known as the “Greatest Generation” these “Greatest Generation” these events shaped them. These events shaped them. These are their stories.are their stories.

““A day that will live in A day that will live in infamy”infamy”

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Pacific Fleet was attacked by Japanese Pacific Fleet was attacked by Japanese forces. The attacking planes came in forces. The attacking planes came in two waves; the first hit its target at two waves; the first hit its target at 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 7:53 AM, the second at 8:55. By 9:55 it was all over, and by 1:00 PM the it was all over, and by 1:00 PM the carriers that launched the planes from carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were 274 miles off the coast of Oahu were heading back to Japan.heading back to Japan.

Behind them they left chaos: Behind them they left chaos: 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and a crippled Pacific Fleet that and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships.battleships.

The battleships moored along The battleships moored along “Battleship Row” were the primary “Battleship Row” were the primary target of the attack’s first wave. Ten target of the attack’s first wave. Ten minutes after the beginning of the minutes after the beginning of the attack, a bomb crashed through the attack, a bomb crashed through the Arizona’s deck. The explosion ripped Arizona’s deck. The explosion ripped through the ship’s sides, and she through the ship’s sides, and she sank within minutes taking 1.300 sank within minutes taking 1.300 lives with her. One sailor aboard the lives with her. One sailor aboard the Arizona at the time was Marine Arizona at the time was Marine

Corporal E.C. NightingaleCorporal E.C. Nightingale. .

Battleship RowBattleship Row

The Longest DayThe Longest Day

The Allied invasion of Hitler’s The Allied invasion of Hitler’s “Fortress Europe” began in the early “Fortress Europe” began in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, when morning hours of June 6, 1944, when American and British paratroopers were American and British paratroopers were dropped behind the intended invasion dropped behind the intended invasion beaches along the Normandy coast of beaches along the Normandy coast of France. At dawn, the sea invasion France. At dawn, the sea invasion began as an Allied Invasion of 5 began as an Allied Invasion of 5 beaches. The U.S. targets: Utah and beaches. The U.S. targets: Utah and Omaha Beaches. Omaha Beaches.

Some 50,000 U.S. troops Some 50,000 U.S. troops stormed the beaches. By the stormed the beaches. By the end of the day, the Allies had end of the day, the Allies had achieved a tenuous toehold achieved a tenuous toehold that would be slowly expanded that would be slowly expanded over the next weeks ultimately over the next weeks ultimately leading to the Nazi defeat leading to the Nazi defeat along the Western Front.along the Western Front. One soldier involved in that One soldier involved in that first wave was a 21 year old first wave was a 21 year old paratrooper from Toledo, paratrooper from Toledo, Ohio. His name was Albert Ohio. His name was Albert Hassenzahl.Hassenzahl.

Albert M. HassenzahlAlbert M. Hassenzahl Albert M. HassenzahlAlbert M. Hassenzahl

Albert Hassenzahl, age Albert Hassenzahl, age 21.21.War: War: World War II, 1939-World War II, 1939-19461946Branch: Branch: ArmyArmyUnit: Unit: C Company, 1st C Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne DivisionAirborne DivisionService Location: Service Location: Camp Camp Livingston, Louisiana; Officer Livingston, Louisiana; Officer Candidate School (OCS) and Candidate School (OCS) and Jump School, Fort Benning, Jump School, Fort Benning, Georgia; England; Normandy, Georgia; England; Normandy, France; Holland (Operation France; Holland (Operation Market Garden); Bastogne, Market Garden); Bastogne, Belgium; GermanyBelgium; GermanyRank: Rank: CaptainCaptainPlace of Birth: Place of Birth: Toledo, OHToledo, OH

Women Do Their PartWomen Do Their Part

While soldiers were fighting While soldiers were fighting throughout Europe, it became throughout Europe, it became important to develop some way to important to develop some way to intercept enemy information; a intercept enemy information; a new machine was being invented new machine was being invented and being used in Dayton, Ohio.and being used in Dayton, Ohio.

This new equipment, called the This new equipment, called the Enigma machine, was developed by an Enigma machine, was developed by an Oakwood man, Frank Desch. Under tight Oakwood man, Frank Desch. Under tight security, Building 26 at NCR was being security, Building 26 at NCR was being turned in to a top secret location. turned in to a top secret location. WAVES from all over the U. S. were WAVES from all over the U. S. were coming to Dayton and staying in housing coming to Dayton and staying in housing known as Sugar Camp.known as Sugar Camp.

Each day the WAVES would Each day the WAVES would march down the hill to Building march down the hill to Building 26. Over time, this workforce grew 26. Over time, this workforce grew from 100 to 2,000 workers.from 100 to 2,000 workers. One of these women was Joan One of these women was Joan Precht.Precht.

REGULATIONSREGULATIONS

ENIGMA MACHINEENIGMA MACHINE

Flags of our FathersFlags of our Fathers

One of the bloodiest battle of One of the bloodiest battle of the Pacific Theater was the little the Pacific Theater was the little known island of Iwo Jima. This known island of Iwo Jima. This battle began in February 19, 1945 battle began in February 19, 1945 and lasted until March 26, 1945. and lasted until March 26, 1945. Also known as the Operation Also known as the Operation Detachment, the purpose of this Detachment, the purpose of this battle was to push the Japanese battle was to push the Japanese navy closer to their homeland. navy closer to their homeland.

While not an extremely long While not an extremely long campaign, it was a very costly one campaign, it was a very costly one in loss of life.in loss of life. The Japanese were dug into The Japanese were dug into underground tunnels and fought underground tunnels and fought fiercely. At the end of the fiercely. At the end of the campaign American Marine dead or campaign American Marine dead or wounded numbered over 26,000. wounded numbered over 26,000. Japanese dead numbered over Japanese dead numbered over 18,000 but only 216 were ever 18,000 but only 216 were ever captured and taken prisoner.captured and taken prisoner.

One of the most memorable One of the most memorable events of World War II was the events of World War II was the raising of the flag at Mount raising of the flag at Mount Suribachi. Listen to Cpl. Charles Suribachi. Listen to Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg’s account of this now W. Lindberg’s account of this now famous event.famous event.

Raising of the first flagRaising of the first flag

““Oh my god, what have we Oh my god, what have we done?”done?”

After 6 months of bombings in After 6 months of bombings in Japan and a refused ultimatum, Harry Japan and a refused ultimatum, Harry S. Truman signed an executive order S. Truman signed an executive order to unleash a “secret weapon” on a to unleash a “secret weapon” on a Japanese city. A well known pilot, Japanese city. A well known pilot, Paul Warfield Tibbets was chosen to Paul Warfield Tibbets was chosen to command the mission.command the mission.

He had begun training in 1944 for He had begun training in 1944 for such a mission in Utah as part of the such a mission in Utah as part of the 105105thth Composite Mission in connection Composite Mission in connection with the Manhattan Project.with the Manhattan Project.

On August 5On August 5thth, Tibbets , Tibbets officially named B-29 bomber 44-officially named B-29 bomber 44-86292, the Enola Gay after his 86292, the Enola Gay after his mother. Then on August 6mother. Then on August 6thth at at 2:45 AM, this famous mission left 2:45 AM, this famous mission left Tinian in the Marianas Islands Tinian in the Marianas Islands carrying just one bomb. At 8:15 carrying just one bomb. At 8:15 AM the plane reached its AM the plane reached its destination of Hiroshima. The destination of Hiroshima. The bomb, “Little Boy” was dropped bomb, “Little Boy” was dropped and history was changed forever.and history was changed forever.

It’s Over !!!!It’s Over !!!!

For four years our young For four years our young Americans fought bravely along side Americans fought bravely along side of our Allies throughout the world. of our Allies throughout the world. On May 8, 1945, the European On May 8, 1945, the European Theater had ended signaling VE Day. Theater had ended signaling VE Day. While there were celebrations at the While there were celebrations at the end of Nazi occupation in Europe, end of Nazi occupation in Europe, they were tempered by the realities they were tempered by the realities of work yet to be done in the Pacific.of work yet to be done in the Pacific.

Then finally on August 14, 1945, Then finally on August 14, 1945, the long awaited news of Japan’s the long awaited news of Japan’s surrender filled the airwaves: VJ surrender filled the airwaves: VJ Day. It was finally over.Day. It was finally over.

Next year we will celebrate Next year we will celebrate the 70the 70thth anniversary of Pearl anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Our young soldiers of Harbor. Our young soldiers of World War II have now become World War II have now become the elderly population in their the elderly population in their 80s and 90s. 80s and 90s.

We are losing this generation at We are losing this generation at a rate of more than 7,000 every a rate of more than 7,000 every week. Let us take the opportunity week. Let us take the opportunity to save and share their amazing to save and share their amazing stories while they are here to tell stories while they are here to tell them.them.

Dedicated to the men and Dedicated to the men and women of World War II.women of World War II.