I-Search Interview #3 Taylor James

Going into the third interview was more nerve racking then the first two. Not knowing who she was made it twice as hard for me to try to control myself being nervous at the beginning. Throughtout the interview I tried my best to not make any mistakes by focusing on the questions i had on hand, instead of worrying about how awkward and uncomfortable it made me feel. After this interview, it occurred to me that getting out there and finding information out for myself was easier and way more interesting then having to sit at a computer and do all the research from there. This experience made me open up more to talking and meeting new people and just the feeling of someone else having the same thoughts and opinions that you can relate to. Try your best to just relax, follow up on good questions, not feel uncomfortable and most importantly have fun!

I-Search Interview #2 Taylor James

My second interview was not as bad as I thought it would be. Knowing the first two people i interviewed made it way more calm and relaxing. I would have to say the only hard part about this interview was trying to figure out more questions to come up with, maintaiting the nervousness I build up right before having to do something, and just making the interview understandable to myself and my interviewee. Having to make up different questions was the hardes part because i did not want to keep asking the same questions and getting the same asnwers. Being really nervous like i am, i try really hard to not make mistakes and to let the conversation flow. When, going into the second interview be sure to make an appointement as soon as possible because learning from the first interview it might be very hard to get an appointment. Another thing, if you are as nervous as you were the first interview, dont be just think of all the positives that you can get from this experience.

The Unforgettable

I will never forget the day my son left, it was June 22 1941. He packed his things and headed on his way. I already knew that this was our last goodbye. I knew that him entering the “Operation Barbossa” that he would most likely not make it out. This was such a gut wrenching feeling, knowing this will be the last time you see your son and being nothing you can do about it. I had tried stopping it before but now the time had come and he had to go through with it. Inside I was broken but I had to stay stong for my daughter, Adal. My eight year old girl was all that I had left and I was all she had left.

Months and months had gone by before I hear d any news, but I knew what happened. I just wish that we would have spent the time we had wisely instead of fighting about it. No one can come into a place demanding something that is not theirs and expect to get it, especially when the place your demanding it from is bigger, stronger, and on their own land. You can not help but to be worried sick the entire time about what horrible things could be happening, I get sick just thinking about it.

By February 2, 1943 they surrendered to the red army . Over 150,000 people died, 45,000 died during the march to prisoner of war camps and in the end there were only about 7,000 survivors. When he did not return home I knew that my worst fear had come true, he was gone forever. The Germans did not get their land so “Operation Barbossa” was pointless.

An unforgetable day

May 1, 1945
Dear Journal,
Ace! The war seems to slowly be cooling down and as I write this journal entry while in a cafe smoking my baccy. It seems safe to be out in the open rather than it was for the past ten years or so. Today, I woke up from my bunk and walked down the street to the Market as I pass by a propaganda about the Germany suffering which gave myself an uplifting feeling. I came home that night and told my family at the dinner table what I saw on the way to the market. They thought it was too good to be true and that their powers will restore. Let's see what lays ahead of us.

May 7. 1945
Dear Journal,
Holy shmokes! Breaking News! GERMANY SURRENDERED. But does that mean the war has ended? It must mean that right? It would make no sense to continue a war. Hitler was in charge of most of the military and made stupid decisons! He underestimated our army and the ability to fight against his. His decisons made us fall right into path to defeat and possibly end the war!

May 8, 1945
Dear Journal,
THE WAR IS OFFICIALLY OVER and Europe is in peace. We can all sleep in our beds without worrying or hearing gunshots. Today was probably the most memorable day of all the history of Britain. I went to the city to see many people partying, having beers, cheering, and crying. The troops came back and was able to feel their firstborn's touch. Thousands gathered together and celebrated the tremendous news! As I'm writing this journal entry on the sidewalk, I hear the tears and cries of joy. Now that we are at peace, it's time to fix our economy.

June 20, 1945
Dear Journal,
It's been a litle bit over a month and Britain still continues to party. I'm not used to hearing peace at night and sleeping restfully on my bed. Ever since I was a small child, the breakout of the war was intense. The newspapers seem to be selling out with all the news that has been going on. Word on the street, Hitler died the next day he surrendered. Hoorah! Let's keep it this way.

More Than Good, Just Good Enough

It was the day we got called in to help evacuate the soldiers in Dunkirk by boat. As we approached the dead, cold bodies floating in the water, I noticed a boy. He was particularly young, and was very weak willed. I could tell by the look in his eyes he couldn’t handle the horror of seeing these dead bodies. “Just walk away son, it’ll only get worse” was what I said to the boy I’ll never forget, Philip J. Butler.

The name’s Hugh, Hugh Colt. I am quite a young fellow myself. I grew up in ze slums of Dunkirk. I never considered myself to follow in the footsteps of my father. He was a great father, but even a better general. I always looked up to him and hoped one day I would be as great as he was but I knew I wasn’t good enough after he died in World War I. That just crushed my little heart. When I was 15 my brother was 18, the man of the house. It was time for him to go and join the military so I knew it was my turn to take over the household. A few years passed and it was my turn to join. My mother was devastated. She couldn’t stand the fact she might lose her children too. My story begins here.

It was quite a foggy day, not like the others. We were camped out by a river. I came out of my tent to just sit and get some fresh air. There weren’t many of us, maybe 4,000 or so. We were on our way to France. General Adaams approached me; he was my father’s dear friend. “You know, following in your father footsteps is quite hard, but I think you got what it takes to be a general like him.” I then knew it was my duty to fulfill my father’s wish. I went back to my tent and could barely sleep that night.

The next morning we were awoken with sudden yells of the generals. General Adaams took me with him and gave me my fathers pin. I put it on with pride and took a few troops with me to head on towards France; when we suddenly got an urgent message:

“Dépêchez-vous! Les Allemands envahissent la France. Nous avons besoin de troupespour venir l'aider à évacuer la ville de Dunkerque!”

It read to us that we must hurry to Dunkirk. The German’s were invading and we were needed immediately to help evacuate Dunkirk by boats. We set off right away.

It’s that point in the story now where everything’s all caught up. Philip J. Butler was like a little brother to me. I barely knew him but I could see a part of myself act as he does. We were both determined to save these soldiers. But when I saw him look at those soldiers, dead, I didn’t think he could handle it. But I knew he was strong like I was. We got to Dunkirk and it was time to start evacuating the soldiers, loading them onto the boats as fast as we could. Until one soldier, one soldier I just had to save. One more, one more I thought could be saved. I jumped into the water with hope this soldier and I would make it. I jumped. It felt like I was falling in slow motion, until I hit the water. My whole body just went numb. I couldn’t give up now, I had to save this one soldier and get back to the boat. I felt like I was slowly dying. Freezing to death. But I got that soldier and paddled back to the boat as fast as I could. My soldiers grabbing my hands pulling me in. I didn’t think I’d live. I pulled Philip in closer to me, “I hope you can be as good a general as a soldier.” Handing him my pin, I was gone.

the Day Nothing Could Kill Me

I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I can still smell the gas burning and hear the young men screaming on the beach, suffering from a variety of wounds. I was a infantryman on the runner bulldog. As we approached the shores I heard the man on the intercom yell out my number “six”, I was to be in the first wave out of the runner, the most dangerous one. The ride was horrifying to say the least, in the distance you hear bombs dropping, machine guns sounding off, and the occasional bullet slam against the draw door. My unit, the tenth mountain, were the usual grunts right out of the marine basic training, we were the expendables.

Back home in ohio, I was a football star and the usual all American boy from the normal family. I had no understanding of the outside world beyond my county’s lines. Even my basic training unit was based out of a town twenty minutes away. I went through the training course like no problem, but after graduation we were told rumors of a mass deployment to re-take Europe from hitler and all of us were going. Sure enough two weeks later I got my deployment letter from the president complete with a copy printer signature…pssh some respect they give us troops.

The day before we left silence was the band as we lay in our bunks setting sail to our fates. Nobody really thought much of what we were going to do, but then again nobody for sure knew what we were going to do, so morale was high as we heard voices of troop pep gals over the radio. We had an immediate briefing on our assignment later that day. We were to be deployed tomorrow on the beaches of Normandy and the only detailed subject covered was to kill as many enemy as we could and we were wished good luck, the final words said to us by our general was “ Last rights will be read at nineteen hundred sharp.” Jee what a way to make us feel good about what we were doing, but it was too late it was lights out and we were invading in the morning. The only sound that night was the sound of planes dispatching down the runways to drop off the hundred and first boys behind the lines, man those mac’s had moxy, you would never catch me behind the lines at night, or even in a plane! Every soldier from seventeen to twenty nine lay in there bunks stone quiet wondering what awaits them on that beach.

It was a cold morning as we entered the runners, “match boxes” we called them, made of pure cold steel which made it even colder. We were told not to wear jackets because they would weigh us down on the exit. Everything was splittingly loud and violent, I remember stepping foot off the matchbox then blackness. I woke up to my sgt yelling at me “Wake up boy! Theres work to do!” I later found out that I was hit by the precussion wave of an enemy mortar. I sluggishly and lathargicly ran up the dunes, occasionally ducking down for cover from the incoming fire. Then suddenly I was hit from behind by the butt of a rifle, I turned around only to see it was a german soldier with his bayonet drawn. I reckon he meant to slit my throat and not give it a second thought, but he chose the wrong soldier and the fight was on. Using all my might I fought him off through the agony as the little advantage of strength he had over me allowed him to lasserate my forearm, and as I saw my life before my eyes a sudden inner strength, a fight to survive exploded in me and as I turn him over and sink the knife into this man’s chest I was plagued with the sight of watching the light leave his eyes, he was the first person I ever killed. Chatter of rounds being fired and bombs exploding seiced only leaving the screams of both friend and foe to be heard, we had won, the forst stage of the mission was a complete success, at least in the eyes of the pentagon. As I sit on the roof of an enemy’s bunker going through hysterics over what I had done, the only thing my sgt had to say to me was “Get up! Get on you’re feet boy! There is more work to do!”

I returned home later that year, forever change by the war. I was emotionless and cold, I did not feel joy to see my family or girlfriend again, what I felt was a sort of fakeness and emptiness in the smile on my face. We had won, the whole mission was a complete success and Europe was taken back from Hitler. Inside I could not feel anything, but I understood that what I did was right and that what I did was apart of the ending of this horrible war. As I will forever be changed by this war and the things I did wrong, I will also remember what great things I did for this country and for others, and no one can take that from me, even with a bayonet.

D-Day, Your Army Experience

June 5th, 1944
Mid-aftertnoon your sitting on your bunk, looking at a photo of your daughter and your wife. You miss them alot, wishing you were with them. "Listen up!" said Lt. Colonel James Rudder, catching your attention. Everyone froze on what they were doing and looked at Lt. Colonel Rudder. "All of you Rangers will be deployed tomarrow. An hour after the first wave of soldiers deployed on the beach." he said in a mild tone. "Be ready at 0530, can i get a hoo-ahh?" he said. "Hoo-ah!" Dog Company yelled out. Everyone went back into what they were doing. You laid down on your bunk, staring at the ceiling. Ranger Garcia, one of your best friends, came up to you. "Whats up with the fown, bro?" he said. "Nothing, I just miss my family at home." you said in a mild tone. "Yea, I do too, bro." he said.
Few hours later, everyone asleep in their bunks, your still awake. Your remembering all of the great times you had with your wife and daughter. You can't sleep at all, hoping and praying to God that you survive the raid tomarrow. You wish you didnt join the army at all. This night was one of the longest nights you ever had. You turned to your side and closed your eyes, thinking of your daughter.

June 6th, 1944
Its 0630, the first wave of soldiers were sent. You are about to go on Omaha Beach. Checking on your gun, making sure your loaded up and everything. An hour pasts and your heading torwards the beach already. You coming closer and closer. Your looking around and you see all of your Company sitting in the boat, with their guns held tight near their chest. Everyone ready to fight, Ranger Garcia comes and sits next to you. "I got your back through, the whole way, bro." he yelled, grabing your shoulder. "Lets go!" you said in motivation. The thought of your daughter taking her first steps made you stare off to space. Garcia pushing you, "Lets GO! Get out of the boat!" You didnt notice that you landed on the beach. You got up and started to sprint to cover. Garcia was behind you, running and shooting. He fell and for a quick second you turned back and got him quickly back up on his feet. Bullets flying everywhere, all you hear is gun shots, yelling, and people dying. It is not the greatest thing you heard, but all you worried about is to get to your objective. Finally getting to a German Bunker, you start to shoot German resistance. Your Company conquering the German bunker, started to go more inland to your final objective, which was to clear a house. You and your Company was in an open feild of grass, with the house in sight. The house was two stories and all the windows were closed, it looked untouched, abandoned. Getting closer and closer to the house. A Sniper shoots Ranger Garcia, that is right next to you. "Sniper!!" one of the soldiers yelled. Everyone dropped and went into low crawl torwards a trench that was near. "Cover fire!" you ordering the other soldiers. Your Company shooting at the house, you picked up Ranger Garcia and brought him into the trench. He isn't responding, your checking his body to see where he was shot, finally nothicing he was shot in the middle of his head. Not noticing that the Company is still shooting you fall back not beleiving that your best friend died next to you. You pick up your rifle, looking at Ranger Garcias dead body and finally focused on your objective. You and your Company went torwards the house cautiously. You and your Company clearing the house.
Everyone clearing rooms, you came to a room that was closed. You kicked the door down. Looking down your sights, a German Sniper comes out of the corner and tackles you. You dropped your rifle and you go into hand to hand combat, which you were an expert at. Fighting him and punching him as hard as you can. Blood coming out of his nose, he punched you. He took out his knife, about to stabb you in the chest you stop him. Fight with all of your strength the knife came closer and closer to your chest. Your wondering where everyone else is at, and that you can use their help. You hear a gun shot, the German Sniper dies. You thorw him off you. Ranger Price shot him, he helps you up. "Thanks man," you said in releif, picking up your rifle off the ground. You and your Company cleared the house, you were finshed with your objective and that you can go home.

June 7th, 1944
Your finally going home. After this what you experienced, you don't ever want to be in the army ever anymore. This was your last mission. Losing your best friend that you grew up with made you think. You literaly came close to death. You feel acomplished for what you did and you wondered why you joined the army. It is not the greatet, like you thought years ago. You thought you will come back with pride, which you did, but you also came back with your best friend dying. Joining the army isn't what you thought it was going to be.

The Day that Normandy stood still

You are a French teenager during the WWII, you’ve been on this earth for 17 years. You have lived in France all your life and have come to love it. You’re a good kid, you respect your parents and try your hardest in school and it pays off. You’re about to go into the world and to go get a job. Today is your last day in school, and the kids are saying their goodbyes, you bought your teacher a gift to show your token of appreciation and you talk to her about where your going to go after and what job you think of getting into. June 6, 1944 was your day the day when you. Politically you were part of the French Resistance; you hated the Vichy government, your nations pride was deeply damaged when the Nazis took over. I worked for the allies. You gave them information on what the Nazis intelligence. You walked with a limp because when you were young you fell off the back of a motorcycle when your uncle was driving and another motorcycle clipped your uncle. You unfortunately broke your knee and now walk with a small limp, it’s not too noticeable but if someone looks at you closely they can notice it.
While you’re talking to your teacher you hear the radio about a war going on, you are sick and tired of hearing about these wars so you ignore it. You and your teacher are about to leave, you hear people screaming outside you decide to go check out what was happening, you see a French man running and you stop and ask him what was happening, as he tries to wriggle himself free from your strong grip he gets shot in the head, his brains were spatter all over your face, the other Nazi saw you and he started chasing and shooting at you. You knew you were in trouble the teacher looked up from her bag and saw your bloody face; she just stands there in shock. You run and hide in the closet behind the classroom. The Nazi makes it into the classroom and asks the teacher where you are. She said she didn’t know he hits her with the gun and threatens to kill her if she doesn’t tell him where you are. She says she doesn’t know in a shaky voice. He cocks the gun back and shoots her right between the eyes. You stand there, not able to move then you feel a sharp pain in your left knee the same knee that you broke when you were young. You knew eventually the Nazi would look around the classroom and it wouldn’t be long before you were found. You found the jacket on the hangers and threw them over yourself. After you heard the door open you didn’t dare to even breathe. He opened the door and took a glance. He left right after but you don’t dare to move a muscle until you know he’s gone for sure, so you wait for 10 minutes. You know that you wont be safe here in this school building so you try to go find a way out of it people outside were still running and screaming and you can see the bodies on the ground. You slowly get on the floor and creep up to the edge of the door to peek outside, you see a Nazi soldier walking around near you, you immediately act dead, with the bleeding knee and bodies all around he can’t tell the difference. After he passes by you get up and go to the nurses office in your school, you arrive at the office where the office is and notice that the principle and everything in there has been shot, you hop to the medical cabinet and take care of your wound. You sit there for a while, thinking about what just happened. Then you hear footsteps and the door opening you sit there not able to go anywhere or hide anywhere. You see that they are Americans and raise your hands to show your surrender. You pull out your papers to show them that you were part of the resistance and not the Vichy. You were then taken to a ship where they were taking all the citizens of where the war was.

the battle of britain

The battle of Britain

The war battle of Britain started in the mids of July. How the beginning of the battle of Britain started is they attacked air plane site and there defenses. In august day 25 through 28 year 1940 Britain stared to bomb Berlin. In September 17 1940 Hitler postpones the invasion of Britain. On 15 September now known as Battle of Britain Day the Luftwaffe launched two huge bombing raids on London. Believing that the RAF was close to a breaking point. The attacks were a repeat of their monumental and devastating attack eight days before. Smaller formations of German planes were also planned to attack Portland and Southampton. The Luftwaffe had introduced a significant change of tactics on 7 September. They had switched away from attacking RAF bases and radar stations to focus on bombing London.

Pedro was an 18-year-old a worker at a government factory when bomb raids flattened the factory in Fremont area on 24 and 26 September 1940.lots of my friends were killed. The sirens went and we just relaxed across to the shelter and had a game of cards for entertainment. Then we heard the airplane engines. I was the one nearest to the door so I looked out and I saw Swastikas so I ran and hid behind a shelf and I screamed take cover!!!. After every one took cover I just started to hear bombs dropping. After the planes left we were digging the dead bodies and clearing all the area.

About one 25% of all the workers were killed. Production was quickly moved to 28 other sites around Southampton as well as Reading, Hungerford, Newbury, Salisbury and Winchester. A bus depot near the area was one of seven factories where wings and fuselages were built. The Germans were flying over us every day. We could see what was happening in the skies over our head and how important it was to keep building the planes.so that kind of motivated all of us too work on planes even harder. The leaders were thinking of turning all the factories into spitfire. Readers of this newspaper have also contributed thousands of dollars towards a project to build a memorial to the aircraft.

We all worked as a team work to make air planes faster which they are called spitfire. All of us had some bad and hard moment’s very hard moments. But we all tried our best too work it out.one of my best friend his name was Eric died because a wing of a spitfire hit him and spread his body in half. My other friend called pancho was there in the moment when the wing hit Eric. Pancho then started to scream for help he felt really bad in that moment.

When the war ended I was the happiest person in the world because I survived the battle of Britain. I was very lucky because a lot of factory workers didn’t survive the battle of Britain. Almost half of the people we had died in the battle of Britain. When the war ended it was a huge relief knowing that I was lucky enough to be a survivor.as soon as a month passed I started to right my history and how it happened.

D-Day Your U.S. Army Ranger Story

June 5th, 1944

Making sure all of your equipment is ready for batle; Lt. Colonel James Rudder walks in and sits in a chair near you. He gave you the orders on having Dog company raid and area called Dog White. "Have Dog company ready before they send the first wave of soldiers on the beach," Lt. Colonel Rudder said in a soft voice. You agreed, to his orders and stood up and soluted him.

Find Your People

My third interview was with Rose Black, it was fantastic. She's a poet, and I had a great time talking with her. The thing she told me was to "find your people" and to not be afraid of critique. This applies to everything in life, so I'm just throwing that out there.
I realize this is our last interview, but I guess for future reference (if you ever have to find an interviewee for something), don't be afraid to ask everybody. Don't hesitate, some of the people you'd least think to ask will be the most help to you. Possibilities are endless, don't shy away.
I've spent a lot of time letting opportunities pass me by, or being shy. It's a waste of time.
Step outside of yourself, find and pursue something you love, and you'll find the world isn't what it seems to be. It's often better. "Or worse. Either way you're stuck here." (Auriana Viegas Telephone Interview) ....Isn't the pessimism BEAUTEEFOOL?

Journals during evacuation of Dunkirk

Hello my name is Francis Martin. When I was 18 I left home to fight in the war. I was stationed in Dunkirk when things started to get serious. I decided it would be a good idea to keep records of the important events that I was witnessing. Here's what happened:

26 May, 1940

Today was the first day of what the british call Operation Dynamo. From the looks of it, they are evacuating troops from the beaches and from Dunkirk Harbour. However, not French troops. They are evacuating men from the British Expeditionary Force. It looks like they are making progress, but it doesn't seem like they have enough ships. I would guess only a couple thousand troops will get out today. I hope they evacuate us French troops soon, as the Germans are coming! I hear the Germans are advancing near Dijon, my hometown. I hope my family is okay. I got a letter from my mother saying what was happening. She said they were going to try and find a way out of the war zone. This was two weeks ago, and I haven't heard from them since.

30 May, 1940

By now about 125.000 troops have been taken out. The rescue effort has really picked up. Now they are rescuing French, as well as British troops. They have sent in more boats, from all around, and of all different sizes. They are putting troops on very tiny boats, maybe even as little as 15 feet. It seems as though they are just using any floating object they can find. As far as the soldiers go, men stand in the water for hours on end waiting to board the ships. Some hold their belongings over their heads, but others just get everything wet because they are shoulder-deep in water. While we are al waiting to be taken, there have been several heavy aerial attacks by the Luftwaffe. They hit us hard, but we have still been able to manage to proceed with the evacuations. So far the evacuation has been much more successful than originally planned, I think mostly because we overestimated the arrival of German troops.

4 June, 1940

Today the last of us were evacuated from the Harbour. We were able to get almost 339.000 troops out of Dunkirk before the germans arrived. There were two french divisions, however, who stayed behind to supervise the evacuation. When the Germans arrived, they were captured and eventually surrendered. I was very lucky to be on one of the last boats out. The boat was very uncomfortable, because they packed as many people aboard as possible. The final hours of evacuation were very frantic and many people stood in the water and waited. People were rushed onto the boats, as we tried to save as many people as we could. As far as my family goes, I still haven't heard from them. Oh well, I'm sure they're fine. When I get back to base I will write to them again. While we have lost three destroyers, and the Royal navy has lost six, I still think this evacuation has saved hundreds of thousands of lives, including my own. For that I am thankful.

After this I was repatriated and shuttled to Normandy, where I was eventually captured and made a POW. I'm still here in this camp just trying to survive. I sure hope this dreadful war ends soon.

Heart breaking story.

My name is Lorena Richardson. Am a 45 year old mother to 1 great looking son named Johnny Richardson. He is 20 years old and he is bout to taken away to go fight in VE Day. I have one son and his dad left him and all he has in his life is me (his mom). I'm so sacred for him I dont want him to leave my side. If anything happens to him i would be all by myself and i would be in drepession. I dont have a husband to comfort me or a family they left me when I had my son. All i want is for him is to go serve his time that they want him to do, and come home safe and healthy. So i wish my son good look and dont forget about me and that i will ALWAYS LOVE HIM.

My son left with the other military team to go fight in VE Day. When I watched my son walk out my door and enter the military car I cried and cried, he was going to be gone for a short or long time, it depends how long VE Day last. Knowing my son is going to be gone away from me is heart breaking. Hopefully I get to see him real soon. If Hitler didnt want to fight Europe my son would be home enjoying the day with me. The month went by and she still havent heard her sons vocie and didnt get news about how is he doing. Me as a mother is wondering how my son is doing, Eating Healthy, Getting the amount of Water or is he sleeping on something comfortable. All i want is for him is to have what he has in our house and living his life the way he wants.

May 7, 1945. Lorena just woke up and took a shower eat breakfest and did her daily prayers. She heard a knock on the door and she rushed to the door thinking it might be her son and it was a officer. Mam' My name is Officer Jospeh Michaels and am here to tell you news about your son Johnny Richardson, She yes is it good or bad? Its could be both, he said Johnny got shot in his back 4 times, but he survived.
May 16, 1945, Johnny Richardson came home and gave his mom the biggest hug and cried and had the most emotional 5 hours of there life. Lorena sand Johnny went out and had dinner and spend there rest of there lives as happy as they could be, Lorena finally found a man that finally treated her right and the got married 5 years later, Johnny found a girl and got married 5 months after his mom and had twins. They are happier then they could be:)

Super Fictional Story

One day playing outside with my friends I heard my mom shouting inside the house so I ran inside and asked what was happening. She just starred at me like if she was hopeless, I didn’t know what to say. Just by the look of her face I knew their was something wrong but I didn’t know exactly what it was. Running up to my mom she hugged me tightly, something she never does to me. Telling me that everything would be alright, when I didn’t even know what was happening I was just 13. Everyone calls me Boose in my family but my real name is Jack Daniels. My dad said he was going on a trip with some of his soldier friends but since I caught him one day with his suit, I knew he was a soldier.

Mom said she couldn’t tell me what she was screaming about until she got more information on what was happening. Seeing that my Dad hasn’t been home on the day he said he would be I knew it had something to do with him. Late at night when my mom had fallen asleep I sat on my bed, thinking that I was eager to know. So I went off sneaking into my moms rooming hoping to get the newspaper she read and I was successful. I started to read carefully and I saw that very serious event were happening not to long from where I live. Having the thought that my Dad could be in their gave me a sick feeling to my stomach making me want to fall asleep to stop thinking about it.

The next day I told my Mom that I found out what she read about and she started to cry. She told me that she didn’t know what to do, and holding her tightly I tried to cheer her up telling her everything would be alright. Waiting for the next newspaper it finally hit our house, the headline was “Belgium in Danger?”. I was scared I am not going to lie because finding out that Germany is getting closer to us terrifies me in the way of what I heard what they did to the other countries. Me and my mom started getting prepared for the worst, getting warned everywhere that the invasion had been getting closer. Since my father was not around I knew I had to stay tough and hope for the best.

Later on the week, I couldn’t sleep it was midnight and I had waken up because of gun shots that were being fired not to far from my home. My mom rapidly got up, came to my room and took me with her, she just wanted to make sure I was okay. Wanting to check outside I did, when my mom wasn’t looking but I found a other newspaper that looked freshly print. Reading that how Germany got through Belgium and was starting to invade France. My heart dropped for a second as if I was being chased by death, adrenaline started to kick in. The only thing that was in my mind was my father, the time me and my mom need him the most he’s not here.

Germany coming through invading, everyone was scared. France ended up surrendering as we all had to but the battle wasn’t over. The last newspaper we ended up getting was that soldier evacuated through Dunkirk and that their was new plans and strategies that were going to be used. Making me happy at the moment was good but knowing that I’m still in the present of what’s happening right in front of me was all bad. Thought we might, just might have a second chance to turn it around but knowing that Germany is powerful I also had second thoughts. Hopefully we get them back and my Dad returns back to me and my Mom that’s all I want.

My days on the front lines

Journal entry 1: August, 1939

My name is Nikolai Belinski. I'm a 35 year old Russian soldier who is about to be enrolled into the military. I don't know much about it but I want to look back on my past if i can. So for that reason, i created this journal. My father Schoshovick Belinski was a one of the USSR's finest Generals. As i grew up without ever seeing him, i heard so many great stories about him. But even after this, i still wasn't interested in the military. But today i must go and leave my family because I have been called in to duty..

Journal entry 2: Day 1, September, 1939

A truck came by my house to pick me up to bring me to the sign ups. As i peered inside, i could see many men with grueling faces awaiting for my arrival with them. I was nervous to go out to war because i don't know a lot about it currently. When we arrived at the embassy, we get briefed that there was something called the "Munich Pact" made with Germany involved. Great! Anything with Germany involved to me is always a bad thing. Ever since that Hitler guy or whatever came to power, Germany has been getting a lot power. I wonder how he is gonna use this power. I hope we don't eventually go to war with them..

Journal entry 3: Day 26, September, 1939

A lot of training has gone by and I've been learning more about being a true Russian soldier. I have wounds so bad that i need bandages. One soldier went ballistic and cut me a few times with a ballistic knife. Damn did that hurt. And to bring this day down for me, is that we got informed earlier that we made a Non-aggression Pact with Germany which apparently says that us and Germany wont attack each other. Blah! I hate Germany! But our sergeant has informed us that we are invading Poland along with Germany. WWII will officially begin tomorrow..

Journal entry 4: Day 145, October, 1939

I have returned back from the invasion but not in good condition though. I was shot in the shoulder and I'am now in the infermery. This pain is unbearable! But to bring some good news, the invasion was a success and we now have control of Poland. As I left early because of my injury, I have heard that Germany has also annexed Poland. What great victory that we have achieved! As the battle lasted quite awhile and difficult, i'am glad that i could be there to fight for my country! Soon i will be out of the infermery and get back into the action!

Journal entry 5: November, 1941

It is sad for me to say but..but Nikolai has died as a result of war. He and I were stationed on the front lines to oppose the invasion of Germany when he was shot by a German sniper. He was a good soldier that loved this country. I'am Kliment Voroshilov who has been his friend in this god forsaken war with him. I'am writing in his journal to concluded his story. He knew that Germany would one day betray us, and he lived to see that his assumption was true. Rest in peace Nikolai..

Fredrik and the Fall of the French

September 21, 1920
My name is Fredrik Vonmeister Reichenbahm. I was born of a happy German family on November 15th, 1891. I was raised in a family along with two other brothers and a sister. Being a child, I was always fascinated with playing guns or rather that I could win. Seeing my beloved country of Germany in a weak economic state sometimes made me bitter. This must be one of the reasons I was determined to make Germany strong, but I knew no way to do so. Then I found a military Cadet school and decided to join the military. I climbed the ranks very quickly and am now considered as a legendary general. Then, on the most glorious day of my life, HITLER CAME TO POWER! We will find the strength that Hitler's Nazi party promises.

December 5th 1939
Since Adolf Hitler came to power I knew Germany would become as powerful as it ever was. The tactics and military advances have revenged on so quickly now. As a field general and experienced fighter, I am quickly becoming closer to Adolf. I insisted that if he let me lead a division of men in combat we would be able to push through France quickly. So with time as well as the blitzkriegs on our side, all we do now it wait to overtake. The world will fear Germany as we show the strength we gained from our weakness.

December 20th, 1939
We have successfully demonstrated our military power by quickly overtaking Poland. Now as the French are in a political crisis, we shall strike hard and fast to overcome them. This was they will have no time to receive help from there inbred dog brothers.... The Brits. Adolf had gathered a meeting for the field generals and commanders late this morning. The plan is to simply catch them off guard, and once they finally react, it will have been too late. We shall attack the French from the depts of the Ardennes Forest of Belgium, making them retreat with their tails between their legs. They will be squeezed between our superior military and the English Channel. I can already see them.... Diving into the ocean from the beaches of Normandy, swimming for their lives. They have no choice, France is ours!

June 22nd, 1940
THE FRENCH HAVE SIGNED THEM! TUE SURRENDER DOCUMENTS! FRANCE IS OURS! Such expansion in such little time. They seemed to fall back so effortlessly. Like taking candy from a baby with no arms. Such new land gained in such a short time, it is time for celebration! Our beloved Germany is now strong again, HAIL HITLER! We continue to push forward, never being defeated on the way. My division of troops are full of celebration. I cannot help but join them in the chanting and singing. Even Adolf himself has thanked me personally for my work as a commander. Though this victory is not mine alone, it is the victory of Nazi Germany! So tonight we celebrate, as brothers of the strongest military the world has yet seen.

July 2nd 1941
Germany must continue to push forward. The French stood no chance against us. It is not time to push into the USSR and complete our mission. We will rule all of Europe and become the strongest nation. We will launch blitzkriegs over Moscow until we rule the USSR, never stopping until we rule the globe as a whole! The axis powers will join together to rule all. I have lead the troops of the 7th Panzer division to victory after victory over the British. Helping the Italians with our tactics to crush the Allies. Victory is for the Axis, and nobody else!

Viscount Auchinleck

My name is Viscount Auchinleck, and I was born on August 21, 1905. I had one older brother and two younger and one younger sister. My older brother was pretty much a perfect kid; well at least my parents thought cause he never got caught doing anything and then later on became a wealthy investor. My sister always got what she wanted no matter what it was. She later on got married and I haven’t heard from her since. My brother after me was just about to move out because he finally is old enough to but he was a little spoiled by my father but not a whole lot. There isn’t much to say about my youngest brother. Now for me I was never really good at school, always got caught doing things I wasn’t supposed to and just felt like I was a burden to my parents and tried not too by leaving but they found me. After I left I figured I would actually try and do something with my life for a change.

I was about 10 at the end of World War 1, and that’s what made me want to be in the military after awhile because I thought there was nothing else to do for me really. I joined when I was 18 in 1915. After that I became a general after 16 years in the military. To become a general isn’t the easiest thing to be able to do. By the time it was World War 2 I was about 34 when the official war started. It started from the Germans and Russians invading Poland on September 1, 1939. The thing is if we didn’t give in to the Germans and what they wanted this would not have happened.

One event that led to this invasion was because the fact we gave what the Germans wanted from the Czech’s. Hitler demanded that he gets the Sudetenland that belonged to them in Czechoslovakia. So then came the Munich conference were Hitler was appeased. In this Munich conference the Hitler would get the land he desired but he would not be able to go further and get more land. After hearing all of this France was pleased to hear that Hitler would not be trying to get more land. The thing is the Germans didn’t stop with gaining land. This appeasement left Hitler wanting more land for his country. Hitler didn’t stop at jus Czechoslovakia.

On September 1 of 1939, is the day I remember the most. This was the day that Hitler and the Russians invaded Poland. I was one of the generals that were sent to help Poland on short notice because we didn’t expect this attack on them. When the French and British hears this we declared war on Hitler and the Germans for there actions and going against the Munich conference. They invaded from every side except the east. The polish had to withdraw. We and the French tried to help them but we were very limited on such short notice. It wasn’t for long until they had complete control over the polish people and there land. This was the very beginning of a very tragic war…..

On the 25^th of February, 1893 at the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota a baby called William Gardner was born at the time of 6 with 15 minutes in the early morning, which is how your story begins. Your family has been living in the United States in the zone of the North East for a long period since the early time of the 1800’s. You were the common typical boy whose eyes were round blue like the sea, blonde soft and straight hair, and a really light, delicate against the sun, white skin. You look just like your mother but you still have some aspects that make you look in some ways like your father. The time passed by, you were a very happy kid until one day your parents began to fight. That was how your family crisis started. Three years later after hearing your parents all the time yelling at each other, they separated and months later they got divorced. You felt so useless and went into depressive mood. You wanted to help mom and make yourself useful while the crisis was passing by and getting over.

On 1909 you were 16 years old, it had been a year since you only live with your mom, you got a project at school where they asked what were you planning to be when you grow up, then it’s when the idea of join the army popped out into your mind. Decided and determined for join the army, after years of feeling useless and ashamed of whom you are, at the age of 19 after graduate you joined the army. You were accepted for the U.S army when you turned 20, which was on the 1913.For over a year or maybe a little bit less you had to be training with your team in the army preparing for anything that could come, any trouble or war that could harm the united states, so the soldiers, who you are part of, would be ready to protect your people.

William Gardner, was working really hard to be a honored soldier, and to feel proud of himself without knowing that a year later, after his first year of preparing, he would have to go to World War I. Some days before going to war he was really nervous and acting like gone all the time around the other guys that shared room with him. He needed to be brave but at time he was scared and anxious to see if he would survive to the war, it was the first time he would sacrifice and risk his life this way, but he was feeling really proud of himself since he was being part of the U.S army always thinking: “If I die I will proudly die for my country”. And then couple of days before going to the action he wrote a letter to his lovely and now lonely mother to express her the way he was feeling and maybe to say good bye to her for the last time.

A lot of years later that World War I passed, as you survived to the war you decided to still be a soldier for the U.S army and still be honored for your country. World War II was coming and you knew it, sadly for your excitement on going to defend your people, well it was in vain because this war took place in Europe where United States didn’t belong like to fight this war, practically it wasn’t your business to get into this war otherwise if your team would of got involved you guys would of give Germany reasons to be in war with your country. The general O’Donnell really wanted to do something since you all agreed that you guys not only had to protect your country, but your neighbors and the ones who needed of you all, but it would of be a bad plan and strategy to just invade to try to liberate the others. So the president of the 1900’s decided to make conferences to could help the other countries and that way could have a plan and a right strategy that would defeat Germany, win the war, and liberate the countries such as Poland or at least the polish people who was being captured by Hitler.

You knew you and your whole team had to stay neutral for a while, until it was time to really get into the war and do something about it. You and all the members from the army would have a meeting at least once or twice a week after Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin’s meetings and agreements to could create a successful strategy and a plan that would really work against the allied countries who were making the war, and also to could do something about the poor polish people who was suffering in hands of Hitler. You felt really sorry for it but it wasn’t something that you or your partners could really do about it. You guys stood neutral for a couple of years until 1945 that is when the Allies and the American army had everything to could win this war.

Again you had the excitement but disillusion feeling, this time was less excitement, you were old already not that young and strong as you were in World War I, but you still wanted to fight and keep being on the U.S army because you felt really good to protect your country as the first time you fought in World War I. As you were old the general O’Donnell told you he shouldn’t let you participate in this, they had enough people but he needed somebody like you who was fighting more for excitement and love for the country that somebody who thinks it’s kind of forced to fight and risk their lives. For the health issues you could have during this period he told you to be with the red cross, receiving the polish people, if everything worked as planed you would help them out and again, you survived after this war once again American people didn’t react as happy as the Polish, and French people because with the help of the American army were you were, the war was over, but guiltiness and happiness at time was a feeling too because of the suicide that Hitler committed.

Your mom wasn’t here anymore to say congratulations again, neither the dad you never saw again after your 17 years old. But you had the pride of your wife who you met during World War I and the wonderful daughter she gave you. Now you realized that all the strength and the sacrifice of risk your life was worth it because you loved your country, the country were your two actual love live. War was the worst experience you and your team, specially the ones who sadly died, went through and that everybody hopes that this kinds of stories don’t happen ever again.

Dunkirk and Joe

Nathan Trutner

Period 3

Mr.shawn

World history

May 16, 2011                                   Joe Dunagan

            Posters and billboards are strung up depicting what the so call “WWII” is like. The government shows media through television screens and radio, saying what is happening in Europe and what evil Germany is doing. You, a 18 year old boy, tall, strong, light skinned, and opened minded walking through the city of New York, 1939 looking at propaganda trying to see the truth in the war. Recently drafted, not by your choice, you are frightened and nervous from the stories you have heard. You pray to god so you can stay home and not have the day come where you see from the front line the real and true disaster

            YOU are scared, YOU are alone, and YOUR name is Joe Dunagan.

            It is now 1940, factories have stopped producing goods and are now building army equipment. U.S. government produces things called war bonds. They are investments in the war, like if your country wins you get money. You think it’s a bunch of malarkey and is pointless. You arrive and the army base and salute to your fellow officers. You do not act more stronger or in more command because you are humble and know where you stand. You sit down and wait to hear the briefing of what the seargant is about to say.

            Your Seargant discusses the invasion on Norway and Denmark called a “blitzkrieg”. Hearing the destruction in England you see the real cruelty of Hitler’s reign. The british were able to flee back to their homeland, they made it safe back home in Dunkirk. You hear for the british that this was a miracle. You realize if you were to help now the war can be won. You become more impowered to stop this madness than ever, and now for the first time cant wait to fight and help others. But there was another plan hitler had for the british.

            Fellow soldiers are talking in a group as you walk by you over here the news they discuss. They same something about an operation by the germans to bomb britian. You stop to hear more imformation about this theory. Months past and now its August, germany has bombed briatain coast and you remember the other soldiers stories were true. The german operation happpend. You and thousand of men are called up to help Britain. You think of the propaganda you saw and are now feeling hatred to germany as well. You land in England ready for your mission to be complete.

            You are in an armored boat helping british soldiers return. A staff seargant calls you to be in a invasion. You agree willingly. You sail across the sea heading to Normandy. The coast appears you see disaster and destruction. Your life goes by you in a second. Your scared, nervous, and unwilling. The world around you and fades. Everything is black. Then you awake. Your in your bunk bed back at the base. Your freaking out wondering if everything was a dream. Which it was. But the reality is about to kick in as you are flying to Britain to help britsih soldiers escape back to Dunkirk. And you see that the reality is worse than the dream.

           

           

I am Rictofen Amsel

My name is Rictofen Amsel. I was born on April 13 1922. When I was 13 my family died in a car crash. I became one of Hitler’s youth at the age of 14. I was one of them until I joined the Nazi Army at 17. I am now 19. It is June 22 1941. I was issued into operation Barbarossa.

June 22 we were sent by vehicle to the border of Germany and Russia. From there we marched. We marched to Stalingrad. By the time we got there on June 30 the first wave had already cleared the area of Russians. We were commanded to hold down Stalingrad. For the first few weeks it was easy. We had no problem. Then we started to run low on food. This was planned, we were to go into Russia and raid the towns. That is where disaster struck.

August 18 was when things turned for the worst. We decided to make our first raid. We thought it was weird, after 5 miles there was nothing but burned houses. We were told not to go past a 25 mile perimeter. We got to 20 miles, still nothing. That is when we got worried. At 25 miles we were exhausted and found nothing. Everything everywhere was burned and gone. This we were not prepared for and this could change the entire war.

August 20 we returned to camp in Stalingrad. We broke the news to the general that everything within 25 miles was gone. He asked us what we meant, we told him what we saw and how everything was burned.

September 1 there are no supplies left. We are starving. Our general sent a letter to Hitler himself begging for a retreat. Our numbers are diminishing.

September 28 we fought off a Russian attack today. It was only now I realized how week I have become. There are not many of us left. Only about 70% of what we originally had. Things are getting worse, I’ve been hearing about people resorting to…. Cannibalism.

October 13 those were not rumors. Today we found 8 SS soldiers feasting upon the dead. They were killed. I am debating whether or not they were doing anything wrong. I’m so hungry I would do anything for food.

October 19 there was another attack today. There are some Russians still inside the bunker. I’m hiding in my room with my PPSH-41 pointed at the door. I haven’t slept for two days. I won’t last much longer.

October 20 finally help arrived and I was rescued from my room. In haven’t eaten now in 18 days. I was given a small ration and actually felt like I was alive for a moment. That diminished as soon as I heard the siren go off, which meant another attack may be coming.

September 1 there was no attack that day. I ate a piece of paper from this notebook today. I couldn’t help it, I’m starving. It actually tasted good.

September 23 if I die and someone finds this notebook, pay no attention to the ripped out pages in the back. I feel like I should tell you to tell someone I love them, but there’s no one to tell it to. Everyone I’ve ever known or been close with is dead or here suffering with me. We must stay strong though. The Nazis never give up!

On December 4 1941 at 8:09 AM Rictofen died from malnutrition and shrapnel of a grenade thrown into his bunker. At 7:00 on this fateful day Russians snuck near the Nazi camps. At 8:00 they attacked shooting lead and throwing grenades. At 8:07 they retreated and we were to find out the damage caused. At 8:08 I found Rictofen still in his bed bleeding heavily. By 8:09 he was dead.

planes surrounding the sky......

“Alice! Come and eat your lunch!” My mama is shouting out from the kitchen and setting up the table. It is one o’clock in the afternoon. I walk downstairs and sit near the dining table. While I am having my lunch, I look out the window. I see lots of planes surrounding the sky. It’s is not a normal afternoon as before, the time we still didn’t start the Battle of British…….

My name is Alice Stanwood and I live with my papa and mama and my older brother, Anthony. My brother is 19 years old and I am 11 years old. Our family relationship is quite good. Our family is not rich, but also not poor, so our lives are not that hard. Every day, I go to school with my friend, Flora. My brother goes to work in a bakery shop and my papa works in an office. Everything is fine but suddenly one day, papa and Anthony just left! Some people came to our house and brought them away! I was so scared and I didn’t know what happen. After they left, I ask mama and what she said was “Alice, they will be back…..” After mama said that, she started to cry and I ended up crying with her. “Papa and Anthony are going to save us, to save our place! They are going to fight with the bad people that trying to damage the place that we are living and take control over it! There is a mess outside and buildings and houses were destroyed by the bombs. Don’t go to school anymore! Just stay home with mama. Here will be the safest place for us for now……” mama hugs me really tight. What’s going to happen to us? Will we be safe? Will we die?

Everyday, I am waiting for papa and Anthony to come back home. I miss them a lot…… At home, mama tells me about what is happening outside the big big world. Mama said the bad people are the Germen and they want to take over England. This is their first step of their plan! Mama and I pray for papa and Anthony everyday and wish they can be home safely. Mama is really worried about them and she looks upset after they left to fight the Germen. “BOOM!!!” Suddenly, a really loud booming sound scared me and mama. We look out the window and see planes are all around the sky and far away from our house, there are smoke going up to the sky. The beautiful sky turned to black…. “I guess they have started the war……. Planes are all around the sky and they are dropping bombs!”Mama is very worry. BOMBS?! They will kill us! At that time, I don’t know what to say and the only thing in my mind is WE ALL DIE!

The war has already been for a month and it still doesn’t stop. One day, uncle john comes to our house. He is our family’s close friend and he knows all the things. He came to visit us and I start to ask him a lot of questions….. “What is happening outside, uncle john?” “Alice, there is something scary and terrible going on outside and the planes are always ready to drop the bombs if they like. But our men are going to save us! The German have the Luftwaffe that’s their air force and for us, we have the Royal Air Force! I believe we will win this war!” “This is my only wish now! I don’t want any toys, I only want my papa and Anthony back!” I keep crying and crying. “Don’t worry Alice, I am sure that they will be back soon,” said Uncle John and smiling at me.

Two weeks later, “Mama, Alice!!” Smiling and crying in the same time, papa and Anthony run in the house, hugging me and mama. That is one of the moment that I will never forget in my life! Papa tells us that they attacked and destroyed the German’s plane and finally, WE WON!!!!! This is the first time I had ever experienced a war although I am not the one that go out and fight. But the feeling of always scared of losing our family is really scary and I was really sad about it. It makes me know how my family is really important to me and it’s a scary but valuable memory.