Friday, May 27, 2011
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.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
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.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
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
The name’s Hugh, Hugh Colt. I am quite a young fellow myself. I grew up in ze slums of
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
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
“Dépêchez-vous! Les Allemands envahissent la
It read to us that we must hurry to
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
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.
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.
Monday, May 23, 2011
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.
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.
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