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VETERANS RECORD THEIR STORIES FOR POSTERITY --
The ongoing Veterans History Project will send
the
videotape to the Library of Congress and it
will be
archived with other interviews with veterans.
Story here...
http://stories.dailytimes.
com/story.lasso?ewcd=
1df38063237b8fa9
Story below:
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Veterans record their stories
By Alison Beshur
The Daily Times
When the B-24 Bomber that Kerr-ville veteran Bob Weinberg navigated was
hit during World War II, he jumped out of the plane at 19,000 feet. Then
he held his breath and monitored his watch until he estimated he had
reached 12,000 feet, where there might be oxygen available.
After landing safely, a gang of Hitler youth found him. Weinberg, 85,
considers himself lucky that a German officer was with them, otherwise
he may have been beaten to death with a pitchfork or sledgehammer.
Still, the group took him to several area towns where he was beaten and
spit on by residents.
His war-time experience was captured on videotape Tuesday when U.S. Rep.
Lamar Smith, R-Texas, interviewed him for the ongoing Veterans History
Project. The videotape will be sent to the Library of Congress and
archived with other interviews with veterans.
Without Weinberg’s interview, details of his journey across the Atlantic
Ocean to the European Theater, the 47 missions he took part in and the
eight months he spent as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft II might be
lost after he’s gone.
Several other area veterans have been interviewed by local students and
their stories have been archived with the project that chronicles
several wars involving Americans. Those who haven’t shared memorabilia
or war stories can contact the Kerrville veterans hospital’s voluntary
services department at 792-2580.
The “Veterans’ Oral History Project Act” launched the project in 2000.
At that time, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated there
were 19 million living veterans of wars involving Americans.
The purpose of the project is to document personal and heart-felt
narratives from veterans and civilians who experienced wars. Many of the
tales have made listeners or viewers laugh, cry and remember, according
to the project’s Web site, www.loc.gov/vet.
So far, the Library of Congress has archived and posted online
information, documents, photos, newspaper clippings and personal letters
from thousands of veterans.
After the nearly hour-long interview, Weinberg showed Smith two
elaborate scrapbooks that document Weinberg’s service in World War II.
Smith said he enjoyed hearing all of Weinberg’s tales, but especially
was impressed with his sacrifices.
“All of the hardships he endured and here we are over an hour later and
not a single complaint or regret,” Smith said. “I appreciate his
willingness to share his story with other Americans. It’s just
phenomenal.”
Contact Alison Beshur at
alison.beshur@dailytimes.com
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Larry Scott --
