Tom Thompson fought a special kind of war. Psychological warfare was performed in many cases, and Tom found himself apart of this task.

He was a part of the 801st 492nd Bomb Group. They were part of the OSS ( Office of Strategic Services ). This was the predecessor to the CIA.
They trained in different types of aircraft, but only flew in B-24s and B-17’s during their service.

This is his story.

Ed Eldredge served in the US Navy from 1943 till 1946.

A brilliant man who served many years as a professor at the University of Michigan. It was quite apparent that he was a distinguished gentleman who was very kind and generous. He was very determined to share his story, and spent a lot of time with us. As time has passed Ed has become effected by Parkinson’s disease. Behind his struggle lies a rich history of events.

Oscar Miehls served as a medic during World War II. He sat down with Rick to share his life experiences. From the great depression,and through the war Oscar tells a great story. He served in the Pacific and the European theater.

Joe Jiminez was born in Texas. He sat down with Rick to talk about his experiences growing up as a Mexican American, and his time in service during World War II.  His humor is captured in the first few minutes of the video when he asks Rick if  ” he was German”. Quickly he reminds us it didn’t matter it was long ago. But as we can see the memory never fades away.

Don Mitchell had a special graduation date… June 6th 1944.

He would soon find him self fighting in Europe as a replacement tossed in the mix of war.

This is his story.

Leslie Peck was trying to figure out what to do with his life. Then the Bombing at Pearl   Harbor    gave him an opportunity to do and see things otherwise unimaginable.

Les served from 1942 til 1945. He was a member of the USS Wasp CV-7 in the Atlantic and Pacific. The Wasp was torpedoed and sunk.. a tragic event that still is very clear in his memory. He then served on the “Lucky Lady” USS Santa Fe CL-60.
He shares his first hand accounts of many historical events that will forever be written in history. He is a real honorable man and we appreciate his time talking to us.

USS Wasp (CV-7), entering Hampton Roads
Career (US)
Ordered:	19 September 1935
Laid down:	1 April 1936
Launched:	4 April 1939
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Charles Edison
Commissioned:	25 April 1940 (first Commanding Officer: Captain John W. Reeves, Jr.)
Struck:	15 September 1942
Honors and awards:	American Defense Service Medal (“A” device) / American Campaign Medal/European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1 star) / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 star) / World War II Victory Medal
Fate:	Disabled by enemy action, scuttled 15 September 1942
General characteristics
Displacement:	As built: 14,700 tons standard 19,116 tons full load
Length:	688 ft (209.7 m) (waterline) 741 ft 3 in (225.9 m) (overall)
Beam:	80 ft 9 in (24.6 m) (waterline) 109 ft (33.2 m) (overall)
Draft:	20 ft (6.1 m)
Propulsion:	6 × boilers at 565 psi Parsons steam turbines 2 × shafts 70,000 shp
Speed:	29.5 kn (33.9 mph; 54.6 km/h)
Range:	12,000 nmi (22,000 km) at 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement:	1,800 officers and men (peacetime) 2,167 (wartime)
Sensors and processing systems:	CXAM-1 RADAR[1]
Armament:	As built: 8 × single 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal guns 4 × quad 1.1 in (27 mm)/75 cal guns 24 × .50 in machine guns
Armor:	As built: 60 lb STS conning tower 3.5 in side and 50 lb deck over steering gear
Aircraft carried:	As built: Up to 76 3 × elevators (1 at deck edge) 2 × flight deck hydraulic catapults 2 × hangar deck hydraulic catapults

Career
Namesake:	Santa Fe, New Mexico
Builder:	New York Shipbuilding Co. of Camden, New Jersey
Laid down:	7 June 1941
Launched:	10 June 1942
Commissioned:	24 November 1942
Decommissioned:	19 October 1946
Struck:	1 March 1959
Honours and awards:	13 Battle stars
Fate:	Scrapped in 1959
General characteristics
Class and type:	Cleveland-class light cruiser
Displacement:	10,000 tons
Length:	610 ft 1 in (186.0 m)
Beam:	66 ft 4 in (20.2 m)
Draft:	25 ft 1 in (7.6 m)
Speed:	31.6 kn (36.4 mph; 58.5 km/h)
Complement:	1,384 officers and enlisted
Armament:	12 × 6 in (152 mm)/47 cal guns 12 × 5 in (127 mm)/37 cal guns 16 × 40 mm guns 14 × 20 mm guns

Heman Holden was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. After graduating from Whitmer High School he joined the National Guard. He became part of the famed 37th Division.

Soon war erupted… but Heman and the 37th we already called up for active duty.

Heman served in some of the early battles in the Pacific, New Georgia, and Bougainville. He had never shared his story. His story is a wonderful expression of the many heroes that live among us… and our forgotten. Heman is a perfect example. All he asks is that we remember those that have fought for our freedoms… and those that never returned home.

A man who 64 years later still wakes up at night to see his dead friends standing at the end of his bed. If you see a veteran during your daily routine… please thank them for their service. For many of them carry the burdens of war with them everyday.