Patriot Stories from the United States Army

PAUL C. ANDERSEN

PAUL C. ANDERSEN

Apr 1, 2010 | ,

Paul Andersen was born in Redfield, South Dakota in 1917; one of six children born to August and Hedvig (Kollewe) Andersen. Both parents had immigrated separately from Copenhagen, Denmark and married in America. His father was a dry cleaner and his mother worked as a seamstress in Redfield. The children were growing up at home during the worst years of the great depression and Paul and his brothers interrupted their public schooling to take whatever jobs could be had to augment the family income. Paul laid out of school for one year, working at Montgomery Ward for 25 cents per hour. He later graduated from Redfield High School with the Class of 1937. He was working for the...

WILLIAM A. (BILL) BRANT – Army Air Corps – WWII

WILLIAM A. (BILL) BRANT – Army Air Corps – WWII

Sep 1, 1998 | ,

"A Lieutenant Meets General George S. Patton, Jr.", a story in Bill Brant’s own words. I had not met General George S. Patton, Jr., until one day in mid-July 1943. But, on that day I met all six feet of him, and more. Actually, as he peered down at me from a standing position in his jeep, I could have sworn he was ten feet tall. I had seen the general several times before in Mostaganem, Algeria, following the Tunisian Campaign, it’s just that hadn't personally met him. Each time I had seen him, it was at a distance. However, on this occasion we were up close, and under circumstances that were not conducive to a very amiable meeting. But, let me first explain the...

L.C. CASTRO – ARMY – WWII

L.C. CASTRO – ARMY – WWII

Jul 1, 1997 | ,

The Gold Star mother of this Castro family of Austin, Texas sent four sons off to WWII, three of whom were awarded the Purple Heart. L.C.'s brother, Arthur, wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, died many years ago, but brother, Joe, a combat medic wounded on Saipan, is also in Chapter 1919 and you can read his Purple Heart story by clicking on this link...Joe S. Castro L.C. was the only member of his 10-man bomber crew to evade capture when their aircraft was shot down over occupied France. This story tells how he did it. Ladislao C. (L.C.) Castro was born and spent his growing-up years in Austin. He attended Guadalupe Catholic School and then Austin High School. In Austin...

JOHN M. BRYANT – ARMY – WWII

JOHN M. BRYANT – ARMY – WWII

Dec 1, 1996 | , ,

John suffered a grievous wound in the air over occupied France that put him out of the war. Over 50 years later he and his wife became the subject of a personal interest story in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This is his story. John Bryant graduated from Harlandale High School in San Antonio in May 1940, and so did his girlfriend, Ruth Byrom. John went into the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor, and was quickly accepted for flight training. He spent almost all of 1942 successfully completing training courses at Waco Army Airfield at Waco, Texas. Finally, on January 13, 1943, John was commissioned as an Army Aviator. John’s parents drove up from San...