When Minnesota's Greatest Generation marched off to war, they had no idea the trials and trauma that awaited them in combat missions. In this episode, we hear from three Minnesota veterans who were stationed in England and flew bombing missions targeting the Nazis when they were shot down and put into harsh Prisoner of War camps. We also hear from a veteran who was serving in Europe at the end of the war as labor and concentration camps there were liberated.
This episode features Minnesota veterans Lester Schrenck, Walter Grotz, Claude Williams and his sister Lois and Bernie Lieder.
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DeCoded: Native Veterans in Minnesota who Helped Win World War II
Wes Moreland’s carrier was in the Mediterranean when the weather turned bad. They were hundreds of miles at sea, and the pilots were unable to land and running out of gas. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
Wes Moreland was a plane captain aboard the USS Tarawa. The first question his pilot would ask before a flight was, “Is it full of gas?” Here’s Britt Aamodt.
Wayne Stillman enlisted in 1956. Born and raised in Rochester, he ended up back in his hometown at a new Military Police (MP) unit. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
Richard Krom’s great-grandfather marched hundreds of miles to Gettysburg, only to find himself, in company with the First Minnesota, immediately plunged into battle. Here’s Britt Aamodt.