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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Veterans’ Voices Untold Stories: Stephen Rocheford #7
December 2012, Stephen Rocheford asked a senior officer if the army would advertise for LGBTQ recruits in his magazine Lavender. The Army gave it a pass. But some years later, the Minnesota National Guard did. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
Lina Knox, Minnesota National Guard, spent her first deployment at Balad Air Base in Iraq. The base had a nickname – Mortaritaville – because of the number of mortars that hit it. Here’s Abdi Mohamed.
Richard Ekholm served aboard an aircraft carrier that housed 5,300 Navy and Marines. This was during the Vietnam War, when service members were counseled not to wear uniforms on leave because of anti-war sentiments. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
In Vietnam, Louis Hubbell’s Air Force job was to repair the autopilot system. Sometimes he’d hitch a ride with the Army into town for some R&R. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
When Dennis Krivinchuk returned from Vietnam, he didn’t talk about his service. Vets were being labeled baby killers. Having a daughter changed his life and put him on the path to healing. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
After she was discharged from the Air Force for being gay, Cindy Strange decided to go on with her life. Then the military repealed Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. In 2012, she returned to the military as an officer. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
