Leonard Dziabas

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The farmer needed to milk his cows so they let him through the lines, but when they did that, German artillery rained down on them. After taking care of that little problem, they went into Florence where Leonard Dziabas again caught a spectacular view of a historic Italian city from hills above. Then, for some reason, the American forces were split up, leaving his unit facing superior numbers. (8:22)

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After battling across rugged Italian mountains in a fierce rainstorm, the company commander lost his cool. Leonard Dziabas recalls how the Captain just left the company there, with no idea of orders or mission. Told by the Colonel to look for a wayward unit, they nearly ran into a German battalion before finding the lost company nearly annihilated. (9:40)

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He thought a grenade landed at his feet, but when Leonard Dziabas picked it up to throw it back, he realized the desperate Germans were throwing rocks at him. That night, he didn't take the bait as the enemy tried to trick him and the next day, the Sergeant who had given him a hard time all year was killed due to his own anger. (6:29)

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Their unit was relieved but before they could even get some sleep, H Company had to move out. Machine gunner Leonard Dziabas found himself babysitting two Air Corps Lieutenants who were attached as observers, but they disappeared when they tried to traverse a swamp in their Oxfords. (4:25)

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The pack mule was hit by shrapnel, and after a little mule stew, the unit was surprised with new uniforms and cold weather gear. Squad Leader Leonard Dziabas traded in his lucky jacket and watched as his men fought over it. He soon wished he still had it. In a ferocious assault at the Po Valley, he heard two artillery rounds with his name on them. (9:02)

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During a nerve wracking evacuation from a hot battlefield, Leonard Dziabas was less worried about his wound than making it out of the treacherous conditions. After surgery at a field hospital, he was placed with a large number of wounded at an airfield. Every time he tried to talk to one of those men, all he got was a blank stare. (8:55)

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He was on his way home after getting wounded at the Po Valley, but Leonard Dziabas wasn't out of danger yet. After a terrific storm near Bermuda, the hospital ship ran out of fuel and drifted onto the rocks. Once safely on American soil, he was moved by the tributes of grateful civilians. (5:29)

Les Carter

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Growing up in a military family, Les Carter considered going to West Point to be his duty. His first assignment took him to Austria as part of the Cold War deterrent. (2:10)

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Les Carter was among the first military advisors to Vietnam, assigned to Pleiku in the fifties to help the Vietnamese develop a curriculum for their military academy. (3:50)

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When Les Carter arrived in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, his battalion’s District was very unstable. By the time he left, nearly all enemies had been killed or driven off. That was the assessment of a North Vietnamese commander. (5:29)