Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
3:54 | In this stirring reflection, Marvin Bone recalls the unthinkable images of WWII, talks about how he sustained a crippling injury, and his long battle with blood poisoning.
Right out of high school Marvin Bone enlisted into the Army. He vividly recalls surviving the rigorous paratrooper training, and how it helped him grow as a strong young man.
At first, after landing in Holland, Marvin Bone didn't see any Germans. Here he describes how that quickly changed and the fierce battles that ensued.
In this chilling account, Marvin Bone recalls the dramatic effects of the weather, fighting the Germans in Bastogne, and surviving jumps behind enemy lines. He reflects on why it all feels like a dream.
Fear! That's what Marvin Bone remembers about jumping into enemy territory. He describes the smell of gunpowder, the sight of hundreds of jumping paratroopers, and how his tough training prepared him for war.
Jumping over the Rhine River proved to be the worst paratrooper experience Marvin Bone had. He explains how a fellow soldier died, describes the German fire power and recalls why the SS soldiers refused to surrender.
In this account, Marvin Bone describes fighting "in pockets," and credits General Patton for winning the war. He remembers Germany as a battered country and learning the hard lessons of war.
