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Virgil Westdale

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The poverty in Naples was severe. Virgil Westdale recalls how civilians would scramble to collect the food scraps discarded by the Americans. In Rome, the Pope came out and blessed the GIs but as soon as they left Rome, they faced the withering fire of German 88s. (5:02)

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The closer the Germans retreated toward Germany, the harder they fought. Virgil Westdale was a member of the storied 442nd, a unit comprised solely of Japanese-Americans. It was near the Brenner Pass that they had so many casualties, they were withdrawn to get replacements. (3:55)

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There was a battalion that was lost, cut off and in big trouble. Other units had tried to get to them and failed. It was decided that the 442nd would be sent in. Virgil Westdale was a member of that legendary Combat Team composed of Japanese-Americans. They did not fail. (4:48)

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Virgil Westdale recalls how his unit was sheltering in a French family's house when it came under fire from German 88s. It was soon after that the brass began arguing over what to do with his fabled 442nd Combat Team. It was decided to split the infantry and artillery components and send the artillery into Germany and the infantry back to Italy. (4:51)

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It was near Augsburg that Virgil Wesdale got to see for himself what the Germans were doing to people they considered undesirable. He saw the results of extermination, the bodies in pits and the emaciated survivors. It was sickening. He could no further into the concentration camp to see the rest of it. (5:17)

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When the 442nd returned home, Virgil Westdale was left behind due some beef the 1st Sergeant had with him. When he finally left Germany to travel to France for transport home, he was bunked for a night in a miserable unheated building. He and a friend decided to set out in the night to seek food and warmer shelter in the German town. (7:36)

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Don't let a dictator take over your country. Virgil Westdale had returned from the European theater after the Allies put an end to one such dictator and he began a successful career as a scientist with 25 patents to his credit. (5:05)

Sean Baerman

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Sean Baerman was an Army brat whose father was in armor and whose grandfather was at the Battle of the Bulge. He always wanted to fly and became a cadet at the Air Force Academy. As he began fight training, he knew two things. He wanted to fly fighters and he wanted a single seat aircraft. (5:23)

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While he was still in training as a fighter pilot, Sean Baerman watched 9/11 unfold on TV. He knew this event would define his future career. His ship was the A-10, affectionately known as the Warthog. His first taste of war was on the ground, though, on temporary attached duty as an Air Liaison Officer. (6:08)

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It was a beautiful country, Afghanistan, the foothills of the Himalayas. It was a shame there had to be a war there. A-10 pilot Sean Baerman was ready. All his training and dedication had led up to the moment of his first combat mission. (7:29)