NEW VIDEOS

John Andres

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John Andres recalls fondly the buddy he had in Vietnam who didn't make it back alive. His return from the war was low key. No protestors and no fanfare. Then he discovered that no one, not even other vets, wanted to talk about it. (Caution: strong language) (4:40)

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At first, John Andres didn't want to talk about his experience in Vietnam. But a friend who was also a vet talked him into going to see the Moving Wall and a parade in 1986. That began his years of involvement with veterans and their causes. (Caution: strong language) (9:25)

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Vietnam was a waste. John Andres vents about the absurdities of that war, the lack of coherent leadership and the lingering health effects. As he sat there in the jungle he made a deal with the devil. Just let me live until 40. Looks like it worked. (Caution: strong language) (4:19)

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There was never a break. For months, John Andres was in the field, living in the jungle. The one time he got back to the rear and slept in a cot, the nasty Vietnamese wildlife got him good. Then he had to see dead and dying friends fly away on that last helicopter ride. (Caution: strong language) (5:05)

Bill Owens

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Bill Owens left the farm in South Carolina and enlisted in the Navy as World War II raged around the world. After an abbreviated basic training he was assigned to the USS Nevada, the only battleship to get underway during the Pearl Harbor attack. His destination, however, was across the Atlantic. (4:52)

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It was an unbelievable sight over the English Channel. From his 20 mm gun position on the battleship Nevada, Bill Owens could see a vast train of aircraft heading to Normandy and others returning. The sea was full of five thousand ships and it was all targeted on Hitler's war machine. (11:10)

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After the Normandy landings, the battleship Nevada was directed to Cherbourg, where they were directed to knock out big German guns. Bill Owens recalls how a smokescreen was used to hide minesweepers and the big ship as well. The shrapnel from the German artillery was falling like rain on the deck. (4:50)

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After the Normandy beachhead was secured, the USS Nevada was sent to the Mediterranean to aid in the coming invasion of southern France. First stop was North Africa, where Bill Owens and the rest of the crew were warned, don't go to the Casbah. (7:07)

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The first step is shore bombardment. The battleship Nevada let loose with it's big guns on the coast of southern France to kick off the operation. Bill Owens remembers how their big boomers were becoming less effective and had diminished range. The guns were simply worn out after the massive effort during the previous campaign at Normandy. (6:02)

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What a sight. Bill Owens became emotional when he saw the Statue of Liberty on his way back from the campaigns at Normandy and in the Mediterranean. His ship, the Nevada, was on it's way to dry dock to refit it's worn out guns. But first, a bunch of farm boys were let loose on New York City. Then it was off to the Pacific. (6:08)