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Bill Owens

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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)

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For eighteen days the battleship Nevada pummeled the island of Iwo Jima. The problem was that the Japanese had dug in so deep that there was very little effect. The water was deep close to shore so the ship got close enough for Bill Owens to see the hand to hand combat as the Marines ran into a hornets nest. (6:32)

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As soon as the operation to take Okinawa began, the USS Nevada was hit by a shore battery. For Bill Owens and the rest of the crew, that was just the beginning of the battle. Next came the kamikazes. On the third day a wave of over a hundred of them targeted the fleet. Part 1 of 2. (7:39)

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Just before a kamikaze hit the Nevada, the ship's AA guns did enough damage that it broke up and cartwheeled from it's path, which was squarely aimed at Bill Owens. The body of the Japanese pilot was recovered and, later, after the battle and after the dead American sailors were buried at sea, the chaplain insisted that the man get a dignified service. Part 2 of 2. (7:28)

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Along with thousands of other servicemen, Bill Owens was waiting in the South Pacific, dreading the upcoming invasion of Japan. He knew there would be hordes of kamikazes and the resistance would be desperate and fierce. Then came word of the atomic bomb. (4:08)

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Bill Owens had gone to war at seventeen. As a crew member of the USS Nevada, he saw service at Normandy, southern France, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He had grown up fast and was determined to make a success in life. A friend suggested that he go to school on the GI Bill. The GI Bill? What's that? (5:05)

Bill Ozmint

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Bill Ozmint remembers his upbringing in rural South Carolina and joining the ROTC during college, which got him introduced to the military. Since he knew so many people involved in the war, joining the military was always on the table for him. (4:31)

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When he was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia, Bill Ozmint was stationed on the 38th Parallel in Korea for a year. Being along the DMZ was difficult as you had to act carefully to remain safe from enemy fire. (6:15)

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Bill Ozmint remembers patrolling on the border and the various precautions they had to take to safely navigate his platoon through enemy territory. Seeing friendly casualties as they were ascending a hill put into perspective how dangerous the war really was. (5:06)

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Bill Ozmint remembers arriving in Korea and getting prepared to replace a company in country there. Facing the weather was a huge challenge for them as they had to learn how to cope with the extreme cold. (3:27)