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War Stories
More than 500,000 Michigan residents served in the military during World War II, and millions more were affected here at home. Michigan Television has filmed the stories of both local veterans of the Second World War, and some of those who experienced the war on the home front. We invite you to view these moving stories from people in our community. |
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 James Savage, Royal Air Force 1948-1950 Troy, MI My greatest memory of WWII was of a pilot of a B-24 Liberator bomber I later learned was from Mason MI. As a young boy I watched history being made near my home in Leamington, England. Watch my story |
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 Clifford "Cliff" Studaker, U.S. Army Air Corps Flushing, MI Our routine bombing mission over Vienna, Austria took on a life of it's own for the men aboard one fatefull day. As part of the 830th squadron and the 45th bomb group I recall the day as if it was yesterday. Watch my story |
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 Theodore "Ted" Raatikka, U.S. Army Durand, MI A Kamikaze pilot breaks up pinochle game on U.S.S. Kenton in Okinawa, Japan April 1945 Watch my story |
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 Carol Mannino Kachmar, 3 year old child during the war Oxford, MI I was 3 years old when the U.S.A. entered the war in 1941. My remembrance of some of the events like VJ Day are vivid from a child's perspective. Watch my story |
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 Frank Whitehouse, U.S. Army Air Corps Ann Arbor, MI I was part of the 20th Air Force which took care of the B-29's operations in the bombing of Japan. Watch my story |
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 Walter S. Maczuga, U.S. Army Imlay City, MI After I enlisted I became a radio operator on the front lines. I would never have dreamed that later I would become part of Eisenhowers Show Band to entertain the troops on those very same lines. Watch my story |
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 Harry Dodd, U.S. Army Air Corps Highland, MI I was a newspaper boy growing up in Detroit when Pearl Harbor was bombed and WWII broke out. From brown and black outs to rationing of food and fuel, our country stood up for the war effort in all aspects. Watch my story |
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 Louis Gill, U.S. Air Corps Livonia, MI I spent 16 months captured in Germany during WWII as the results of my plane being shot down in enemy territory. Watch my story |
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 Stanley Korczyk, U.S. Army Hudson, MI As a truck driver in the 473rd Inf. each trip was an adventure and every curve in the road held immediate danger. Watch my story |
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 Arthur Tarkowski, U.S. Marine Corps Flushing, MI My treasured Japanese rifle was sold to finance a ticket home after having it by my side for my entire tour in the Marines. Could I be reunited with my keepsake some 61 years later. Watch my story |
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 Gerald E. Osborn, U.S. Marine Corps Bridgeport, MI From a teenager waiting to enlist to a boat ride that took almost 3 months, my goal was to become a China Marine. Watch my story |
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 Charles Parent, U.S.Navy Davison, MI As Seaman 1st class on the Navel Ship The Bunker Hill my duties took care of everyone. Watch my story |
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George Dunham, A child during the war Harrison, MI A school project teamed up with a popular radio program taught me the meaning of being patriotic at an early age. Watch my story |
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 John Wranesh Ann Arbor, MI I was waist gunner on a B-17 Bomber for the 457th Bomb Group. Our plane was shot down on a mission to Magdeburg Germany on September 28, 1944. We walk 600 miles as prisoners of war of the Nazi government from January 1945 until liberated. Watch my story |