World War 2

March 21, 2024

March 21, 1944 – Bombing brings new suffering to Anzio hospital but swimming and baseball continues

Every square inch of Anzio was constantly under bombardment, including the hospital and operating rooms. One headline stated, “Debris is cleared away after an attack on […]
March 20, 2024

March 20, 1944 – On Anzio a beachhead order to the men to wear steel hats or pay fine

AP correspondent, Richard G. Massock, observed, “Germans are being killed on the Anzio beachhead by “some pretty grim looking characters.”[1]
March 20, 2024

A recording of my WWII presentation at the LSU Military Museum

This presentation, “At First Light: How a Teenager Became a WWII Hero” was delivered at the William A. Brookshire LSU Military Museum in October 2023 as […]
March 19, 2024

March 19, 1944 – Not a single spot on Anzio Beachhead is safe from enemy gunfire

Journalist George Tucker wrote, “To appreciate Anzio it is necessary to remember that the beachhead is shaped like a fan, the handle of which is a […]
March 18, 2024

March 18, 1944 – To seize a beachhead like Anzio was one thing—to hold it indefinitely was another

The miserly affection with which the limited ground on the Anzio, Italy beachhead was coveted is shown by the fact that during March the 3rd Infantry […]
March 17, 2024

March 17, 1944 – Dad’s first medal of valor caused Mount Vesuvius to blow her top

Well, not really. But the two events occurred in close proximity to each other. Phil’s first medal of valor was the Silver Star the Army’s third […]
March 16, 2024

March 16, 1944 – Baptism by fire (Part 2)

“No soldier in any of our theaters of operations is better acquainted with this war than is the Infantryman, and no Infantryman knows war more intimately […]
March 15, 2024

March 15, 1944 – Baptism by fire (Part 1)

“In every battle, the last one hundred yards of the fight belongs to the Infantry. Armed with rifle and bayonet, Infantrymen must face and defeat the […]
September 10, 2022

Saturday Book Report – “At First Light” sells out its first printing

Mike Yorkey and I were delighted to learn that our WWII book about my father’s exploits and heroics, At First Light: A True World War II […]
September 17, 2022

Saturday Book Report – “At First Light” named FINALIST in FIVE Page Turner Book Award Categories

The Page Turner Awards’ judges considered almost 1,000 nominations for their International Book Awards. My WWII book, At First Light , was nominated. So, what happened?
September 24, 2022

Saturday Book Report – “At First Light” featured in Baton Rouge Advocate

Upon arising last Saturday morning, I found my phone was blowing up with messages and emails from around Louisiana informing me of a huge article in […]
October 1, 2022

Saturday Book Report – THIS NEXT WEDNESDAY October 5 watch or record my national address about my WWII book this Wednesday

This coming Wednesday, October 1, 2002, I’ll be addressing a national audience to talk about my WWII book, At First Light: A True World War II […]
October 5, 2022

Pre-Register ASAP for my national Zoom presentation this evening on my WWII book, “At First Light”

Today, Wednesday, October 5, 2002, I’ll be addressing a national audience to talk about my WWII book, At First Light: A True World War II Story […]
October 8, 2022

Saturday Book Report – The video of my national presentation about my WWII book is ready for you

This last Wednesday, October 5, 2002, I had the privilege to address a national audience to talk about my WWII book, At First Light: A True […]