Maryland Generations: THE WAR — Overview
Maryland Public Television teamed with the Library of Congress Veteran's History Project, The Maryland Room of the Frederick County Libraries, The Frederick County Veterans History Project, Inc, and The Office of Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest in a campaign to honor Maryland WWII veterans in conjunction with the upcoming multipart Ken Burns’ WWII documentary, THE WAR, which premiered on MPT Sunday Sept. 23 at 8 pm.
This campaign is a multifaceted outreach initiative consisting of on-air veteran vignettes, programs, and documentaries, an interactive website where viewers can share their own WWII memories, and free workshops conducted across the state that offer interview techniques and resources to save the important memories of our WWII vets through the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project.
The veteran interview vignettes began airing on MPT on Memorial Day weekend. Maryland Generations: THE WAR programming aired for the first time in September 2007 in conjunction with Ken Burns' documentary, THE WAR. Viewers can share their WWII memories (written or audio) here on this website as well as read and/or listen to other's submitted stories, from Maryland and the rest of the nation.
Ken Burns' Documentary THE WAR
THE WAR, a new seven-part documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who become caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in human history.
Six years in the making, this epic 15-hour film focuses on the stories of citizens from four geographically distributed American towns — Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minnesota. These four communities stand in for — and could represent — any town in the United States that went through the war’s four devastating years. Individuals from each community take the viewer through their own personal and quite often harrowing journeys into war, painting vivid portraits of how the war dramatically altered their lives and those of their neighbors, as well as the country they helped to save for generations to come.
THE WAR will air beginning Sunday, September 23, 2007 (four nights the first week and three nights the second week) from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on three nights). Episodes of THE WAR continue on Wednesday nights at 9pm throughout October and November 2007.
Maryland Generations: THE WAR — Programming
Tune in to MPT for programs of local interest about Maryland and WWII:
Struggle & Sacrifice, Part 1
Check listings for air times
SEGMENT TOPICS:
Veterans History Project, Wayne Gilchrest - Mindy Mintz, reporting
Share A Story Outreach Project - Charles Robinson, reporting
Charlotte Hall - Lou Davis, reporting
Holocaust Segment - Jeff Salkin, reporting
Historian Eleanor Cunningham, The Homefront - Mindy Mintz, reporting
Struggle & Sacrifice, Part 2
Check listings for air times
An MPT local documentary about Maryland's contributions during WWII.
COMPLETE LISTING OF GUESTS, FEATURES, and SEGMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Then & Now, Part 1
Check listings for air times
SEGMENT TOPICS:
Naval Academy - Lou Davis, reporting
Veteran Pilot, Martin State Airport - Charles Robinson, reporting
Baltimore Sun Archivist - Yolanda Vazquez, reporting
VA Hospital in Baltimore - Yolanda Vazquez, reporting
Interviews with Schaefer, O'Malley - Lou Davis, reporting
Fort Meade, BRAC, Lt.Gov - Lou Davis, reporting
Then & Now, Part 2
Check listings for air times
An MPT local documentary about Maryland's contributions during WWII.
COMPLETE LISTING OF GUESTS, FEATURES, and SEGMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Veteran Profiles
The following local veterans shared their stories with MPT. Visit profiles of these remarkable veterans and view video excerpts of their interviews, photos, short bios, and other historical documents:
| William Bladen Paratrooper, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division |
Lester Burr Lease Technical Sergeant, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 115th Regiment, 29th Division |
| John A. Bollin, Jr. Sergeant, 93rd Regiment, US Army Corps of Engineers |
Otis Edward Lee, Sr. Staff Sergeant, 95th Regiment, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Shelton Billingsley Bosley Gunners Mate Third Class, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 34, PT 507, US Navy |
Homer Herman Lewis, Jr. Fire Controlman Third Class, U.S. Navy, USS Bronstein DE189 & LSMR512 |
| Joan Willison "Birch" Hotz Section Officer, Women's Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Air Force |
Donald M. McKee Technician 5th Grade, 2nd Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division |
| Frederick Martin King Captain, 397th Bomb Group, 596th Bomb Sqadron, 9th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps |
Bob Slaff Ensign, Supply Corps, U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnanceman, Airship Squadrons 22 & 51 |
| Robert B. Griffen, Jr. 1st Lieutenant, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division |
James Rowland Young Corporal, Second Marine Division6th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, K Company |
| William Edward Griggs Staff Sergeant, 97th Regiment, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
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| Frederick Harper Griswold Second Class Petty Officer, United States Naval Reserve |
Partners:
Frederick County Veterans History Project, Inc.
The Maryland Room, Frederick County Public Libraries
Office of Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest
Library of Congress Veteran's History Project