Welcome to Iowa Public Television! If you are seeing this message, you are using a browser that does not support web standards. This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device. Read more on our technical tips page.
Produced by IPTV, this program honors the Iowans who went into battle, as well as those who provided support from home. This Web site offers information on those profiled in the documentary, clips from the program, and links to valuable resources.
posted on April 10, 2006 at 12:05 PM
To help win the fight from the home front, the U.S. government asked its citizens to increase production of everything from ammunition to food. Ed Tubbs went to work for the Jasper Country Extension Service to promote Victory Gardens but eventually volunteered for military service.
posted on April 10, 2006 at 12:02 PM
Vivian worked for Solar Aircraft Company in 1944 while her husband Ray was flying bombing missions in Europe.
posted on April 10, 2006 at 11:59 AM
For some, joining the service was a chance to relocate.
posted on April 10, 2006 at 11:48 AM
As the battle raged on in Tunisia, 15-year old Rex Holmes of Red Oak waited in the Western Union Telegraph office in the Red Oak Hotel.
posted on April 10, 2006 at 11:42 AM
In 1943, 19 year-old Hollys "Pat" Harrison from Albia, formerly Hollys Tarbell, was working for a local dentist taking care of domestic chores.
posted on April 10, 2006 at 11:22 AM
Jeanne Ersland of Ankeny, formerly Jeanne Gibson, was among the 19 thousand people who worked at the Des Moines Ordnance Plant.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 7:18 PM
By mid-summer 1944, members of company "I" were attacking German troops somewhere north of Rome, Italy.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 7:15 PM
In the skies over Italy, 24 year-old First Lieutenant Luther Smith of Des Moines, was on his second tour of duty with the Tuskegee Airman.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 7:13 PM
In April of 1944, 27-year old Second Lieutenant Ray Schleihs of Johnston, was starting his overseas tour of duty. Schleihs had joined the Army Air Corps in March of 1942 and was now piloting B-17 Flying Fortresses from a base in Framlingham, England.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 7:11 PM
After landing on Saipan in June of 1944, First Lieutenant Al Rolfes had dug in above Tannipeg harbor.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 7:08 PM
In January of 1945, 22 year-old John Phillips of Waterloo was part of a group of replacement troops sent to the 106th Infantry Division fighting the Battle of the Bulge.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 7:05 PM
Moritz and other members of the 168th were surrounded by German troops at the Battle of Faid pass in February of 1943.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 6:59 PM
After being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Ruth Miller was assigned to the 110th Evacuation Hospital and sent to Europe in 1944. Miller helped care for several of the soldiers wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 6:20 PM
McDole was at the Cavite Naval Base in the Philippines when the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor began. Because the Philippines are on the other side of the international dateline, the battle began on December 8, 1941. McDole surrendered to Japanese forces May 6, 1942. He was eventually sent to the Palawan Island Prison Camp.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 6:16 PM
As part of the 559th Field Artillery Battalion, Lettington had crossed the English Channel 17 days after D-Day in June of 1944. In December of 1944, Lettington found himself among the troops retreating from a massive German counter-attack now known as the Battle of the Bulge.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 6:13 PM
Private First Class Henry Leonard, a 19-year old draftee from Ryan, was sent to fight in the Philippines in January of 1945.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 6:04 PM
In early 1945, 20-year old Galen Kittleson from St. Ansgar was stationed in the Philippines as part of an elite unit called the Alamo Scouts. The Alamo Scouts participated in the rescue of American POWs held by the Japanese at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp in January of 1945.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 4:33 PM
Technician Fourth Grade Verle Buck, a 21-year old from Jubilee, was drafted in January of 1943 and participated in D-Day as part of the 149th Combat Engineer Battalion.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 2:39 PM
During the battle for Faid (fa-YEED) Pass, Sergeant Barron's mortar squad was nearby, perched on a hill, waiting to protect the retreating Allied troops.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 2:29 PM
Aschbrenner was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma. On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Oklahoma was docked in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack began at 7:55am, Hawaiian time.
posted on April 9, 2006 at 1:56 PM
Army Corpsman Malcolm Amos of Afton was captured in the Philippines on April 9, 1942 and forced to be part of the Bataan Death March.
posted on April 8, 2006 at 5:31 PM
View WWII history the way newsreels showed it. Also, watch rare film footage from the Woman's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAC).
posted on April 8, 2006 at 5:12 PM
Browse through some of the resources and links used in the creation of this documentary.
This is a portion of a newsreel shown to general audiences describing how the weather slowed the advance of 5th Army in ... 03:39
This is a portion of a newsreel shown to general audiences describing the campaign in New Britain near New Guinea and Makin ... 03:47
This is an excerpt from a film used to describe the United States Army Air Forces policy in Europe. The film begins with ... 04:43
This is a film used to describe what the United States Army Air Forces were doing to win the war in early 1944 in the Marshall ... 04:55
Produced sometime in 1946, this film is a retrospective of the war in Europe. It includes footage of Roosevelt, Churchill, ... 05:10
Iowa Public Television provides quality, alternative programming of lasting value to Iowans regardless of where they live or what they can afford, without commercial interruption. You're visiting this Web site because you believe in the power of public television - and because you enjoy local documentaries like this one. We hope you'll consider joining Friends of Iowa Public Television as a way to say "thank you" for programs like this.
Visit the Friends of Iowa Public Television Foundation Web site.
There are no broadcasts currently planned. Please check back for future broadcast dates.
Support provided by:
From the first farmers to pioneer settlers; new immigrants to Iowa innovators, discover how the experiences of the past tell the story of who we are as Iowans. Produced in partnership with the State Historical Society of Iowa, IPTV's Iowa Pathways brings together vast resources into an online destination examining the people, places, events and ideas of Iowa.
Visit Iowa Pathways at www.iptv.org/iowapathways.
Share Your Iowa Story
comments powered by DisqusComment Policy
Iowa Public Television encourages conversation and debate around issues, events and ideas related to program topics.
Find out more about IPTV.org's privacy policy and terms of use.