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Veterans record their stories
Published July 5, 2007
When the B-24 Bomber that Kerr-ville veteran Bob Weinberg navigated was hit during World War II, he jumped out of the plane at 19,000 feet. Then he held his breath and monitored his watch until he estimated he had reached 12,000 feet, where there might be oxygen available.
After landing safely, a gang of Hitler youth found him. Weinberg, 85, considers himself lucky that a German officer was with them, otherwise he may have been beaten to death with a pitchfork or sledgehammer.
Still, the group took him to several area towns where he was beaten and spit on by residents.
His war-time experience was captured on videotape Tuesday when U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, interviewed him for the ongoing Veterans History Project. The videotape will be sent to the Library of Congress and archived with other interviews with veterans.
Without Weinberg’s interview, details of his journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the European Theater, the 47 missions he took part in and the eight months he spent as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft II might be lost after he’s gone.
Several other area veterans have been interviewed by local students and their stories have been archived with the project that chronicles several wars involving Americans. Those who haven’t shared memorabilia or war stories can contact the Kerrville veterans hospital’s voluntary services department at 792-2580.
The “Veterans’ Oral History Project Act” launched the project in 2000. At that time, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimated there were 19 million living veterans of wars involving Americans.
The purpose of the project is to document personal and heart-felt narratives from veterans and civilians who experienced wars. Many of the tales have made listeners or viewers laugh, cry and remember, according to the project’s Web site, www.loc.gov/vet.
So far, the Library of Congress has archived and posted online information, documents, photos, newspaper clippings and personal letters from thousands of veterans.
After the nearly hour-long interview, Weinberg showed Smith two elaborate scrapbooks that document Weinberg’s service in World War II. Smith said he enjoyed hearing all of Weinberg’s tales, but especially was impressed with his sacrifices.
“All of the hardships he endured and here we are over an hour later and not a single complaint or regret,” Smith said. “I appreciate his willingness to share his story with other Americans. It’s just phenomenal.”
Contact Alison Beshur at alison.beshur(at)dailytimes.com
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