captioning copyright national cable satellite corp., 2014. [ captioning performed by the national captioning institute is responsible for its accuracy.ontent and visit ncicap.org ] >> "war letters," extraordinary correspondence from american is letters from military personnel in every major war.ict since the civil andrew carroll is joined by hagel andluding chuck former senator bob dole in book.ng passages from the

this is about an hour. >> good evening. welcome to the library of congress. we're here e, and for an historical occasion to reintroduce after a lapse of 55 years, the armed services editions and especially idea of distributing free books to our servicemen and veterans.to our in other words, on the initiative of andrew carroll a m i will introduce in moment, we are launching a great big book giveaway. original armed services as they are ses called, were part of a cooperative venture between the publishing industry and

the u.s. government that took place between 1943 and 1947. in these years, the government istributed to american servicemen and women nearly 123 1,322 n copies of the popular titles that were published in the series. included best-selling iction, classics, mysteries, history, poetry, westerns, and even reference books. of these see many books in the small exhibit as hall ave the electric tonight. the exhibit is located just outside of the door. what i will understand mean when i say that these flat, books -- here's an example of one, had a special that i think endeared them to the publishing community and publishers for the to work with the government. there's a photograph of the hard bound for sale copy of the book the front of each of these

bounds. paper "cast s sinclair lewis' timber lain: a novel of husbands and wives." this is ases, this is the ignificance, introduced hundreds of thousands of u.s. servicemen and women to reading for the first time. tonight from r me,st lady barbara -- excuse laura bush. had enter for the book has both barbara and laura bush as our chairperson in the reading campaigns. what happens to me when i start thinking about the reading-loving bush family. we're grateful to all of them. is also honorary chairperson as i said of our reading promotion campaign and national book festival, which she chairs and congress ibrary of sponsors and which we are

planning to have that have not yet officially announced for october of this year. i'm pleased to send greetings as you gather in the library of participate in the launching of the project. when mr. andrew carroll legacy d me about the project and its aims, i became n immediate and enthusiastic supporter. my father served in the 104th world war vision in ii and he's one of the young soldiers who eagerly awaited the ext shipment of armed services editions to come his way. i'm thrilled that the legacy reinitiating the publication and distribution of can just imagine in the smiles this endeavor will ring to the faces of our troops. i applaud mr. carroll's nitiative in directing the project and collecting and

compiling the war letters. learly the request for letters from all of the country's wars struck a responsive chord in people.ds of i'm sure you'll enjoy hearing a sampling of the letters read and i encourage you to spread the word about the excellent effort. bush.est wishes, laura let's applaud to that. of congress has its own complementary and young veterans' project. 2000, the u.s. congress voted unanimously to create the veterans' history located in the library's american folk life center. the ission is to collect memories, accounts, and documents from war veterans from ii, and r i, world war the korean, vietnam, and persian the wars and to preserve stories of excellence in service for future generations. speakers, ght's senator hagel and former senator

dole are members of the five-star advisory council. brochures describing this available in the anti-room. they also describe its partnership program and i would to ask the director of the project -- project aaron lovell stand. if you like more information or have questions, see ellen or one f her colleagues at the reception which will follow tonight's program. ellen.nk you, as laura bush and the wa post his morning noted, an group carroll is the mastermind behind "war roject in the book letters: extraordinary correspondence from american ars" published in paper back and sold at the reception tonight. an dip wanted me to mention that all of the proceeds of the sales to veterans and other charitable groups. ndy wears many hats, including one as the director of the

american poetry and literacy project. wearing his he's hat as director of the legacy roject, a national effort to collect and preserve american war letters. to introduce tonight's program, pleased to present andrew carroll. [ applause ] >> good evening. thank you to those of you who came out, particularly those of long distancesed to be here. i'm thankful to john cole and the one at the center of book. i have barraged them over the ast several months with an endless stream of anxious faxes, e-mails, phone calls, there are are less who demanding than i've been. they have been a joy to work with. i appreciate them. this is historic and all the

more so because of the seven readers we have tonight. we're grateful beyond words to them as well. in the interest of time, it's list all of the people who made this evening and possible, but i want to say a special thanks to veterans of foreign wars, the bush's office. the folks in pentagon have been incredible. the folks at jeep which i will explain in a moment. and the volunteers who are here, some who drove up from north carolina to help out tonight. word of the legacy project and why we are here. of y marks the beginning national military appreciation month. who's py to say alex wax instrumental in bringing attention to this is here with us tonight. e figure what better way to honor those who have served and are serving their country hrough their own words, the letters they've written home. the sole mission of the legacy project is to encourage seek out and preserve the letters before

they're lost forever. '98, we received over 60,000 never before seen letters nation's war in our history. people found these in their sets, , basements, clotz and they offer unprecedented insight to what the true nature the at war is and sacrifices it demands from those we fight. can't emphasize enough we're still looking for letters if you veteran, eran, know a know someone in the service. we're looking for e-mail and orrespondence, we're only looking for photo copies, not originals. andcan reach us in our book on our website, war letters.com. now, the other reason we're here tonight, to celebrate the release of the armed services years.n in 55 as john mentioned, the u.s. government working with the publishing the industry gave out 120 million of these little books in the cargo all different

titles. i know john showed us one of his. more off beat titles. this is a book -- it's one of the first pop psychology books done. it's called make the most of our life, which you can just imagine the young gi in the about -- this ng is -- i was thumbing through and came across the chapter. that struck me. a chapter for those who feel impediment toe an the success. torically, writes ray if only i wasn't so ugly in appearan appearance, the people may say, would have a chance to succeed. with few exceptions, the men and changed the world are fitzically misshapen and unattractive. sit in the galleries of our congress and look them over. a beautysuccess is not contest. this, of course, is a no congressman the and senators we have here

tonight who are all very handsome men. are they still here. okay, good. i wanted to bring these books back. and thanks to john and many other people we're able to do this. i'm proud to present to you the first armed services edition formatted inar ii, the same cargo pocket sites as originals. war letters is not the first to be published since world war ii, the last.s not there's nothing more i would like to see than other with us to orking bring back a generation of titles. ration," t estrogen "black hawk down," "d-day," fathers" and bring back the great tradition of giving free books to the troops. every one of you tonight will receive a copty of these. we're grateful if you could the word in the military, media, publishing industry, in groups.rans'

i do have one small favor to ask you. only cally, the books are supposed to go to the military. this is a special occasion. wanted you all to have a copy. if word gets out that we're away everywhere, we on't be able to keep up with demand. i want to keep tonight's giveaway just between us and watching on c-span, by all means, spread the word about everyone you ell know. just don't let on you have a book. little secret. in all seriousness, thank you for coming, enjoy the readings, enjoy the book, and here we go. er served in the u.s. army from his active duty 1956-'61. washington, d.c. starting work and he went to work with abc news where he has been for the past 35 years. were to list all of the

awards he's won, including four evening.'d be here all so, suffice it to say, he's the this week with sam donaldson and cokie roberts. e's the anchor of the national radio station, sam donaldson quite america and he's simply one of the most respected journalists working today. to introduce sam donaldson. [ applause ] you, andrew, john. what does that little book say about reporters. some people feel if we have an armageddon, there will be three life on earth, cockroaches, coyotes, and reporters. i was lucky. did serve in the army for 2 1/2 years. but we didn't have a warp on at that time. the closest i got to it was in

nevada three yards away from when they blew up an atomic device equal to the and nagasaki bombs, some people say that proves it. letters are a dying art. telephone., and a i have the privilege of reading three letters from world war ii. begin. though i know i can never become a young navy pilot wrote to his mother in 1942. fight. being physically able and young enough, i belong at the front, the better. ess than a year later, the young pilot was in combat. home, i hope rote children have to

fight a war. not ds disappearing, it's right. that's george herbert walker bush. 1944, bush r 2, almost became a casualty himself in the war when his plane was caught on fire off of an island. the plane, om striking his forehead on the ail and parachuted to the ocean, his crewman was lost. injured but conscious, he was the u.s.s. finback. on the sub, bush frequently to his tters home parents and the following was written two weeks after he had rescued. dear mom and dad, several days i last satd by since down before this machine, days not without excitement. i'm becoming more used to this life. at first, i missed my daily bath, but now i'm used to my one.ly today was the big day. comes a clean set of clothes.

i hate to have to borrow other unfort things, but naetly i came equipped with drawers, and flying jacket. i've been on the mid watch for the last few days, that puts me the watch from 12:00 and 2:00 at night and 12:00 to 3:00 day.g the if we're submerged, i don't stand watch for obvious reasons. certainly eager to get back to the squadron now. i can picture the letters on my to tear into g them. i haven't heard from bar for almost a month. did i tell you about my goatee? beautifully but gradually developed into a joke, today off it came. to worse, mes owever, i'm convinced i could grow a goatee given plenty of time. getting on the another subject. oaks girl with the funny nickname. i can't remember it for the life she was my downfall.

i've rambled on long enough. of the ch love to all family and to yourselves, pappi. who bar is. who is that oaks girl and what happened? letter also from bush war ii, after george sent that letter home. another young world war ii pilot nd future politician was writing letters to friends and family about his experiences. he was also interested in what going on back in the united states. and in november of 1944, he wrote to a friend about the upcoming election between franklin d. roosevelt and the republican nominee, thomas dewey. about the two candidates could not have been stronger. isten to this -- dear bob, i suppose you've been flowing the political battles of with your usual interest. 'd lost track of them but the stars and stripes have revived

my interest. disgusted if han dewey doesn't win. i think we need a man like dewey in there now. thing, he has a definite attitude toward everything really vital. no new deal ing certainly has established. will give ewey business the confidence in the overnment they haven't had for quite sometime now. i like his plan for a simple taxing platform. it seems good to me. efficiency igor and that he's shown in the past and even the way he's conducting campaign.n this i think he'll do a lot toward and one up the dozen messes the government is in now. well i hope this letter finds good spirits, in your friend, george mcgovern. [ applause ]

f they found this letter in 19 2, he might have lost the election. awardedmcgovern would be the air medal and the distinguished flying cross for his bravery under fire, almost never spoke about in his political campaigns. book out, steven "wild blue," a great book, read it. a true hero. letter, from the pacific. 40s and in his early ate, ernie pyle live, bunked, drank, and marched with as american g.i. to depict accurately as possible the hardships they endured. n 1943, he won the pulitzer prize and the spirited columns were appearing in hundreds of newspapers back in the united states. letters, especially o his old friend and editor page kavanaugh were whimsical

and accounts of life in the lines. while in north africa, pyle sent off the following to kavanaugh 1943.ruary of yours the 23rd november is at hand. been at the front for seven solid weeks. although you may not believe it, i like it up there. life becomes so wonderfully simple. you sleep by picking out a level bed roll.row your you never wash at all or take off your clothes. is a slight problem because you have to take down bout nine layers of clothing and expose yourself to the cruel tunisian chill. i took my first bath in five weeks and immediately came down with a bad cold. i practically have become a tea totaler. obvious, there isn't much to be had. i've gone for weeks without a i feeldrink and actually 1,000 times better though i hate to admit it. tom s for sending me the trainer columns.

i think he's a hell of a lot than i am.er too bad he doesn't make near as much money, tee he. that's what it says, tks eehee. i heard pete branson was knocked off. sorry, surprised. somehow i thought it would never happen to him. it happened to ben robinson of the harold tribune, an old and good friend mine. this war has been tough on newspapermen. me off a this, get tone won't you and loving wife, you cad.ur so you learned how to take a in the cold tunisian chill abuab signed it, abul uks. of the war correspondents kill combat in the 20th century, almost half died in world war ii. 18, 1945, only months before the war was over, pyle, them. know, became one of

following a convoy of trucks on he tiny pacific island of ushima, pyle and several men suddenly g in a jeep raked with machine gun fire. no one was hit. a roadside e into ditch for protection. after a few seconds, ernie poked smiled, and called out to one of the men, are you all right? in that brief moment, the japanese sniper shot ernie pyle through the head. thank you. >> just a quick note about what they're all said, previously unpublished. president bush sent us the letters. steven am broels sent us the and r from george mcgovern the ernie pyle letter was never published before either.

from december 1998 to august served deputy assistant secretary of defense, now director of the nay si staff senior ranking woman in the u.s. military. he first and only woman to achieve the rank of vice admiral. er peshl decorations include the defense distinguished service medal, three legion of erit awards and three meritorious service medals. she'll be reading letters by who served this nation in wartime. great honor. tracy.miral patricia a. >> i'm happy to be here. every ivileged to spend single day whose men and women whose courage and spirit is of ected in these kinds letters and to have a little

time to share what it's like to those people is a great privilege. the first one is the gulf war era. sent home by ps-i sandy patrol erving aboard a boat in the persian gulf manning a 50 caliber machine gun. 22, 1991 to january her mother. well, we are five days into war. amazing, isn't it? trying times in the past five days and i'm sure there will be many more before i leave here. i'm fine and i plan on staying that way. we've had close calls. two nights ago, the patriots went off right from our port, one mile from our compound. there was a terrible boom when off, and a second boom when it broke the sound barrier. there was debris all over. about d any doubts whether -- next p.m., back

again. in the middle of that sentence had a skud attack. you should have seen it. eople are really doing strange things now and emotions are high. short.s iraq ended up putting a missile or two into israel again. isn't going to hold it back much longer. i can't blame them. ussein is trying to kill civilians. before this all came about, i ondered if i would really be able to use my weapon against someone else. now.e no question you know, like so many ohs, i prayed for a peaceful end before this. that it isn't peaceful, and it won't be, i just want to o whatever has to be done to get this whole damn mess over with. it's now become a situation and i end up ot killing someone, if they were that's just me in, too bad. i thought i would never say put a ut it really does different light on things when

you're right here, not knowing what to expect next. mom, take care and god bless you. keep praying. helps.little bit love your daughter, sandy. remarkable about this letter is the time she wrote it, she was a grandmother. gulf war own as the granny. she joined the navy in 1959 and she joined the coast guard reserves. she's alive and well today. military,red from the and she lives in the mid welles. midwest. my second letter is from world ii. its's a different set of circumstances. not all of the letters written ome were about combat circumstances. this is a young woman in the army of 1945 who as an nurse wrote to her cyster about a memorable trip to rome while overseas.stationed daerp betty, today was my turn to the vatican. two joined us as we were

crossing the river. thousands of g.i.'s in the with the pope. we stood in the front row, the ope stopped right in front of me. he's as small as i am. ring to me to s kiss. methodist just don't do that thing, kissing old men's rings as you well know. so i didn't. sanitary nks of the aspects of that custom, its's repulsive. instead, i extended my hand to a happy hearty hand shake. we chatted briefly. i told him i came from wisconsin. also about the great fishing there and put in a good wofrd for father. on other ic nurses side of me wanted to hit me on the head when it was over. were burned up because he didn't speak to them and waved his attention on me. hey broke out a package of cigarettes and started to smoke in the vatican. sacrilege.t was a i have an infected finger from

dirty needle from the o.r. is medicine i'm taking making me absolutely sluggish and it doesn't become me. love june. last letter is from albania. it was written on the 22nd of christine mcneff. she was 24-year-old u.s. army captain. westchester, pennsylvania. she was a peacekeeper in albania. kind of an fferent experience. hope all is well on the hope front. progressing day-by-day here. last friday, i went on patrol guys from the 82nd airborne infantry. they gave me a hard time at congress wouldn't allow them to take a woman on combat patrol. i told them to stuff it. t was good to get outside of the wire and see what this country is all about. drove through the local

village, children shouted mre, chocolate, chocolate. and the people would say, please don't leave albania. was decrept, the buildings and houses had no appeared to be crumbling. we asked around and found the village elder/doctor/schoolteacher/mayor . he was a distinguished older man charisma, sive realizing the plight of the people. spoke ofteared when he the appreciation of the united states and he thanked us for being here. as we left, all of the school garthevered outside. they were light and dark, they had different color hair, and all good spirited. children are children, i suppose. for the first time i felt the of our presence here. it makes me all the more grateful for what i have. the more humble for all that i take for granted. please pray for the victims over are much more our

brothers and sisters than i think we know. i love you and miss you very much, chris. thank you. [ applause ] >> tonight, of course, marks a special event with the armed divisions. last night we had senator mccain, cokie roberts, chris morris, and some other prominent washitonians reading war letters. we organized smaller readings around the country. in all of that time, we have veteran read his own letters. until tonight. this gentleman went to extraordinary efforts to find his letters. for that.eful he's going to cringe at this term as most combat veterans do, he's a true war hero. he served in vietnam in 1968 interestingly enough side-by-side with his brother

and they are quad leaders in the division.nth infantry he received many military decorations including two purple hearts for injuries sustained in combat. he's currently the u.s. senator from nebraska. introduce or to senator chuck hagel. [ applause ] >> andrew. thank you. arrived, ice has just senator dole, sir. he didn't want to miss your presentation. ap drew and thank john and the library of congress for what you are doing. in this room ne impact, not that i tonight e others here will have. is the completeness of what

being transferred tonight in the way that it's being transferred. we are a remarkable nation for reasons. but certainly most important that we respect of e who have given themselves and their selfless to causes much more important and much nobler than self-interests. reflected what is tonight as much as anything else. to those of us privileged participate, and i surely am to in the company of the readers chosen. have i appreciate this opportunity. also appreciate the opportunity to become acquainted on how to succeed

have limitations that ns

charlie rangel has never had that problem nor bob dole. but mere mortals like me, i've had to struggle. but i am very much in the debt of you, andrew, for your imagination. and your focus on putting something together much larger and grander than your own self-interest. thank you. i would like to share with you tonight a couple of letevers that they will most likely not be in their completeness because they would be i think too boring. and i would begin with a letter from my father. who wrote this letter to his mother on june 10, 1940. you might ask why when i read such a letter. it does have some relevance to it, not only the fact that he me something to do with being here tonight, but 18 letter was this written, bob, my father was in th army air corp. getting south pacific the where he served for 2 1/2 years as a radio operator tail gunner on a b-25. father came back in 1945. nd he and my mother were married on valentine's day in 1946. and in october of 1946, i was born. if you want to count that up, it

admiral, it does. check in life ou before you offer yourself for public candidacy. that's one of them. hey said before you run for office, make sure you're legitimate. my father and mother married on 1945, went on y, to have four sons. died when i was 16 years old in high school. to start with a letter to my father and then a letter my brother tom wrote who was a disaup pointment to all of us,

he became a lawyer. far more valiant as you than i was and with quickly discern, a far better writer than me. meager ll make a contribution, an group, in a short letters i wrote to my mother and my brother, jim who my brother were still in columbus, nebraska when tom and inserved together the ninth with infantry division in 1968. ames worth, nebraska, june 10, 1940. june 10 happens to be the wife.ay of my so i found this also to be a bit the stars hose aligned and we couldn't go on. you know how she always looks for the microphone and the i can hardly pry her away from that recognition. that's a joke by the way. never halz.

-- has. dearest mother, i hope you will forgive me for not writing busy, i t i've been so didn't have much time to write. and my father had been out of for one month and ad a job as a salesman in the hills of e hand nebraska. in denver, colorado where my her mother was visiting sister. we are all well and hope to say foodway if we don't die of poisoning, it mainly occurs at supper. i'm getting along just fine with that is not all, i sales class n my saturday. beat the boss and ruby h. and mr. remington said i was really doing well, and really doing a becoming a i was very good salesman.

mother, i don't want to worry you, but there's a bill being passed in congress this week. she'd always worry when a bill was passed in congress. passed in congress this week and the bill says that and boys between the ges of 17 and 45 have to take military training. i think it's a draft. but it doesn't mean that we're going to go to war. i've heard of the war talk. i don't think we'll go to war too afraid of is the united states of america. father ends the letter by

saying don't, worry, mom, it will work out. go now and going to do some other important things but don't think i'm neglecting you. know, i'm not very good at writing letters. you, your ose for loving son, charles dean. i begin with my father's letter in our he set a standard family that was -- that was very important for all of us. became other, tom, who

the distinguished law professor. he never got out of high school, clearly tells us that. y mother picked up a series of post cards that were self-addressed, had stamps, did letter ng but write the for my brother. and she would send things to tom. not high expectations and you could understand better in one of his responses. a response he sent back to my mother in april of 1968. post card, this is a five cents in those days, by the way. er name is on the post card with her address. columbus, nebraska and y prolific brother writes no salation. just two down, ten to go. hell, uptight, great shape as usual, tom.

this is a march, 1968 letter i wrote and i normally tom's name my brother to it for obvious reasons. so this march, 1968, march 19, begins, dear mom, mike, and jim. pfc thomas l. hagel took part in his first bravo company 47th infantry patrol. he did an outstanding job, i think. of that is ificance that when my brother first got went up to the assigned to then colonel george patton's 11th cav, the famous general

we on's son who as i think all know became a general as well. patton, was with general then colonel patton in the 11th month the dmz for about a before he was transferred down to the dmz where i was in the ninth division. uncertain as to how that happened because the army is so coordinating everything. and we suspected we'd never see each other in vietnam. worked out.it all myhe then was transferred to unit. and beginning of this letter is elling my mother and my two brothers at home that he had just gone out on the first patrol with us. well that successful patrol, be may, the first sergeant actually assigned tom second platoon and my squad, third squad. really we can't get any

closer. i'm concerned about that. approximately two feet from me. this is not good. e both realized the consequences that could develop if something would happen. have accepted this fact so no problem. and our s are fine spirits are very high. i hope things are going smooth all, chuck love you and tom. weeks s about two days before tom and i were wounded together for time.rst letter sent in april, of 1968. dear mom, mike, and jim, easter is almost here. haven't even given it a thought.

but we did think about jim. the youngest brother. felt withing his tonsils out. it must have been painful. tom and i have happy time. hope things went well and he's recovering. package received a from his friend bill german, also today, we moved into the plantation. we're scheduled to stay here for about a month. although oo bad here, it's hot as hell. constantly, near morning, noon and night. unreal.idity is we heard that tom was promoted o specialist fourth class, the fourth sergeant told him, personally, that was impressive. e don't talk to first sergeants. you understand that, admiral, you don't talk to those guys either. intimidating. they are for me.

he'll get the orders for this list fourth class week sometime, we think. proclaim officially now he is of my rank. he's really tickled about it. and i'm glad for it. a big its gave him boost, love chuck and tom. well, you shouldn't say anything unless you have something to that's the way we did it. 1968 letter.ly, significance of this letter, n 1968, the tet offensive occurred and it was late february, lunar new year. and you might recall that about two months later, the north viet -- vietnamese and vietcong

regrouped and attacked once again. 1968. this letter was early july second tet offensive. into saigon brought area around saigon oh which was destroyed after the first tet offensive. dear mom, mike, and jim. only time for a short line. you know ted to let we're both fine. we've been fighting in saigon for the last three days. entire battalion, many casualties. no doubt you'll be hearing about the second and the 42nd infantry in saigon. there seemed to be a lot of television cameras around. i was a shameless politician looking for a camera.

called back were to bearcat, that was our to start nco camp academy training tomorrow. i'm a little surprised they tom and i both together. well, tom and i will be in eting against each other academy. e know that the haguele brothers have the first and second spots nailed down. which st a matter of hagel gets first? actually neither hagel got first. in the money and we did get through. but we didn't -- we didn't score in the -- i think tom remembers -- i thinktly than i i was third, he feels fourth. but he doesn't think so. so things are looking much

better. fieldl go back out to the back into saigon if we're still there in the next week. also, as you may have guessed, there'll be no r&r for the next months -- r&r, i most rest and w is relaxation. unlike korea, charlie rangel, and world war bob dole, you didn't have those like we had them in vietnam. i've always talked about one of the main differences between in e of us who served vietnam and those who serve in other wars, we knew there was an 12 months, if of you were an enlisted man or 13 if you were a marine, you left. you'd come back. would go home.u what the world war ii veterans korea, theywith and

were uncertain. great uncertainty. that's on the personal side of this, the big difference between who serve in vietnam and the other wars. all desperately looked forward to that r&r, which, take about , we did two months later and we -- tom to hawaii where we met my grandmother and mother aunts brothers and more than i ever knew i had. the aunts all had to come and cheer on the war effort. those - i know most of women were not relatives. but nonetheless, my mother let come. so the remabelinder of this let putting together time for r&r.

i know you're disappointed and disappointed. ladies and gentlemen, i'm grateful for an opportunity to i wanted to share the good many of the letters my mother has. that's one of the heavy burdens gave mothers is to keep letters from your sons and daughters. glad she did. and it was an interesting time to go back over that. read letters from colleagues and friends who had erved not with me but in other parts of vietnam and at times what they had to say about -- experience. and about their families and what this country meant to them. thank you very much. [ applause ]

>> i want to emphasize we're ooking for war letters in the legacy project. this is not directed to anyone in particular. have letters from vietnam. we'd be interested in seeing them, just photo copies is all need. on april 14, 1945, our next eader was a 21-year-old second lieutenant with the famed 10th mountain division fighting the hills of italy. on this particular day, he was leading a dangerous raid and saw hit.f his men get him back to , took the shell hole. and in doing so, he made himself an easy target. hese are machine guns and artillery is exploding all around him. and moments later, he was shot the right shoulder and did extensive damage. paralyzed him.

it would be nine hours before he treatmentreal medical in a hospital. and when he arrived, many people said he would not survive. to russell, kansas, went to law school, and politics. 1968, united states senate, became the majority leader. in 1996, he resigned from the for the run presidency. i don't think i'm betraying any confidences by saying that out.'t exactly pan but less than a year later, he was awarded the presidential our nation's om, highest civilian honor for service to the country. he's known for his service to the 10th and his humor and patriotism, we chose all three letters for him. it shows all three. t's a honor to introduce senator bob dole.

ofonder if we could have all the world war ii veterans stand in i know there's some around here. there we are. i asked people sometimes what if we had not won world war ii. would we be here? not.bly i don't know what language we would speak, who would let us for how long. so it was sort of an important occasion. you're talking about books. reviewer today in new york. he said have you read my last book. so. he said i hope so maybe we can get that in the out. group that goes it's an honor to be here. trying to remember trying to i'd the letters that written back home to my parents

and others and hoped to run these days. one of i do, andrew, i thank you and efforts.your world war ii, i think, was a very defining moment in the last century. nd then after we got home, we had the gi bill of rights that i think changed america, probably changed the world. many of any of us, not us had the money to go on to college. you can see what education means and how important it is and talking about letters and all about education. i'm honored to read letters from world war ii veterans. written in theas and bill 1944 by noses wilhoit stationed in england. two young men were desperate strangerled to a total to write to which a lot of us did that except for george bush, ladies' name there.

this is a fan letter. you see you wrote a letter to a faust at lci , cw 540. my executive officer saw your eautiful and neat handwriting, smelled the sweet perfume on the letterhead, and said, anyone who must be more ters wonderful than lana turner, together.rgman all put we then said why not write her a letter. so now we are now. this is it. before i begin, let me explain e're two very lonely lads and our morale is very low. we have hearts of gold, but bother -- but girls never seem to bother looking ut after once at our comical faces. my executive officer's name is bill. from georgia tech in february.

as for looks, well, he doesn't really have any. the first impression is gargantua arrived in england. protuberances that look like cauliflowers. born that way s but i don't believe god could make a man with ears like that. has eyes.lieve he i can't find them. he says he can see. that settles that. eyes. his nose looks like a very large red apple. it's his best feature. at least you know he has a nose. we're at a loss to explain why no lips.as i should stop here, but i won't. his physique, 36 inch shoulders, 26 inch waist. girl once, had a

but i doubt it. every day he wishes he would get girl but he a never does. couldn't you surprise him with one just for the morale of the the service. girls don't like me either, but i'm really a swell guy. looking, but i have the sort of inner beauty from within. i can't explain why others don't discover it. to begin with, i have beautiful red eyes, at least you can see i have a long firmly formed nose and i think my lips re a little thick but you wouldn't notice them much if i didn't lisp. but at least i don't stutter like bill. looking for a re good upstanding young man to fall for. falling for idered ltz men, landing craft tanker, men. don't the word just thrill you. we're heros. we fight in invasions and everything.

and un knowing you already you haven't even answered us. now, don't forget, first of all, fall in love with us, and second, write us a letter. so until we hear from you, await e and we eagerly your answer, bubbling over with love, nigh moses and bill willhoit. of ident and vice president the beverly can vel fan club of england. these guys are good. edge lammed post number one, membership closed. well, al though -- she did respond. she would go on to marry a pilot named dale leslie french. but she did respond to the letter. th mountain division and in afghanistan. group, obviously.

a lot of casualties in the 10th mountain division. april and the war was about to end. she hasn't told people, i guess, in italy. a lot of casualties. there, fact, was over sam donaldson and filmed the one or at h i was wounded mrooes i told him i was. world war the age in ii that we started off in 16.5 million and there are less than 5 million of us now. and we can tell almost any story we want. right? and there's nobody around to ups.ct we're all going to be heroes know. this is over, i but in -- this is a rather -- this is a tough letter. andrew said, it's probably worth reading just one of these. 1945, the german army surrendered to the allied if euphoria expressed by the american soldiers in the letters home was not shared by all.

some forget the terrible cost of victory. max speeder, the 24-year-old following nt the letter to a friend back in state college, pennsylvania. 6, 1945, dear russ, i got your letter several days ago at ratherwhen i was feeling low. and it worked as a tremendous shot in the arm to my morale. here had a wild time when the news first came about the end of the war. although i felt just as jubilant as the rest, i had the memories of death and destruction i'd in the last few weeks too. fresh in mind to feel like i and t feel like cheering shouting. only about one out of three who came overseas with us is still around. it gets pretty rough watching first one and then another get knocked off. i've never told anyone back there about the speciouses i've and the things i've seen. but i can't seem to make myself forget them. maybe if i told them just once, could start to forget them.

like the time the medic i knew the leg blown clear off and his head blown open. tried to make myself eat lunch of crackers while shell hole with five dead germans around me. jerry 88 me that the landed just in front of me to kill two of my good friends and flat on my back. the time one of my men got wounded and i had my hands with blood trying to help him and three-point days later the blood was still there. the faintly sweet smell from my hands because i haven't yet had a chance to wash. night i dral up dragled my hillsidebodies under a where they lay dead under enemy observation. i can never see how we can at home to understand what we've seen and done. now at least partial pieces have that all ned and hope of our statesmen of people at home and overseas will see the a real and lasting one.

and and all of the rest of us ill do everything in our power to preserve that peace. we owe that much to our buddies that are gone. i'm not expecting to get home for a good while and there may ahead rough fighting against the japanese, but i'm planning on coming back. say hello to all of my friends back there. max peters returned home and is alive and well today, i guess. you mean today, like today. yeah. so i don't know where max was, but that -- but i'm glad i wasn't with him. but in any event, it was a tough time. and the third letter from a war in a german rison camp in mousseberg, germany. richard wellbrock kept a secret letters in form of his wife mary and her 2-year-old son. wellbrock months, recorded this existence as a pow attling chronic hunger, sub zero temperatures, loneliness,

and infections. one excerpt. mary, my darling, he wrote, it christmas eve. if i ever needed you, i do now. i'm bluer than i've been in my life. wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares and men who have been down for two years wake up screaming so the nights don't lack interest. of 1945, wellbrock's he its soared, however, as heard of muted thunder of distant shelling. troops are fast approaching. on april 29, the camp was liberated. last xt day he wrote one letter to his wife. he said mary, my darling, 12:40, the american flag was raised over mousseberg. started e for the area at 9:00 and continued until then. it was a tense three hours for casualties.ad few to be free once again and to describe it is far beyond my ability. it's a man's greatest possession

and without it he finds he's only half alive. was a spectacle i'll never be able to describe. 175,000, one ofe 175,000 prisoners in this camp, english, indian, russian, french, and the americans fall to their needs as they watched the american flag rise over this hell hole. many of these men had been there five years, five years. we were supposed to be flown to lahar and from there back home which should be soon. darling, it doesn't seem a sible i'll be with you in month. my prayermonths its's and hope and at least i can realize it. i love you with all my heart and i always will. the last night in the states when i told you i would make it okay? be there it and i will soon. the thought of you in camp made i possible, believe me and hope and pray kim will never have to keep a record such as this and man at last has learned wars only cause suffering.

my love, forever, richard. wellbrook richard delivered his letters to mary personally. alive urned to the states and well by christmas, 1945. thank you. [ applause ]