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The D-Day Tapes
an oral history audiobook on CD
In 1994, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of D-Day, historian Aaron Elson interviewed several veterans who landed on Utah or Omaha Beach, or parachuted into Normandy.
In this unique and compelling 11-hour collection on 11 CDs excerpted from those interviews and some others, Elson presents the veterans' experiences in their own words, and their own voices.
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Battle Fatigue: Corporal Bill Pirone landed with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment on Omaha Beach, and was wounded. Later, in the Hurtgen Forest, he was wounded for a third time, this time by a shell that left him semi-comatose for 37 days. In this hour-long CD, he candidly discusses the effects of combat fatigue. Listen to an excerpt: real audio mp3
Ed Boccafogli of the 82nd Airborne Division parachuted into Normandy in the predawn hours of June 6th. He fought in the battle for Hill 30 and several other skirmishes before being wounded at Baupte. He returned to take part in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. This interview is more than two hours on two CDs. Here's an excerpt: real audio mp3
McNamara's Band: Vincent "Mike" McKinney, a retired New York City police officer, was watching the 50th anniversary ceremonies on television in New Mexico when President Clinton introduced the first American to land on Omaha Beach. McKinney's son saw his father turning red in the face. For the first time since the war, his father talked about his experiences, which included landing on Omaha Beach in the first wave, looking around, and not seeing a soul. Thus he always believed he'd been the first American on bloody Omaha. Later that day, he would earn a Silver Star. Listen to an excerpt: real audio mp3
Lou Putnoky: Although its identity was concealed in this famous D-Day picture, the ship doing all this firing was the USS Bayfield, a Coast Guard vessel that was the flagship of the Utah Beach invasion fleet. Motor Machinist's Mate Lou Putnoky is a veteran of the Bayfield. Listen to an excerpt: real audio mp3
Tiger Burning: In a practice landing for D-Day off of Slapton Sands, England, three LSTs (landing ship-tanks) were torpedoed by German e-Boats late at night. Angelo Crapanzano, who spent four and a half hours in the English Channel and earned a Bronze Star for saving a fellow sailor's life, was a survivor of the tragedy. Angelo's father served on a sub tender in World War I and suggested he join the Navy, where he would have good food and a bunk to sleep in. "But he didn't tell me about torpedoes." Listen to an excerpt: real audio mp3
Patsy Giacchi was also a survivor of the LST 507, and like Angelo, kept his story untold for more than 50 years because survivors were told never to talk about it. Listen to an excerpt from this remarkable interview, but fasten your seatbelt: real audio mp3
Chuck Hurlbut landed on Omaha Beach with the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion. Listen to an excerpt: real audio mp3
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Here are some of the things people who bought Elson's audiobooks are saying:
"Another great collection of WWII memories from guys who were there."
"Great WWII oral historical recordings/accounts!!!"
"Made Christmas shopping for my husband easy."
"A lot of good history I'll be able to enjoy for years."
"An amazing story; thanks for getting these for those of us that weren't there."
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This set makes a perfect gift for the veteran or the history buff in your family, or you may simply want to listen to the interviews themselves. You can listen at home or in your car, or convert the files to MP3s and put them on your iPod. And best of all, you'll be helping to keep alive the memory of the veterans of World War II.
For more information about the veterans in "The D-Day Tapes" and transcripts of some of the interviews, please visit tankbooks.com. To hear more excerpts, go to audiomurphy.com
Order "The D-Day Tapes" on eBay