AVC Video
Colonel Edward “Ed” Shames is the last surviving officer of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. A unit that would be made famous by the miniseries Band of Brothers. Trained at Toccoa, Shames would make his first combat jump as an NCO into Normandy on D-Day. For his actions in Normandy he…
As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II, the American Veterans Center has embarked on a vital mission to record the memories of as many World War II veterans as possible, before they leave us. These interviews are donated to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and made available to museums and documentary films. If you are aware of a WWII veteran with a story to…
On the night of April 24, 1951, Hiroshi Miyamura was occupying a defensive position south of the Imjin River, when enemy forces fanatically attacked his position. Aware of the imminent danger to his men he unhesitatingly jumped from his shelter wielding his bayonet in close hand-to-hand combat killing 10 enemy soldiers. Miyamura returned to his machine…
Drawn to the Marines by their dress blue uniforms Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams enlisted the moment he turned 18 in 1943. After basic training Williams was sent to Camp Elliott for instruction as a demolition man and in the use of flamethrowers. Attached to the 3rd Marine Division, Williams participated in action…
Shortly after basic training Vincent J. Speranza would observe a parachute jump demonstration made by a newly formed group of elite airborne soldiers – It would change his life forever. Speranza joined the paratroopers and was assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the famed 101st Airborne division, the Screaming Eagles….
