Local Productions of SOPTV

SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Lawrence J. Bradford
1st Lieutenant US Army; 83rd Infantry Division; 324th Field Artillery Battalion (Served in the Army, Normandy through to Berlin.)
Recounts a rough landing at Normandy. The ship Lawrence was on lost both engines and the Captain dropped anchor, but the seas were so rough the anchor broke off. After getting to the beach, Lawrence was threatened with a pistol to his back because of the manner in which a ship was going to be unloaded. Also, a bridge that was built and Lawrence crossed was named the Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge, but crossing the bridge the following day, it was renamed the Truman Bridge. This is how he found out FDR had died. In another instance, he was in charge of 500 women in Germany who were treated as slave labor by their own countrymen. Lawrence was in charge of cleaning the women up and settling any disputes. He now lives in Ashland with his wife and plays golf and bridge for entertainment.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Janet L. Nelson
Student at McKinley High School (near Pearl Harbor) in Honolulu, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. (Later in life, was an aircraft ferry pilot.)
Recollects a friend calling to tell her the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Janet and her family hiked to the mountaintop behind their home and watched the Japanese planes coming in over their heads. A local school was hit by a bomb. The military commandeered the schools for the purpose of fingerprinting residents of Hawaii. Now lives in Ashland with her husband. Loves to travel and is planning their 5th world tour.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Kay G. Chaffey
Flew Cargo as a WWII W.A.S.P. (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
Recalls how she delivered aircraft everywhere in the United States. She was noted for her smooth landings though one landing was rough and could have taken out the control tower because of a blown landing tire. Lives in Medford, is an author, and is now writing her 8th book.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Gordon (Bud) Durna
Seaman 2nd Class, Naval Aviator; Bombing Squadron #5; USS Yorktown
Remembers too well that his plane was hit unbeknownst to him and, while dropping a bomb, he went into a dive. Bud passed out due to the high G-Force but came to in time to bring the plane up before hitting the water. Wounded, but only needing two little bandages on his knee, Bud earned a well-deserved Purple Heart. He now lives in Medford with his wife and plays golf in his spare time.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Keith D. Arasmith
Private US Army; Superintendent of Heavy Equipment; 802nd Engineer Aviation Battalion
He can laugh now but didn't think it was funny when he was sent to Ketchikan, Alaska to build roads and followed a direct order from a Major to take the Major up to a hilltop in a caterpillar tractor. The Major overrode warnings regarding taking the caterpillar over bog land again ordering Keith to take him to the top of the hill. Near the top, the caterpillar slid all the way back down the hill, splashing into the bog, almost covering the machine, and almost killing both men. Keith lives in Central Point and fills his time writing, fly-tying, and painting.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: August Egli
Staff Sergeant Motor Pool, 3rd Armored Signal Battalion, Camp Polk, Louisiana
After the war ended, he was housed in Korea at a "high-tide only" submarine factory ... and accidently opened a valve and single-handedly "sunk" a Japanese cargo submarine. He also learned in basic training that California is not all beaches and Hollywood, but also deserts. He also learned to not pick up Coral Snakes. August lives in The Rogue Valley Manor and enjoys line dancing and trading on the stock market.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Robert "Bob" Sage
Corporal, Messenger, 2nd Battalion, 347th Infantry, 87th Division, Left Flank of the 3rd Army
Bob proudly wore the Golden Acorn Emblem--it stood for valor--and because the officers were all nuts. He recalls his first night as a messenger when he flirted with being shot by his own men. Bob also humorously imitates the sound of ordinance shot from 88's. He recounts tales of German tanks and bazookas and the consequences of court martialed soldiers he retrieved from foxholes for trial. Bob also movingly shares the hard reality of losing a good friend to the ravages of war. Bob lives in Medford with his wife Joan. He enjoys gardening, fishing, playing golf, and cribbage.
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SOUTHERN OREGON STORIES: Earle Tyerman
Corporal, Expert Rifleman, United States Army Forward Echelon, 7th Corps
Earle begins his story the night of June 5th, 1944 on a landing craft headed for French soil and D-Day the next day. His beach was Utah, the artillery fire was heavy, and he made it ashore after exiting his landing craft in 8 foot water while trying to keep his rifle dry. But Earle soldiered on and lived to tell his harrowing story of crossing the dunes at Normandy and reaching the first little town he came upon. Earle lives in Grant's Pass, enjoys golf, and is a visiting minister to hospitals and rest homes.
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