First Hand Accounts
Soldiers
Born on May 19, 1919, in Edinburgh, Scotland. When he was 16 years old he joined the Post Office. On April 8, 1936, Lomax became a sorting clerk as well as a telegraphist. On March 10, 1937, Eric Lomax was promoted to clerical class. When he turned 19, Eric Lomax joined the Royal Corps of Signals. he was a member of the 5th field regiment, Royal artillery. When he was 22 years old he and his unit surrendered to the Japanese, in Singapore in February 1942. After being relocated to Thailand his unit was forced to build the Burma Railway, known as the Death Railway. During his time building the railway he was able to build a radio receiver with the help from other men from the unit. The radio receiver was then discovered by their captors. As a result Eric Lomax and the others involved were severely beaten. His tormentors then told him "Lomax, you will be killed shortly whatever happens. But it will be to your advantage in the time remaining to tell the whole truth. You know now how we can deal with people when we wish to be unpleasant." After he was talked to Lomax was subjected to severe floggings and waterboarding. When the war ended Lomax's physical pains healed but his emotional pain still tormented him. As a result of the war and what he had went through, Eric Lomax was awarded the Efficiency Medal in 1949 and was promoted to Captain. That same year in 1949, Lomax retired from the army. He never could stride to far from the military life so he joined the Colonial Service. His time spent being held prisoner during the war continued to haunt him. One of his captor's stuck out in his mind like a stick in mud. Lomax made it his duty to find the interpreter, Nagase Takashi. Through the 1980s Lomax spent most of his time looking for Mr. Takashi. While reading an article that Mr. Takashi had written about his overwhelming guilt of the treatment of one British soldier. That soldier that he had written about was Lomax. Lomax and Takashi finally met in 1993. After spending a great deal of time together and much reconciliation the two men became close friends.
Hardman, Robert. "'Some Time the Hating Has to Stop': A Tortured War Hero, His Japanese Tormentor, and the Redeeming Power of Forgiveness." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 10 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 May 2014.
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2215357/Eric-Lomax-A-tortured-war-hero-Japanese-tormentor-redeeming-power-forgiveness.html>
Born in Henderson, Texas, in 1909, Robert P. Taylor was a graduate of Baylor University. Taylor also received a master of theology degree from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1936. As well as a doctor of theology degree from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1939. Before entering the military in September 1940, Chaplain Taylor was a pastor for the South Fort Worth Baptist Church. One of Chaplain Taylor's military assignments was as the regimental chaplain of the 31st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Division. Taylor was the only chaplain stationed at the famed Cuartel de Espano, within the historis "walled city" of Manila. Taylor's regime was called to the frontlines on the Peninsula of Bataan. As a result of the Battle of Bataan, Chaplin Taylor was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. When the American's surrendered there, Taylor became apart of the death march that was led from the Bataan through Manila, to the camp roughly eight miles east of Cabanatuan. Taylor served as the chaplain in the prison camp hospital. In the summer of 1944, Taylor suffered through fourteen weeks of solitary confinement after he smuggled food and medicine to patients. After being taken out of confinement Taylor was then taken to Japan and Manchuria. Once there he was put on the "Hellships" that was then bombed twice by American planes which killed thousands of people. During the second bombing Taylor was injured by flying fragments, ironically he still wouldn't receive a purple heart because he was wounded by our own forces. Chaplain Taylor was still the only chaplain in military service who survived 42 months of Japanese prison camps. After his liberation, he was assigned to deputy staff chaplain in January 1946. After rising through the ranks throughout the years Taylor took over his duties of chief of chaplains on September 1, 1962. Some of Taylor's decorations and awards include: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters.
"Robert P. Taylor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 July 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_P._Taylor>
"Robert P. Taylor." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 July 2014. Web. 12 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_P._Taylor>
Photographers
born on October 9, 1911, in Washington D.C., Joe Rosenthal would take one of the most iconic photographs of WWII. Rosenthal developed an interest for photography during the 1930s living in San Francisco. While living in San Francisco he worked for the San Francisco News as a reporter-photographer in 1932. Rosenthal tried joining the Army as a photographer but his poor eyesight would handicap him from joining. So instead, Rosenthal joined the Associated Press and shadowed the United States Marines Corps in the Pacific Theater during the war. Rosenthal would take his iconic Iwo Jima flag raising photo on Friday 23, 1945. He had heard that a flag was going to be raised at the top of Mount Suribachi and he hurried to get there. Halfway up the mount carrying his Speed Graphic camera, he was told that a flag had already been raised. Rosenthal decided to continue up the mountain anyways to get a picture of the flag. Once he was on top, he discovered a group of Marines securing a larger flag to a pipe. At first Rosenthal questioned whether or not he should take a picture of both flags, but he decided not to. He focused in on the larger flag being raised. He had to stack up stones so that he could see because he was only 5 feet 5 inches tall. Rosenthal pushed the shutter on his camera so that way he knew he would get the perfect photo to send to the Associated Press. As a result of the photo, in 1945, Joe Rosenthal received the Pulitzer Prize. The committee described the photo as "depicting one of the war's great moments," and a "frozen flash of history."
"The Iwo Jima Photograph 1." Greg Nevilles Photography Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<https://patriotpost.us/pages/101>
"The Iwo Jima Photograph 1." Greg Nevilles Photography Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<https://patriotpost.us/pages/101>
Robert Capa (born Endre Friedmann) was born on October 22, 1913, in Budapest, Austria-Hungary. After WWI he left home to pursue a career as a writer. Not long after he left home Capa had discovered work in Berlin as a photographer. Capa grew to enjoy his work as a photographer but was forced to leave Germany and move to France in 1933, because of the rise of Nazism, and the victimization of Jewish journalists and photographers. He had to hide his identity (since he was Jewish) so he changed his name from Friedmann to Robert Capa. With his new name he found it a lot easier to sell photos because his name sounded so American. His first published photograph was of "The Meaning of the Russian Revolution" a speech given by Leon Trotsky in 1932, in Copenhagen. One of Capa's most famous photographs ever taken was of the second wave of American troops that landed on Omaha Beach. Capa was with the second wave of troops where he was able to snap 106 pictures. Unfortunately only eleven photos would survive WWII because of a lab accident in London that destroyed the others. The eleven remaining photos that Capa took would later be named, "The Magnificent Eleven." After years of capturing history with his camera lens, Capa's luck would run out. On May 25, 1954 at 2:55 p.m., while documenting the First Indochina War with two Time-Life journalists Capa was in a dangerous area that was under fire. In an attempt to capture a better glimpse of the battlefield he left his jeep; about 5 minutes later an explosion was heard and the two other journalists came running when they found Capa lying on the ground with his left leg blown off. Capa was mortally wounded by a landmine, he was taken to a field hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Stummer, Robin. "Robert Capa in Colour Sheds New Light on a Black-and-white Master." The Observer. Guardian News and Media, 15 Dec. 2013. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://pleasurephoto.wordpress.com/category/robert-capa/>
Stummer, Robin. "Robert Capa in Colour Sheds New Light on a Black-and-white Master." The Observer. Guardian News and Media, 15 Dec. 2013. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://pleasurephoto.wordpress.com/category/robert-capa/>
Scientists
Born on April 22, 1904, in New York City J. Robert Oppenheimer went to the Ethical Culture Society School. He was interested in English and French literature until he was a senior in high school, at which point he developed an interest in chemistry. After contracting colitis on a summer vacation, Oppenheimer entered Harvard College a year late when he was 18. Three years at Harvard and Oppenheimer graduates summa cum laude. He then went on to study at Cambridge University and then in 1929, he returned to the U.S. and took positions at Berkley and Cal Tech. President Roosevelt established the Manhattan Project in 1941, after hearing the news that the Nazis had split the atom and had the potential to develop extremely dangerous weapons. J. Robert Oppenheimer was appointed as its director. He brought together the greatest minds in physics. He managed more than thee thousand people, as well as any problems that arose. On July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb was tested in the New Mexico desert. He knew the world of weapons would change forever. Less than a month later on August 10, 1945, Japan surrendered as result of the two atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After that Oppenheimer's name became a household name when he appeared on Life and TIME magazine.
"Oppenheimer: American Prometheus." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://onionesquereality.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/the-trials-of-j-robert-oppenheimer/>
"Oppenheimer: American Prometheus." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://onionesquereality.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/the-trials-of-j-robert-oppenheimer/>
Born on May 10, 1919 , in Greifswald, Germany Magnus von Braun attended Hermann Lietz- Schule in Spiekeroog. After graduating from there he attended Technische Universität München in 1937. He received his Masters degree in organic chemistry and he also became an assistant to Hans Fischer (a Nobel laureate). After being requested by Wernher von Braun to go to Peenemunde (an army research center) in 1943, he would go and work as a rocket specialist. In the summer of 1944, he had been changed to Mittelwerk where he made V-2 rocket: gyroscopes, servomotors, and also turbo pumps. On November 16, 1945 Braun was put to work in Fort Bliss, Texas and then in Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. He had been interrogated by United States officials because he had been a witness for Andrae war crimes. Mittlewerk general manager Georg Rickhey had been accused of war crimes but as a result of Braun's and others testimonies, he was acquitted. Braun was also apart of operation paperclip, in 1955, he had a job working for Chrysler.
"Wernher Von Braun." Wernher Von Braun. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.nndb.com/people/686/000055521/>
"Wernher Von Braun." Wernher Von Braun. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.nndb.com/people/686/000055521/>
Born on December 5, 1901, in Wurzburg, Germany, Werner Karl Heisenberg attended Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München as well as Georg-August-Universität Gottingen. While at those universities he studied physics as well as mathematics from 1920-1923. His mentor, Arnold Sommerfeld knew he had an interest in Bohr's theories on atomic physics, so he took him to Bohr Festival in June 1922. Heisenberg was able to meet Bohr at the festival and it had a lasting impression on him. Heisenberg became a leading scientist in the development in the German nuclear energy project. He traveled to German-occupied Copenhagen in September 1941, to lecture and discuss nuclear and theoretical research on physics with Niels Bohr. His lecture hinted at developing nuclear weapons for the Nazi regime. On June 4, 1942 Heisenberg was summoned to report to Albert Speer (Germany's Minister of Armaments). Speer had asked how long it would take for a nuclear weapon to be built and Heisenberg responded by telling him no time before 1945. The cost would be excessive and the amount of manpower needed was large. Heisenberg was appointed Chair of Theoretical Physics at the Friedrich Wilhelms Universität in February 1943. He continued to lecture across Europe and would eventually move himself and the rest of his staff to the facilities in the Black Forest.
"Werner Heisenberg." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Heisenberg>
"Werner Heisenberg." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 05 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werner_Heisenberg>
Journalists
Born January 14, 1919, in Albany, New York Andy Rooney was a journalist during WWII. Rooney attended Albany Academy, and then he later went to Colgate University in Central New York, in Hamilton. While in Hamilton in August 1941, he was drafted in the United States Army. When he was in the Army he started his career in newspapers. In 1942, he started writing for the Stars and Stripes in London. He was one of six journalists who flew with the Eighth Air Force, during the second bombing raid over Germany in February 1942. Rooney was also one of the first American correspondents who went and visited the Nazi concentration camps towards the end of WWII. Before visiting the concentration camps he was a pacifist who was completely against war, but after visiting the concentration camps he had felt ashamed that he had opposed the war because so many innocent people were dying and there would have been no one to save them. Rooney changed his beliefs on war and even said that some wars were necessary in preserving life. Andy Rooney was awarded with the Bronze
"Andy Rooney, 1919-2011." Ivy Style. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. Star and Air Medal for his service as a war correspondent in combat zones.
<http://www.ivy-style.com/andy-rooney-1919-2011.html>
"Andy Rooney, 1919-2011." Ivy Style. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. Star and Air Medal for his service as a war correspondent in combat zones.
<http://www.ivy-style.com/andy-rooney-1919-2011.html>
Born on April 25, 1908, in Guilford County, North Carolina Edward R. Murrow would become a well-known voice during WWII. He was the president of the student body while in high school and was a top player on the debate team. He graduated from high school in 1926, and then moved across the state to Pullman to enroll at Washington State College. While in college he changed his birth name Egbert to Edward. Murrow earned his bachelor's degree in 1930, where he then moved back to New York. Murrow worked as the assistant secretary of the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars from 1rom 1935 where he then got a job at CBS. Murrow moved to London to serve as CBS's director of European operations. While in London during the Blitz, Murrow came up with his signature opening, "This is London," as well as his closing signature, "Good night, and good luck." Murrow was able to proved additional reports from planes after flying on at least 25 Allied combat missions in Europe. Flying over Europe during these missions allowed for him to make vivid descriptions of the battle below. On April 12, 1945, Bill Shadel and Edward Murrow were the very first reporters to visit Buchenwald. Murrow met emaciated prisoners and other horrific sights. He did his best to describe what he saw but he made it clear that it didn't compare to actually being inside the camp.
"About the College | The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University." About the College | The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.
<http://communication.wsu.edu/legacy/about.html>
"About the College | The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University." About the College | The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2014.
<http://communication.wsu.edu/legacy/about.html>