Dick Van Dyke at 100

Actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke has turned 100. Dick served in the Army during World War 2 and much of his service was in radio and performing for the troops to boost moral. With World War 2 veterans numbers quickly dwindling its great to see Dick still very much active and doing what he's done for so many years. You can read the full story here:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/13/dick-van-dykes-100th-birthday-his-tips-for-a-long-healthy-life.html 

Jimmy Carter passes away at 100

Associated Press is reporting former president Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. Jimmy Carter served in the navy as active duty service from 1943 to 1953 and later switching to reserve service until 1961. You can read the full story here.

https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-dies-18c198c20352c835bca3eec276020dd7

80th Anniversary of D-Day

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord—the codename for the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, France—with more than 150,000 troops. Ending with approximately 20,000 casualties on both sides, those who took part witnessed one of the most pivotal battles against Axis forces and the beginning of a prolonged, costly, and ultimately successful campaign to liberate northwest Europe. Continue Reading here at the ww2 national museum website.

Bud Anderson, America’s last World War II ‘triple ace,’ dies at 102

Brig. Gen. Clarence “Bud” Anderson, the last American fighter pilot known as a “triple ace” for downing 16 German planes during World War II, died in his sleep May 17 at his home in Auburn, California. He was 102. Read the full store here.

John Engels passes away

John Engels, My grandfather, and the inspiration behind much of this site has passed away. He was a member of the 97th Division and was very active in keeping its memory alive. Most of the information documented on this site was provided and maintained by him. 

https://martinfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/5694/John-Engels/obituary.html

President George HW Bush passes away

The United States formally entered World War II in December 1941, following Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Six months later, Bush enlisted into the U.S. Navy immediately after he graduated from Phillips Academy on his eighteenth birthday. He became a naval aviator, taking training for aircraft carrier operations aboard USS Sable. After completing the 10-month course, he was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi on June 9, 1943 (just three days before his 19th birthday), which made him one of the youngest aviators in the U.S. Navy.

In September 1943, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 51 (VT-51) as the photographic officer. The following year, his squadron was based in USS San Jacinto as a member of Air Group 51, where his lanky physique earned him the nickname "Skin". During this time, the task force was victorious in one of the largest air battles of World War II: the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Read more here on wikipedia.

Frankfurt Germany evacuation

Yahoo News reporting that 70,000 people in Frankfurt will have to leave their homes this weekend in one of the biggest such evacuations in post-war Germany, police said Wednesday, after an unexploded World War-II bomb nicknamed "blockbuster" was uncovered.