They will be saluted for their service. Nting the flex is a presenting the flags is a father and son team from the National Defense university. As an army soldier, he served in the theater of operations during world war ii, serving in england, france, and germany. He was a sergeant and served as a mail clerk until receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946. After the war, he worked as a u. S. Postal museum in washington dc for 35 years. [applause] second, a woman serving with Overture Service waves, the unit of the u. S. Naval reserve. She was stationed at rhode island from 1943 to 1946, working in the war bound office. [applause] the next, a chief Master Sergeant in the army in world war ii and was a prisoner of war. During his 18 months in activity in captivity he escaped 3 times from the germans and wants from the russian liberators. After the war he tried to join the army to go back to germany to find the nurse who kept him alive by sneaking him food. Unfortunately he was not allowed them within agreement in the germans, which did not allow them to return as citizens of work. After joining the air force, he andstationed in germany found the nurse they were looking for. They were married seven months later. He retired after serving in the u. S. Military. [applause] he served with a check grade battery. He served in the normandy invasion in 1994 1944, landing in the first wave. He took part in the liberation of paris and concentration camp. [applause] he began his federal service in june 1943 as a trustee of world war ii in the Field Artillery group. Includetary decorations the european, african, and normandy invasion arrowhead and five bronze stars. Retired from the u. S. Army aberdeen,chool in maryland 1978 after more than 31 Years Service to his country. [applause] he joined the Armed Services in 1943, along with seven of his siblings. While waiting in line to enlist in the marines, his brother him in the of registration line, added his name to the registry. He was a Landing Craft infantry number 516. That was modified with machine guns to protect other servicemen during amphibious landings. He had 4 other brothers in the South Pacific and three others stationed in europe. He recalled one day in particular when he saw a nearby lci, Landing Craft infantry ship, and have the same number his brother was assigned to. He signaled, asking if he knew, and to his surprise, received a message back that, you are speaking to him. His boat had been unknowingly sent to relieve his brothers crew. At the end of the war, he was assigned a ferryman back to the philippine island been returned to the u. S. In 1946. He has worked in various job but has relisted this time in the u. S. Marines. He was sent to Camp Pendleton for advanced combat training and korea a plane to seoul, on a mission to draw fire from the enemy. His squad came under fire, and he could hear the sound of an injured soldier nearby asking for help. Of his fellow marine, and helped pull them out of danger. In the process, robert was injured with shrapnel. He was awarded the purple heart and returned home in 1952. [applause] our next veteran served with the u. S. Under forces air force advanced echelon behind the invasion troops in the Pacific Theater in operations, including new guinea, the philippines, and japan. It is a pleasure to have him here today ladies and gentlemen. [applause] service in 1943 at the age of 17. After boot camp, he was selected to attend the navy radio material school. After graduation in writing 44 as a radio technician first class, he was shipped overseas to the islands east of new guinea, north of the bismarck islands. He was assigned to the navy ship repair unit located on the the ship repair unit was involved in the preparation of majority of ships that participated in the invasion and retaking of the philippine islands. In later years, he held the position of Computer Development unit with bureaus and ships. When he retired in 1991, every combat ship of the u. S. Navy had one or more computer that he was involved with. [applause] our next veteran enlisted in the navy at 17 years old in 1942. After boot camp he completed gunnery trading on board the uss new york and was assigned to combat duty aboard the uss carter as a gunner mate. He was responsible for maintaining all the ships small arms as well as mentioning a 40 millimeter antitank 40 millimeter antitank ground gun during operations. During his tour of conductivity, his ship was responsible for capsizing three german submarines. He participated in boarding vessels suspected of smuggling contraband. After the surrender of germany, he completed a threeyear tour guarding german prisoners at a naval station in philadelphia. [applause] our next veteran, in may 19 44 was enlisted to the Army Air Forces is an Aircraft Maintenance officer on baby 24 aircraft a b24 aircraft at chatham airbase, georgia. Reassigned to the corps of engineers, he was sent for training with the aviation and airfield construction repair. In early 1945, he shipped to the Pacific Theater at saipan and getting airbase in okinawa. His efforts involved preparation for the invasion of mainland japan, construction the repair of airfields. After a period of time on okinawa he was assigned to the Army Air Force and was maintenance on the b24 aircraft after japan surrendered in 1945. He retired from the air force in 1976 after serving in activeduty. He then began working on aircraft testing and Systems Research labs in dayton, ohio. He retired in 1990 and was active flying with the civil air patrol. [applause] our next veteran tried to get into the coast guard before world war ii, but on the first of four attempts, was not admitted. He went to Virginia Tech and study engineering is a midshipman for osc training. He was within a few weeks of getting unable Commission Officer reserve after serving on a battleship in the atlantic. When he showed up at the cut Coast Guard Academy in a midshipmans uniform. Ongraduated in three years across tour after graduating and winning and being deployed to the atlantic, where his ship was nearly torpedoed by a nazi uboat. In early 1945, and the atlantic and pacific, is ship was sent to okinawa. It was shot down by 4 japanese planes. He said he was more worried about his pregnant wife back in the u. S. Than the battle of okinawa. His ship is still afloat in the Baltimore Harbor today. [applause] our next veteran is a veteran of 22 years of military service in the u. S. Army and air force. He served in world war ii with a 740 tank battalion as a tank crewman in the assault gun platoon and battalion headquarters, taking part in the battle of the bulge. He served in the korean war and the u. S. Army under general macarthurs headquarters as communications center. He served in the vietnam war as Strategic Air command. Inretired from the air force january 1966 as a senior Master Sergeant. [applause] our next veteran is 95 years young, a veteran from world war ii. He entered the army as a private in 1942 and retired as a colonel in 1972. He participated in the battle of okinawa and is a leader of the platoon and commander of an infantry rifle company, and as the intelligence often are open infantry battalion. The colonel is airborne qualified. We like that, airborne. [applause] served in thean navy as a human secondclass as a cryptologist as a yeoman secondclass as a cryptologist. He served near okinawa and iwo jima. It is a pleasure to have him with us today. [applause] veteran is a member of the army air corps, and instructor on the b24 training squad. Inwas a radio tele typist guam in the 55th weather reconnaissance in the long island. It is a pleasure to have him here. Our next veteran served in the Army Air Forces in panama, and in washington dc. His brothers also served in europe. She is a world war ii veteran. We are so glad to have him with us. [applause] veteranl world war ii is a member of the chickasaw nation of the american indians. He is a world war ii veteran. He served in the delta force. He also served in okinawa. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, what you have in front of you is a group of euros group of heroes. We are so glad they are here to share this veterans day as we commemorate an honor our veterans. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we would like to introduce our master of ceremonies for the event. He is with us on channel nine in the morning. Much toso done so very spur this message to our schools throughout the washington dc area. Ladies and gentlemen, it is our pleasure to introduce mike hydeck. [applause] right . Ood start, hold on. [laughter] fortunately they put these things in scripts. Good morning, i hope you are trying to stay warm today. The wind is a challenge this morning. As you heard, my name is mike hydeck. Find the anchor for channel nine in washington dc and i am honored to be back as your master of ceremonies to honor our greatest generation. Can you hear me okay . Im trying to make sure with all of the wind here. Upon behalf of the friends of the World War Ii National memorial in washington d c, we are honored to be here to recognize the greatest generation as citizens of a grateful nation. We salute our greatest generation, who hoped reserve freedom around the globe. We offer a special salute to the men and women of the armed forces who continue to serve and sacrifice to the ongoing war on terrorism. We want to let them know that their service is deeply appreciated. All of these warriors veterans past and present. We owe a debt of gratitude and a lasting appreciation for their service to the country. Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to introduce our official party today. ,ur keynote speaker to my right mr. Howerton. [applause] veteran andr ii former senator, the honorable robert dole. [applause] the superintendent of the mall and National Parks, gay vietzke. Chairman of the friends of the National World war ii memorial, mr. Josiah bunting the third. Representing the maritime administration, a great friend of the world war ii memorial and our veterans. Mr. Paul jaenichen. Tend mr. Frederick saint florian. [applause] and our chaplin today from the military district of washington, chaplin lewis kruger. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, if you went right through the presentation of colors and the playing of the National Anthem and invocation. Anthem]l good morning. Please pray with me. Most gracious heavenly father, we recognize that we are influenced nation and that in your steadfast love, you have protected our land and richly provided for us. Through the bravery, dedication and sacrifice of our veterans, we enjoy peace and liberty. Father, as we enjoy on these sacred grounds, help us to be mindful of what the greatest generation accomplished. How our world war ii veterans stood for righteousness, justice, and freedom, and fought to quench wickedness and lawlessness and tyranny. They demonstrated the strength of the american resolve that embodied their sacrificial service. Thank you lord that they were willing to stand for something that was greater than themselves. May we remember the resolute spirit to help us to carry on their legacy. Ourreign lord, lift up world war ii veteran spirit, strengthen their bodies, and give them tranquil heart this day and each day that comes. Bless and watch over each and every one of them. We beseech the to bestow wisdom on our leaders and to safeguard our land, protect our servicemen and women deployed throughout the world. May your strong arm be with them. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, it is introduce aure to person we are very fortunate to have with us today. Ceremonyt of todays the caretakers of this beautiful memorial. They are here today to help us mark this occasion. Vietzke, the superintendent of National Mall and memorial parks. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Gay good morning everyone. What a beautiful day. On behalf of the National Park service, it is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to our observance of veterans day at the world war ii memorial. This is a time we recognize those who served, honor those who well, and recognize the victory that was achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe. I like to take this opportunity to recognize our remarkable partners, the friends of the world war ii memorial. They help us care for this memorial and cosponsored this mornings ceremonies. Thank you so much for your for sharing ind our mission to ensure that the legacy and the sacrifices of world war ii veterans are not forgotten. I also want to thank the staff and volunteers of the National Parks service. I have had the honor to serve in many National Parks. I am remarkably proud of the team we have here at the National Mall. They help us educate the public. They help us maintain this remarkable memorial and so many others around the National Mall. The world war ii memorial welcomes over 4 million visitors per year. Forould not be possible that to be a gracious and wonderful experience without the staff and volunteers of the National Parks service. Thank you for being with us and for all that you do. A special welcome to our keynote veterans,orld war ii combat veteran, mr. Allan howerton. We are honored to be joined by the architect of the world war ii memorial, friedrich saint lorient. I think everyone will agree it is a fitting tribute. [applause] it is a great honor to have former Senate Majority leader borrow dolt with us. Bob dole with us. He is a tremendous supporter of veterans. Three times decorated for his senator dolembat raised the present countries and that largely funded the construction of the world war ii memorial. Thank you so much for that gift to the nation. Perhaps most importantly today, to all members of our armed forces and the veterans who are with us, thank you for your service. Honored bylutely your presence with us this morning. Nore is no tribute, honor that canno recognize the magnitude of your service and sacrifices. Today is the day we say thank you. Memorial was conceived and built as a way to show our gratitude for the 16 million men and women who defeated one of the greatest threats the world has ever seen. It is because of the contributions to peace and freedom made by those who served during world war ii that we enjoy the freedoms we have today. President Harry S Truman engraved on the Memorial Wall behind me say our debt to the heroic men and women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. Herein lies the importance of this. Remembrance. These places help us and the generations unborn recognize that extraordinary things come from people with maybe otherwise ordinary lives. And these places help us remember the monumental trials and sacrifices that have shaped our nation, our government, and our society. Year, 2016, the National Parks service celebrated our centennial anniversary. Marking 100 years of telling the important stories that have helped shape our nation. As we embark on her second century the National Parks service, our service to the american public, we are reaching out to the next generation of visitors to ensure these stories of heroic deeds and extraordinary accomplishments continue to be told and remembered. Grandchildrens grandchildrens grandchildren visit here at the world war ii memorial, the historic stories of our veterans will still be told. And americans will continue to understand because of their current because of their courage and willingness to give their lives, america endures. Interestedred to be to care for their memory. Happy veterans day. [applause] we are also very fortunate to have a tireless advocate for all veterans. He is a veteran himself. He is the chairman of the friends of the world war ii memorial. A rhodes scholar, professor at the naval war college, former superintendent of the Virginia Military institute. Thirdsiah bunting the brings a great knowledge and appreciation of the military and veterans. It is my great pleasure to welcome to the podium. [applause] sir. H thank you good morning to all of you. My message is a brief one. Beautiful for heroes proved a liberating strife, for more than self our country love, and mercy more than life. This is a great tribute to all our great veterans, but most especially the veterans of the greatest war ever fought. Those men who swallowed fear, went forward fearlessly in the face of the enemy, and served our country with imperishable distinction. Ourselves find attending Memorial Service is and funerals for those we have lost. The most Important Message we may share in those times is the message of emulation and determination. Let us in our own lives at least try to embody the things we cherish in those heroes, and whose presence we are blessed to be today. God bless the United States of america. God bless all of you veterans, to whom our debt is beyond calculation. Unless you. God bless you. [applause] mike they have a special passion for patriotism. You have heard it on display. We are privileged to have the u. S. Brass quintet, that will not perform attribute to our veterans. Now perform a tribute to our veterans. [applause] mike what a beautiful tribute. From the mands whose heart and soul went into making sure this memorial could dole. Lt, senator robert [applause] sen. Dole thank you very much. I want to thank every Family Member of veterans and everyone that is your. And our heroes that are no longer with us. Veteran. Red to be a old, i dont do a lot of work, but i do show up every day at a law firm. Time, i spend as a volunteer trying to be helpful animals andand to to disabled americans. In this. Eat pride the architect has done a wonderful job at this memorial. I have been coming out here every saturday morning for the last five years met thousands of veterans. Proud men and women who served their country, did what they were asked to do. Doesnt make any difference whether you are in combat or not, whether it was vietnam or world war ii. Fraternity who are proud of our service. And very proud of america. Think of all the young men and shortwhose lives were cut. Ecause of the sacrifice and to guarantee our freedom. Veterans, thank you. Thank you america. Thank you for people like those in front of me, who were with us all of the way. God bless america. [applause] senatorler dole dole, we cannot thank you enough. [applause] mike if it wasnt for you senator dole, we would not be here for many reasons. Thank you for your service. Now i am honored to introduce our final keynote speaker. We have become friends over the last few events, havent we . H has a prussiane for broadcasting. Passion for broadcasting. He have his own show on access cable earlier. He brings such a beautiful spirit to these events every time we get together. It is my honor. He has an amazing resume. We will give you a taste of that in a moment. Our final speaker is allan howerton. Mr. Howerton grew up in western kentucky in the 1920s, and in the great direction to make it 30s, graduated from Sturgis High School in Kentucky Class salutatorian. A number of the National Beta club, and academic honors society. Studied radio and broadcasting in new york city working for a restaurant chain in northern new jersey and entered the u. S. Army in 1943. Following basic training as a medic, he was selecte to the Army Specialized Training program and assigned to an engineering unit at drexel institute. Due to an impending shortage at the program was discontinued halfway through in april 1944. Mr. Howerton and 2800 other cadets were assigned without rank to the 84th Infantry Division, training for overseas service at cap cleburne, louisiana. In the 84th division, mr. Howerton served with the three 35th infantry as a rifleman, messenger, Radio Operator and communications sergeant. Commencing in the siegfried line in germany in 1944, he served in the battle of the bulge and across germany to the west bank. After the hostilities ended, sergeant howerton was at the army of occupation in germany, a student at the sharp and Ham University in england, and came home with the division in 1946. After the war, mr. Howerton attended university of gender university of delaware with an mp in education with a long career as a federal Civil Servant with the u. S. Civil service commission. He is also an author of 3 world war ii era books. Today he is joined by his wife of 58 years, joan howerton. Ladies and gentlemen, mr. Allan howerton. [applause] mr. Howerton the second rule of management anything that can go wrong, will. [laughter] how is that prince of . The world war ii friends of the world war ii memorial, fellow veterans, ladies and on a sunday afternoon in february 1946, one of the great trains of the era, the spirit of st. Louis carrying a soldier home from the war lowered through New Brunswick new jersey at 80 miles per hour. Aarby almost within earshot, 12yearold girl was finishing her homework. She would sleep peacefully, never knowing the trouble that was the soldier on the train in mortal fear of becoming a civilian. She is here today, my wife of 58 years, joan miller howerton. [applause] stand up, joan. [applause] nurse, also a registered which comes in handy these days. She is excellent at prescribing tylenol and telling me to check with her again in the morning. [laughter] thank you joan. She does a lot of other great things. I am indeed honored to be standing here. Well, sort of standing here. Amid the splendor of this place and symbols of the farflung dimensions of the war and its sacrifices. Because one of the great things about this memorial in our time is that veterans who rarely spoke of the war and we have a victorious notorious record about that. We did not speak much of the board except in the most generalities. Thanks to this memorial, it has been a magnet for veterans all across the country to come here in our last years. And unlock the vault of our memories and tell our stories to one another. Permits only a little of my own story. I never expected to be a custodian of an m1 rifle. As mike said, i was in the Army Specialized Training program, and came to the 84th Infantry Division when the program was discontinued. It was on april 1, 1944. It was april fools day. Apropos, because the army found out they had a manpower shortage just about that time. Sd3y terminated teh a program. And instead of a agreed instead of a degree into commission, we were heading to the front. Not even one stripe. Other asd3ers shared our fate. We were not happy campers. As the drill sergeant said about turning this into real soldiers, it took him only a few weeks to do that. You are at camp breckenridge. Perhaps we had anticipated it as students in uniform. We had a markings on. Marching song. Down your service life, mother, your son is in the asdp. Telik in the put up again now it can be put up again. 1944 our994 ship departed new york city carrying 5000 soldiers of the 33 5th infantry. While the convoy was forming, the castle collided with an oil tanker, the uss northfield. The tanker was lifted back into port. The Sterling Castle, its bow crush and its freshwater supply guarded offshore. That time the next morning, some troops were returning from the war. Along the way, commuters on ferries restating this for returning veterans waved and shouted. Mistaking us for returning veterans waved and shouted. They thought we had just been in a battle. Welcome home. And the red cross served donuts and coffee. Welcome home they said. He had been away 24 hours. Yet for about 500 men who walked across the gangplank that welcomewas the only they would ever receive. Was welcomeg home. You for yourk service, as honorable as it is for veterans, seems strange to us. Because everyone that served, women in the auxiliaries, the pilots ferreting aircraft and so many other capacities, factories building tanks, chips, airplanes, and everything else, africanamerican draftees and volunteers who served heroically as theegated units, japaneseamericans from internment camps. We could go on and on. If we were indeed a great generation, that unity of universal involvement was its hallmark. It was not a unity of like mindedness. There were labor issues, racial problems, grumbling about rationing, and a bit of oldfashioned cheating. Was a unity oft National Purpose that helped and supported us to the end. Greatation is the challenge facing our society and our politics today. The Sterling Castle was repaired in just 10 days. Convoy. Oined the next the siegfried and the long trek across a finishurope followed 45 kilometers from berlin, to link up with the highspirited russian cavalry. Needless to say there was a grand celebration, and a little vodka was brought along. [laughter] were shocking. 335, 42 me killed in actionn. 166 wounded, many severely. Andnine battle casualties, 90 missing in action, most but not all prisoners of war. A turnover rate of almost 200 . Pages and 80,000 words were required to tell the story in my memoir. The agonies and ecstasies of war. , felt obligated to write it because the record was less than one of 20 men who were on the line all the way without physical harm. Psyche was another matter. At midnight may 8 1945, we finally we fired volley after volley of tracer bullets into the night sky. Frightened germans came out of their houses. As the war between the americans , juste russians commenced little boys playing with their guns. But by then we had matured many years beyond our age. And something unexpected happened. Years, in our dreams, the k company of Camp Claiborne remained as it was. Wasservant was sergeant serving scrambled acts. Amid his sergeant, lovable obscenities, was turning pale faced boys into infantrymen. And importantly, most joe, arnold, jeff henry my best, friend, and all the others, were alive. Brothers, band of although in reality, gone f orever. It would always occupied a battle for our hearts, our souls, and our memories. Thank you. And to paraphrase the great reporter of our era, edward r. Cashw, green day and crate great day and good luck. [applause] you are watching American History tv. 48 hours of programming on the mystery uv on American History on cspan3. Follow us on twitter at cspan history to follow a schedule and keep up with latest history news. Each week American History america brings to archival films that brings context for todays Public Affairs issues. In osaka the meals of tokyo, the chemical plants, the steel mills, the shipyards of nokia sake, comes the economic boost. These factories in the cities are not the real machinery behind japan. For here was the real machinery. The slums of the cities, where 64 of japans products were made in Small Back Room factories of five people or less. There are hundreds of thousands of these factories where a father, mother, and children work in study slavery. Taking advantage of these low labor costs, the industrialists of japan knew they could undersell every other nation on earth. And they did. To the world they dumped their cheap labor products. They imported oil, scrap iron, aluminum, and secretly built up their powerful war machine. A fanatic nation turning its weapons towards conflicts. Sweat for guns. Sweat for planes. Sweat for ships. Sweat for war. But the greatest weapon made in japan was the first product, the japanese soldier. As iron ores melt inferences, so in japan humanitarian impurities are burned off the child. As the steel is shaped by beating and hammering, so is the boy hammered and beaten into the shape of a fanatic samurai. [banging] [whistle] [yelling] [banging] [banging] [yelling] [banging] the final product, a japanese soldier. Shoot, smash, and slug superiority at all nonjapanese people. Theso on september 18, 1931 first theme kicked off. The warlords faithfully following the tanaka plan lost in century and. In manchuria. Enlightenment, justice. Truth. [explosion] peace. [explosion] peace. [explosion] [yelling] you can watch the entire film sunday at 4 00 p. M. Eastern. This is american street tv. Leon cspan3. American history tv, only on cspan3. We cspan. Org to follow the Supreme Court. Select Supreme Court near the righthand top of the page. Once on our page, you will see four of the most recent oral arguments heard by the court this term. Look at the view all link to see the courts covered by cspan. You can find recent appearances by many of the Supreme Court justices, or watch them in their own words, including one on one interviews in the past months with justices kagan, thomas, and ginsburg. There is a calendar for this term, a list of all current justices with links to see their appearances on cspan, as well as many other Supreme Court videos available on demand. Follow the Supreme Court at cspan. Org. On lectures in history, Emory University professor Patrick Allitt teaches about the California Gold rush in the mid1800s, the physical geography, and the evolving Technology Used to mine gold. This class is about 50 minutes. Prof. Allitt tutoring everybody. G