Veterans Day 2020: It’s About the Stories!

Today, on behalf of the Kassel Mission Historical Society, we honor and give thanks to our Veterans both past and present. To the 18 million + veterans alive today: Thank You for your dedicated military service and sacrifices!  

Our mission at KMHS is to perpetuate the memory of those that served in the Kassel Mission and capture the remarkable acts of heroism, small and large, accomplished the days around the September 27th, 1944 air battle. It’s about these recognized acts of heroism shared in these stories, some humorous others painful and all remarkable as samples of the human drama. It’s the telling and the capturing of those stories that can be as heroic as the act themselves! If nobody communicates these tales - the heroics are lost forever. Thank you to our heroes who have served, thank you for sharing your stories and thank you to those that capture the stories into perpetuity!

As you join us in our giving thanks and appreciation to all those who have served, I would ask that we all take the time to read those stories. There is no better way to share your gratitude than picking up a book or publication to read and becoming part of those stories! You will certainly enhance your understanding of just what our veterans go through and experience. It is alive in these stories!!

It’s appropriate that just a few days before Veterans Day the story of the Kassel Mission is now formally published and available in book format – The Kassel Raid. I was ecstatic to receive mine yesterday! The author, Eric Radcliffe, grew up near Norfolk and very familiar with the old Tibenham base which the 445th called home and where Eric now runs a gliding club on the aging tarmac. Eric was made aware of the September 27th, 1944 story in a chance meeting with Reg Miner (KM Pilot) at a local reunion. As time went by, he learned much more about the mission, became passionate about the participants and the events and began his research. Thank you, Eric, in telling the Kassel Mission story and Congratulations in delivering this wonderful publication! You too are a hero, Eric, keeping the stories alive!

And to Aaron Elson, another terrific “gatherer of tales”, thank you. Aaron also had by circumstance heard about the Kassel Mission several decades ago and immediately became intrigued. Already busy capturing WW2 Tanker stories, where his own father had served, he set out to learn more about the Kassel Mission. He had the foresight to capture many of the Kassel Mission stories, directly in interview – written and oral – from many of the Kassel Mission survivors. He made it a personal mission to gather these stories first person, unedited and only in the participants words. Aaron continues his tale sharing efforts with a series of podcasts around the Kassel Mission, with Linda Dewey another talented chronicler. Once again, telling the stories so to never be forgotten. You too are heroes, Aaron and Linda, keeping the stories alive!

That all said, Eric, Aaron and Linda are our organizational “bards” but, of course, there are so many books and publications, past and present, which are terrific reads- sharing the broader scope of veteran’s stories. If you have not read Masters of The Air, which tells the story of the 8th Airforce, you will want to do such soon - before the Hanks-Spielberg mini-series movie comes out in early 2021. If you have not read Unbroken - the remarkable story of Louis Zamperini – better than the movie – do so. And finally, I am looking forward to The Greatest Beer Run Ever that is just coming out – I will leave it to you to check out this incredibly true story! 

All honorable stories of our Veterans in capturing their experience so that we might grow in our appreciation of their sacrifices! Thank you to those that so passionately communicate these tales – because you have rescued the stories- the heroics are thus preserved forever! As readers, we can keep their legacy moving forward.

With gratitude to all Veterans past and present - Happy Veterans Day!

Jim Bertram
Chairman, Kassel Mission Historical Society