When studying military leaders, it is easy to forget the fact that wars must still be won on the ground by ordinary soldiers. When Eisenhower visited with the troops who would take place in the first wave of the D-Day invasion in 1944, he knew that most of those men would not survive the initial assault on Normandy beach. Likewise, the U.S. Marines who attacked Iwo Jima in the Pacific faced horrific conditions against an entrenched enemy that would not surrender. The soldiers had to use flamethrowers in order to burn some Japanese out of their hiding places.

Activity

The following video is an oral history of World War II told by one soldier. It is a limited perspective. However, it explains what it was like to actually fight. Watch the video and then answer the questions that follow. (This video contains language that some may find offensive.)

1. What were the conditions like on the ships that Abe served on? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   The ships were dirty, filled with blood, and tightly packed. These were disgusting conditions and required the soldiers to adjust.
2. What food and drink were the soldiers served? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

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   The soldiers ate British food, in particular the infamous "kidney stew," which they hated. However, the soldiers liked being served tea and the occasional ration of alcohol.
3. What dangers did the V-2 Rockets present? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   These rockets were very inaccurate. If they had been off course by a half mile, they could have blown up the ship Abe served on.
4. Why was this solder "lucky" when it came to the invasion of France? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   Abe did not land in France until four days after D-Day (or D-Day +4). This meant he missed the worst of the fighting, improving his chances of surviving.
5. List the different dangers that the soldier faced in combat? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

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   The soldiers faced mines, random artillery fire, friendly fire, and the possibility of drowning when trying to board the landing craft, among other dangers.
6. What other hardships did the soldiers face besides the possibility of death? Interactive popup. Assistance may be required.

   Check Your Answer

   There were dead bodies everywhere that smelled, they had to clean up gruesome wounds, and they did not have good rations to eat, among other hardships.