Collection:LPB

Genre: Special

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2000-01-26

Duration: 01:25:02

Subjects: World War II | Military | Veterans | D-DAY MUSEUM | National World War II Museum | D-DAY | World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy | Ambrose, Stephen E. | Louisiana Maneuvers | Higgins Boats | Higgins Industries | Higgins, Andrew Jackson, 1886-1952

Contributors:

• Courtney, Bob Host
• Courtney, Beth Host
• Eaglin, Carlos Director
• Baker, Diana Producer
• Allen, Gary Producer
• Stroud, Ansel Interviewee
• Ambrose, Stephen Interviewee
• Landreneau, Bennett Interviewee
• Mueller, Nick Interviewee
• Koenig, Harvey Interviewee
• Koenig, Thelma Interviewee
• Strahan, Jerry Interviewee
• McDerby, Richard A. Interviewee
• Haddock, Graham Interviewee
• Duckworth, Jimmy Interviewee
• Livingston, John Interviewee
• Hair, Charles Interviewee
• Perrett, Marvin Interviewee
• Huff, Mack Interviewee
• Green, Freda Interviewee
• Bienvenue, Clair Interviewee
• Freeman, Ephraim Interviewee
• Copes, John Interviewee
• Willey, Kevin Interviewee
• Bush, George Speaker

The second part of a live three hour broadcast from January 26, 2000, honoring Louisiana’s World War II veterans and previewing the opening of the D-Day Museum in New Orleans. During the second hour of the show, co-host Bob Courtney continues his conversation with Major General Bennett Landreneau and retired Major General Ansel Stroud of the Louisiana National Guard and historian Stephen Ambrose about the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1940-1941 and Louisiana’s military tradition. Co-host Beth Courtney also speaks to Harvey Koenig, a member of Rudder’s Rangers, about his experience in taking Pointe du Hac on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion. Former President George Bush also shares his message of support for the D-Day Museum. During the third hour of the show, Bob Courtney talks to a panel about the significance of Andrew Higgins, Higgins Industries of New Orleans and the Higgins Boats, the landing crafts used on D-Day and every other major amphibious invasion during World War II. The panelists are: historian Stephen Ambrose; Jerry Strahan, the biographer of Andrew Higgins; Graham Haddock, an engineer at Higgins Industries; Richard A. McDerby, the Higgins Boat instructor during World War II; and Lieutenant Jimmy Duckworth, the head of an effort to re-create an authentic Higgins Boat for the D-Day Museum. Beth Courtney also interviews several veterans, including John Livingston, Charles Hair, Marvin Perrett, Mack Huff, Clair Bienvenue, Ephraim Freeman, and John Copes. At the end of the show, Bob Courtney also talks to Stephen Ambrose, founder of the D-Day Museum, Dr. Nick Mueller, the Chairman of the D-Day Museum, and Kevin Willey of the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans about the upcoming opening of the museum. Please note that the D-Day Museum is now known as the National World War II Museum. Host: Bob Courtney Host: Beth Courtney