Collection:LPB

Genre: Special

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2001-09-20

Duration: 00:58:36

Subjects: Museums | D-DAY MUSEUM | National World War II Museum | Military | Veterans | World War II | USS KIDD | Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)

Contributors:

• Courtney, Bob Host
• Foster, Mike Speaker
• Brokaw, Tom Speaker
• Spielberg, Steven Speaker
• Ambrose, Stephen Speaker
• Ambrose, Hugh Panelist
• Bollinger, Donald Panelist
• Mueller, Nick Panelist
• Ussery, Paula Panelist
• Morgan, Marty Panelist
• Morgan, Woodrow Wilson Panelist
• Burns, Leonard Panelist
• Wheeler, Berel Panelist
• DeBlanc, Jeff Panelist
• Bourgeois, Robert Panelist
• Bulechek, Annelle Henderson Panelist
• Rogers, Wilbur Panelist
• Marshall, Nolan, Sr. Panelist
• Bush, Charles Producer
• Henderson, Byron Associate Producer
• LaBauve, Randy Associate Producer

Bob Courtney hosts a live broadcast on September 20, 2001, honoring Louisiana’s World War II veterans and previewing the opening of the Pacific Wing of the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. Courtney first talks to a panel about the new wing of the museum: Hugh Ambrose, a research historian; Donald “Boysie” Bollinger, the museum chairman; Dr. Nick Mueller, the museum president; and Paula Ussery, the curator of collections. Courtney then talks to a second panel about the war in the China-Burma-India Theater: Marty Morgan, a research historian at the D-Day Museum; Woodrow Wilson Morgan, a member of the American Volunteer Group; Dr. Leonard Burns of the Marine Corps; and Berel Wheeler, an engineer in the Burma Theater. Lastly, Courtney talks to another panel of veterans about their World War II experiences: Jeff DeBlanc of the Marine Corps; Robert Bourgeois of Doolittle’s Raiders; Annelle Henderson Bulechek of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP); Wilbur Rogers of the Navy; and Nolan Marshall, Sr. of the Marine Corps. Throughout the show, Byron Henderson also presents three reports: a preview of the Pacific Wing of the D-Day Museum; a visit to the exhibit on General Claire Chennault and the Flying Tigers at the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge; and a profile of Congressional Medal of Honor winner Jeff DeBlanc of St. Martinville, who shot down nine Japanese planes before being shot down behind enemy lines. This program also includes a preview of the Steven Spielberg documentary, “Price for Peace.” Please note that the museum is now known as the National World War II Museum.