Eric Wiesenhutter received a directive to document on film the horror of the concentration camp from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower in case anyone in the future denies what happened. During his march across Europe with the Third Army, Wiesenhutter witnessed the violence of war. Nothing prepared him for what he saw in the concentration camps

Wiesenhutter's story was one of several that were told during a gathering to honor World War II Veterans at Radley Run Country Club on Nov. 16. What is rare is that most combat veterans do not speak about their experiences in public. On this day as a group they shared their recollections.

Pay for those often called the greatest generation doesn’t seem the greatest looking back. A seaman’s pay was twenty one dollars a month. One and a half time pay was awarded for overseas duty.

Radioman Bill Dettwyler said that news was often 7 to 10 days late in arriving. However when President Roosevelt died, the news was relayed to his ship within one and a half hours of the death. Dettwyler had to make the announcement to his shipmates.

“Fast” Freddie Eufrasio described the assault on Omaha Beach D-Day. Eufrasio told of the death of his friends and capturing German soldiers his part of one of the most dramatic days of World War II.

The only people in uniforms were re-enactors Lee and Ann Terrey. Their plans to arrive in their World War II jeep was scuttled by the rain storm.

Veterans answered questions asked at a program to salute those who served in World War II held at Radley Run Country Club. The event was sold out well in advance of the program.

The featured speaker, Dr. Joseph Strange, gave a blitzkrieg lecture of highlights of World War II. He enumerated the details of American manufacturing might which was awakened and thrust into the world conflict by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

All of the questioners from the audience as well as Dr. Strange expressed awe and appreciation at what the honored veterans dared and accomplished.

Proceeds from the event are to be contributed to The Wounded Warrior Project. www.WoundedWariorProject.org

Biographical information about the honored guests.

Bill Dettwyler - Radioman Second Class

Enlisted Jan 15 1944 discharged May 15 1946

Served on Sub Chaser #1356 and PT boat 375. Involved in the battles at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. Awarded a Purple Heart.

Dominic Diarcangelo -Army, 1941-1944

Completed boot camp at Fort McCullan, AL.

8th Division, Company B-Weapons Platoon, Allied Expeditionary Force, D-Day, June 6, 1944, Omaha Beach. Fought through France Hedgerows

Wounded in Belgium, hospitalized for 8 months. Ribbon with two Battle Stars.

‘Fast’ Freddie Eufrasio -Tech Sergeant -Army, 1st Infantry Division

Europe: Omaha Beach, D-Day, Battle of the Bulge, Siegfried Line, Normandy, action in Germany, Prague. Served with General Pat-ton.

Pete Galantino -Seaman First Class

Served on the destroyer USS Shannon. The destroyers mission was to sweep for mines and then lay down buoys to develop ocean paths for other ships. The ship went thru the Panama Canal, then up the CA coast and over to Pearl Harbor then to many islands in the Pacific and ultimately off the coast of Japan.

Charlie Kazanjian -Squad Sergeant

Served in Europe, Major battles: Battle of the Bulge, Colmar Pocket and Crossing the Rhine. Hospitalized twice due to shell explosion and a gunshot to the bicep. Received 2 Purple Hearts. Still plays golf every week.

Cliff R. Long -Captain, Army Air Corp

Enlisted in the Army Air Corp Reserve in 1942. Called to active duty in March,1943; completed flight school in Jan. 1944 and com-missioned a 2nd Lt. Trained in India, flew combat missions in china and Burma in sup-port of the Chinese and American troops in the offensive to reopen the Burma Road. Decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Cam-paign Medal and the Chinese Pilots Wings.

Raoul Pagin -US Army Air Corps

March, 1943–February, 1946

Completed boot camp in Virginia Beach. Served with the 1st Air Command as a state-side weapons instructor training fighter pilots aerial guns, 50 caliber machine guns for a P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang and Grumman Bombardier Slight for B-17 and B-29s and light bombing by fighter planes.

Alfred D. Roberts -Army, 1943-1946

Completed boot camp at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. Served in the 78th Infantry division. Was involved in the European theater, Battle of Ruhr Pocket, Germany from February-April, 1945.

Joseph C. Sicoli -Staff Sergeant,U.S. Army, Airborne

February 1942 to November 1945

326th Glider Infantry L company. His com-pany flew missions before the actual battle to check the terrain. Glider Infantry was a type of airborne infantry in which soldiers and their equipment were inserted into enemy con-trolled territory via military glider rather than parachute. Awarded the Bronze Star.

Alfred Peery Taylor -Army, Quartermaster Corp.

Drafted in 1943 and served until 1945. Trained in Camp Lee, VA, Montana and Vancouver before shipping out from San Fran on a converted luxury liner to Hawaii where he served in the Quartermaster Corp until 1945. Returned upon the fleet aircraft carrier, the Saratoga which was nearly lost at sea when it encountered a typhoon. Once home, he was reunited with his wife Dorothy and met his 2-year old son Jerry for the 1st time.

Sam Walker -Navy, Quartermaster-Petty Officer 3rd Class; Mid-1944 - Mid-1946

Served on the USS Duplin. Sam was de-ployed initially in the Atlantic to the European Theatre then on to Marseilles, France. From Marseilles, to the Pacific Theater through the Panama Canal. While in port at the Marshall Islands, the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He then sailed for Manila Bay and the Southern Philippine Islands mostly carrying materials. The USS Duplin encoun-tered a five-day typhoon on their way to Ja-pan. Sam was honorably discharged from the Navy in San Francisco.

Eric Wiesenhutter Third Army, enlistedAugust 21, 1941

Joined this unit just after they landed at Nor-mandy and continued with them through Czechoslovakia. His mission was to film ac-tion for documentation purposes. His tour culminated at the concentration camps. Rank at the time of discharge was Warrant Officer. He has written a book about his experiences in WW II.