WWII in HD

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WWII in HD (known as World War II: Lost Films in the UK) is a 10-part American documentary television miniseries that originally aired from November 15 to November 19, 2009 on the History Channel. The program focuses on the firsthand experiences of twelve American service members during World War II, including an Army nurse, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a second generation Japanese American and prisoner of war, and an Austrian Jew immigrant. The twelve members recorded their time in both theaters and some had later interviews; found footage from the battlefield was paired with the stories of the twelve service members.

The episodes premiered on five consecutive days, with two episodes per day. The series is narrated by Gary Sinise and was produced by Lou Reda Productions in Easton, Pennsylvania, United States.

Featured people

Jimmie Kanaya

The son of Japanese immigrants, who served in the U.S. Army and was imprisoned in Europe (voiced by James Kyson Lee).

Jack Werner

Retired 1st Sergeant Hans "Jack" Werner (born in Vienna, Austria, voiced by Justin Bartha) is a retired Austrian American member of the 7th Infantry Division, 13th Combat Engineers of the H and S Company, a division of the Army. Being Jewish, Hans fled Austria to the United States after the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. Hans, who changed his "far too German" name to Jack, traveled to Hollywood to become an actor. He later joined the 7th Infantry, stationed at Camp Ord, California, as a Private months before the attack on Pearl Harbor and although he wanted to fight in Europe, he was stationed with "undisciplined" on Attu Island during the Battle of Attu. After the Battle of Kwajalein and Battle of Leyte Gulf, Werner participated in Battle of Okinawa and after the war ended, he retired to live with his re-united wife and had 3 children. Passed away on July 17th 2011.

Shelby Westbrook

(voiced by LL Cool J) Shelby Westbrook was a Fighter Pilot in World War II fighting with the 332nd Fighter Group (Tuskegee Airmen). He trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1943 before fighting in Europe in 1944. He was stationed in Italy in an all black airbase (since the army was still segregated). On one day of combat, he was shot down and crashed landed deep in German controlled Yugoslavia. He managed to escape with the help of resistance members that were being supplied by the allies.

Jack Yusen

(voiced by Jason Ritter) Jack Yusen was a navy member when he joined in 1944. He was assigned the USS Samuel B. Roberts. Assigned to escort transport ships in the Atlantic Ocean from German U-Boat Attacks. The ship was latter assigned to move to the Pacific theatre where it engaged in the recapture of the Philippines. The ship was part of Taffy-3 escort when it engaged in the famous Battle of Samar on October 25, 1944. The ship was sunk by the Japanese task force and he abandoned ship. He spent several days in the shark infested ocean when he was finally rescued. He is retired and lives with his wife.

Rockie Blunt

(voiced by Rob Corddry) Roscoe C. Blunt, Jr. was journalist, jazz drummer, and veteran of the U.S. Army's 84th Infantry Division from World War II. He was the youngest soldier to be awarded the Expert Infantry Badge. After returning home from the war, he became an award-winning investigative journalist as well as an expert jazz and big-band drummer. He is the author of three books, including "Inside the Battle of the Bulge" and "Foot Soldier: A Combat Infantryman's War in Europe", (Cambridge: Da Capo Press, 2002). He lived in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, until his death on February 10, 2011.

June Wandrey

June Wandrey Mann (1920–2005, voiced by Amy Smart) was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from Wautoma, Wisconsin. She was the author of Bedpan Commando, an account of her military service in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany from 1942 to 1946, during which she was awarded eight battle stars.

Mann's book garnered significant public and media attention, leading to numerous television, radio and personal appearances, including on Larry King Live, NBC Nightly News and the Paul Harvey Show, among others.

On June 22, 1995, Mann met with President Bill Clinton in Nettuno, Italy, as part of celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Anzio Beachhead Invasion.

She was a life member of numerous veterans' associations, including the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Anzio Beachhead Association, 36th Inf. Div., 3rd Inf. Div., and the 10th & 40th Combat Engineers.

Bert Stiles

Main article: Bert Stiles

Bert Stiles (August 30, 1920 - November 26, 1944, voiced by Josh Lucas) was an American author of short stories who was killed in action during World War II while serving as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Robert Sherrod

Main article: Robert Sherrod

Robert Lee Sherrod (February 8, 1909 – February 13, 1994, voiced by Rob Lowe) was an American journalist, editor and author. He was a war correspondent for TIME and LIFE magazines, covering combat from World War II to the Vietnam War. During World War II, embedded with the U.S. Marines, he covered the battles at Attu, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He also authored five books on World War II, including Tarawa: The Story of a Battle (1944) and the definitive History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952). He was an editor of TIME during World War II and later he was editor of The Saturday Evening Post, then vice-president of Curtis Publishing Company.

Richard Tregaskis

Richard Tregaskis (left) with Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift (right) in a United States Marine Corps photograph dated 1942.

Main article: Richard Tregaskis

See also: Guadalcanal Diary (book)

Richard William Tregaskis (1916–1973, voiced by Tim DeKay) was a reporter for the International News Service who served as a frontline reporter for the Marines during both theatres of operation. Tregaskis was ineligible for the draft as he had Type 1 diabetes and he instead became a reporter during the Guadalcanal Campaign on a small island in the Solomon Islands in late 1942 and early 1943. He used notes written during the campaign to produce a novel entitled Guadalcanal Diary, which became an instant success. The book was made into a film by 20th Century Fox, released in late 1943, while Richard transferred from the Pacific to Europe, covering the invasions of both Sicily and the Italian mainland. After a shrapnel shell was lodged in his brain, he retired from reporting World War II and later returned to the front lines to cover the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Charles Scheffel

(Voiced by Ron Livingston) He was wounded twice, and asked to be sent back to his own unit after the first injury. He was sent home after a second injury resulted in the amputation of his trigger finger. He was married to his wife, Ruth, until her death in 1999. They have three children. Charles Scheffel passed away on June 24, 2011. His body, by his wishes, was donated to medical research. He joins his wife of 57 years, 12 years after her passing. On his grave marker it says, "Alive in Christ."

Episodes

#	Title	Original airdate
1	"Darkness Falls"	November 15, 2009 (2009-11-15)
As Europe falls under Nazi control, America is unprepared for war and the attack on Pearl Harbor. The first bloody battles are fought on Guadalcanal and in North Africa.
2	"Hard Way Back"	November 15, 2009 (2009-11-15)
The Allies take on the daunting forces of the Axis, with victory far from certain. Charles Scheffel battles Rommel's forces in Tunisia and Jack Werner faces bitter combat in the northern Pacific.
3	"Bloody Resolve"	November 16, 2009 (2009-11-16)
The Marines assault Tarawa in one of the bloodiest battles yet waged. MacArthur island-hops and Italy's front lines claim a casualty.
4	"Battle Stations"	November 16, 2009 (2009-11-16)
The Allies lay plans for the invasion of France; Bert Stiles and the 8th Air Force attempt to clear the skies over Normandy, while the Pacific remains a quagmire. D-Day arrives.
5	"Day of Days"	November 17, 2009 (2009-11-17)
The episode follows Charles Scheffel in Normandy and Jack Yusen in his early weeks in the navy. The Allies are bogged down in Normandy's hedgerows in the aftermath of D-Day, while on Saipan, victory turns to horror. Robert Sherrod witnesses the Battle of Saipan and the infamous mass suicides committed by the local civilians.
6	"Point of No Return"	November 17, 2009 (2009-11-17)
The Allies race toward Germany as American Marines battle for ground on Peleliu and across the bloody Pacific.
7	"Striking Distance"	November 18, 2009 (2009-11-18)
American forces storm the Philippines while Shelby Westbrook is shot down over Europe. Jack Yusen battles the dangers of the deep when his ship is sunk after a heroic duel.
8	"Glory and Guts"	November 18, 2009 (2009-11-18)
The Marine assault on Iwo Jima brings horror and glory. Pilot Bert Stiles engages a German fighter with disastrous consequences. Reinforcements arrive in Europe to push the Allies toward victory.
9	"Edge of the Abyss"	November 19, 2009 (2009-11-19)
The Battle of the Bulge pushes the Allies to the brink, and Rockie Blunt barely survives the fight. Okinawa erupts as the Japanese make their last stand. Hitler is handed a final ultimatum.
10	"End Game"	November 19, 2009 (2009-11-19)
With the end in sight, Okinawa is a bloody obstacle to victory. The Third Reich ends with a single gunshot. America delivers the final blow to Japan and the world celebrates the fall of the Axis.

Further reading

• Tregaskis, Richard (1943). Guadalcanal Diary. New York City: Random House. ISBN 978-0-679-64023-3.

See also

• Vietnam in HD

External links

• Official website
• WWII in HD at IMDb