WWII, episode 15: My Grandfather's Brief WWII Experience episode artwork

EPISODE · May 10, 2026 · 44 MIN

WWII, episode 15: My Grandfather's Brief WWII Experience

from The Blue Collar Scholar · host Will Reitz

My grandfather on my father's side was named Billy Reitz. He was drafted shortly after turning 18 on the first day of winter 1944. He entered the service in the US Army in April 1945, so fighting in Europe was never in the cards for Sgt. Reitz. Instead, he trained for the invasion of Japan. His ship was on the way to the Pacific Theatre when the news of Japan's surrender was announced. So instead of storming the beaches of Japan, Sgt. Reitz spent the next year and a half serving in occupation duty in Korea, being honorably discharged long before hostilities broke out on the peninsula. I honor his service. ... Note: This episode opens with extensive follow-up notes to previous questions and comments from class, mostly dealing with the Manhattan Project & the Nuremburg Trials.

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WWII, episode 15: My Grandfather's Brief WWII Experience

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