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This is the entire three-part series from our interview with Major General William Matz who served WITH DISTINCTION in the Vietnam war and on four presidential administrations.  He would earn the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, four Legion of Merit awards and the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He would also serve during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Ole Miss riot of 1962, Operation Just Cause and the terrorist attack in Riyadh. 

Welcome to Episode 4, the final episode of the William Bratton series. In this episode William describes being in Tokyo Bay immediately after the surrender ceremony and then getting liberty in newly conquered Yokohama, Japan. He also describes enduring a typhoon aboard ship as well as his life after WWII. 

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Welcome to Episode 3 of the William Bratton series.  In this episode he goes into combat in the pacific theater in a TBM Avenger and adjusts to life flying off of the escort carrier USS Kitkun Bay in VC-63.

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Welcome to episode 2 of the four part William Bratton series. In this episode we hear about his training experiences in the SBD Dauntless and Avenger.

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Welcome to Episode 1 of the four part William Bratton series. In episode one we learn about William’s upbringing in Oklahoma and how his interest and natural aptitude in radio develops. We also hear how he chose the navy as his preferred branch of service. 

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Welcome to the PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER William Bratton series – a person of native American heritage who became a Petty Officer and Radio Operator in TBM Avenger squadron VC-63 stationed aboard the escort carrier USS Kitkun Bay. During Mr. Bratton’s service he witnessed kamikaze attacks, endured a flying accident, participated in the bombing of Japan, and was in Tokyo Bay during the surrender as well as ferried allied POW’s out of Japan after the war in 1945. Tighten your chin strap and affix your headphones radioman! You are deep inside the belly of a TBM Avenger in charge of communications for your crew and without you, your crew and squadron are flying blind in a war zone.

Please join us for our next series featuring William Bratton – a person of native American heritage who became a Petty Officer and Radio Operator in TBM Avenger squadron VC-63 stationed aboard the escort carrier USS Kitkun Bay. During MR. Bratton’s service he witnessed kamikaze attacks, endured a flying accident, participated in the bombing of Japan, and was in Tokyo Bay during the surrender as well as ferried allied POW’s out of Japan after the war in 1945. Tighten your chin strap and affix your headphones radioman! You are deep inside the belly of a TBM Avenger in charge of communications for your crew and without you, your crew and squadron are flying blind in a war zone. Check this series out to hear more.

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Welcome to the final episode of the Ralph Hettick series. Join us now as we wrap up the battle of Okinawa and detail Ralph's journey back to the US due to his wound. 

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Welcome to Episode 3 of the 4 part Ralph Hettick series.  In this episode Ralph moves to the invasion of Okinawa, the largest and costliest battle in the Pacific and would also be the last major land battle of WWII.

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Welcome to Episode 2 of the 4 part Ralph Hettick series. . In this episode, we discuss the set up for the invasion of the Philippines and Ralph discusses the invasion of Leyte Island in the Philippines in October 20, 1944. 

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