Your History Your Story

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel Dan Hampton. Dan, who completed 151 combat missions as a fighter pilot in the Iraq War, Kosovo Conflict, and first Gulf War, is also a New York Times bestselling author. 

Dan will be discussing his most recent book, “Valor: The Astonishing World War II Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable Spirit”, that tells the amazing story of U.S. Marine Lt. William “Bill” Harris.

Harris was captured by Japanese forces in May, 1942 during the Battle of Corregidor (Philippines) but soon escaped, only to endure hardships including an eight hour swim in a shark infested bay, shipwrecks, guerilla fighting, re-capture and two years imprisonment in a Japanese POW camp, where he suffered beatings, torture and starvation. Bill Harris was a true American hero and this is his story.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Dan Hampton & St. Martins Publishing

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

www.yourhistoryyourstory.com

FB: https://facebook.com/yhyspodcast 

FB Page for Dan Hampton: Dan Hampton Author 

When George Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789, his wife Martha, like her husband, had no predecessor to model for her new role. Initially, she did not have a title, but soon became known as “Lady Washington”.

It wasn’t until many years later that the term “First Lady” was used on a regular basis to identify the wife of the President and / or the White House hostess.

Over the past 233 years the First Ladies of the United States have performed many duties to support the President and his administration. In additional to upholding many traditions set by previous First Ladies, they had to adapt their roles to fit the times and circumstances of their stay in the White House. 

Some of our nation’s First Ladies have also been members of The Daughters of the American Revolution, commonly known as the DAR. The DAR was formed in 1890 and is a women’s organization made up of direct descendants of patriots of the American Revolution. 

Since its’ founding, the DAR has continued to initiate and support projects that include promoting patriotism, education, historic preservation and conservation.

In this episode of Your History Your Story, our guest is historian Larry Cook, author of “Symbols of Patriotism, First Ladies and Daughters of the American Revolution”, a book that tells the stories of twelve First Ladies who were and are, also members of the DAR. 

In addition to being an author, speaker and historian, Larry is a serious collector of Presidential memorabilia, with a collection that includes over 8,000 fascinating items.

www.larrycookhistorian.com

www.yourhistoryyourstory.com

YHYS YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC30F4NTjvr6WSj7OeUZclkw

Photo(s): Courtesy of Larry Cook

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

On June 29, 1933, at the Garden Bowl in Long Island City, New York, an imposing six foot six Italian boxer named Primo Carnera knocked out a smaller but highly skilled and more experienced Jack Sharkey to become the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. 

Primo was born in 1906 in a small village in the northeastern corner of Italy. A large baby at birth, Primo continued to grow at  an alarming rate and by the time he was a teenager, towered over his family and all the other residents of his village!  Eventually, he was asked to leave his home because his parents could no longer afford to provide the food necessary to satisfy his ravenous appetite.

After setting out on his own, Primo worked odd jobs and after a while found work as a circus strong man in France, where he was able to earn a living, eat well and grow even bigger and stronger.

While performing as a circus strong man, twenty two year-old Primo was discovered by a boxing promoter named Leon See who had been told of Carnera’s enormous size and incredible strength. Thus began Primo Carnera’s professional boxing career which would take him across Europe and to the United States, where he would earn the nickname “The Ambling Alp” and would go on to win the World Heavyweight Boxing title a little less than five years after his first professional fight. He would also accumulate a record setting seventy two wins by knockout!

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Primo Carnera’s granddaughter Anne Hibbetts. Anne will share family stories about her grandfather’s life, including his early years as a hungry teenager, his incredible boxing career which included bouts against such greats as Jack Sharkey, Max Baer and Joe Louis, and his acting career which included small parts in movies such as “The Prizefighter and the Lady” and “Mighty Joe Young” in which he had a tug of war scene with the giant gorilla. 

In this heart-felt interview, Anne will explain that despite her grandfather’s enormous size, physical strength, and knock-out punch, he was really a gentle giant who loved his family and treated others with gentleness and kindness, She will also explain, that despite allegations of mob involvement in the outcomes of some of Primo’s fights, he was rightfully deserving of the World Heavyweight title that he received. 

Photo(s): Courtesy of Anne Hibbetts

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

On March 11, 2005, twenty two year old Kevin Berthia stood on a narrow pipe on the outside railing of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, 220 feet above the cold water of the bay.

Kevin, who had struggled most of his life with a major depression disorder, woke up feeling hopeless that morning and could only think about stopping the pain he was feeling. A recent job loss and mounting bills had pushed him to his limit.

As Kevin was preparing to carry out his plan, he suddenly heard a voice call out to him. That voice belonged to California Highway Patrolman, Kevin Briggs. 

Over the next ninety two minutes, Officer Briggs provided a caring, listening ear and offered words of hope to Kevin Berthia. At first, Kevin felt anger toward the voice on the other side of the railing because it was interrupting his plan to get out of pain. However, things began to change the longer Kevin spoke and Officer Briggs listened. Kevin eventually felt enough hope to climb back over the railing to safety.

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with both, Kevin Berthia and Kevin Briggs, who retired from the California Highway Patrol in 2013 after 20 years of service. The two men will recount the events of that day in 2005 & their subsequent reunion in 2013.

Today, these two men, who have become close friends, are mental health and suicide prevention advocates and speakers, who work tirelessly, both individually and together to help bring hope to others and save lives.

Note: This episode discusses suicide prevention. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

1.800.273.TALK(8225)

https://kevinberthiafoundation.org

https://www.pivotal-points.com

Photo(s): Courtesy of Kevin Berthia and Kevin Briggs

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with the last living US Triple Ace fighter pilot from World War 2, Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson.

Bud, who celebrated his 100th birthday on January 13, 2022, began his fascination with airplanes after hearing about Charles Lindbergh’s famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.  As a boy in rural California,  Bud spent hours with a friend watching bi-planes take off and land at a local air strip. 

Bud’s love of airplanes eventually led him to join the US Army Aviation Cadet Program on his 20th birthday, one month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into WW2.

After receiving his wings, Bud entered the war in Europe as a fighter pilot. From November 1943 through January 1945, Bud flew 116 combat missions in his P-51 Mustang, which he nicknamed “Old Crow” and was credited with destroying 16 1/4 enemy aircraft.

Bud will be sharing with us stories from his life and 30 year career in the US Army Air Corps and US Air Force, which will include vivid accounts of aerial combat against the German Luftwaffe, his combat tour in Vietnam and his friendship with a German fighter pilot which developed many years after WW2.

Photo(s): Courtesy of Bud Anderson / Jim Anderson

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man

Have you ever heard of Jefferson Davis? If so, perhaps you learned from a high school history book that he was the President of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. 

In this episode of Your History Your Story, we will be speaking with Jefferson Davis’ great, great grandson, Bertram Hayes-Davis, who, along with his wife Carol, own Vicksburg Old Town Tours. The tours showcase historic Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Bertram admits that he, like many others, knew little of his famous ancestor except for his role as the head of the Confederate government. However, in 1976, that all changed when he was elected  President of the Davis Family Foundation, whose mission is to support programs, organizations and events to educate people about Jefferson Davis and his life. 

From that point on, Bertram began a journey  that enabled him to uncover the entire story of the life of his great great grandfather. Through his research, Bertram discovered that in addition to being the President of the Confederacy,  Davis was also a plantation owner, slaveholder, West Point graduate, war hero,  U.S. Senator, Congressman, Secretary of War and author. Additionally, Bertram found that Davis had experienced some great personal tragedies in his life including the death of his first wife and several children.

Bertram firmly believes in the importance of sharing all of the facts when telling history and will be sharing a full account of his great great grandfather’s life, so the listener can weigh the facts for themselves and ultimately answer the question… Who was Jefferson Davis?

Photo(s): Courtesy of Bertram Hayes-Davis

Music: "With Loved Ones" Jay Man