This week we’re revisiting Reading, PA’s WWII Weekend. For three days (June 7-9) the MidAtlantic Air Museum brought in WWII Veterans, reenactors and a full air show.

READ AND LISTEN TO PART ONE

This week we share two more WWII Veteran’s stories that the gentlemen were gracious enough to share over the weekend.

Walter Stitt was a part of General Patton’s 3^rd Armored Division. As an M4 Sherman Tank Gun Loader, he saw time in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland Campaigns and he was one of the first tanks to cross the Siegfried Line – receiving a Purple Heart in the process. Later Walter became a pastor and gave the closing remarks to the final 3^rd Armored Division Association’s reunion in 2010.

Victor Maurelli is a WWII and Korean War Veteran. He was a Navy Frogman from the early 1940s to 1955. During WWII, Victor served in Guam, Philippines and during the Battle of Midway. Frogmen were underwater demolition-men and are the forefathers to the current Navy SEAL teams. Frogmen were responsible for diving underwater and destroying defensive barriers before an amphibious landing. Frogmen served in both the European and Pacific Theatres. During WWII Weekend, Victor spent some time with Borne the Battle and shared some of his incredible stories.

Enjoy both of these unique stories.

Additional Links for this episode:

• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/61925/borne-battle-150-benefits-breakdown-75th-anniversary-va-home-loan-program/
• http://thecmp.org/cmp-releases-regional-safs-course-schedule-for-2019/
• https://www.campvaloroutdoors.org/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/60759/find-out-how-the-mission-act-could-impact-you/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/60896/va-mission-act-vas-new-urgent-care-benefit-for-veterans/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/60982/va-mission-act-expect-community-care-june-6/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/61258/va-announces-final-community-care-regulations-mission-act/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/61280/va-mission-act-finding-community-provider-making-appointments-getting-care/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/61286/va-launches-new-health-care-options-mission-act/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/61641/icymi-exploreva-facebook-live-event-on-the-mission-act/
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/61769/va-mission-act-top-questions-answered/

#BtBattle Veteran of the Week:

Army and Korean War Veteran Dale Quick

On June 22, VA will celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the G.I. Bill. In honor of this historic event, Army Veteran Maxine Henry and Air Force Veteran Mark Connors of the VA’s Loan Guaranty Service team sat down with Borne the Battle to discuss one of the best and most popular Veteran benefits--the VA home loan entitlement. 

The VA home loan guaranty has several advantages for Veteran borrowers:

• Veterans using the VA home loan are generally not required to have a downpayment.
• Veterans using the VA home loan also aren’t required to carry any mortgage insurance, which saves borrowers hundreds of dollars on their monthly mortgage payments.
• Veterans using the VA home loan benefit enjoy limited closing costs.
• VA home loans have very competitive interest rates.
• Veterans aren’t charged any prepayment penalty if they are able to pay off their mortgage earlier than required while using the VA loan.
• VA provides assistance to help Veterans retain their homes during periods of temporary financial difficulty.
• The VA home loan benefit can be used multiple times throughout the Veteran’s life.

Additional Links:

• https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/contact_rlc_info.asp
• https://www.consumerfinance.gov/

#BtBattle Veteran of the Week:

• Army Veteran Arthur Lorelli

It was WWII Weekend in Reading, PA. For three days, the MidAtlantic Air Museum brings WWII Veterans, reenactors and a full air show to their community. You can step back in time to every major theatre, visit friendly and enemy camps, hear 1940s music, and even see an FDR impersonator. 

More importantly, WWII Days include an impressive VIP guest list. Over twenty-five WWII Veterans attend every year and recount their experiences. This year included two living survivors of Pearl Harbor. 

Richard (Dick) Schimmel was one of the first soldiers to ever be a radar tech. He enlisted in 1940 and was shipped out to Hawaii to form new formed Signal Aircraft Warning unit. He wasn’t on duty but was stationed on Pearl Harbor during the attack. When he realized the island was under attack, he ran to his post.

William Bonelli was an enlisted B-17 and B-29 mechanic at Hickam Field when the attacks occurred. In 1944, he got his opportunity to fly the “Flying Fortress” as a pilot, flying 30 missions over Italy (21 as squadron leader) and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions.

Enjoy both of these unique accounts of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Additional Links:

• http://www.maam.org/wwii/_ww2_guests.htm
• https://www.blogs.va.gov/nvspse/national-veterans-golden-age-games/

#BtBattle Veteran of the Week:

• Army Veteran Wilma Gregory

Quick Bonus episode reflecting on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Features General Dwight D. Eisenhower's speech to the troops of the eve of the operation. 

David talks about becoming a Green Beret, being attached to a MIKE Force in Vietnam, being a security contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan as a 55-60 year old man, and helping advocate to reform Arizona's university system to work friendlier with the GI Bill and the VA system.

Additional Links:

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/100-years-later-arizona-finally-ready-to-pay-fitting-tribute-to-world-war-i/ar-BBPwJfx
• http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/93671
• https://nevalleynews.org/9686/news/phoenix-va-commemorates-vietnam-veterans/

#BtB Veteran of the Week:

• Marine Corp Veteran William Tully Brown.