Feature Lecture:
You’re Stepping on my Cloak and Dagger
Capt. Roger Hall on Tuesday, May 16, 2006
With a sharp eye and wry wit, Roger Hall recounts his experiences as an American Army officer assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. First published in 1957 to critical and popular acclaim, his book has become a cult favorite in intelligence circles. He chronicles his experiences from his time as a junior officer fleeing a tedious training assignment in Louisiana to his rigorous OSS training rituals in the United States, England, and Scotland for its Special Operations unit. Quick to pick up on the skills necessary for behind-the-lines intelligence work, Hall became an expert instructor, but was only reluctantly given operational duties because of his reputation as an iconoclast. In his droll storytelling style, Hall describes his first parachute jump in support of the French resistance as a comedy of errors that terminated prematurely. His last assignment in the war zone came when then Capt. William Colby, the future head of the CIA, handpicked him to lead the second section of a Norwegian special operations group into Norway via Sweden.
ROGER HALL, a 1941 graduate of the University of Virginia, is also the author of two novels and spent years as a freelance writer and editor, including a stint as cartoon editor for True magazine in New York. He lives with his wife, Linda, in Delaware ’s Brandywine Valley.
Future Programs at the Abington Free Library ... Coordinator –
Brandon Traister
June 20
July 18
Aug 15
Sept 19 |
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Comparing Iraq to Wars Past
A Marines Experience at Okinawa
Battle in Stalingrad
A German Jew in the U.S. Army |
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Sgt. Brandon Traister
Cpl. Eric Turner
Mikhail Rabinovich
Jerry Nothman |
Programs are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m.
Please contact Brandon Traister at Brandon.Traister@us.army.mil or 856-296-9256 if you have any ideas for future lectures at the Abington Free Library.
Please note that we are not only looking for WWII Veterans, but also for veterans and survivors who lived and served during any armed conflicts to share their memories and experiences.
Thank you.
Programs at the Bucks County Public Library ... Coordinators - Al Pincus & Kevin Brown
| Wed, July 26, 2006 |
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You’re Stepping on my Cloak and Dagger |
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Capt. Roger Hall |
Programs are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. If you have any ideas for future lectures please contact Kevin Brown at Kbrown@nni.com or 215-822-6601. *Currently looking for a May and June guest speaker.
Puptent Poets ● The Stars and Stripes ● Mediterranean
Throughout the Mediterranean Theater in World War II, it was respectable to be a poet. Men in uniform who might have once regarded poetry as a matter for "long hairs" and "softies" were writing poems themselves and, what's more, signing them. Truck drivers were no less inclined toward the muse than the company cook; a machine-gunner would dash off a verse during the lull of battle; the stony-faced topkick was producing love lyrics, and there was a laureate in every company. As one CO remarked, "It's a wonder we get any work done."
Source: "Puptent Poets of the Stars and Stripes Mediterranean"; compiled by Cpl Charles A Hogan and Cpl John Welsh III, illustrated by Sgt Stanley Meltzoff, edited by Lt Ed Hill. Publ: The Star and Stripes Mediterranean, Italy, 1945. |
| Poem read last month by George Stiftinger: |
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HATRED'S YIELD
I've seen "the crosses row on row,"
I've seen the graves at Anzio,
In Flanders Field men cannot sleep -
Their faith, the world found hard to keep.
Versailles' fate was slyly sealed
Before earth's gaping wounds had healed,
And now again rows of crosses
Mutely tell of nations' losses.
In how many fields, In how many lands
Will soldiers die by soldiers' hands?
Until at long last mankind yields
To truth and reason's studied choice
Ignoring hatred's strident voice.
- Pvt. Jack P. Nantell, Italy, 1945 |
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Veterans in the Classroom Project ... Coordinator - Sheila Martin
This project was started in July 2003 when Abington WWII Lecture Series volunteers Sheila Martin, Charlotte Goerlich, Warren Kimmel, and George Stiftinger formed a committee. Since its beginning the project has made several visits to Abington High School, Springfield High School and Upper Dublin High School. The goal of this project is to visit more schools and find more guest speakers. The committee will assist any veteran or person who would like to speak to students about their war experiences.
For more information please contact Charlotte Goerlich at 215-887-2153 or Sheila Martin at 215-675-7504. Information is also available on our website.
Thank you. |
Reservations for the Abington WWII Lecture Series ... Coordinator - Karen Burnham
There are many different ways to reserve a seat for a future lecture. You can reserve a seat online by e-mailing Karen Burnham at kburnham@mclinc.org or visiting the Abington Free Library website (*see web address below). You can reserve a seat by calling Karen Burnham at the Abington Free Library at 215-885-5180, extension 15. There is also a sign up sheet in the back of the room at each lecture. * http://abg.mclinc.org/calendar/WWIILS.htm.
Volunteer Opportunities ... Volunteer Coordinator – Brandon Traister
Assistant Coordinators are needed to help run this series and to help expand the institute.
Grant Writers are needed to help gather funds to ensure the future of the institute and series.
Phone Callers are needed to confirm reservations for lectures.
Public Relations Officers are desired to help spread the word about the institute and series.
Web Designers are needed to help maintain the website.
If you become a volunteer we offer you a free e-mail account (YourName@wwiilectureinstitute.com).
If you are interested in volunteering please contact Brandon Traister by phone 856-296-9256 or by e-mail Brandon.Traister@us.army.mil.
Thank you.
Transportation to and from Lectures ... TransNet
With gas prices what they are today and the growing amount of traffic on the roads carpooling is encouraged for attendees that live near each other. Bux-Mont (Taxi) Transportation Services also offers cheap, affordable and comfortable transportation to and from our lectures. You can reach Bux-Mont Transportation Services by phone at 215-659-1313 or 215-659-0555 and on the web at www.buxmonttrans.com.
Thank you.
Donations Needed ... Founder - Donald Lee
The Abington WWII Lecture Series was founded in the fall of 1997 and The World War II Lecture Institute was founded in spring of 2003 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which offers tax deductible donations. Donations are needed to help ensure the future of this series and the institute. We want to thank everyone who has donated money to this series and the institute. We wouldn’t be here today without our audience and our donors.
Thank you.
Next Months Lecture - June 20 - Comparing Iraq to Wars Past
Sgt. Brandon Traister
Sgt. Brandon Traister spent 11 months in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. During his 11 months in Iraq and many different jobs. He spent 2 months as explosive ordnance disposal security, 2 months as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner, 3 months as dismounted team leader and 2 months as a dismounted squad leader. He will be comparing his experiences to the experiences of WWII, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans he has met and interviewed in the past and will answer questions following the lecture.
A Thank You to our volunteers ...
Volunteer Coordinator – Brandon Traister
Please join me in thanking and honoring our volunteers here at the Abington WWII Lecture Series: Tom Brennan, Karen Burnham, Joseph Campbell, Aaron Elson, Charlotte Goerlich, John Frantz, Donald Lee, and Tony Zanzinger.
War Veterans Oral History Project ... Founder – Brandon Traister
Since the year 2000 Brandon Traister has been gathering oral histories.
Anyone who is interested in sharing their experiences please contact Brandon Traister by phone at 856-296-9256 or by e-mail at Brandon.Traister@us.army.mil |
