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Stories of Liberation

From: WAER
Length: 00:11:12

Two World War II veterans recall memories of serving on the front lines, and helping to liberate two concentration camps. Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-0 This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the concentration camps. An estimated 1000 veterans from World War II pass away each day, and many of them were reticent to talk about the war throughout much of their lives. Decorated Upstate New York veterans Bob Albro and Al Tarbell [Tar-'bell]recently began sharing their experiences during the war, including helping to liberate two concentration camps. Sixty years ago, both men were in the Anzio Beachhead invasion in Italy. They also both served for years on the front lines without sustaining any major wounds. Currently, the two men live only miles apart, near Syraucse, New York. Here, is an audio snapshot of their lives abroad. Runs: 10min 20sec with 50sec music bed at end Music: Herbie Mannie, "Eastern European Roots" Suggested Outro: Bob Albro and Al Tarbell received the Bronze Star, and numerous other medals. They were both honored in their hometown of Syracuse, New York during Holocaust Remembrance Week (May 1-7 2005), for their service in helping to liberate the Dachau and Wobblein concentration camps.

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Piece Description

This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the concentration camps. An estimated 1000 veterans from World War II pass away each day, and many of them were reticent to talk about the war throughout much of their lives. Decorated Upstate New York veterans Bob Albro and Al Tarbell [Tar-'bell]recently began sharing their experiences during the war, including helping to liberate two concentration camps. Sixty years ago, both men were in the Anzio Beachhead invasion in Italy. They also both served for years on the front lines without sustaining any major wounds. Currently, the two men live only miles apart, near Syraucse, New York. Here, is an audio snapshot of their lives abroad. Runs: 10min 20sec with 50sec music bed at end Music: Herbie Mannie, "Eastern European Roots" Suggested Outro: Bob Albro and Al Tarbell received the Bronze Star, and numerous other medals. They were both honored in their hometown of Syracuse, New York during Holocaust Remembrance Week (May 1-7 2005), for their service in helping to liberate the Dachau and Wobblein concentration camps.

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Review of Stories of Liberation

The text posted with the piece says that 100 veterans of WWII pass away every day ? so the very fact that here is a recording of two men alive who were there, and saw it with their own eyes, is already important. Both men also state that they weren?t able to talk about the experience until recently ? so, it?s great to have them on tape. Their reluctance to talk may explain the dispassionate tone they both take when explaining what they saw. The information flows along ? all in much the same tone ? first the self-conscious laughter heard during a discussion of eating nothing but spam ? then a description of the starving prisoners they liberated ? and again cut short with that little self-conscious laugh. They?re still not ready to talk about it ? perhaps they never will be. The men do agree that it?s important to let people know what war really is?and it could be quite interesting in itself that the experience will seems so controlled and under wraps for both of them. However, the peaceful, mellow jazz music only underscores this - if you don?t catch exactly what they?re saying, it?s all so strangely just another bit of easy listening. A different approach to editing could have given the piece some dramatic structure.

Broadcast History

Broadcast locally on WAER 88.3 FM Syracuse