Visitors at the National WWII Museum had the special opportunity to hear from WWII veteran and Museum Trustee Paul Hilliard as he discussed his life story documented in the new biography, Dauntless. Hilliard was joined in conversation by author Robert Citino, PhD, Distinguished Fellow of the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy.

Hilliard, along with his wife, Madlyn, have been true champions of the Museum for the past two decades, stemming from his life experiences through the Great Depression, World War II, and the postwar period, as well as his desire to educate and inspire.

Dauntless is the story of Hilliard's life; a poor farm boy from Wisconsin, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps as a teenager, served in the Pacific theater as an aviator, and returned to attend university on the GI Bill. His education was a springboard into a very successful career as an entrepreneur, independent oil man, and industry leader. Always looking for ways to give back, he also became a philanthropist and generous donor to educational and cultural institutions in the city of Lafayette and throughout southern Louisiana.

Hilliard's story highlights some of the most fascinating decades in American history: the impact of World War II, the importance of postwar social and economic changes, and the development of the oil industry from the 1950s to today. Dauntless is as much a history of the United States in the 20th century as it is a personal biography of an influential leader in Louisiana and beyond. Order your copy of Dauntless from the Museum Store here.

This free event is part of The General Raymond E. Mason Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series on World War II.