The men of the African American 761st Tank Battalion entered combat at Morville-les-Vic on November 7, 1944. In an "inferno" of battle, they proved their worth in the first of a series of hard fought battles.
Colonel Jimmie Kanaya, 442nd Regimental Combat Team medic, became a prisoner of war in Germany after his family had been put behind barbed wire at home in the States. He went on to be a decorated three-war veteran and friend of The National WWII Museum who passed away November 7, 2019.
Navy Ensign John Joseph Parle risked his own life to save a ship and ensure a successful Allied amphibious invasion of Sicily in 1943.
Dr. Rothacker Smith looked death in the eye several times during World War II. In these moments during his wartime service, during captivity as a German POW and beyond, his faith carried him through and indeed directed much of his life, as did the proud tradition of the Buffalo Soldier which he upheld.
Landing thousands of men and vehicles over a beach requires coordination and organization. On Omaha Beach, Louisiana native Frank H. Walk kept men and equipment moving and organized.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Saving Private Ryan, The National WWII Museum’s Institute for the Study of War and Democracy is proud to host a one-day symposium featuring D-Day scholars, film historians, and production insiders.
In the summer of 1998, moviegoers witnessed the closest thing to the horrors faced on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasions on June 6, 1944. In its opening 30 minutes, Saving Private Ryan brought to life the terror of that day, as the ramps of countless Higgins boats dropped to launch what proved to be the most important battle of the 20th century.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of this monumental motion picture, The National WWII Museum’s Institute for the Study of War and Democracy is proud to host a one-day symposium featuring D-Day scholars, film historians, and production insiders. Panel sessions will include conversations about the historical foundation and accuracy of the film, behind-the-scenes views of the making of the movie, how D-Day has been portrayed in other films since the war, and the lasting legacy that Saving Private Ryan has had beyond its awards and box-office receipts.
Registration Fee:
$199 Members | $249 Nonmembers
Optional Post-Symposium Speakers Reception and Dinner:
Additional Cost of $125
Join The National WWII Museum on a special tour of Normandy to gain a deep appreciation for a region that has been extremely influential in world history.