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"I thought that I was the only GI to land on the coast of Normandy." (Audio interview, 15:16)

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   Albert M. Hassenzahl
Image of Albert M. Hassenzahl
Albert Hassenzahl, age 21.
War: World War, 1939-1945
Branch: Army
Unit: C Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Service Location: Camp Livingston, Louisiana; Officer Candidate School (OCS) and Jump School, Fort Benning, Georgia; England; Normandy, France; Holland (Operation Market Garden); Bastogne, Belgium; Germany
Rank: Captain
Place of Birth: OH
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When paratrooper Albert Hassenzahl landed in France in the early morning darkness of June 6, 1944, he wasn't alone. But for a moment, with no one--friend or foe--visible, it did seem that way. He was wounded a short time later and evacuated, but he returned to Europe to participate in the Market Garden operation and the Battle of the Bulge. Hassenzahl recorded his war memories years later, alone in his study, after a younger neighbor's casual remark prompted him to realize the historical importance of what he had experienced.

Interview (Audio)
»Interview Highlights  (10 clips)
»Complete Interview  (80 min.)
»Transcript
Sound Recording
»Transcript
  Photos
»Photo Album (4 photos)
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 Audio (Interview Excerpts) (10 items)
The death of Sergeant Zattwich, a man who saved his life."Beginning" (00:26) The Battle of the Bulge. (06:03) Operation Market Garden; the liberated Dutch showing their appreciation. (05:45)
Suffering a wound; encounter with an enemy soldier on the beach. (04:01) Inspection before D-Day; dropping into France. (04:34) The four stages of Paratroop School; injury on a practice jump. (02:31)
Attacking a village house by house; losing many men. (07:06) Liberating a concentration camp at Landsberg. (02:12) Death of Segeant Zattwich, a man who saved his life. "Continued" (02:24)
Opening up about his war experiences after many years. (01:04)  
  
 
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  October 26, 2011
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