Received this letter. This is fantastic!
My name is John Talbott and I’m in the Research Dept. at the Gold Star Military Museum located at Camp Dodge Iowa.
Tomorrow I am going to interview a man named Harlan Holm who was with the 540th Combat Amphibious Engineers at Anzio.
He was nineteen at the time. Harlan is from Iowa and lives in Des Moines. He does have some memorabilia that he mentioned on the phone.
I ran across your site as I was looking to dig up info on the 540th.
Maybe you would be interested in his story as I’m going to put it on digital video for our project here.
I can be reached via this email...
John
Dear John:
You betcha! That sounds wonderful; count me in.
I am familiar with him and his wife, and in fact, we've been corresponding on and off via Christmas cards and newsletters for the past several years. Never met in person or anything and I don't have any of HIS history, so this will be an absolute treat and pleasure.
Thanks SO much.
Warmly,
Marion
Marion,Harlan is 87 now but still remembers names, places, etc. and is very good at recalling events. Has plenty of pictures too.
His wife passed away. She would have been a good interview as she was a SPAR with the Coast Guard.
He told me that he became a teacher hear in Iowa using the GI bill and Tom Brokaw was once a student of his.
John
I will be sure to share with everyone when it's available.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"