My friend Don Burgett of the 101st Airborne will be on the History Channel. The program airs on November 18th. Please check your TV schedule for further details. I will try and post more on this later.
This is a first time airing.
Here's some info:
Several weeks ago Kelly Bergman of WWII Victory Museum, Auburn, Indiana phoned Don to ask if he would take part in the filming of a new documentary for History Channel. Kelly went on to ask if he would agree to do a taping for a Col. Antal, US Army, Retired. Col. John F. Antal (US Army Retired) is a representative, Director and Producer of "Gearbox Software," PC. X-Box, and Playstation.
Kelly asked if he knew any 502 WWII vets that had survived the whole war with the 101st. He recommended Mark Bando and George Koskimaki as the two most knowledgeable historians on the airborne and trooper identification and gave him their names and phone numbers. Col. John Antal phoned him a few weeks ago with the same request for his project, again he also gave him Mark's and George's name and phone numbers.
George and Mark gave Kelly and Col. Antal the names of Don Brininstool, Fred Bahlau, Leonard Schmidt and three others, two of the three agreed; along with Don, Fred, Leonard and himself.
They were interviewed by a local TV crew and the History Channel. The reason given for wanting 502 men was that Col. Antal felt that the 506 has been fully exposed for years through the Band of Brothers. The 502 fought the same areas and most of the same battles as did the 506; this would give another regiment credit for having also been in the war.
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"