World War II Open Conversation

In this Veterans Breakfast Club World War II Open Conversation, Glenn Flickinger leads a wide-ranging discussion on military history, memory, and the stories that keep the past alive. The evening opens with a moving tribute to General William Matz, former head of the American Battle Monuments Commission, with reflections from Rich Sherman, Colin Heaton, and Marilyn Walton on his leadership, combat service, humility, and lifelong devotion to the men he led. From there, the conversation turns to one of the most unexpected World War II stories you’ll hear: the wartime origin of duct tape. Participants trace it back to a civilian worker’s letter to President Franklin Roosevelt and explore how a practical battlefield solution became a household staple. The group then dives into the history of the Medal of Honor, from its Civil War beginnings to famous recipients, unusual medal designs, family connections, and personal encounters with Medal of Honor awardees. The discussion ranges from Teddy Roosevelt and Douglas MacArthur to Royce Williams and the National Medal of Honor Museum. Later in the program, Mark Copeland of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force shares details about a remarkable educational tour through Germany, including Dachau, Schweinfurt, Moosburg, and Courtroom 600 in Nuremberg, where the war crimes trials were held. The final segment features Greg Yost on the history of the War Powers Act, exploring the constitutional tension between Congress and the president over the power to wage war. This is the kind of open conversation the Veterans Breakfast Club does best: smart, informal, wide-ranging, and grounded in history, memory, and lived experience. Subscribe for more conversations on World War II, veterans history, military history, oral history, Medal of Honor recipients, Nuremberg, the Eighth Air Force, and the stories of the Greatest Generation.