The War: Nebraska Stories

World War II Asian Axis Dictator: Tojo, Hideki, Prime Minister & Minister of War, Japan; Photograph captured by U.S. Army, mid 1940s

World War II Asian Axis Dictator: Tojo, Hideki, Prime Minister & Minister of War, Japan; Photograph captured by U.S. Army, mid 1940s
Public Domain

World War II was the largest human-made catastrophe in history, affecting almost every country in the world and touching the lives of every family in the United States.

World War II European Axis Dictators: Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister, Italy & Adolf Hitler, Chancellor, Germany; Circa 1940s

World War II European Axis Dictators: Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister, Italy & Adolf Hitler, Chancellor, Germany; Circa 1940s
Public Domain

Previous modules talked about Nebraska’s involvement in that war, from the home front to the front lines. War affects governments and groups of people on such a large scale that it can be overwhelming. However, each event is experienced one person at a time, and each person has an individual story to tell. This module, THE WAR: NEBRASKA STORIES, continues the saga of World War II through very personal interviews with Nebraskans who lived through that war.


After completing 25 missions, Ben Kuroki volunteered for five more. On his 30th mission over Munster Germany, flack hit his top turret. He lost his oxygen mask and was delirious.

Dr. Carlyle Wilson (on right) with a fellow soldier in Europe, 1940s

Dr. Carlyle Wilson (on right) with a fellow soldier in Europe, 1940s
Courtesy NET Television

We present these Nebraska stories in twenty-five short videos, covering the following topics:

Reactions at Home
Combat
Minority ExperiencesThe Horrors of War
The Atom Bomb


Some World War II Medal of Honor recipients are in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Learn more about all its members.

Cpl. Roger Peters in front of radio transmitters, 1940s

Cpl. Roger Peters in front of radio transmitters, 1940s
Courtesy NET Television

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Adams, Tuskegee Airman, 302nd Fighter Squadron, in the cockpit of his P40 plane

THE WAR: NEBRASKA STORIES was created by NET to complement the PBS documentary, THE WAR, directed by Ken Burns. This module was funded, in part, by the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Project partners include NET Television, the Durham Western Heritage Museum, the University of Nebraska at Omaha Television, the Library of Congress – Veteran’s History Project, and the Nebraska State Historical Society.