World War II Remembrance

Mason event includes Band of Brothers showing and panel of veterans.

by B.J. Koubaroulis

World War II Remembrance

On Nov. 2, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences co-sponsors Never Forget: WWII Remembrance. This event includes a viewing of Band of Brothers in Harris Theater and a discussion panel featuring four World War II veterans.

The viewing of Band of Brothers will be held at 2 p.m. in Harris Theater and the panel discussion will take place in Harris Theater at 7 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

"Collective memory plays a vital and sometimes unrecognized role in the ongoing identity of human society," said Megan Fowler, chairwoman of the Never Forget series and a senior university scholar and honors student majoring in history and theater at George Mason. "Living during the Iraq war, the present generation stands poised at a critical moment in its history. As with past generations, this war will define not only our military but also our civilians, media, and society. Therefore, it is prudent that we seize the opportunity to converse with a generation, which endured the largest scale war in American history. With passing of World War II veterans, we must reach out and contact our veterans, our ancestors, our grandparents.

A viewing of Band of Brothers episodes one and two and a panel discussion with World War II American veterans will provide George Mason University students the opportunity to play a role in our American and global memory. Members of the community will be able to listen to, learn from, and question living American heroes.

The four veterans scheduled to attend the panel discussion are Mary Ann McKenzie, William Hanusek, H.A. Deck, and Ozzie Ostlund.

McKenzie served in the women's reserve of the Marine Corps from August 1943 until the end of World War II, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. Following boot camp at Camp Lejeune, N.C., she served as a secretary in the Office of the Commandant, Marine Corps Headquarters, in the Navy Annex Building in Arlington, Va.

A native of Pennsylvania, Hanusek (PICTURED ABOVE) joined the U.S. army as a private in October 1941 and was assigned to Task Force 6814 and arrived in Australia in February 1942. He served in Guadalcanal as a medic in the Americal Division from October 1942 to July 1943. During the war he was stationed in Australia, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Philippines, Leyte, Samar, Cebu, Negros, Bohol, and Mindanao. Following WWII, he served two tours in Korea (1947-48 and 1950-51), a tour in Japan (1951-52), a tour in France (1953-56) and a tour in Germany (1962-64). He retired as master sergeant in April 1964.

Deck joined the United States Air Corp on July 15, 1941 as a second lieutenant. He served four years with the Air Corp Training Command. In July of 1944, he volunteered for "dangerous duty" and was attached to the Office of Strategic Services as a guerrilla warfare specialist. He spent five years in Europe as a counter-intelligence agent. He retired in 1962 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

E. W. Ostlund was born at home in West Forge, ND on June 10, 1922. He spent three summers at a CMTC (Citizens Military Training Camp) before graduating from high school. He enlisted in the Navy on July 30, 1940. He was assigned to Naval Aviation and advanced to Aviation Metalsmith 1st class while serving at the Naval Air Stations in Pensacola, FL., in North Island, CA., and CASU (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit) 37 in CA. He was selected for the Navy V-12 Officer Training Program in April 1944. He was commissoned Ensign USN in June 1947. He retired as Commander in 1965.

The events are sponsored by the Office of Military Service, ACE/Wal-mart Foundation, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Honors College, University Scholars, Mason Community Outreach, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Alpha Delta and University Life.

For more information about the WWII Remembrance events, contact Fowler at mfowler1@gmu.edu.