Steven Binder and Kristen Segebarth

00:03 My name is Kristen Segebart. I am 65 years old. Today's date is September 9th 2016. We are in Buffalo New York and the relationship is I'm speaking with my husband today.

00:20 My name is Steven Bender. I made 67 today's date is September 9th 2016. We are in Buffalo New York, and I'm with my wife Kristen psych Abarth.

00:31 My husband Stephen and I as you just heard her in her mid-60s, we have lived through and borne witness to every conflict since World War II. None of them had the impact of World War II and the greatest Generation that lived it with the members of that generation dying each and every day. We think it's important to tell the stories. So they'll never be forgotten toward that in today. And because both of our fathers have passed away. We are going to speak of events and Reflections that took place before we were born and that were either talk to us or in my case. We're documenting buy a wealth of letters Steven is Jewish and lost numerous relatives from Austria and Poland that were never heard from after the war fortunately Stevens father's service during World War II Spirit him and experience in Europe as he was in the Pacific Theater as a day.

01:31 Does dr. Nathan Bender was stationed behind the lines for the duration of his service and was largely spared. The horrors of War We Believe much has been documented and should continue to be so on the Holocaust on the other hand We Believe much less testimony and first-hand documentation of events in the Pacific Theater exist. We would like to share some of our thoughts and feelings of my father who also served in the Pacific Theater and a far different manner. My father Jack said the birth was Lieutenant JG in the Navy during the war as a communication officer on Admiral Thomas. Kinkade's command ship. My father was privy to very high level Communications and reported directly to Admiral Kincaid who was the commander of the 7th Fleet in the Pacific Kincaid with subordinate only to General Douglas MacArthur supreme commander of the

02:31 Civic operations during the lady golf campaign as it happened Jack wrote letters to his wife my mom in a daily basis while in the service in over 600 numbered and dated letters. He detailed everything from the boredom of waiting and waiting for who knows what and when to the extreme anxiety of Naval battles. We think several of his letters before during and after the battle of Leyte Gulf are especially poignant a note on the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It was the largest naval battle in history. It was fought in the waters of the lady golf near the Philippine islands of Leyte Samar and Luzon from October 23rd to October 26th, 1944 between the combined American and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy.

03:29 The to American naval fleets in the Pacific the third and the seventh won a decisive Victory decimated the Japanese Navy and ensure the success of American ground troops and the end of Japanese control in the Pacific four days earlier on October 19th. The u.s. Navy under the leadership of Admiral Kincaid begins bombardment of the islands in preparation for the ground troops Invasion on October 19th and letter of 594 my daddy rights from Admiral Kincaid's command ship.

04:08 Right. Now we are lying few miles off the coast of the central Philippines and watching the spectacle few have seen the bombardment of strongly-held. Enemy positions by Naval gunfire. It is an awesome sight with the sky lighting up brilliantly as the guns are fired. It's a dark knight the clouds are low and you can tell the large 14-inch and 16-inch guns of the battleships by their brilliant yellow flashes and the 85 in by their sharp more distinct white flashes do something that I would only appreciate feeling as long as we are on the giving end those who know say that a naval bombardment is one of the most terrifying things to live through of anything in the war that is speaking. Of course from the receiving end. What death and destruction we are creating at this moment is thankfully hidden from our sight by the comforting night what he'll those Japs must be going through can I help but the indelibly impressed in their minds

05:02 We have a lot to do and this is only the beginning. Well darling. I've seen it once and I hope that I never have to see it again as beautiful as to seeing maybe with the countless blinding flashes. You cannot help but think of the gruesome sight of such beauty. Naturally. My work is becoming heavier, and the tension is rising so for tonight, I say goodnight my darling and I do love you so much a kiss and a hand your Poppy.

05:27 The next day on October 20th 100,000 American soldiers under General MacArthur landed on the island of Lady and security speech heads and let her 595 that day my father States we have invaded the Philippines for two years. We have worked towards that goal wave after wave of amphibious craft have gone ashore each carrying their load men and equipment in our Naval bombardment has been continuous and support of the troops. This is the day on which history is made and I am here to watch it being made both exciting and terrifying Admiral Kincaid is in charge of the naval forces transporting supporting and supplying the troops and we have done our job.

06:09 The Japanese anticipated American landing at lady and launched operation show go to divert the Americans third Fleet under Admiral William Halsey North away from Lady charged with providing distant cover and support Admiral Halsey. Third Fleet chase the Japanese decoy, which left a critical straight unprotected and Admiral Kincaid 7th Fleet with its light carriers, very very vulnerable moreover can case calls for help and support from the third Fleet initially went unheeded as a naval battle unfolded the battle fought from October 23rd to 26 consisted of four separate engagements. It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out Kamikaze attacks over 5,000 kamikaze pilots lost their lives and the Japanese suffered very heavy losses in airplanes and warships more importantly.

07:09 With Lady and other Islands under American control Japan lost its critical oil resources on top of the surface Fleet that was destroyed and over 12,500 Japanese dead Admiral Jonas. I the Japanese Navy Minister describe the significance of Lady by stating I felt it was the end for drip pan on October 31st, 1944. My father penned letter number 606. It was meant to follow letter 595 and it's number represented the 11 letters. He would have written daily, but for the battle raging and Lady golf writing on that day, my father said I've never known before and hope never to have to live through again. I'm perfectly okay except for a case of jittery nerves which are quickly coming down and I thank God for everything.

08:08 I've seen more of these last ten days that I ever want to see again and many of the pictures were not very pretty summer. I prefer to forget work. Yes. That was my life living on sleep grabbed and snatches but mainly on black coffee and cigarettes some. I went for 36 hours without a wink then to collapse with that dreaded thought in the back of your mind that you may not waken you live with a life preserver in one hand and a pencil in the other you ate your meals almost on the run. I missed the pounding of your anti-aircraft guns and that is not a restful atmosphere many a time. I lay down for a few hours rest to be awakened with a start and listening to those guns go off iWatch bombs dropped watch planes crash into the sea and small men stick with their guns when it looks certain they're playing with coming in on all told when the final count was made. We live through 74 direct 74 direct different airstrikes.

09:04 You lived always waiting with one of your train to catch the crash of the bomb and prayed for the best. You can watch the planes come in to attack the ships in the harbor and you held your breath. Naturally there were casualties but somehow or other we escaped how or why we do not know by the time you receive this you will have read the full account in the paper. You will know that we have fought what is perhaps the largest naval battle in history and we won there were many uncomfortable moments in the margins were a bit stand at times but our boys put up a truly magnificent fight and apparently had God on their side the do you say accomplished seemed almost beyond the realm of possibility by now, all our reports are in and final analysis is being made.

09:49 Many things were not pretty and I will briefly mention mention a few boatloads of survivors from the naval battles. They had been in the sea on rafts for 40 hours some injured suffering from shock and exposure covered with oil in bandages attacked by schools of sharks not a stitch of clothing on many of them and dreaded shock gays in their eyes Aviator shut down into the sea and rescued both our boys infuser chaps and Jap survivors to yes. I saw our enemy closer to hand close enough to touch starts are in their eyes and I couldn't help them couldn't help think how I would feel if I were in their shoes. They were all given immediate medical treatment and receive good treatment all around what they expected was. Probably far different.

10:34 Well after that long. Of stress and strain and we finally left in the first day out. We ran into a typhoon which rose to velocity of over eighty knots an hour and on top of everything else the boys had taken that was the last straw. They were dropping like flies from seasickness. And now I know that I'm a pretty good sailor because I was one of the very few who never noticed even a Tremor in the midriff region The Old Ship was standing on her nose almost and you couldn't even hold yourself at a desk besides that so many of the boys were sick that we who were able to had to do all the work. So they're my darling is a brief account of what has been happening to your papi. I won't bother you with many of the details now, but when we two are together someday, I'll give you a whole account of it. Probably bore you to tears with all the many little detail if I do darling just quickly and quietly. Shut me up promise and darling again. I say I love you and I thank him for his protection and for his granting me you and your love. Goodnight.

11:34 Here's a kiss in my hand forever your Poppy.

11:38 I don't know if my father ever told my mom that details so though. I suspect he never did Jack died in 2004. He and I used to talk at length about the war and the battle but until I uncovered his letters. He never share these details with me men and women like her father's returned home exhausted many was frayed nerves and invisible scars many never share their own stories and maintained of humility about their roles in the war. We believe their sacrifices determine the world as we have known it all of our Lives. They truly are the greatest generation and we want their memories and their bravery do not go unnoticed or unrecorded by Generations now and in the future,