Brookdale Spring 2012 WW II Studies Series

The Brookdale Community College WWII Studied Series is back for Spring 2012!

The CECOM Historical Office likes to highlight military history events that appeal to a wide audience: historians, students, veterans, and interested members of the general public.  While we are physically located in Maryland, sometimes the events we hear about take place elsewhere, like a presentation from a US Naval Officer in Washington DC.  This series we’ve highlighted today is held in Monmouth County, New Jersey, at Brookdale Community College.

All events are held in the Warner Student Life Center  on Brookdale’s Lincroft, NJ, campus.  A small fee is required: $12 adults, $5 students.  Most programs start at 7:00pm, and more details can be found on the WWII Studies website.  To register for one or all of these programs, call (732) 224-2315 or email cww2sconres@brookdalecc.edu.

1. Noted author and Temple University History professor Dr. Gregory Urwin kicks off the series on March 6th with a program on “Victory in Defeat: The Wake Island Defenders.” His talk will detail what happened to the brave men who defended Wake Island in the face of overwhelming odds until being captured by the Japanese. Their stance inspired America.
2. Following Dr. Urwin on March 27th is producer/director of the Brookdale TV series “Triumphant Spirit” and manager of Media Technologies at Bergen Community College, Brian Hemstreet, who will speak on “WW II vs. The Iraqi Conflict: Similarities and Differences in Documenting War.”
3. On April 3rd, author and historian Richard Lucas will speak on the interesting topic “Axis Sally: The American Voice of Nazi Germany.”
4. Then, in conjunction with the NJ Alliance to Preserve World War II History in Asia a special program “The Doolittle Air Raid – America Strikes Back!” will be conducted on April 17th. Feature writer and coordinator of the Center’s Veteran’s History Project Paul Frisco will make a presentation commemorating the event.
5. He will be followed by professors of History Fred Fraterrigo, Brookdale and John Fraterrigo, Ocean County College on April 24th who will speak on the all encompassing topic “WW II from Beginning to End.”
6. Closing the series on May 8th is naval historian and author J. Wandres who will speak on ‘The Ablest Navigator- Israel’s Volunteer US Admiral.”

These events are really good — I’ve attended a few of them over the years when I lived in New Jersey — because they always provided a thoughtful and balanced approach to whatever topic was being presented. 

Are you part of a local or academic institution that holds events on military history?  Let us know, and we’d be happy to promote them.  Have you attended any prior military history events that you’d like to share with us?  Leave a comment below or through our contact page.