Members of the armed forces who died serving their country may be gone, but they are never forgotten.
A new, original documentary series, “Lost to War: The Fallen Remembered,” on WUOT 91.9 FM will share the memories of East Tennessee family members and friends whose lives were touched by seven soldiers who fought in battles spanning World War II to the current conflict in Iraq.
The intimate sound portraits will air weekdays Nov. 7-11 during Morning Edition (5-9 a.m.) and All Things Considered (4-6:30 p.m.).
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WUOT News Director Matt Shafer Powell
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WUOT News Director Matt Shafer Powell, who produced “Lost to War” with assistance from the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association and University of Tennessee’s Center for the Study of War and Society, said this project moved him more than any other in his career.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the honesty and generosity of the people who participated in this project,” Powell said. “Not only did they let me into their living rooms, but they opened up their hearts to me. It must have been extremely painful for them. But through their words, the rest of us can truly appreciate the sacrifice these soldiers made.”
The following East Tennesseans are featured in the series:
– World War II veteran Ernest Gardner of Friendsville, Tenn., remembers his friend, Private Maxwell Green, who was shot and killed in Luxembourg in the days following the Battle of the Bulge.
– Diana Pynnonen of Kingston, Tenn., recounts the life and death of her brother, Corporal Michael Pynnonen, who died from malaria he contracted while serving in Vietnam.
– Doug Harrison of Powell, Tenn., offers a moving portrait of his son, Specialist Daniel Harrison, who died in December 2004 near Mosul, Iraq.
– Jerry Partin of Cleveland, Tenn., remembers his brother, Sergeant Willie Partin, who was killed in 1951 while fighting in Korea.
– Vietnam veteran Jeffrey Baldwin of Knoxville, Tenn., offers a tribute to his friend and fellow soldier, Specialist Raymond Renz, who died in the Mekong Delta during the summer of 1967.
– Andre and Karen Lieurance of Seymour, Tenn., speak about their son, Staff Sergeant Victoir Lieurance, who was killed in August when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HUMVEE while on patrol in Iraq.
– Don MacKerer of Knoxville, Tenn., remembers his twin brother, Arnold William “Bill” MacKerer, with whom he served during World War II until his brother was mortally wounded.
Beginning Nov. 7, WUOT’s Web site, wuot.org, will feature additional information about the series, including photos and the times each sound portrait will run during weekday NPR News programming.
Listener-supported WUOT 91.9 FM is a 100,000-watt station broadcasting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Qualified by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, WUOT is a member of National Public Radio, and a Public Radio International affiliate. WUOT’s primary format is classical and jazz music, news and public affairs. WUOT serves listeners throughout East Tennessee, and parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. The station broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and streams on the Web at wuot.org.
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Contact:
Cindy Hassil (865-974-6167)