John Raaen's guest appearances

John Raaen

Veterans Chronicles

War Stories with Preston and Sayre

The Kim Monson Show

OwlTail

John Raaen, Jr. entered the U.S. Military Academy in the summer of 1939, just weeks before World War II broke out in Europe. During his four years at West Point, there was no question his class would be going to war. Commissioned in 1943, Raaen soon joined the elite Army Rangers. Just a year later, as a captain, Raaen led men ashore at Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944. He is believed to be the last living officer to serve at Omaha Beach on D-Day.In our previous two episodes, retired Major General Raaen offered a gripping moment-by-moment account of coming ashore at Omaha Beach and reaching the the top of the bluff above the Dog White Sector. He also told us about the days following D-Day, including a deadly incident of friendly fire and fending off a German counterattack.In this final episode of our three-episode series with General Raaen, we move forward to the Battle of Brittany and specifically the Rangers' efforts to take out the German forts along the Atlantic coast and neutralize the powerful Graf Spee gun battery. He also shares two incidents in Brittany that nearly took his life.From there, Raaen takes to his service near the Battle of the Bulge, the work he did there and the injuries that ultimately ended his service in World War II.Finally, General Raaen tells about the balance of his 40-year career in the Army, most of it spent on armament logistics and development, including two types of ammunition that he invented.Don't miss this final chapter of our visit with 101-year-old World War II and Vietnam veteran Maj. General John Raaen, Jr.

John Raaen, Jr. entered the U.S. Military Academy in the summer of 1939, just weeks before World War II broke out in Europe. During his four years at West Point, there was no question his class would be going to war. Commissioned in 1943, Raaen soon joined the elite Army Rangers. Just a year later, as a captain, Raaen led men ashore at Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944. He is believed to be the last living officer to serve at Omaha Beach on D-Day. In our previous two episodes, retired Major General Raaen offered a gripping moment-by-moment account of coming ashore at Omaha Beach and reaching the the top of the bluff above the Dog White Sector. He also told us about the days following D-Day, including a deadly incident of friendly fire and fending off a German counterattack. In this final episode of our three-episode series with General Raaen, we move forward to the Battle of Brittany and specifically the Rangers' efforts to take out the German forts along the Atlantic coast and neutralize the powerful Graf Spee gun battery. He also shares two incidents in Brittany that nearly took his life. From there, Raaen takes to his service near the Battle of the Bulge, the work he did there and the injuries that ultimately ended his service in World War II. Finally, General Raaen tells about the balance of his 40-year career in the Army, most of it spent on armament logistics and development, including two types of ammunition that he invented. Don't miss this final chapter of our visit with 101-year-old World War II and Vietnam veteran Maj. General John Raaen, Jr.

Maj. Gen. John Raaen, Jr., U.S. Army, WWII, Brittany, The Bulge Part 3

Just before 8 a.m. on June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Captain John Raaen, Jr., of the 5th Ranger Battalion, landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy as the Allies launched their campaign to breach Adolf Hitler's Atlantic Wall and work to free Europe from Nazi tyranny. In our previous edition, Raaen, who is believed to be the last living American officer from Omaha Beach, described the extensive preparations for the D-Day landings, having his landing spot changed at the last minute, and how high tide and a beneficial brush fire on the bluff helped him and his men scale the bluffs above the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach.But that was just the beginning. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Raaen explains what his orders were after getting to the top of the bluff and how he temporarily found himself in command of more than a battlion of soldiers.He also describes a very close call in the days after Normandy, rousing a tank crew to help fight off a German counterattack, and being in the midst of a tragic case of friendly fire.Finally, Raaen, who retired as a major general, explains how he assembled his after action report on D-Day and how he views Hollywood depictions of D-Day, such as "The Longest Day," "Saving Private Ryan," and "Band of Brothers."This is the second of a three-part interview with General Raaen. In our third and final edition of the series, Raaen will take us inside the fight for Brest in the Battle of Brittany and his service near the Battle of the Bulge.

Just before 8 a.m. on June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Captain John Raaen, Jr., of the 5th Ranger Battalion, landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy as the Allies launched their campaign to breach Adolf Hitler's Atlantic Wall and work to free Europe from Nazi tyranny. In our previous edition, Raaen, who is believed to be the last living American officer from Omaha Beach, described the extensive preparations for the D-Day landings, having his landing spot changed at the last minute, and how high tide and a beneficial brush fire on the bluff helped him and his men scale the bluffs above the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach. But that was just the beginning. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Raaen explains what his orders were after getting to the top of the bluff and how he temporarily found himself in command of more than a battlion of soldiers. He also describes a very close call in the days after Normandy, rousing a tank crew to help fight off a German counterattack, and being in the midst of a tragic case of friendly fire. Finally, Raaen, who retired as a major general, explains how he assembled his after action report on D-Day and how he views Hollywood depictions of D-Day, such as "The Longest Day," "Saving Private Ryan," and "Band of Brothers." This is the second of a three-part interview with General Raaen. In our third and final edition of the series, Raaen will take us inside the fight for Brest in the Battle of Brittany and his service near the Battle of the Bulge.

Maj. Gen. John Raaen, Jr., U.S. Army, WWII, D-Day & Normandy Part 2

John Raaen, Jr. grew up in an Army family and his father was a West Point graduate. Long before World War II, the Raaens were family friends with the Eisenhowers, the Bradleys, and other figures who would become household names in World War II. In 1939, Raaen followed in his father's footsteps and enrolled at West Point just as war was about to engulf Europe.In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Raaen, who is now 101 years old, walks us through his commissioning from West Point, becoming an Army Ranger, and preparing extensively for the Allied invasion of France, even though he did not know the exact details until the voyage across the English Channel.Raaen takes us through his experience at Normandy on June 6, 1944, including being re-routed from Pointe du Hoc to the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach and what he saw as he comes ashore. He also recounts some close calls as the landing craft made its way to shore and how he learned what the earlier waves of American forces endured on the beaches.He also shares how his men blasted through German barbed wire on the beach, and how several fortunate breaks allowed them to have a relatively smooth journey up the bluff. He also explains how the Ranger motto of "Rangers Lead the Way" was born right there on Omaha Beach.This is the first of a three-part series with General Raaen, who is believed to be the last living officer who served at Omaha Beach. Be sure to listen to the second part of our conversation next week, as he continues to tell us about his service on D-Day and beyond..

John Raaen, Jr. grew up in an Army family and his father was a West Point graduate. Long before World War II, the Raaens were family friends with the Eisenhowers, the Bradleys, and other figures who would become household names in World War II. In 1939, Raaen followed in his father's footsteps and enrolled at West Point just as war was about to engulf Europe. In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Raaen, who is now 101 years old, walks us through his commissioning from West Point, becoming an Army Ranger, and preparing extensively for the Allied invasion of France, even though he did not know the exact details until the voyage across the English Channel. Raaen takes us through his experience at Normandy on June 6, 1944, including being re-routed from Pointe du Hoc to the Dog White sector of Omaha Beach and what he saw as he comes ashore. He also recounts some close calls as the landing craft made its way to shore and how he learned what the earlier waves of American forces endured on the beaches. He also shares how his men blasted through German barbed wire on the beach, and how several fortunate breaks allowed them to have a relatively smooth journey up the bluff. He also explains how the Ranger motto of "Rangers Lead the Way" was born right there on Omaha Beach. This is the first of a three-part series with General Raaen, who is believed to be the last living officer who served at Omaha Beach. Be sure to listen to the second part of our conversation next week, as he continues to tell us about his service on D-Day and beyond..