Rhine Revisited

Friday, February 06 2009 | Send to a friend

Rhine Revisited

Alfred Klinger <<More

In 1945, Alfred Klinger was just 17, a first-generation American who wanted to serve his country and in the process, feel something like a hero. He fought and was wounded in World War II.

Fifty-nine years later, Alfred got the idea to return to the place where he'd lost his friends. This time, he was 78 years old, and traveled by bicycle. Alfred talks with Dick Gordon about what it was like to arrive at Remagen. He found the old bridge over the Rhine bombed and broken, but in its place was a peace museum – a moving testament to his experiences and to the friends he lost.

• The music in this story is Moonlight Serenade performed by Henri Pélissier for the album Piano-Bar Vol. 3 : The Most Beautiful Themes / Les Plus Beaux Thèmes
  

Goodbye Comrades

Mike Heaney <<More

Mike Heaney fought in the Vietnam War. And like Alfred Klinger, he wondered for many years what it would be like to go back.

Mike was part of a bloody siege in 1966 known as Operation Crazy Horse. Of the 26 men in his platoon, 10 were wounded and 10 killed. Mike was one of the wounded and medevaced - he never had a chance to say goodbye.  Mike talks with Dick about how he made his way back to the scene of that battle, 40 years later, this time in the company of Vietnamese veterans who had once been his enemies.

• Learn more about Mike Heaney and his trip back to Vietnam
• The music in this story is Adagio for Strings performed by Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra & Rico Saccani for the album Rico Saccani - The Budapest Years: Gershwin, Copland, Barber, Berstein & Sousa