Where Heroes Walked: The Faces, the Places, and the Stories of World War II Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-ordinary-heroes-project Historian Stephen Ambrose appropriately described World War II as “history’s greatest catastrophe”. But from the smoldering rubble of that war there emerged amazing stories of ordinary men and women doing extraordinary deeds of valor, sacrifice, and heroism in the midst of extraordinary times. Today, over 80 years later, there are still such stories being unearthed, stories that need to be told. Such is the purpose of Ron Eckberg’s Where Heroes Walked podcast. The "proud son of a World War II combat Veteran", Ron Eckberg is committed to passing along the stories of World War II, and the stories within the stories. You will hear stories that you will most likely not have heard before, stories that will inspire, educate, and hopefully challenge you to help in this effort to keep alive the memory of what those we call the Greatest Generation did to keep the world from succumbing to the madness of those who would seek to rule it. Please give a listen to the Where Heroes Walked podcast as we dive into the pages of history for the story of World War II and its bottomless well of stories. © 2024 Ron Eckberg c412cc3e-32ab-5d1a-a1fc-643cb2680c4d yes en Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:32:32 -0500 Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:34:03 -0500 http://©theordinaryheroesproject.fm https://img.transistorcdn.com/V9mjeFbK3jMSlfflCR4o1M-vts1yeC-4br7UNm7CefM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yNTU3/YjY2YjFhMTUyZTcw/MGFhOGE3YWVlNjUz/NjgzYy5wbmc.jpg Where Heroes Walked: The Faces, the Places, and the Stories of World War II http://©theordinaryheroesproject.fm episodic Ron Eckberg Historian Stephen Ambrose appropriately described World War II as “history’s greatest catastrophe”. But from the smoldering rubble of that war there emerged amazing stories of ordinary men and women doing extraordinary deeds of valor, sacrifice, and heroism in the midst of extraordinary times. Today, over 80 years later, there are still such stories being unearthed, stories that need to be told. Such is the purpose of Ron Eckberg’s Where Heroes Walked podcast. The "proud son of a World War II combat Veteran", Ron Eckberg is committed to passing along the stories of World War II, and the stories within the stories. You will hear stories that you will most likely not have heard before, stories that will inspire, educate, and hopefully challenge you to help in this effort to keep alive the memory of what those we call the Greatest Generation did to keep the world from succumbing to the madness of those who would seek to rule it. Please give a listen to the Where Heroes Walked podcast as we dive into the pages of history for the story of World War II and its bottomless well of stories. Historian Stephen Ambrose appropriately described World War II as “history’s greatest catastrophe”. War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, Ron Eckberg ron@roneckberg.com No No The Unknown Hero 12 12 The Unknown Hero full 4c2ed827-2006-488f-974b-c9b3be80cbe3 https://share.transistor.fm/s/f74e8dbe Far more often than we might think our lives are shaped by people unknown to us. If we are fortunate, if somehow our journey through life offers the opportunity,  we might just get to spend one shining moment in the presence of these wonderful, anonymous benefactors.
 On Episode 12 of Where Heroes Walked, the Podcast, I want to tell you a very ordinary story about two very ordinary men from two very ordinary places, men who shared an extraordinary experience in a land far away and in a terrible season known as World War II. I want to introduce you to The Unknown Hero.

]]> Far more often than we might think our lives are shaped by people unknown to us. If we are fortunate, if somehow our journey through life offers the opportunity,  we might just get to spend one shining moment in the presence of these wonderful, anonymous benefactors.
 On Episode 12 of Where Heroes Walked, the Podcast, I want to tell you a very ordinary story about two very ordinary men from two very ordinary places, men who shared an extraordinary experience in a land far away and in a terrible season known as World War II. I want to introduce you to The Unknown Hero.

]]> Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:32:32 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 591 Far more often than we might think our lives are shaped by people unknown to us. If we are fortunate, if somehow our journey through life offers the opportunity,  we might just get to spend one shining moment in the presence of these wonderful, anonymous benefactors.
 On Episode 12 of Where Heroes Walked, the Podcast, I want to tell you a very ordinary story about two very ordinary men from two very ordinary places, men who shared an extraordinary experience in a land far away and in a terrible season known as World War II. I want to introduce you to The Unknown Hero.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No Surprised Again: Japan's Attack on America's Homeland 11 11 Surprised Again: Japan's Attack on America's Homeland full 028035c1-8715-4070-9dc9-978e2eff957d https://share.transistor.fm/s/c5d9c996 For every well-known story from World War II there are thousands of stories few people ever hear. Today on the Where Heroes Walked Podcast we will explore Japan's surprising attempt at yet another surprise attack on the United States...and the tragic consequences it would create.  

]]> For every well-known story from World War II there are thousands of stories few people ever hear. Today on the Where Heroes Walked Podcast we will explore Japan's surprising attempt at yet another surprise attack on the United States...and the tragic consequences it would create.  

]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:52:59 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 723 For every well-known story from World War II there are thousands of stories few people ever hear. Today on the Where Heroes Walked Podcast we will explore Japan's surprising attempt at yet another surprise attack on the United States...and the tragic consequences it would create.  

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No The Reluctant Architect 10 10 The Reluctant Architect full 3bdce12d-14c6-41bb-87d9-6bfa3f0213db https://share.transistor.fm/s/09771830 Before December 7, 1941 few Americans knew what Pearl Harbor was or where it was. After December 7th every American knew. What most Americans don't know, however, is that the Japanese commander who designed and commanded the attack was not all that keen about starting a war with the United States.  Episode 10 of the Where Heroes Walked podcast tells this unknown part of the Pearl Harbor story.

]]> Before December 7, 1941 few Americans knew what Pearl Harbor was or where it was. After December 7th every American knew. What most Americans don't know, however, is that the Japanese commander who designed and commanded the attack was not all that keen about starting a war with the United States.  Episode 10 of the Where Heroes Walked podcast tells this unknown part of the Pearl Harbor story.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 723 Before December 7, 1941 few Americans knew what Pearl Harbor was or where it was. After December 7th every American knew. What most Americans don't know, however, is that the Japanese commander who designed and commanded the attack was not all that keen about starting a war with the United States.  Episode 10 of the Where Heroes Walked podcast tells this unknown part of the Pearl Harbor story.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No The Others 9 9 The Others full 4c1dd7dd-a5f6-4d9c-bff7-1fade50431fe https://share.transistor.fm/s/3d5d878f When we think of women and their role in World War II what most often comes to mind is “Rosie the Riveter”, symbolizing the women who went to work in the factories building the planes and ships and ammunition needed to wage war. There were more, however, those who served and sacrificed and even died for the cause of freedom. Episode 9 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast tells the story of some of those women, some of the “Others”.

]]> When we think of women and their role in World War II what most often comes to mind is “Rosie the Riveter”, symbolizing the women who went to work in the factories building the planes and ships and ammunition needed to wage war. There were more, however, those who served and sacrificed and even died for the cause of freedom. Episode 9 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast tells the story of some of those women, some of the “Others”.

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 20:41:32 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 846 When we think of women and their role in World War II what most often comes to mind is “Rosie the Riveter”, symbolizing the women who went to work in the factories building the planes and ships and ammunition needed to wage war. There were more, however, those who served and sacrificed and even died for the cause of freedom. Episode 9 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast tells the story of some of those women, some of the “Others”.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No The Ordinary Heroes Story of Gordon Larsen 8 8 The Ordinary Heroes Story of Gordon Larsen full ab32a405-c215-4e08-aa21-6400fe3cc243 https://share.transistor.fm/s/225522dd A small-town teenager leaves high school to join the Marines and soon finds himself in the brutal island-hopping campaign of the Pacific during World War II. He returns home physically unharmed. The scars of war, however, run much deeper.

In this episode of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast we hear the story of one of the million of soldiers who lived through the war then fought another to return to a normal life after coming home.

Join Ron Eckberg, host of the ORDINARY HEROES PODCAST, in episode 8, the ORDINARY HEROES story of Gordon Larsen. 

]]> A small-town teenager leaves high school to join the Marines and soon finds himself in the brutal island-hopping campaign of the Pacific during World War II. He returns home physically unharmed. The scars of war, however, run much deeper.

In this episode of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast we hear the story of one of the million of soldiers who lived through the war then fought another to return to a normal life after coming home.

Join Ron Eckberg, host of the ORDINARY HEROES PODCAST, in episode 8, the ORDINARY HEROES story of Gordon Larsen. 

]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 496 A small-town teenager leaves high school to join the Marines and soon finds himself in the brutal island-hopping campaign of the Pacific during World War II. He returns home physically unharmed. The scars of war, however, run much deeper.

In this episode of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast we hear the story of one of the million of soldiers who lived through the war then fought another to return to a normal life after coming home.

Join Ron Eckberg, host of the ORDINARY HEROES PODCAST, in episode 8, the ORDINARY HEROES story of Gordon Larsen. 

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No One Less Hero: The Story of Clifford Coates 7 7 One Less Hero: The Story of Clifford Coates full 6bad9db1-f58e-4b6e-879d-97690d133b68 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7396fedf D-Day, June 6, 1944, was a pivotal day in World War II and in World History, period. On that day 156,000 men took part in the largest amphibious invasion every attempted. In episode 7 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast we will hear the story of one of those men, the battle he fought, and the path down which the war--and life--took him beyond that June day. 

]]> D-Day, June 6, 1944, was a pivotal day in World War II and in World History, period. On that day 156,000 men took part in the largest amphibious invasion every attempted. In episode 7 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast we will hear the story of one of those men, the battle he fought, and the path down which the war--and life--took him beyond that June day. 

]]> Fri, 06 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 554 D-Day, June 6, 1944, was a pivotal day in World War II and in World History, period. On that day 156,000 men took part in the largest amphibious invasion every attempted. In episode 7 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast we will hear the story of one of those men, the battle he fought, and the path down which the war--and life--took him beyond that June day. 

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No Where Heroes Walked 6 6 Where Heroes Walked full eaa8c88b-a65f-4b6d-af2d-c8e05d5888e7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/1a6ff4e0 It is easy to read even the most detailed of accounts of history’s great events and still never grasp the significance of them. The only way to really do that is to see them first hand. In episode 6 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast, Ron Eckberg shares an overview of Normandy, France and the D-Day beaches as he saw them during his two visits when he walked “Where Heroes Walked”.

]]> It is easy to read even the most detailed of accounts of history’s great events and still never grasp the significance of them. The only way to really do that is to see them first hand. In episode 6 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast, Ron Eckberg shares an overview of Normandy, France and the D-Day beaches as he saw them during his two visits when he walked “Where Heroes Walked”.

]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:42:55 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 797 It is easy to read even the most detailed of accounts of history’s great events and still never grasp the significance of them. The only way to really do that is to see them first hand. In episode 6 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast, Ron Eckberg shares an overview of Normandy, France and the D-Day beaches as he saw them during his two visits when he walked “Where Heroes Walked”.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No A Reporter at War: Walter Cronkite 5 5 A Reporter at War: Walter Cronkite full 81db17c9-a393-4a12-9ee8-891270673bd8 https://share.transistor.fm/s/c3a24afd 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II. What they did was dangerous and essential, to be sure, but they were not the only ones who served our nation in such a way. Today we focus on one of the many--and certainly one of the best known--war correspondents who traveled with our forces to the front lines on the ground, on the seas, and in the air. He went on to a stellar career in radio, print, and television. He was so good, so honest at what he did that he was named "America's Most Trusted Man" by the American people and he cut his journalistic teeth in World War II. This is his story. His name was Walter Cronkite.

]]> 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II. What they did was dangerous and essential, to be sure, but they were not the only ones who served our nation in such a way. Today we focus on one of the many--and certainly one of the best known--war correspondents who traveled with our forces to the front lines on the ground, on the seas, and in the air. He went on to a stellar career in radio, print, and television. He was so good, so honest at what he did that he was named "America's Most Trusted Man" by the American people and he cut his journalistic teeth in World War II. This is his story. His name was Walter Cronkite.

]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 586 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II. What they did was dangerous and essential, to be sure, but they were not the only ones who served our nation in such a way. Today we focus on one of the many--and certainly one of the best known--war correspondents who traveled with our forces to the front lines on the ground, on the seas, and in the air. He went on to a stellar career in radio, print, and television. He was so good, so honest at what he did that he was named "America's Most Trusted Man" by the American people and he cut his journalistic teeth in World War II. This is his story. His name was Walter Cronkite.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No Indestructible: The Incredible Story of Jackie Lucas 4 4 Indestructible: The Incredible Story of Jackie Lucas full 25ecbd99-7a53-4309-9789-46560b67596a https://share.transistor.fm/s/5bcb9588 The story of Jackie Lucas is one of patriotism, persistence, courage, sacrifice and resilience. It is a story with more than a few surprising twists and turns along the way. Most of all it is about a very ordinary young man who did an extraordinary thing in a moment of crisis and against all odds lived to tell about it. Join host Ron Eckberg for episode four of the Ordinary Heroes Project Podcast titled, Indestructible: The Incredible Story of Jackie Lucas.

]]> The story of Jackie Lucas is one of patriotism, persistence, courage, sacrifice and resilience. It is a story with more than a few surprising twists and turns along the way. Most of all it is about a very ordinary young man who did an extraordinary thing in a moment of crisis and against all odds lived to tell about it. Join host Ron Eckberg for episode four of the Ordinary Heroes Project Podcast titled, Indestructible: The Incredible Story of Jackie Lucas.

]]> Fri, 10 Jan 2025 18:53:27 -0600 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 651 The story of Jackie Lucas is one of patriotism, persistence, courage, sacrifice and resilience. It is a story with more than a few surprising twists and turns along the way. Most of all it is about a very ordinary young man who did an extraordinary thing in a moment of crisis and against all odds lived to tell about it. Join host Ron Eckberg for episode four of the Ordinary Heroes Project Podcast titled, Indestructible: The Incredible Story of Jackie Lucas.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No The Last Soldier 3 3 The Last Soldier full fc400a57-ec9c-4aaf-8906-eb94acd6931e https://share.transistor.fm/s/c3bad99f "No war is truly over until the last veteran has died", one veteran of World War II declared. That is certainly true. Or is it? Listen as writer / speaker / musician / and "lay" historian Ron Eckberg explains why that "end" of the war may come at different times and in different ways for every different soldier. Please Like / Subscribe / Review or contact Ron Eckberg at ordinaryheroes/roneckberg.com or visit his website, roneckberg.com/heroes .

]]> "No war is truly over until the last veteran has died", one veteran of World War II declared. That is certainly true. Or is it? Listen as writer / speaker / musician / and "lay" historian Ron Eckberg explains why that "end" of the war may come at different times and in different ways for every different soldier. Please Like / Subscribe / Review or contact Ron Eckberg at ordinaryheroes/roneckberg.com or visit his website, roneckberg.com/heroes .

]]> Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 492 "No war is truly over until the last veteran has died", one veteran of World War II declared. That is certainly true. Or is it? Listen as writer / speaker / musician / and "lay" historian Ron Eckberg explains why that "end" of the war may come at different times and in different ways for every different soldier. Please Like / Subscribe / Review or contact Ron Eckberg at ordinaryheroes/roneckberg.com or visit his website, roneckberg.com/heroes .

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No Night of Nights 2 2 Night of Nights full 4636d01b-4f78-4a2a-9d71-dbe31af93bdd https://share.transistor.fm/s/1f693690 "There is a defining moment in every man's life”,  an anonymous writer has penned, "within that moment everything that person is shines the brightest.”


There were many such moments for thousands upon thousands of combat soldiers in World War II. Join host Ron Eckberg for Episode 2 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast and the story of one such night for one such soldier.


]]> "There is a defining moment in every man's life”,  an anonymous writer has penned, "within that moment everything that person is shines the brightest.”


There were many such moments for thousands upon thousands of combat soldiers in World War II. Join host Ron Eckberg for Episode 2 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast and the story of one such night for one such soldier.


]]> Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 643 "There is a defining moment in every man's life”,  an anonymous writer has penned, "within that moment everything that person is shines the brightest.”


There were many such moments for thousands upon thousands of combat soldiers in World War II. Join host Ron Eckberg for Episode 2 of the Ordinary Heroes Podcast and the story of one such night for one such soldier.


]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No The Story of Hershel G. Horton 1 1 The Story of Hershel G. Horton full e25111a3-10b3-4eb5-a26d-d2186ffa2a65 https://share.transistor.fm/s/7446d176 It is too easy to reduce the cost of war to dollars and statistics. War--as necessary as it may be--is not fought by statistics but by real life flesh and blood human beings that bleed, suffer, and die. Such is the case of the story of Hershel G. Horton. His story is one of suffering, loneliness, hope and despair. Through his own words we get a taste of the horror--the real story--of war.

]]> It is too easy to reduce the cost of war to dollars and statistics. War--as necessary as it may be--is not fought by statistics but by real life flesh and blood human beings that bleed, suffer, and die. Such is the case of the story of Hershel G. Horton. His story is one of suffering, loneliness, hope and despair. Through his own words we get a taste of the horror--the real story--of war.

]]> Mon, 09 Sep 2024 19:00:00 -0500 Ron Eckberg Ron Eckberg 611 It is too easy to reduce the cost of war to dollars and statistics. War--as necessary as it may be--is not fought by statistics but by real life flesh and blood human beings that bleed, suffer, and die. Such is the case of the story of Hershel G. Horton. His story is one of suffering, loneliness, hope and despair. Through his own words we get a taste of the horror--the real story--of war.

]]> War, World War II, World War 2, History, Heroes, No