Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Ed Smith

WWII | 7th Beach Battalion

Ed Smith knew they were too early. It was 7 AM and the landing craft stopped and lowered the ramp. Immediately he saw the two men at the front get killed and then he realized that they weren't close enough to shore and the water was deep. He picked out a big man and followed him toward the Omaha Beach seawall. Part 2 of 4. (5:40)
Pharmacist's mate Ed Smith relates what he saw and felt during the chaos of the Omaha beach landing. As German 88mm guns, mines and machine guns exacted a heavy toll, the GI's persevered and broke through the defenses. Part 3 of 4. (6:24)
The 7th Beach Battalion stayed on Omaha Beach for 23 days after the invasion. Pharmacist's Mate Ed Smith says that June 6th was the worst, of course, but the following two days were also tense as he tried to care for the many casualties with limited resources. He joined his commander on a trip inland to get something special for the men on the burial detail. Part 4 of 4. (8:11)
As a member of a Beach Battalion, the Navy's vanguard force for amphibious invasions, Ed Smith survived the chaos of Omaha Beach and then was shipped out to the Pacific. Fortunately, nothing that monumental was waiting for him, though he did experience some Kamikaze attacks at Okinawa. (5:40)
Ed Zielinski

Vietnam | 129th Assault Helicopter Company, 1st Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade

Army brat Ed Zielinski had always been fascinated with flight. As a child he just knew he would lift off on a windy day with a long coat for wings. So when the draft loomed he decided he would try to fly over the rice paddies rather than slog through them. (2:56)
It was hot at Fort Polk and he was getting picked on by the 1st Sergeant. Ed Zielinski found out why he was getting the business after he graduated from basic training, then it was on to flight school. Terrified at first, he gained confidence, especially when he made the switch to Hueys. At the end of the training, all the men played a prank on the platoon leader. (Caution: Coarse language) (5:42)
Nineteen and invincible, newly minted helicopter pilot Ed Zielinski was singing on the 26 hour flight to Vietnam. Assigned to work with a Korean unit, he began to familiarize himself with the area he was based in, determined to be the best pilot there. (5:10)
The Koreans didn't speak much English, at least to him. They would point to a map and helicopter pilot Ed Zielinski would take them there. On one mission, he had to set down and wait. This gave him an unexpected opportunity to utilize his Texas quick draw skills. (2:42)
The officers club for the helicopter pilots was one of the best in Vietnam, says Ed Zielinski. If only he could have figured out how the Korean officers were cheating at dice. There was another kind of wildlife there, elephants, which could also be enemy trucks, deer and wild pig, which you could barbecue, and monkeys, which you better not shoot if Ed was around. (4:39)
How did the rules of engagement in Vietnam affect helicopter pilot Rd Zielinski? He worked for Koreans and says that's all you need to know. He flew other missions and on one clandestine foray into Laos, he spotted two MIG fighter planes on a makeshift runway in the jungle. Could he be the first helicopter pilot ace? (2:20)