The new North Oakland Council World War II History Roundtable will meet on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. at Clarkston Independence District Library.
Topic will be Operation Market Garden, the Holland Campaign.
“We are honored to have Rick Burtnett come to our meeting and discuss Operation Market Garden,” said organizer Paul Maxwell.
Burtnett graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1982, commissioned as an infantry officer, qualified in Airborne, Ranger, and Air Assault, and retired from the Army in 2003. He recently participated in the 75th Anniversary of Market Garden by parachuting into Holland.
The roundtable club meets every other month at the library business center meeting room, 6495 Clarkston Road, to discuss and learn about all things World War II.
“It’s grassroots, nothing formal,” Maxwell said. “I own a plethora of World War II books. It’s a lot of work but also a lot of joy.”
His father served in World War II, training as a radio operator on a B-29 in the Army Air Corp.
“He was ready to go when the war ended, and served in the occupation forces in Japan,” Maxwell said. “I started my interest in World War II at an early age. I built models, mostly planes, with my dad. I think he had more fun than I did.”
Local author Jack Mason was the first speaker for the club, which has discussed topics including Pearl Harbor, D-Day, and the Battle of the Bulge so far.
“The study of World War II offers such a diverse, massive body to study and learn from, to understand the present,” Maxwell said. “We’re always looking for World War II guest speakers.”
For more information or to RSVP, email Maxwellpm333@aol.com.
– Phil Custodio