This is an iHeart Podcast. Time for a sofa upgrade? Visit washable sofas.com and discover Anibay, where designer style meets budget-friendly prices, with sofas starting at $699. AniBay brings you the ultimate in furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anibay is the only machine-washable sofa inside and out.
Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain-resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquid simply slides right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high-resilience foam lets you choose between a sink-in feel or a supportive memory foam blend. Plus, our pet-friendly stain-resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price.
Visit washablefas.com to upgrade your living space today with no-risk returns and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washablesofas.com. are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Want to feel more creative but don't have the right laptop?
Lenovo.com can help. Look through our legendary lineup of AI-powered PCs and devices and find the one that fits your passion. Our PCs powered by Intel Core ultra processors as well as cutting-edge AI tools allow students to focus, learn, and create with ease. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel inside. Plus, college students and teachers can get 5% off their order.
Shop now on Lenovo.com. The future's waiting, and it needs you. Yeah. This message comes from Green Light. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy?
Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores, automate allowance, and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real-time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk-free at greenlight.com slash iHeart. Sacks off fifth, up to 70% off every day.
Summer is officially here. Time to dress like it. From breezy linen and floral dresses to chic sandals and beach ready swim. Zaxaw Fifth has the designer styles you'll live in all season long. Plus, shop new arrivals every week.
You'll find Alice and Olivia, Valentino Garavani, Versace, Stuart Weitzman, and more. Head to saxofffifth.com or a saxofffifth store near you for up to 70% off every day. When I listen to the news, here's what I want to know. Why this story matters, who's at the center of it, and how the reporters uncovered it. And as a journalist, I want to make sure that's what you get too.
I'm Eva Heizadi, co-host of the podcast Post Reports. Every weekday, my colleagues and I at the Washington Post give you the context you need on the biggest stories. Healthcare, tariffs, artificial intelligence. We've got you covered. Look for post reports wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star and the American people. Coming to you from the city where the West begins, Fort Worth, Texas. Up next, a listener's story from Chuck Gisling. Chuck's uncle Charles was a B-24 bomber navigator in World War II, and today he shares the story of his uncle's service, fate, and and the visits separated by generations that changed his life. Take it away, Chuck.
Early in the morning on July 7th, nineteen forty-four. forty two American B twenty four bombers. took off from England, on a bombing run. My uncle Charles was in one of those bombers, and he was the navigator. And he was in the bomber with the tail number 52517.
and the nickname Model T. The mission Was to bomb? an aircraft manufacturing plant in Barenberg, Germany. As the forty two planes. Approached, they began taking heavy flak from the enemy fire on the ground.
The Model T plane carrying my uncle and his crew was badly damaged. with that flack. the formation of bombers. Got over target. and they were able to drop their bombs.
What has not happened yet, though? Was that the fighter escorts, the Allied fighter escort planes, have not shown up yet. But On the other hand, the bombing formation had not run into enemy fighters either. After passing over target and dropping the bomb successfully. The formation turned to the north, and then began a slow turn back to the west to head back to England.
At that time... They encountered head-on. Enemy fighter planes. And I've found two estimates. Of the numbers of enemy fighter planes.
One estimate said there were 175 enemy fighter planes against our 42 bombers. The other estimate said that there were 325 enemy fighter planes. Either way, our bombers were terribly outnumbered, And Had no fighter escorts. to help them fight off these enemy fighter planes. The Model T Took more damage from the enemy fighter planes.
Crew members were injured. The plane began losing altitude. The pilot decided that the plane. would not be able to make it back to England. and he decided that The crew needed to bail out.
So he would have done three things. First, he would have rung. The bailout bell. Telling the crew. to bail out.
Second. He would have put the plane. on autopilot Just to try to keep the plane flying straight and level. And third, he would have hit the switch to open the bomb bay doors. After doing those, The pilot and the co-pilot and the radio man all dropped down out of the cockpit.
Into the bomb bay. Upon getting to the bomb bay, the They discovered they were the only ones there. None of the other crew members made it into the bomb bay. They also discovered that the bomb bay doors had been damaged by the flak and by enemy fighter fire. And had failed to open.
They were jammed. There was an explosion. Blew a hole in the side of the plane. and the co-pilot was blown out of the plane. His parachute opened.
And he landed successfully on the ground where he was captured. and was held captive for the rest of the war. The plane.
Now continued with the hole in the side. Flying for a few more miles until it flew itself into the ground.
south of a town called Egelm, Germany. The townspeople from Edelman came out to the crash site. and they described what they found. They found maps. Books Charts and they found eight American bodies.
They took the bodies. Including my uncle. Into their town. and they buried them in their town cemetery in Egyll. Within a couple days, my grandfather received a a telegram telling him that his son Charles was missing in action.
For nearly two years, My mom and her dad Prayed and hoped. that Charles was somehow alive. That was not to be the case. In 1946, now almost two years later, They received a letter from the Army Air Force. Confirming that Charles was killed in action.
And Now telling them that he is buried In the town cemetery, In Egel. After the war ended. The United States Sent grave recovery teams into Europe to try to recover. Missing Americans. And you've been listening to Chuck Kisling.
He's a listener. And we love listeners' stories here on our American stories and do them often. And this is a story about Chuck's uncle Charles, who was a B-24 bomber navigator, and his family didn't learn until 1946. that he had died in combat. They were praying and praying against prayer.
that he'd come back home and that did not happen. And that was the story for many families through countless wars in this great country, including my own. My mom lost her brother her. her father's only son. John Lapadula.
in combat as well a parachuter. who was shot down out of the sky around E Day. and whose body and remains were discovered months later. When we come back, more of the story of Chuck Kissling's Uncle Charles. Here on Our American Stories.
There's nothing like sinking into luxury. At washablesofas.com, you'll find the Anibay sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom, starting at only $699. The stain-resistant performance fabric slip covers and cloud-like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets, or anyone who loves an easy-to-clean, spotless sofa.
With a modular design and changeable slip covers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, love seat, or a luxuriously large sectional, Anibay has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now, you can shop up to 60% off store-wide with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Shop now at washablesofas.com.
Add a little. to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Are you shopping for a new laptop while still trying to keep up with technology and AI? Talk about feeling burnt out, but no more.
Lenovo.com makes it easier than ever to find the perfect PC. In fact, we'll break it down for you. Step 1. Shop our lineup of AI PCs powered by Intel Core ultraprocessors. Because why deal with downloading new software when you can buy a smarter PC that already comes with all of the AI features and tools?
Step 2. Find the one that fits your passion. Whether you're a creative genius, a research scientist, a hardcore gamer, or a future CEO, no dream is too big. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel inside. You can keep up with your ideas as well as any challenges you may face.
Step 3. Add to cart and purchase. Oh, if you're a college student or a teacher, make an education account through us and get 5% off your whole order. Shop now at lenovo.com. A better future is waiting, and it needs you.
Are you interested in investing in Bitcoin and not sure how to get started?
Well with the Gemini credit card, a card that I've been using now for a couple months. You can dip your toes in the Bitcoin world. without even trying. You just spend like you normally do. I go to the gas station, I use it.
I go to the grocery store, I use it. I take my wife out, I use it. And I instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin. Or one of the over 50 other cryptos straight to your account, you can choose. There's no annual fee.
And the Gemini credit card is a no-brainer. I love it, I use it all the time. And right now you can grab. A $200 Bitcoin intro bonus.
So just go to gemini.com/slash john. learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again, you go to gemini.com/slash John and start building your Bitcoin stash now. terms apply.
The Gemini credit card is issued by Web Bank. And in order to qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus, your application must be approved. By June 30th, 2025, and spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to instant rewards in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts.
This content is not investment advice. And trading crypto involves risk. For more details on rates, fees, and other Gemini credit card terms, see rates and fees, go to gemini.com/slash John to learn more and start earning today. I already love same-day delivery was shipped, but it's so much better since I signed up for Target Circle 360. Why?
Because I no longer pay price markups from the majority of stores through ship. Only a handful of alcohol retailers and items don't count. That means no markups on groceries, pet food, even home goods and makeup.
So to recap, I have more time to catch up on life while someone shops for me and I spend less. It's a win-win. Order now at shift.com/slash 360. Terms apply. This is Danielle Fischel from Pod Meets World.
Parents, let's talk snacks. If your mornings look anything like mine, one kid's trying to pile drive a pillow and the other is trying to zip themselves into a backpack.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to sign a permission slip with an eyeliner pencil because that's all I could find. That's why Mott's no-sugar-added applesauce pouches are perfect to have nearby. These things are clutch and are perfect for moments of stress. Made with real apples, no sugar-added, and the pouch? Genius!
It's mess-free and perfect for the car, the lunchbox, or after-school activities. This is a snack you can feel good about, and a good source of vitamin C, too. Just tasty applesauce your kids will actually want to eat. The other day, I handed one to my son mid-meltdown. He took a deep breath, squeezed the pouch, and suddenly he was.
calm. He had a tiny apple-powered moment of zen. Trust me, your future self will thank you. Motts. Real apples make real good applesauce.
Learn more at mods.com. This is Lee Habib, host of Our American Stories. Every day on this show, we tell stories of history, faith, business, love, loss, and your stories. Send us your stories, small or large, to our email, oas at ouramericanstories.com. That's oas at ouramericanstories.com.
We'd love to hear them and put them on the air. Our audience loves them too. Yeah. And we return to our American stories, and with Chuck Kisling's story of his uncle. a World War Two bomber navigator named Charles.
When we last left off, We learned that Charles's family learned. In 1946, years after he'd been killed in action. that they had lost their son. Let's return to the story. After the war ended.
The United States Sent grave recovery teams into Europe to try to recover. Missing Americans. And there were plenty of missing Americans. When the war ended, there were Americans who were officially listed as missing in action still. Finding the bodies.
Of These eight men who had been on the Model T. B24 that went down. near Egeln, was relatively easy Because the German townspeople had made written records of what they had done, and they had turned those records over to the International Red Cross, who then passed them on. to American forces. And so my uncle's body, was recovered.
And He was re-identified. And then my grandfather was given the choice of bringing him back. to the United States for reburial here. Or Leaving him in Europe, where he would be buried in one of the American cemeteries. that were being established.
in Europe. My grandfather decided to leave Charles In Europe.
Now, he never really communicated this well To my mom, who spent the rest of her life Confused and really wondering where her brother was buried. After my mom died, I became. Interested in this and began researching and trying to sort out. Where is my Uncle Charles? Buried.
Well, I came across that letter from 1946 saying that he was buried in. Eagle. In addition to researching, I discovered online that I could actually type his name in to the American Battlefield monuments. A website And I did, and they indicated that he was buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.
So now I have. Two conflicting bits of information. One saying, Eagle in Germany, one saying. The Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.
So I wrote. To the people at the Ardennes American Cemetery, and I explained my dilemma and I asked them. I just want to know. Where is my uncle? And they wrote back the nicest letter to me.
They explained. What had occurred after the war? and how the grave recovery teams had gone into Europe and recovered bodies. and how families were given the choice. And They said apparently your grandfather decided to leave Your Uncle Charles Here in Europe, and he is now buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery.
And then they closed. With these words, Your uncle is here with us. and we are taking good care of him.
So, from that point on, it became my mission to go visit his grave. Knowing that no other family member had been to his grave. His dad never went to his grave. His mom had died when he was just a little baby. His other brother had never been there.
and I made it my mission to go visit His grave in the Ardennes American Cemetery. And in 2016, I was finally able to do that. That was quite a trip. Because as we were driving around trying to find the cemetery, We were within 10 miles of it. For almost two hours driving around, not able to find the road.
That the cemetery was on. Once we finally found it and we got to the cemetery. I walked inside the gates. And the caretaker was taking down the American flag, getting ready to close the gates for the day. I spoke to him.
and I told him that I was there to see my uncle's grave. He asked if I knew where it was located. I told him only that I knew it was in Section D Row 11 Grave 49. He pointed to where Section D was. And he said, once you get there, just start counting rows forward.
And would you when you reach 11 turn right and begin walking down the row. and counting the graves until you get to 49. and then he told me, even though it was closing time, He said. Don't worry. Just take as much time as you need.
So I proceeded with my wife behind me. and upon reaching row eleven in section D, We turned inward and began to walk counting the cross on each grave one at a time. At some point, I must have lost count. I reached what I thought was number 49. and I turned to look at the cross.
It was not Charles, name on that cross. And in my tired, emotional state, I broke down in tears, saying, It's not him. Walking behind me, my wife had also been counting. She calmly said, Two more. Go two more.
Moving forward, two more graves. I was finally standing with my uncle Charles. The emotions that I felt, the joy, the sadness, the relief. They're all beyond my ability to put into words. I wish so much.
that my mom's could have visited her brother's grave. With me. But then again, she is with him now. She was with him then, watching me visit him. She, Charles, and their brother Harold, all standing there with me.
All saying thank you. On our way out of the cemetery that afternoon, I spoke once again to the cemetery manager who had been so gracious to me, allowing me to stay beyond closing time. I told him that I was the only member of my uncle's family to have visited his grave. He responded. Most of the men here Have never had any family member visit.
Your uncle is lucky. Engraved on a granite wall inside the entrance to the cemetery are the words To the silent host you endured all, and gave all. That mankind might live in freedom and peace. I think that the 5,000 men in this cemetery The 90,000-plus men in all of the World War II American cemeteries that lie on foreign soil. In fact, all who endured all and gave all.
that mankind might live in freedom and peace. Only ask one thing of you and I. Just one thing. That we not forget. This story is my effort to not forget.
And a terrific job on the production, editing, and storytelling by our own Nathaniel Gallagher. And a special thanks to Chuck Kisling. He's a listener. And we're so grateful he shared his story. and the story of his uncle Charles.
Who was a World War II bomber navigator? who paid the ultimate price for his service to his country, along with over four hundred thousand others. Plus including my own uncle, the uncle I never met. or new. And that happened to so many families across this great country.
And what a heartbreaking thing to hear. From that person in charge of taking care of that cemetery in Europe. That most of the men here, he said, have never had any family visit. And that's heartbreaking. and heartbreaking but also beautiful that Chuck took that visit.
to honor his uncle. and to honor his uncle's memory. The story of loss, love, and sacrifice. Here on Our American Story. Let's be real, life happens.
Kids spill, pets shed, and accidents are inevitable. Find a sofa that can keep up at washable sofas.com. Starting at just $699, our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out. You can say goodbye to stains and hello to worry-free living. Made with liquid and stain-resistant fabrics.
They're kid-proof, pet-friendly, and built for everyday life. Plus, changeable fabric covers let you refresh your sofa whenever you want. Neat flexibility, our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa anytime to fit your space, whether it's a growing family room or a cozy apartment. Plus, they're earth-friendly and trusted by over 200,000 happy customers. It's time to upgrade to a stress-free, mess-proof sofa.
Visit washablefas.com today and save. That's washable sofas.com. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Every business has an ambition. PayPal Open is the platform designed to help you grow into yours with business loans so you can expand and access to hundreds of millions of PayPal customers worldwide.
And your customers can pay all the ways they want with PayPal, Venmo, PayLater, and all major cards so you can focus on scaling up. When it's time to get growing, there's one platform for all business: PayPal Open. Grow today at PayPalOpen.com. loans subject to approval in available locations. Here at the Almond Joy factory where tropical vibes abound, we use soft, fresh, tasting coconut.
The crunchiest almonds and delicious chocolate candy. Ah, but do you know what our most important ingredient is?
Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't Almond Joy's got nuts and something even way better than that. Yes, almond joy is made with almonds and. Joe. This is Danielle Fischel from Pod Meets World. Here's the thing about JCPenney right now.
It's like stumbling on a secret treasure trove. You know, those hidden gems that make you look twice and think, wait, that's from where? Like carbon blue Adidas sneakers, trending, comfortable, and totally unexpected. Or the cute matching set I just got. Perfect for everything from drop-offs to after-school mama-trauma bonding.
If you're already shopping, JCPenney, it's time to stop gatekeeping. If not, it's time to check out what you've been missing. Shopjcpenny.com. Yes, JCPenney. Let your imagination take flight with an AI-powered PC from Lenovo.
Whether it's creating digital art, designing new software, or building a portfolio for a future career, our PCs are powered by Intel Core Ultra processors to help students unlock smarter learning and unleash their creativity. That's the power of Lenovo with Intel inside. All you have to do is choose the one that fits your passion. Head to Lenovo.com to shop AI PCs and find your perfect companion. Plus, get 5% off when you create an education account.
This is an iHeart podcast.
