VETERAN | An Intimate Conversation With WW2 Vet, Colonel Katz

In this very special episode, Suzanne sits down with Colonel Morton Katz, United States Army, Retired, as he takes her on his journey stationed overseas during WW2-through North Africa, the South of France, Italy, Germany, and Belgium. He is 101-years-old with a memory as sharp as a knife. He remembers all the dates and names of the missions he took part in and the men with whom he served. We hope you love this episode as much as we do.
About Colonel Katz:

Attorney Morton Katz was born on May 15, 1919 in Hartford, CT. He graduated from the University of Connecticut, known as Connecticut College in 1939. He then matriculated at Iowa State University to study chemistry at the graduate level. He graduated from the masters program in just one year but realized he was unhappy in that career path. He was commissioned in the army reserve as a second Lieutenant in 1940.

After Pearl Harbor, he was ordered to active duty and he reported to Fort Benning, GA in April of 1942. He served in combat operations in Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany with the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. After the 509th Battalion was "wiped out" in the Ardennes Campaign, he joined the 505th Parachute Infantry of the legendary 82nd Airborne Division. He was involved in the ground assault at Venafro, Italy in November of 1943 and in the invasion of Anzio in January of 1944. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Attorney Katz was later involved in the liberation of the Wobbelin Concentration Camp in Ludwigslust, Germany. He recalls that his division commander was so outraged at the conditions at the camp that his commander made the local populace march to the camp to view the bodies. He then had them carry the dead to town and create a cemetery that still stands today.

After the war he went to law school at the University of Connecticut law school. He married Shirley Dinerstein (Katz) in 1964 and has two children, Rachel (Katz) Brunke born in 1967 and Naomi Katz Cohen born in 1971. He has 3 grandchildren, Diane and Anne Brunke and Tabitha Cohen. He is still practicing law at the age 101.
Mentioned in the Show:

• Wikipedia on Maurice Rose
• Major General Maurice Rose
• Battle of the Bulge
• Anzio
• Wobbelin Concentration Camp
• Lieutenant General James Gavin Obituary-NY TIMES
• Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough
• Captain Carlos C. Alden

About the Show:

There’s a Word For That! is a weekly podcast that centers around a different word or expression each episode. Host Suzanne Dressler believes in pushing the envelope to explore why and how we use words and the ways this impacts our lives. With a diverse assortment of intelligent, creative, and exciting guests, TAWFT! will force you to analyze and consider words in an entirely original and eye-opening way. Even better? NOTHING is off-limits.
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