{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"No Lights, No Escorts, Just Courage: The WWII Journey of Myles Isbell","description":"On June 6, 1944, a teenager from Michigan helped steer a flat-bottomed Navy vessel toward the shores of Normandy. His name was Myles Isbell. His ship: LST-540. He was 17. In this special episode of Front to the Films, we tell the extraordinary story of Myles Isbell\u2014Gunner\u2019s Mate Third Class, World War II veteran, and eyewitness to some of the most pivotal naval operations of the 20th century. To bring Myles\u2019 story to life in full, we\u2019ve seamlessly interwoven his final recorded interview\u2014conducted just three months before his death\u2014with archival audio from an earlier oral history he gave to the Library of Congress\u2019 Veterans History Project. \ud83c\udf96\ufe0f Access that full interview here \u00bb Together, these sources form a complete portrait of a quiet American hero\u2014told in his own words. \ud83c\udfa7 In His Own Voice You\u2019ll hear how Myles: Watched a troop train roll past and decided to join the Navy at 17. Survived a ship explosion in port and later navigated through U-boat-infested waters. Helped land Canadian forces on D-Day and returned to the beaches 38 more times. Witnessed the fallout of war in Japan and later delivered food to starving civilians. Built a legacy as a husband, father, business owner, and man of faith. \ud83c\udfc5 A Life of Service Myles Walter Isbell passed away on February 12, 2025\u2014just three months after this interview was recorded. He served in both the European and Pacific theaters and earned multiple military honors, including two battle stars, the Naval Commendation Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. After the war, he returned to Michigan and built a life grounded in work, service, and family\u2014raising three sons and witnessing five generations of descendants grow up in the peace he helped protect. \ud83d\udccc Why This Episode Matters This episode is intended to preserve memory, honor sacrifice, and remind us what courage sounds like. By combining present-day interview footage with material from the Library of Congress, our hope is that we\u2019ve built a seamless narrative that lets Myles tell his own story\u2014powerfully and completely. Join us in honoring his legacy. Listen. Reflect. Share. ","author_name":"From The Front To The Films: A World War II Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/www.wwiifoundation.org","html":"