An 11-Day Tour Through Significant Sites of
World War II
by Brian Mickelsen, President
and Steve Dana, Vice President, MeridianTrips.com
Contributing Editor, Kristin Holt

For information on Meridian's tours guided by knowledgable and entertaining guest hosts go to www.meridiantrips.com

What makes visiting WWII sites with Meridian Trips so attractive?

1. Our special guest hosts, author Jerry Borrowman (Three Against Hitler, and A Distant Prayer) and WWII analyst Dan Pendleton will offer unparalleled instruction and insights, to make the sites and locales truly meaningful.

2. Meridian Trips takes pride in excellent service. Leave the work to us! Enjoy comfortable transfers, delicious meals and the best of accommodations.

3. Maximize your European vacation! Meridian Trips has planned an exceptional itinerary, allowing intervals for shopping and personal side tours. Our timing allows you to choose to arrive in Europe early or stay abroad after the tour concludes.

4. This year marks the 60^th anniversary of D-Day -- an ideal opportunity for veterans to return with their wives and children.

5. Prices start at $1998. An exceptional value!

Happy New Year! 2004 commemorates the 60^th anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944 military personnel from the Allied Nations stormed ashore in the greatest air/sea armada in the history of the world. These landings, on the beaches of Normandy, were to become known for all time as D-Day. The operation brought together land, air and sea forces of the allied armies in the largest invasion force in human history. Thus began the liberation of Europe.

Tom Brokaw, in his book Greatest Generation, wrote of those who fought in this great war, "It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced." What a fitting, apropos compliment to the soldiers who fought valiantly for America's freedom.

This coming October, Meridian Trips is delighted to offer a guided tour throughout the most significant sites of World War II. While previous anniversaries have shown significant remembrance, this one is particularly special, as the veterans are nearing the end of their life spans. As Americans, we celebrate the opportunity to pause and reflect upon the tremendous sacrifice given by the members of our armed forces on those foreign battlefields.

Meridian Trips, of Draper Utah, is eager to introduce our guest hosts, Jerry Borrowman and Dan Pendleton--men of uncommon insight and learning. Among Jerry's publishing credits are two books based upon WWII events. He coauthored Three Against Hitler with Rudi Wobbe, which tells the story of three Latter-day Saint German teenagers who started a resistance movement against the Third Reich in their hometown of Hamburg, Germany. A Distant Prayer, Miracles of the 49th Combat Mission was written with Joseph Banks, telling the story of Joe's experience as a flight engineer on a B-17 bomber flying out of Foggia, Italy. Shot down by friendly fire on their next to last mission, Joe languished as a prisoner of war in Germany, escaping under miraculous circumstances at the last possible moment.

Jerry continues to write books centered on his fascination and love for wartime heroes. He coauthored Beyond The Call of Duty - The Story of an American Hero (March, 2004). This captivating story recounts the experiences of Colonel Bernard Fisher, USAF, and Retired, who served as an Air Force pilot in Vietnam.

Jerry has recently completed the manuscript for an LDS novel set in 1911-1920 in which a number of principle characters serve in the trenches and in the air during World War I. "As a bonus to those who attend the tour," said Jerry, "I want to give each of the tour participants an advance reading copy of this new book, which will not yet be in print by the time our tour takes place." What a great chance to talk with the author and have him autograph your copy!

It's no secret that Jerry's personal fascination with wartime events has been the impetus behind his successful writing career. And any writer worth his salt wants to make sure he's got the details right....especially when it comes to topics as critical as weapons, airplanes, and cause and effect. So what's a writer to do? He researches, studies, and interviews specialists. Jerry, who's made a career in the insurance business, knew a coworker possessed an uncommon grasp of everything surrounding WWII. Jerry asked Dan Pendleton (whose understanding far surpasses amazing) to review his manuscript for any detail that might be a little off.

Dan is one of those exceptional scholars who developed his interests by continual study. He went so far as to play the Pentagon's war games--reliving battles of the Second World War on storyboards and considering the possible outcomes of every alternate decision that might've been made. Dan has the ability to recall every turn the war made, every decision, every action that led to reaction. Best of all, he gets a kick out of talking about it.

Throughout the guided tour, our guest hosts will share stores and events surrounding the locales and wartime events. Jerry will talk about the process of writing and many of the behind the scenes stories that didn't make it into his books. He'll share the experiences these survivors had after the war and the effects it had upon their lives. He'll also talk about the impact his books have had on readers worldwide. These are the treats you don't get unless you talk to the author.

Having these guests along on our tours of London, Normandy, Paris, Battle of the Bulge, and Berlin will make this an unparalleled opportunity to learn. These will be more than monuments, quiet battlefields, foreign shores, and museums. "While the tour will appeal to many who have been students of the World Wars," said Jerry, "the chance to see the great cities of Europe should appeal to everyone."

For every individual, the experience will be different; for all, it will be a unique chance to commemorate. To revere all who fought with valor. To remember.

THE ITINERARY

On October 7^th, Meridian Trips will embark on a tour that will follow the route taken by so many of these gallant soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in their quest to destroy the Nazi tyranny that had occupied the nations of Europe for four dreadful years.

We'll begin with overnight flights into London. We've allowed for our first day in England to be restful and provide free time. This is a grand opportunity to explore this historic city, shop, visit the theatre, and catch a nap or two as you acclimate to the time change.

We're looking forward to spending a full day touring the spectacular London Imperial War Air Museum at Duxford. "Imperial War Air Museum is the premiere site for collecting information on WWI and WWII," said Jerry, "and as students of those wars will know, Brittan played a pivotal role in seeing the German forces defeated. The chance to visit a bunker similar to where Winston Churchill carried out the plans of the war is a unique opportunity."

Duxford retains its wartime atmosphere and, as many of its airplanes still fly, you might even see one take to the air during our visit. Over 400,000 visitors come to Duxford annually and see biplanes, Spitfires, prototype Concorde (the first and only supersonic passenger jet), and Gulf War jets among the 180 historic aircraft on show. More famous aircraft are on display: Gypsy Moth, B-17, B-52, U-2, and many, many more. You'll also delight in their superb collection of "ground warfare" equipment.

The Second World War started a phenomenal movement toward improvement of technology. Because the pressures of war demanded faster, increasingly efficient planes, weapons, and machinery. Consider how this renewed mechanical revolution affected the home front; women went to work in factories to construct airplanes, women packed parachutes for use overseas, the United States developed aircraft with remarkably faster pistons and by the end of the war, the jet engine. Research and development was key.

After a wonderful day touring this museum, we'll have dinner and transfer by comfortable motor coach to Portsmouth, where we'll lodge overnight.

Portsmouth, in the south of England, was the gathering place where our armed forces staged their launch sixty years ago. From there, we'll take the morning ferry across the English Channel to the NORMANDY port city of Cherbourg. Together, our company will approach the landscape of that area from sea, just as our forces did during the invasion. We'll have a remarkable view of the cliffs and beaches.

After a restaurant lunch at Utah Beach, we'll spend the afternoon touring the village of Ste. Mere Eglise and Utah Beach. We'll enjoy a relaxed dinner at the Roosevelt Café, also on Utah Beach. After dinner we'll tour the original bunker attached to the café. We'll continue on to our hotel in Caën.

We're anxious to spend a full day in Normandy. Here we will recount the history of the invasion and be able to more fully envision the sacrifices made at these sites. Bring a little empty bottle along, to take home a souvenir sample of sand!

We'll make a point to visit Pointe du Hoc, the one square mile of land given to the United States by the French government, as a cemetery for war casualties are interred. We'll also stop at many of the invasion beaches, an experience sure to be enriched by our guest hosts' narratives. They'll help us to see the big picture; Normandy wasn't merely the day the United States invaded--it was a series of major battles, spread over a month and a half. We'll see the "Mulberry Harbour" at Arromanche and the original gun bunkers at Longues. We'll rest overnight again in Caën.

"If I could make recommendations," said Dan Pendleton, "I'd suggest people prepare to make this experience meaningful and understandable by watching the movie Patton (Academy Award-winner, 1970). It is fantastic, and pretty accurate." He also suggested reading any book by Stephen E. Ambrose. "Anything he writes about WWII is excellent. I think he's the best author about WWII." Looking for something more? Dan also recommended reading Citizen Soldier, a book detailing the trials and experiences of a soldier in his trek across France.

Prior to the departure of the tour, Jerry and Dan will supply a suggested reading list of books that will make the tour more interesting for those who participate, such as D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose, Is Paris Burning? (1966 b&w film), etc.

Leaving Normandy we head for PARIS, stopping first at famous Pegasus Bridge. At 2 a.m. on June 6, 1944, British troops in gliders landed near Pegasus Bridge, spanning the Caën Canal. Keep your eyes open for Café Gondree, located just past Pegasus Bridge on the south side of the Orne River. This was the first piece of French soil to be liberated by Allied troops.

Our tour then goes on to Compiegne, site of the First World War Armistice and where Hitler humiliated the defeated French by forcing them to sign the 1940 "Occupation Orders." We'll lodge overnight at our deluxe Paris hotel.

We'll spend a full day in Paris, giving guests the opportunity to sightsee, explore, shop, (don't forget to indulge in a few French pastries!), and relax. Ladies, this is an excellent chance to take pictures, shop, dine, shop, visit a few key landmarks, and shop! Interested in visiting the Louvre? (Really, what trip to Paris would be complete without it?) Here's your chance!

Leaving Paris we'll stop at Belleau Woods. Here, US Marines made a heroic stand during the First World War. Rusting artillery pieces and the scarred battlefield are still visible. Our tour will continue on to Reims and a visit to the school building where, in May 1945, the German surrender was signed. We'll lodge overnight in St. Vith.

We'll pay a visit to Bastogne's excellent museum, dedicated to the battle for Bastogne (December 1944). A jeep upon display has identification marks of the 101st US Airborne Division. The diorama shows General McAuliffe in the jeep, the one famous for replying "Nuts" to a German request for a US surrender.

The star-shaped monument honors the memory of the American soldiers who disappeared, were wounded and killed during the Battle of the Ardennes. A circular gallery with columns gives to the monument the aspect of a vast temple, with an impressive height of 12 meters. On the walls of the gallery, one can read the history of the battle and the names of the main units who participated in the action.

"In the Battle of the Bulge (Bastogne)," said Dan, "the 101^st were completely surrounded. I can't wait to share with the group how his company held out." This is precisely the type of commentary we can look forward to!

At the end of this magnificent day, we'll drive northeast through Dusseldorf and overnight in Hanover.

Our day in BERLIN will be filled with visiting historic sites. We'll see the remnants of the famous Berlin Wall that once stretched 43 kilometers. How can we forget the tides of change that swept through Germany in 1989? The Wall was taken by storm by a singing and dancing crowd. It was eventually dismantled by official staff and human woodpeckers alike.

Our tour will glimpse the remains, and our guides will expound upon history's stories. Fascinating information has recently been released about the Cold War. These documents verify why the Berlin Wall was really constructed. The discussion led by our knowledgeable guests promises to be enlightening.

Checkpoint Charlie, the third checkpoint that processed visitors from East-Berlin to West-. The name comes from the phonetic alphabet, designating the third (or "C") as Charlie. Hoisted away following the fall of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie is now housed in the Allied Museum.

The Victory Column was constructed to celebrate the military successes of Prussia over Denmark. The structure displays unbridled Prussian military arrogance at its best (an impressive 61.5 meters high!). In 1938, Hitler moved it from its place in front of the Reichstag to the center of Tiergarten where it stands today as one of the city's most impressive and major landmarks.

We'll stop to see the Brandenburg Gate, a structure with a highly symbolic role in German history. Built in the late 1700s, it was initially the western city gate. It has seen fluctuations in government, from Napoleon to fascist Nazi rule and beyond. >From 1961-1989 the Brandenburg Gate was located in no-man's land between East- and West-Berlin and became a symbol of Berlin as a divided city. In 1989 the borders between the two German countries were opened and now the gate became the center of German reunification. It remains one of the most famous and best-loved German landmarks.

We'll also pay a visit to Hitler's bunker, which was under the garden of the Reichskanzlei, in the area where most of the government buildings stood. There were several underground passageways and other, smaller bunkers in this part of Berlin. Entrances and parts of the bunker have already been destroyed, some of it by the Russians right after the end of the war. Quite a bit of the actual Führerbunker, which was 15 meters underground and protected by meters of concrete, is still intact.

While there, our guest hosts will talk to us about the Nazi legacy and the rise and fall of the Third Reich. Standing above Hitler's Bunker is a great place to get the final version of events surrounding Hitler's suicide and the last days spent in the Bunker. "Speculation about these details can now be put to rest," shares Dan, "as new information has been recently released from Soviet archives." This makes for a very interesting stop on our tour.

While in Berlin, Jerry will talk about one of the LDS youth in his book, Three Against Hitler, who stood trial before the Third Reich. Jerry has an amazing gift for relating the stories surrounding the concentration camps, the brutal Nazi sentences, and the faith of these teens (amongst numerous others) as they held firm to their convictions.

Speaking of this incredible, true story, Jerry said, "Those who have previously visited the execution chamber where Huebener Helmuth lost his life, reported an oppressive feeling 60 years later. Those who don't experience this may never fully appreciate the loneliness of his final moments and the courage it took not to recant his standing against the Nazis."

After a week and a half, our tour concludes in Berlin. This comfortable journey, from London, through France and Germany, promises to change the way you see the events of the Second World War. Come along. Witness these significant places for yourself.

Jerry Borrowman, having read tens-of-thousands of pages detailing the first part of 20^th century, feels that eventually it all reduces down to stories about people; the soldiers, the citizens who endured the bombing, the industry who supplied the capacity for the war effort. Jerry's books are focused on the unique stories that make the war meaningful and understandable on an individual level. The chance to visit the sites where many of these events actually occurred takes the war from myth to reality. Jerry said, "It's this ability to see the war through our own eyes that will make this experience of a lifetime."

Meridian Trips invites you to contact us today! Call toll free 1-888-537-8687.

MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST HOSTS

Jerry Borrowman, author of Three Against Hitler and A Distant Prayer, has also written for both the Ensign and the Church News, as well as having dozens of articles published in financial services magazines and journals.

He has co-authored four books, including: Three Against Hitler with Rudi Wobbe, (which tells the story of three LDS German teenagers who started a resistance movement against the Third Reich in their hometown of Hamburg Germany). A Distant Prayer, Miracles of the 49th Combat Mission written with Joseph Banks. (Tells the story of Joe's experience as a flight engineer on a B-17 bomber flying out of Foggia, Italy in World War II. Shot down by friendly fire on their next to last mission, Joe spent the balance of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany, escaping with his life at the last possible moment under miraculous circumstances.) Both books were published by Covenant Communications and are available for sale in LDS bookstores and through online services such as Amazon.com and Barnesnoble.com.

His third book, Have You Bought The Ticket? was written with Carol Holm, a Top of the Table producer in the life insurance industry and was published by The Million Dollar Round Table of Chicago, Illinois.

His fourth book, Beyond The Call of Duty - The Story of an American Hero is scheduled for release in March 2004 by Shadow Mountain, an imprint of Deseret Book Company. Co-authored with Colonel Bernard Fisher, USAF, Retired, it tells the story of Bernie Fisher's career as an Air Force pilot, as well as the missions in Vietnam that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Bernie was the first member of the Air Force to earn the Medal of Honor in Vietnam and is one of just 60, (out of more than two million Americans who served in Vietnam), to earn this distinction, which is awarded for "gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty, at the risk of one's own life." Beyond the Call of Duty is a tribute to all those who serve in the military to protect America.

Jerry has just completed an LDS novel set in the period 1911-1920 in which a number of principle characters serve in the trenches and in the air during World War I.

Jerry works as Managing Director of Advanced Case Support for Beneficial Life Insurance Company in Salt Lake City, and he and his wife Marcella are the parents of four children, two daughters-in-law, and a granddaughter. They live in Sandy, Utah.

Dan Pendleton nurtured a childhood interest in the World Wars into a full-blown captivation. He loves it so much, he participated in War Games in the Pentagon to simulate every facet of the war. These games consider not only what did actually occur, but all the what-ifs surrounding the numerous, complicated decisions made by the military leaders. "This gives a feeling of battle," Dan said, with much enthusiasm.

Dan has been entrenched in history throughout his life. He's read countless books, watched untold scores of movies, and loves to sit in front of the history channels. His strong points are the American Civil War and World War II, although he's exceptionally knowledgeable about American history in general.

He knows every aspect of the Second World War, every conversation, every decision. Through participation in War Games and his own countless hours of research, he understands the strategies of both sides and why they either failed or succeeded. He thoroughly enjoys sharing his knowledge, and finds "but why?" to be the most valuable question anyone can ask.

Conversations about history led to his role as expert reader for Jerry Borrowman, whose books set during World War II are exactly Dan's cup of tea!

Dan holds a degree in financial planning, and has been a New York Life agent for 20 years. He and his wife, Terrie L. Pendleton have lived in Riverton, Utah for 7 years. They have three grown children, who are all married and gone from home. They have five grandkids, all of whom live in the area.

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