V Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021013/ap_on_re_us/obit_ambrose_10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSpkr Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 What a loss. Rest in peace, Professor Ambrose. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherbait Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Well, I never cared for his writing, etc., but this is sad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno Weiss Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 I know he was involved recently in controversey, but his greatest achievement may have been in having a lead role in indoctrinating recent generations with the knowlege of the sacrifices of past generations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priest Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Rest in peace and thanks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnergoz Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Say what you will of him, but Ambrose at least tried to bring a generation's story out while they were still there to be recognized for their sacrifice and accomplishment. Well done, Ambrose. You will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[Wiking] Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Oh man................... I kinda hoped he was gonna make it. R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiggDogg Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 It is very sad with Mr. Ambrose's passing. Being from New Orleans, in the mid 80s, I had the good fortune to have taken a non credit course at the University Of New Orleans. The course was on the history of WWII. Mr. Ambrose was energetic, informed, and a wonderful teacher. Taking that course was a pleasure. However, he did present a very few microscopic errors, like saying that the battleship Yamato had 16 inch guns. Indeed, only a grog such as myself would know of such minutea. It did not detract from pleasure and usefulness of the course. Mr. Ambrose's USA/Anglo-phile slant on WWII was certainly present, but does not detract from the man's greatness. Certainly, none of us are perfect. May his soul be blessed. May his family be consoled. A wonderful and great man has passed. With Sadness, Richard [ October 13, 2002, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: PiggDogg ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgsan Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Originally posted by PiggDogg: It is very sad with Mr. Ambrose's passing. Being from New Orleans, in the mid 80s, I had taken a non credit course at the University Of New Orleans. The course was on the history of WWII. Mr. Ambrose was energetic, informed, and a wonderful teacher. Taking that course was a pleasure. However, he did present a very few microscopic errors, like saying that the battleship Yamato had 16 inch guns. Indeed, only a grog such as myself would know of such minutea. It did not detract from pleasure and usefulness of the course. Mr. Ambrose's USA/Anglo-phile slant on WWII was certainly present, but does not detract from the man's greatness. Certainly, none of us are perfect. May his soul be blessed. May his family be consoled. A wonderful and great man has passed. With Sadness, Richard Like PiggDogg I live in the New Orleans area and although I never had a chance to take a class with Ambrose I very much enjoyed the taped lectures from his UNO WWII history class which were shown on the local cable TV as well as a number of his books. While did not necessarily agree with all his conclusions and agree that his writing was not above criticism, I enjoyed his books. I always felt that some of the vehemence directed at him recently reflected his sin (at least in the view of some academics) of writing popular history. It is certainly a loss. I'm sorry he never got the chance to write his book on the pacific war. May he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potential Italian Player Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Very sad. I have understood thanks to its books that my freedom of thought is born from the sacrifice of many citizen soldiers. God bless him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherbait Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Bruno and gunner, well said. Whether one liked his work or not, he did bring warranted awareness/recognition to the topics involved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 Ambrose was a popular historian that made WWII interesting to non-grogs. He did his job well. The D-Day Museum and his living history projects are superb ongoing efforts. I've read some of his books and look forward to reading more. I'll miss him, but I'm glad he left so many good things going that we can still enjoy. Thank you, Mr. Ambrose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtweasle Posted October 13, 2002 Share Posted October 13, 2002 From Stephen Ambrose Bio, "Teaching and writing are one to me -- in each case I am telling a story. As I sit at my computer, or stand at the podium, I think of myself as sitting around the campfire after a day on the trail, telling stories that I hope will have the members of the audience, or the readers, leaning forward just a bit, wanting to know what happens next..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akdavis Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 He was a great storyteller, and I think that is how he should be remembered. Not to devalue his work as a historian, but he truly shined as a sort of modern-day equivalent of the tribal folklorist, bringing to life our ancestors and reminding us of why they are so important to our lives today. Personally, his books D-Day and Citizen Soldiers sparked my interest in serious Second World War history. I'd always been fascinated with the equipment and famous battles, but these books really got me started reading at a more "academic" level. Now, having read alot (well, not really that much, but enough) I disagree with many of his historical conclusions, but I'll never forget the passion for the subject his books sparked in me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeauCoupDinkyDau Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 That's really sad news to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CombinedArms Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 For what it's worth, my two favorites among his books have been "Band of Brothers" and "Pegasus Bridge," small unit histories where his interviewing and story-telling skills came into full play. He was probably less reliable when dealing in grog-level detail or in large- scale generalizations, but, as has been said, he reached a wide audience and was a frequently compelling writer. Since Winston Churchill, has any writer on WWII been so widely read? [ October 13, 2002, 10:27 PM: Message edited by: CombinedArms ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gen. Sosaboski Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 His books instantly got me interested in WWII ground combat. Pegasus Bridge, Band of Brothers, Citizen Soldiers, D-Day...Before that, I was mainly air war... Sure, he had his opinions, but we all have ours too. If people didn't write of their opinions, much of the reading would be cut and dry. Sure, some of us disagree with his conclusions, etc. However, the work that he has done to spark an interest in younger generations is invaluable. The D-Day museum, his writings, etc, helped bring the battles and the soldiers to life. May he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrewolf Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 Damnit!!! its the smoke industry again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalar Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 I will miss Professor Ambrose. I am not a grog, just a casual student of military history. Ambrose's "D-Day" got me back into reading about Normandy and is the book I lend out when people are looking to get the 'feel' of the fight w/o getting into a serious history tome. I travel a lot for work, and his books made excellent airplane reading--just right in size and scope for both ends of a round trip. And better yet, what other military history reads can you can pick up at a WH Smith?? (not counting Clive Cussler...!) 'Band of Brothers' was exceedingly well done on HBO, and will be released on DVD November 5th. I will certainly own a copy (Merry Christmas to myself! ) I visited the D-Day museum just last Thursday, and the emphasis on veteran's verbalized memoirs is priceless. I understand that Stephen Ambrose arranged the recording of thousand's of veteran's memories--and that is legacy worth leaving. RIP Professor; you left us too soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Ayers Posted October 14, 2002 Share Posted October 14, 2002 A sad day indeed.... [ October 14, 2002, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: Capt. Ayers ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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