• The American Countryside is truly a slice of Americana. It might be a well-known music or TV star or just someone with an interesting story that lives down the street. From Iditarod sled dog mushers, to NASA scientists... from the Rooster Crowing Championships to NFL greats...The American Countryside is sure to be of interest. Click the button above to listen to the latest show, or visit the American Countryside archives.
  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Have an idea for a story?

Near Libertation from a POW Camp

Andrew and Paula McCrea pose with Tom Crosby and his wife Nancy at the Veterans Museum in San Deigo.

American troops had finally made it to Manila and were attempting to free POWs like Tom Crosby. Just when things seemed hopeful, the tables turned and this young boy found himself in the middle of a hostage negotiation…

Suffering in a POW Camp

It is difficult to imagine the conditions for POWs like Tom Crosby in the weeks leading up to their camps liberation. Some had already died from malnutrition, and now they feared they might lose their life in the American forces attempt to free them…

Living As A Prisoner of War

In January of 1942, eight year old Tom Crosby, along with his brother, mother and grandmother, Americans living in Manilla, were taken prisoner by the Japanese who had invaded the Philippines. For the next three years we would experience life as a child POW…

An 8-Year Old POW

Life was good for eight year old Tom Crosby, an American living in Manila in 1941. Then December 7th came, and his life changed forever…

The Point Loma Lighthouse

Not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Americans began to see and hear things–things like Japanese tanks, subs and ships coming to attack the west coast…

The San Diego Veterans Center

sandiegoveteranscenterThe plan was to tear down San Deigo’s old navy hospital. A new hospital was built, but portions of the old grounds are one of the most beautiful places to enjoy past and present…

Tunnelling to Pass the Time

Most prison camps wouldn’t want their detainees digging tunnels to freedom, but at Ed’s camp, it was a way to keep the prisoners occupied…

A World War 2 Pilot and POW

EdDavidson2Ed believed he was a well informed pilot flying for the United States. Then the German captured him and told him things about himself that he’d never known.

A Young WW2 Pilot

EdDavidsonEd Davidson got to cross the Atlantic on the Queen Mary, but his trip wasn’t for pleasure…

FFA Gets Highlighted in the Rose Bowl Parade

Happy New Year! The National FFA will be highlighted in front of millions of people in attendance and watching the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California…ffafloat

Swimming in a Sea of Burning Oil

stuhedleyStu Hedley may have believed that once he left his ship, the West Virginia, in Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941 that he was out of harm’s way. More obstacles were still to come…

Surviving Pearl Harbor: A First Hand Account

westvirginia1We’ve heard of the events of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Today, we meet one of the men who survived aboard one of the battleships stationed there…

Back to Baseball

jerrycoleman3Jerry Coleman served his country as a pilot during World War II, then returned home to play professional baseball. 1949 marked the first of five consecutive World Series Championships for the New York Yankees; Jerry Coleman was on those teams and remembers some of the biggest names in baseball…

A Yankee Pilot

jerrycoleman2It is difficult to fathom the changes that took place in everyday life in the United State, yet alone Hawaii, after December 1941. Sports took a back seat to the war, of course, yet professional teams still played with depleted ranks…

Waiting to Join…

jerrycoleman1Jerry Coleman was a high school senior when the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor. He was drafted the very next year, but not by the military. Here’s his unique story of service to country and America’s favorite pastime…