Jack Moran grew up in Wisconsin, joined the Army, and was deployed to France in the autumn of 1944. Over the next several months, Moran his his fellow soldiers in the 87th Infantry Division would see brutal combat throughout the Allied push into the heart of Germany.

In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Moran takes us back to the westrrn front in vivid detail. He begins with his shocking introduction to combat, the difficult fight for Hill 360 in France, racing to help out at the Battle of the Bulge and the vicious confrontations that ensued.

From there, Moran describes breaching the Siegfried Line and the harrowing mission he was part of to cross the Rhine River. Finally, he shares his memories from helping to liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Jack Moran says "war is hell." He's fortunate to have survived. And because he did, we not only have his story of service but also the stories of many his friends who never came home.