MARINE FORCES RESERVE, New Orleans -- "He was a great friend, a great historian, and I loved him...and I still do."
Words of care, compassion, and mourning, similar to these of Dr. Jerah Johnson, a historian, long time professor in the University of New Orleans' history department, and friend repeatedly pierced the hearts of hundreds who came to pay their respects to Dr. Stephen E. Ambrose, here Oct. 19.
A memorial service was held in front of the National D-Day Museum, in honor and memory of Dr. Ambrose, who recently lost his battle with cancer.
As part of the service, the Marine Forces Reserve Band and members of a joint-service color guard team created a patriotic environment, glorifying the men and women Dr. Ambrose admired so much.
Ambrose, having been born to a Navy doctor, had a long life filled with military history and ties. It wasn't until he reached college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that he was introduced to what would eventually be his life-long passion.
Trying to oblige his father's wishes, Ambrose enrolled in college as a pre-med major, but his stint as a medical student was short lived.
While a freshman at UW-Madison, Dr. Ambrose signed up for a history class. A history class that would not only teach him history but also open the door for him to, through his works, add his own name to history books.
"While in his history class, Ambrose's professor told the students, among other things, that as historians they were going to 'contribute to human knowledge'," said Dr. Gordon "Nick" Mueller, a 30-year-friend and colleague of Ambrose. "That comment inspired him and changed his life. After class that day, he walked across the campus and changed his major, and the rest was Steve Ambrose?s history."
From that point Dr. Ambrose's love for history did nothing but grow. He finished his first book while in graduate school, and would go on to write more than 26 works on various subjects, including Presidents Nixon and Eisenhower, The Lewis and Clark expedition, and his most recent and for many most noted topic, World War II.
Dr. Ambrose's works on the war have reached readers and history buffs across the world. His exposure grew tremendously when his book, "Band of Brothers", became inspiration for a critically acclaimed HBO series.
In addition to opening the eyes of the world to the experiences of the men who dedicated their lives to our country during the 1940s, Ambrose told a story of common men making tremendous sacrifices and fighting a war that has played a major role in our American history.
"The men I admire most are soldiers, sailors, and our professional military men and women," Ambrose stated in a previous interview.
It was this admiration that enabled Dr. Ambrose to not just recount the experiences of our military, but bring their stories to life. Stories and memories that were once buried in the hearts and minds of thousands of veterans were now being told in a manner that took readers to the battlefields and exploration trails.
"He wanted to not only record the words, but the voices of those soldiers," said Hugh Ambrose, son of Dr. Ambrose. "History for him was part entertaining, but also coming away feeling smarter and more able to understand the world we live in."
While Dr. Ambrose's love for service members ran deep, his admiration encompassed a wide range of people.
"My father admired a lot of people," Hugh said. "He was comfortable (when speaking about service members) saying these men and women are great, but he admired various people who've made an impact on this country."
Although his physical body has been laid to rest, his passion, spirit and legacy will live on. Live on through a museum that saw his dream become a reality. And works that not only denoted historical activity, but also included his very person in every word he wrote.
"The best way to know Steve Ambrose," said Dr. Mueller, "is to read Steve Ambrose. That's what will be most missed about him. We have memories and his previous works, but the thing we'll miss most is the fact that he has stopped writing."