Museum Archives
Desmond Doss - This Is Your Life Charm Bracelet
This Is Your Life was an early pioneer of all TV reality shows. Honorees, both famous and unknown, were profiled through remembrances by family and friends. The show debuted in 1948 and ran through 1961. The show was revived several times since then. The show's archives reside at the UCLA Special Collections. The show’s association with the military began when General Omar Bradley asked Ralph to do something to help returning World War II veterans, especially paraplegics. He said they were depressed and reluctant to see anyone, including their families. Ralph's ingenious solution was to profile a returning hero on his radio program, which created a "voice" for all veterans.
Many veterans have been profiled on the show since the first veteran, Lawrence Tranter, appeared April 26, 1946. Desmond Doss appeared on the show February 18, 1958.
Other veterans included:
- Lawrence Tranter, Paraplegic Veteran
- Paul Jackson, Paraplegic WWII Veteran
- Lt. Cmdr. Sylvan Greene USN, Co-Pilot of First Plane Fired Upon at Pearl Harbor
- Ralph G. Neppel , Disabled 25 Year Old Iowa Farmer - Medal of Honor Recipient
- Audie Murphy, Most Decorated Soldier of World War II, Medal of Honor Recipient
- Joe Pierce, Blind Veteran - Bataan Death March Survivor
- Brig. General La Verne G. Saunders, West Point Football Star - Retired General
- Maj. Peter Ortiz, OSS Operative in WWII Europe
- General James W. Moore and Commander Theodore A. Penland, Civil War Veterans
- Capt. Edward Ellsberg USN (Retired), Navy Salvage Expert
- Claire Phillips, Woman Spy in WWII Philippines
- Capt. Charles Ward Thomas, Coast Guard Hero
- Andrew Begay, World War II Navajo Code Talker
- Harris Pottier, Canadian World War II Veteran; survived 19 hours in the Atlantic after his ship was torpedoed
- Roy Keyser, American Guerilla in World War II Philippines
- Col. Ruby Bradley, Army Nurse in World War II Philippines
- Louis Silvie Zamperini, Former Olympic Track Star & World War II Prisoner of War Turned Minister
- Kenneth Porter, Forced by War Injury to Stand Up for the Rest of his Life
- Capt. Roy Milton Davenport, U.S. Navy Submarine Commander - Winner of Five Navy Crosses
- Clarinda Mason, "Adopted" 300 Servicemen during World War II
- Capt. Samuel W. Magill, War Hero
- General Mark Clark, Army General
- Dr. George Foote Bond, Country Doctor in U.S. Navy
- Lew Ayres, Film Star - Decorated World War II Conscientious Objector
- Henry Clay Conner, War Hero
- Col. Dean E. Hess, Fighter Pilot/Minister - Assisted Korean War Orphans
- Ernest Borgnine, WWII Navy Veteran/Film/Television Star
- Commander Hugh Barr Miller Jr., World War II Survival Story
- Guy Gabaldon, Marine War Hero
- Randall Harris, War Hero - Teacher
- Felix McCool, Marine War Hero
- Rear Admiral Samuel G. Fuqua, Pearl Harbor Hero; Medal of Honor Recipient
- General Carlos Romulo, Philippine War Hero/Statesman
- Lt. James Obenauf, Air Force Hero
- Selma Herbert, WAC Major
- Alexander MacIvor, War Hero
- Lillian Kinkela Keil, War Nurse
- Joseph A. Walker, Test Pilot
- Gen. Omar Bradley, World War II General
- Brig. General Charles "Chuck" Yeager, Air Force Test Pilot
- Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, Former Prisoner of War
The bracelet shown below was given to the Doss family as a remembrance of that particular show. The process used to design the bracelet started at least two weeks before the show aired. The show’s staff would put together a list of possible charms which were approved by the producers and Ralph Edwards. Each charm would be individually designed and personalized for the person being honored. The bracelet was manufactured by Marchal Jewelers in New York City.
