Stephen E. Ambrose

Stephen E. Ambrose was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin, in 1936. He was the son of a country doctor and initially studied nursing. However, history quickly captivated him, and he remained devoted to it for the rest of his life. He completed his academic education by earning a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. He remained relatively unknown outside academic circles until 1994, when he published his remarkable book "D-Day." Since then, his books have achieved incredible success, with most becoming bestsellers. He served as a professor for many years at the University of New Orleans and was the founder and honorary president of the Eisenhower Center in New Orleans. In the same city, he also founded the National D-Day Museum. He collaborated with Steven Spielberg on the production of the film "Saving Private Ryan" and the adaptation of his own book "Band of Brothers" for television. In most of his works, which number over twenty titles, the protagonists are not leaders but ordinary soldiers. For Ambrose, history is not unfolded through the decisions and conferences of the powerful or the epic victories of great generals, but is written by the toil and blood of everyday heroes. Stephen Ambrose, one of the most important historians of our century, passed away in October 2002 at the age of 66 after a six-month battle with cancer. He spent the last six months of his life writing his final book, "To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian." He was always accompanied by his wife, Moira, and their five children.