Todd Anton

Todd Anton- author of No Greater Love: Life Stories From the Men Who Saved Baseball, When Baseball Went to War and his newest book, When Football Went to War, has been a U.S. History instructor for over 27 years. His ability to work closely with his students and World War II veterans has earned him national recognition - for an extensive oral history collection (nearly 5,000) involving combat veterans from WWI through the present. As a result of his nomination as VFW "Teacher of the Year", legendary author/historian Dr. Stephen E. Ambrose took Todd under his wing and encouraged him to achieve even more. Anton served on the board of Trustees for the late Dr. Ambrose's National World War II Museum, and the museum has featured Todd as a speaker at a gala function in Washington DC honoring the members of Congress who served in World War II and at the premiere of Steven Spielberg's documentary on his father, Arnold Spielberg's squadron in W.W. II, called the Burma Bridge Busters, at Fox Studios in Los Angeles. Anton also served as the Divisional Historian for his late father's World War II unit, the 70th Infantry Division-Trailblazers, and has written a history of the division's artillery units called Distant Thunder: The Field Artillery units of the 70th Infantry Division in World War II. All of these organizations understand the importance of preserving the memory and sacrifice of the "Citizen Soldier" in W.W II, and that this process begins in the classroom. They have chosen Anton as their ambassador. As a son of World War II/Korean War veteran, the late Wallace P. Anton, Todd has been inspired on a personal level to honor the "Greatest Generation." Raised on a steady dose of Dodger baseball and stories of WWII, Wally Anton raised a son dedicated to preserving the stories of the men who served America in the time of its greatest need and also played Major League Baseball. Shortly before his father's death on June 6 (D-Day) 2002, both father and son started on the path to remind America about baseball's great and heroic tradition in World War II. These two books are the culmination of that journey. Anton's father was also a football star returning from combat in Europe to play tackle in the Junior College Rose Bowl for Chaffey College. Anton's first book inspired FOX News Channel's War Stories with Oliver North to produce a show dedicated to Baseball and World War II veterans called From the Ballpark to the Battlefield: Baseball and World War II. Anton joined Boston Red Sox ace Curt Schilling and noted baseball historian Bill Nowlin as the advisors for this show. A further collaboration led to the very successful "When Baseball Went to War" exhibit at the National World War II Museum featuring artifacts from the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, the National World War II Museum's own collection which ran from November 2007 through April 2008. This conference sold out and featured veterans such as Bob Feller, Johnny Pesky, Morrie Martin, Lou Brissie, Jerry Coleman, and current all-star Curt Schilling. This conference was inspired by Anton and Nowlin to national acclaim. Anton's newest release, with his co-author Bill Nowlin, " When Football Went to War," brings amazing stories to life from the college ranks and the NFL. Football is America's passion and this book reflects that. Anton's new project/book is underway on the Berlin Wall. Anton was held captive in East Berlin by the infamous Stasi. Anton is also a battlefield guide for D-Day Memory Tours which is an experiential interactive exploration of Normandy as a member of the 82nd Airborne or 101st Airborne. Visit us at: http://www.ddaymemorytour.com/ Todd Anton, 53, lives in Victorville, California with his wife Susan and their children Jamie and Jason, and continues to teach American History. When Football Went to War was released November 15, 2013.