Latest news with #Appel
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
101-year-old vet recalls 'fight for civilization' 80 years after V-E Day
For Jack Appel, 101, the Allies' victory in Europe − made official on May 8, 1945 − wasn't just vital because otherwise, as he said, "we'd all be speaking German now." "World War II was a major, major fight for civilization," the World War II veteran told USA TODAY this week as the globe marks the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. "Civilization" is no casual choice of words for Appel, a Brooklyn native now living in Boca Raton, Florida. He was among the first Americans to see the Buchenwald concentration camp, abandoned by the Nazis as the Allies closed in. Appel, who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Europe during the war, is Jewish. "Seeing the ovens, it was just unbelievable that any civilization could ..." his voice trailed, then he continued, "it was 11 million people total, 6 million of them Jews, and the others political enemies, homosexuals, gypsies." Appel, who also told his story in an oral history video for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015, knew just what he and others had been fighting for. After being drafted, a friend advised him not to say he was Jewish because "if the Nazis capture you, they'll shoot you." Instead, he said he was Catholic, his girlfriend's religion. During a nearly fatal bout with meningitis early in his deployment that cost him his hearing in one ear, he woke to hear a priest administering Last Rites. That, he believes, helped in what he calls "a relatively charmed life," one that kept him otherwise safe during the war. Appel, one of a dwindling number of U.S. World War II veterans who helped liberate Europe and the world from the grip of Nazism, fascism and genocidal hatred, was humble as he reflected on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. "There's hardly a day that goes by without someone saying to me, 'Thank you for your service,'" he said. "And I am very grateful for that. We knew we were fighting for a purpose." V-E Day marks the day Germans, reeling from military defeats and the death by suicide just days before of their leader, Adolf Hitler, surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Forces. The Allies − the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and China, among others − fought the Axis Powers − Germany, Italy and Japan. The war was fought in primarily in two theaters, the European (which also included parts of the Middle East and North Africa) and the Pacific. V-E Day was the day the European campaign came to an end. Even though the Germans had surrendered, the Japanese had not, and so the war in the Pacific theater was still ongoing and would continue into the summer of 1945. The war, which broke out in 1939, had been costly in Europe, decimating cities and leaving much of the continent in ruins. There were massive military and civilian casualties. And the Nazis murdered 6 million Jews as well as others the Third Reich deemed "undesirable," including LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities and disabled people, in the Holocaust. Bloody battles on Iwo Jima and Okinawa over the winter and spring of 1945 had resulted in heavy losses among American and Japanese forces, but war in the Pacific continued. It wasn't until the United States used atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, killing a combined 165,000 people, that the Japanese relented. "There was a sense of unfinished business," Peter Donovan Crean Sr., vice president for education and access at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, told USA TODAY. "But it was also a moment of joy and elation and hope," and a "signal to the world that dawn was beginning to break." World War II officially ended on Sept. 2, 1945. As many as 80 million people, about 3% of the world's population at the time, were killed (including 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust). According to the U.S. Department of Defense, 250,000 American troops were killed in Europe during World War II. Notable battles involving U.S. forces included the invasion of Normandy, France, later called D-Day, on June 6, 1944; and the Battle of the Bulge in Northern France, Luxembourg and Belgium on Dec. 16, 1944. More than 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II. More than 400,000 Americans lost their lives in the war. According to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans (which cites the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), there are 66,143 WWII veterans still alive in the United States. Most are 90 years old or older. "We are at a critical time where we need to take advantage of being able to hear these stories," said Crean, a retired colonel with 30 years' service in the U.S. Army. "In the not-too-distant future we will not be able to have that luxury." The museum's Voices from the Front project captures the voices and memories of a host of people involved in World War II, including veterans, Holocaust survivors and people who were working on the homefront, for an interactive exhibit for visitors to ask questions, get answers and "talk" with those people, even after they're gone. "It's so important that we capture their stories now so future generations can learn those lessons and understand the context of the world you're living in," Crean said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: V-E Day 80 year anniversary: Vet recalls a 'fight for civilization'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
E2open sold to WiseTech, Australian logistics software company
Supply chain software provider e2open is being bought by an Australian technology company, the culmination of a strategic review of its operations that began with a push from an activist investor. E2open said late Sunday it is being acquired by WiseTech Global Ltd., which e2open described as a 'leading provider of logistics execution software solutions.'The price of the transaction was $3.30 per share. That is a roughly 28.4% premium over the closing price of e2open Friday, when it closed at $2.57 per share. The value of the deal was put at $2.1 billion. The transaction will mean the end of e2open as a publicly-traded company, a history that dates back only to October 2020 when it went public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). In a prepared statement, e2Open CEO Andrew Appel said the deal 'maximizes value for our shareholders and positions the Company for long-term success.' 'WiseTech's global footprint and commitment to innovation are highly complementary to e2open's capabilities,' he said. 'Together, we will be able to offer a leading end-to-end platform for the world's most complex supply chains.'The ride of e2open as a publicly-trade company was not a positive one for early investors. According to data on Yahoo! Finance, e2open stock traded as high as roughly $14.50 per share in June 2021. It hit a low of $1.75 on April 4. E2open's struggles ultimately cost CEO Michael Farlekas his job, as he was pushed out in October 2023. It was after Appel was hired as CEO after serving as interim CEO that the company's strategic review was launched. It came after activist investor Elliott Investment Management had taken a stake of more than 13% in the company. Since the strategic review was launched, company executives have repeatedly declined to say anything about its progress on the company's quarterly earnings calls, as recently as the fourth quarter call that took place April 29. Financial data at e2open (NYSE: ETWO) has been disastrous in recent years. It recorded a $652 million operating loss in the fiscal year ended February 28, which was an improvement over the roughly $1.5 billion loss the prior fiscal year. Subscription revenue, the lifeblood of a software provider, dropped to $528 million from $537 million year-over-year. On the latest earnings call, Appel touted several areas of improvement, including sequential increases in subscription revenue and that in the fourth quarter, e2Open had the highest renewal percentage of any quarter in the fiscal year. But to show its challenges, e2Open's forecast for the first quarter–which will end this week–was for subscription revenue to range from a low of a 1.8% decline to a 0.5% increase year-over-year. Media reports said the E2open is the largest acquisition in the history of WiseTech, which is headed by Australian billionaire Richard White. Its primary product for the logistics market is called articles by John Kingston As shippers adjust to tariffs, the message at Momentum is: Don't forget the TMS Georgia tort reform aims to change practices in judicial 'hell hole' Double whammy for Wabash: 2 key agencies cut debt rating on trailer builder The post E2open sold to WiseTech, Australian logistics software company appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Michigan hospitals, activists disagree on price-gouging claims
LANSING, (Mich.) WLNS — Shopping for the right hospital could save you money, according to the Michigan Health Purchasers Coalition (MIHPC). The group claims hospitals are ripping off patients when it comes to drug costs, but hospitals deny this. Bret Jackson, the president of MIHPC, says excessive costs are keeping people from getting the care they need. 'People not taking the drug that they need to be healthy because of the cost of what they have to pay out of their pocket,' said Jackson.'It really is the difference between living a healthy life or suffering.' According to data provided by MIHPC, hospitals spent just more than $4 billion on drugs in 2023, but patients paid more than $13 billion for those same drugs. Jackson said hospitals don't have to charge as much as they do. 'Some hospitals are overcharging patients for drugs. I don't think they need to, I think they are getting reasonable rates for drugs that they are dispensing to patients, and I think they need to do right by the parents that they serve…' Many patients pay what's called a co-insurance, usually around 20% of the total cost of care. For patients with Medicare, drug prices are often much lower. One example from the MIHPC was Humira, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. With Medicare, the drug costs about $1,800. Without Medicare, Humira can cost around $13,000 for the exact same drug. Laura Appel, the Vice President of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, rejects the claims of over-pricing. 'We reject the claim of price gouging. The coalition chose a few items to analyze. We think that their dataset is incomplete,' said Appel. Appel said the coalition failed to recognize multiple important cost factors involved with these drugs. 'Just the cost of the drug, that is not the cost of receiving the drug in the hospital, and keeping it at the right place at the right temperature, and paying pharmacists and pharmacy taxes, and making sure that the drug is not expired,' said Appel. 'Hospitals do everything that they can to keep costs down and still serve their communities.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Spring Half Marathon sees thousands of runners mark personal bests, including 18-year-old cancer survivor
Thousands of people poured into downtown Sunday near Butler Field for the Life Time Chicago Spring Half Marathon. The event, now in its 16th year, is an opportunity for Chicagoans to celebrate spring in the city — and for runners far and wide to test their abilities and mark new personal achievements. The runners represented 48 states and 33 countries, with many waking up bright and early to participate in either the half marathon or the 10K. Friends and family showed up as well to cheer on their loved ones on the cool, overcast morning, some with signs that read 'One step at a time you've got this,' 'Run like Joe Jonas is at the finish line' and 'ChatGPT can't help you with this one.' The course started on Columbus Drive, south of Monroe Street and followed the Lakefront Trail, providing runners with a scenic waterfront view of the iconic Chicago skyline. Joosim Song, 35, said he enjoyed the view, but was absorbed by the task at hand. 'I can't really focus on it because I'm running so hard,' the Arlington Heights resident said. But in the end, it all paid off — Song said he got a new personal record in the half marathon, finishing at 1 hour and 19 minutes. Samantha Hanson, 28, also beat her record at the half marathon, coming in at 1 hour and 18 minutes. The Minneapolis resident is the women's champion for the half marathon, but when it was all over, there was just one thought on her mind. 'I'm just really glad to be done,' she said. For some runners, the race was an opportunity not just to beat personal records but also a chance to mark the challenges they overcame. Jared Appel does not consider himself a runner. The 18-year-old from Plymouth, Minnesota had not even ran a 5K before, let alone a 10K race. But after going through six months of chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, which forced him to put his life on hold, Appel wanted to do something to get his life back on track. Going to the gym was one of the few things he could do to get out of the house during his treatment, and just as his treatment wrapped up, he saw an advertisement for the half marathon at his gym. 'So far, I've been able to work my way up from being able to barely run a mile,' Appel said. 'I've done the whole 10K twice, once on a treadmill, once outside.' He was excited to prove to himself and his friends that he could run the entire course. He ended up doing just that, only taking a few 30-second walk breaks throughout. 'The fact that I was able to run that distance alone was something I never thought I'd be able to do,' Appel said. 'I never thought I would run for more than 10 minutes without panting so hard.' But by the time he finished the race, Appel said he was a little disappointed. He was seconds away from finishing the 10K in under an hour, but ultimately finished at 1 hour and 16 seconds. Sunday's race was also a challenge for Becky Allen of Wonder Lake, who said she had never run a half marathon before. She was a little nervousand considered dropping out, but ultimately stuck with it. The half marathon was another way for the 44-year-old to mark how far she has come from four years ago when she weighed 300 pounds. She has since lost that weight through a combination of weight loss surgery and exercise. 'In my past, had enjoyed running but just never really stuck with it,' said Allen, who ran cross country for a short time in high school. 'But after I lost the weight and got much more active, I decided that I enjoyed running.' Allen said her sister and brother-in-law run a lot of 5Ks, and after Allen got back into running, she started joining their runs. 'I would go with my sister, and we would walk them before I lost the weight,' she said. 'And then as I got more active, and I was working out every day, and I lost the weight, all of a sudden, I was keeping up with my brother-in-law. I always had this goal: 'Someday I'm going to beat him.'' And finally, Allen did. Now her sister does not want to run 5Ks with her anymore because she runs them too fast, Allen said. 'A half-marathon is a really big jump for me. I probably should have gone to a 10K first,' Allen said. Regardless, she was still excited to put her best effort into the race, and ended up finishing in a little over three hours.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
101-year-old vet recalls 'fight for civilization' 80 years after V-E Day
101-year-old vet recalls 'fight for civilization' 80 years after V-E Day Show Caption Hide Caption 80 years on: VE Day and Europe's liberation This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany and the end of the war in Europe, which claimed millions of lives. unbranded - Newsworthy For Jack Appel, 101, the Allies' victory in Europe − made official on May 8, 1945 − wasn't just vital because otherwise, as he said, "we'd all be speaking German now." "World War II was a major, major fight for civilization," the World War II veteran told USA TODAY this week as the globe marks the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. "Civilization" is no casual choice of words for Appel, a Brooklyn native now living in Boca Raton, Florida. He was among the first Americans to see the Buchenwald concentration camp, abandoned by the Nazis as the Allies closed in. Appel, who served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Europe during the war, is Jewish. "Seeing the ovens, it was just unbelievable that any civilization could ..." his voice trailed, then he continued, "it was 11 million people total, 6 million of them Jews, and the others political enemies, homosexuals, gypsies." Appel, who also told his story in an oral history video for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015, knew just what he and others had been fighting for. After being drafted, a friend advised him not to say he was Jewish because "if the Nazis capture you, they'll shoot you." Instead, he said he was Catholic, his girlfriend's religion. During a nearly fatal bout with meningitis early in his deployment that cost him his hearing in one ear, he woke to hear a priest administering Last Rites. That, he believes, helped in what he calls "a relatively charmed life," one that kept him otherwise safe during the war. Appel, one of a dwindling number of U.S. World War II veterans who helped liberate Europe and the world from the grip of Nazism, fascism and genocidal hatred, was humble as he reflected on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. "There's hardly a day that goes by without someone saying to me, 'Thank you for your service,'" he said. "And I am very grateful for that. We knew we were fighting for a purpose." What is V-E Day? V-E Day marks the day Germans, reeling from military defeats and the death by suicide just days before of their leader, Adolf Hitler, surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Forces. The Allies − the United States, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and China, among others − fought the Axis Powers − Germany, Italy and Japan. The war was fought in primarily in two theaters, the European (which also included parts of the Middle East and North Africa) and the Pacific. V-E Day was the day the European campaign came to an end. Did V-E Day end World War II? Even though the Germans had surrendered, the Japanese had not, and so the war in the Pacific theater was still ongoing and would continue into the summer of 1945. The war, which broke out in 1939, had been costly in Europe, decimating cities and leaving much of the continent in ruins. There were massive military and civilian casualties. And the Nazis murdered 6 million Jews as well as others the Third Reich deemed "undesirable," including LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities and disabled people, in the Holocaust. Bloody battles on Iwo Jima and Okinawa over the winter and spring of 1945 had resulted in heavy losses among American and Japanese forces, but war in the Pacific continued. It wasn't until the United States used atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, killing a combined 165,000 people, that the Japanese relented. "There was a sense of unfinished business," Peter Donovan Crean Sr., vice president for education and access at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, told USA TODAY. "But it was also a moment of joy and elation and hope," and a "signal to the world that dawn was beginning to break." World War II officially ended on Sept. 2, 1945. As many as 80 million people, about 3% of the world's population at the time, were killed (including 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust). How many Americans were killed during World War II in Europe? According to the U.S. Department of Defense, 250,000 American troops were killed in Europe during World War II. Notable battles involving U.S. forces included the invasion of Normandy, France, later called D-Day, on June 6, 1944; and the Battle of the Bulge in Northern France, Luxembourg and Belgium on Dec. 16, 1944. How many Americans fought in World War II? How many WWII veterans are still alive in the US? More than 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II. More than 400,000 Americans lost their lives in the war. According to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans (which cites the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), there are 66,143 WWII veterans still alive in the United States. Most are 90 years old or older. 'So important to capture' the stories of WWII vets "We are at a critical time where we need to take advantage of being able to hear these stories," said Crean, a retired colonel with 30 years' service in the U.S. Army. "In the not-too-distant future we will not be able to have that luxury." The museum's Voices from the Front project captures the voices and memories of a host of people involved in World War II, including veterans, Holocaust survivors and people who were working on the homefront, for an interactive exhibit for visitors to ask questions, get answers and "talk" with those people, even after they're gone. "It's so important that we capture their stories now so future generations can learn those lessons and understand the context of the world you're living in," Crean said.
