Bestselling author Stephen E. Ambrose died today. I've read several of Ambrose's books, most recently "Band of Brothers," and he was an excellent author.

In recent months, there was an uproar over some passages in Ambrose's books that were apparently lifted directly from other sources.

But, setting that aside, Ambrose will be remembered for doing for World War II history what Bruce Catton did for Civil War history. Ambrose expanded the awareness of many Americans of what my grandfather's generation accomplished more than 60 years ago.

That is what Ambrose will be remembered for -- and for that our nation owes him a debt of thanks.