WWII PURPLE HEART - RETURNED HOME AFTER 77 YEARS
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- Опубликовано: 24 дек 2022
- The PURPLE HEART Mini Documentary is dedicated to George M. Gillilan (1918-1944). He is one of many young men who gave his life for our freedom and whose personal items are simply for sale online without his family knowing about it. With this story we hope to inspire others to follow our example and return lost belongings of soldiers to their families.
Historiography is often about the great battles and generals and rarely about the 'ordinary' soldiers. This is a tribute to those who never made it into the history books at school, but should just as well not be forgotten.
Production credits
Production: Doerak Film
Director & voice over: Jeroen van den Kroonenberg
Camera: Stefan Thoolen
Editing: Doerak Film
Grading & audio: Rico Derks
Co producer: SNAFU Docs
Graphics: Patrick Klein Meuleman
More information or questions:
www.doerakfilm.tv
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I cant stop watching and crying. My dad is named after George. To see my family honored. I just have no words. This was the most beautiful thing i think I have ever witnessed. Thank you all. ❤❤❤❤
If you’re thinking about honourable men, I’d suggest you rethink your support for the most dishonourable man in America, Trump.
@@XxBloggs get some help.
bring george a visit @ margraten... and meet the people that cleans his grave 🫶🫶
This a documentary about my Uncle George that was killed in WWII. Until these young men from the Netherlands and the families that take care of their graves, we didn’t know any medals or documents even existed. A special thanks to all involved… great job by everyone….
It looks like George was married? Do you think the items had been kept by his wife and they were disposed of when she died?
That is one theory we expected
You are both related then
Thank you. That means a lot to my grandmother's family.
A truly honourable thing to do, and a reminder, that medals are earned, not bought.
👏🏻 RIP George
Thank you and thanks to those who made this very special reunion possible. I have visited that cemetery and a was stationed not far away. The care provided by the Dutch families is greatly appreciated. A friends grandfather is buried there. An ARMY colleague and German friend visit his grave and pay their heartfelt respects. Freedom is special. 🇳🇱 🇺🇸
What an amazing story, and so well researched. To have something that was floating around on the internet, and bring it home to Ohio after 77 years, you can see how much it means to George's family.
EveryoneI involved with this channel are fantastic people of the 1st order.
God Bless You All.
I am a born and raised Buckeye. I am very proud to hear stories of Ohioans from “The Greatest Generation” and their sacrifices.
I have been fortunate enough to visit both Margraten (NL) and Henri Chapelle (BEL) probably 20x over the past 25 years.
Each visit to Margraten I have met someone taking care of a grave. Without fail, those people ask me about the state the soldier was from and what that state is like.
What you did for that family in Ohio was PRACHTIG! DANK U WEL!
Joey, What a great story. Thank you for your dedication and hard work in preserving the legacy of
the fallen soldiers of WWII. May your historical productions be appreciated around the world for many decades to come.
So many don't have any records to go by in the U.S. because of the fire at the U.S. Army storage installation at St. Louis Missouri. This must be such a comfort and closure to the family to be able to research based on the grave registration if their family member was killed. Thank you Joey and company. Happy Christmas and the best of New Year to you for 2023.
This means a lot to the little community of Chester Ohio. Thank you for your kindness.
Beautiful documentary. Thank you for doing what you do. Their deaths go ignored even more so these days so it means a lot. I was born decades after the war ended, but I still honor and appreciate everything these soldiers did for not only The United States, but the world.
Incredible! What a gift for George’s brothers after all those years. And the documentary is so well done. 💛💛💛
Beautiful! I am a vet of recnt years who lives in Italy. I am also from Ohio. Great Job! Nothing more to add
A beautiful special story, of which there should be much more. in one word great: thanks to everyone who gave their contributions to this story.
Proud Dutch veteran,
FREEDOM - RESPECT
We don't forget.
From experience I know what this means to the family's. It is such a great honour to be able to tell the story about their loved ones, and when you are able to return precious items like these..... That is just priceless....
Thank you so much for bring this story to us and to the family we need never to forget the sacrifice these men made for us, this country needs to remember why we have the privilege to live the way we do.
Each video that SNAFU DOCS presents just keeps getting better and better. Thank you SO much for your hard work and for honoring our Military personnel after all these years. May God bless each of you for doing this.
You guys are amazing. Not only the dedication to get these medals back to the family but the beautiful production quality of the video.
Ive been looking forward to a Snafu Docs video and you didn't disappoint. Such reverence that the Dutch people show to the war dead of WW2.
Wow what a beautiful and nobel documentry. Nicely done
Incredible story, Joey! I have one word to describe your dedication to history and work..... OUTSTANDING.
I am speechless on what a great video this was! Amazing Job to everybody who took part in it!
Joey van meesen your a God send. Keep up the valued service you provide.
well this had me in tears. God bless this young man who gave his life in the service of his country, and God bless his family.
Fantastic video and it brought tears to my eyes, especially the letter reading..Thank You & God Bless Them All
What a blessing this act of kindness was, as well as the family caring for his resting place. So special. George was killed the day my parents were married.
Amazing story and great to see how these “small” things have great impact. So good to see! ❤
Amazing Story.
Very well done, it brings closure for some very good people, some I know well, knowing the people of Europe still honor the sacrifices American families made to free the world from tyranny.
The families of Europe know about sacrifices and loss. They lost a great deal themselves for years.
How awesome it is to return these items to the family! Thanks for sharing!
Amazing my dad's war medals are always worn by me when ever I can and as a bus driver I am actively encouraged by my company
Amazing job the creative & historical aspects are professionally done & shown in detail Truly awesome work Thank u for sharing
Another outstanding documentary from the SNAFU Docs and such a heartfelt story.
All credit to the good people of Holland who show respect,care and consideration for our WW2 service men and women who never returned home . SNAFU ,you guys are truly amazing, thank you so much and God Bless 🫡❤️
Completely amazing. I cannot stop crying. Thank you for sharing.
Why this one hurt and bad... to learn of his family, brothers and the honor you gave him! Thank You!
What a beautiful documentary and an impressive story. Great work, respect. Keep up the good work!
Incredible story. Thank you for posting it.
God bless you, Jeroen.
Amazing job my friend!
Thank you for bringing us this story. Excellent job.
A delightful story...
I collect WW1-2 medals that are sold on ebay, one day i saw some English medals for sale and one of them was the Military Medal which is for bravery, the medals were lined up in the wrong order and there was a photo of a sergeant in uniform as well, and what a proud tough man he looked,
The lady selling them said it was her grandfathers medals and she wanted to sell them, i asked did she know what those medals represent and what he had to do to be awarded them. of course she didn't so i told her to do some research on her grandfather and see what he had done and i told her how to do it, and if she still wanted to sell them i would buy them. she got back to me and thanked me from the bottom of her heart she had no idea he was a hero who ran into no mans land twice during a battle risking his life to save two of his mates that were wounded and calling for help, she said they will remain in the family and take pride of place framed on the wall.
That's how medals get lost from families and should remain in the family for ever with the story attached to them being passed down to the children
Wow thanks for sharing. I am glad she appreciates them now. ❤❤
May God bless you all for doing this great work. Thank you doesn't begin to touch the gratitude you deserve.
Glad your presentation is back. It's been a while. Great story.
Fantastische documentaire! Heel mooi dat jullie dit hebben gedaan voor de familie! Chapeau!
Thank you.
Absolutely amazing.
you guys are rock stars.........................................................
Such an amazing and beautiful story!
Very good posting. 🇺🇸
Beautiful film!😭😭😭
Good Stuff!
heel mooi en goed gebaar. Een voorbeeld, denk ik, voor andere er zijn er immers een heleboel in omloop binnen Nederland maar ook Europe
Excellent!
Was waiting for a table in a restaurant (Olive Garden?) in northern Va years ago and saw a beautifully matted/framed picture of a WW I Doughboy with a Purple Heart below it. No doubt the item was bought in an estate sale when the family died out. It seemed so sad and disrespectful as nothing more than background litter that I might have stolen it if it wasn’t secured to the wall.
Fantastic. ❤❤
Thanks!
Very good
Indrukwekkende docu!
It’s a great story and very well done . The only issue is WW2 posthumously awarded Purple Hearts were engraved with the soldiers name and were shipped to the families. The fact this medal is not engraved causes concern.
I did find this from a historian. - For soldiers Killed in Action, they almost always have engraving on the back (there are certainly exceptions), for soldiers who were wounded but did not die some received medals with engraving on the back, some did not. It could depend on when and where they were awarded, or a number of other conditions. There is nothing wrong with his PH medal not having his name on the back, that is likely how your uncle received it.
Respectfully,
Lisa Sharik
Deputy Director
Texas Military Forces Museum
Why so long guys?!! It's like an Apple head waiting for the new I phone!
2123 a training system except a few matches going to be certain the friend who wouldnt hold it burried that scent
Please explain one thing. Who was selling George M. Gillilan's military decorations on EBAY?? I assume it was a heartless family member looking for quick cash. Please clarify. Surely people should understand the historical values of passing these types of artifacts through the generations within the family.
We have no idea as to how it got on there. It was never given to his parents! His wife may have received them but we were never told about them. She passed and so we have no idea if they were sold in her estate because she had no family. So you cant judge the family. I am thankful they are back with us and will always be as far as i am concerned!!
How in the world could anyone sit there and feel good about having something like that in their possession when it rightfully belongs to the family of the fallen soldier? God there’s some truly idiotic people out there. That’s the first thing I’d do is try to find where it belongs.
I agree and i am blessed it is back with us. ❤❤
I want to thank you very much, for the research and the work that you're doing to reunite the personal items and medals of the fallen soldiers, to their families! I would also say that the families of the Netherlands that adopted those fallen soldiers and take personal care of each one of them is truly amazing! It speaks of true love and appreciation of their sacrifices! God bless you and everyone there for their care and commitment.