My dad died about 7 years ago. I sure wish you could have interviewed him. He flew a B-17 over Germany, and was shot down. He spent the last 9 months of the war as a POW. He had quite a few war stories.
Thomas please know reading your comment, I appreciate and owe my life and freedoms to your father and everyone else who served. I think about them everyday. 🇺🇲
being in b17's was horrific, my grandfather watched one go down over Germany in a field in 1944 as a young German child. The children ran up to the plane and the bodies were burnt so badly they thought they were an African Crew. Then the German army arrived to clean up and made them leave the area. He watched this stuff happen regularly all while his father was also fighting at the front.
@@RubyBandUSA thank you very much for your kind words. One comment to the 2 vets and the cold war veterans.....I know there are not many veterans left from ww2 and the cold war but I would like to hear how they mistreated by the v a in that era.
Imagine the people who were born in late 1910's. First being born in the Spanish flu pandemic, being an adolescent during the great depression, early adulthood during WW2. By the time they were around 30 or so they had been through some tough times.
@@BrownTrout1238 For real lol. How stupid does one have to be to not even check the date on a comment they're replying to...? Especially when they're commenting specifically about the date something happened 😂
Imagine not only seeing the Pearl Harbor aftermath, but also being among those involved on D-day. Massive respect to this man and the greatest generation
Every time I see "saving private Ryan" I'm blown away by the storming of Normandy. Just the movie scenes are frightening, can't imagine the fear running through these men as they ran up that beach. The fact they made it up that death trap is amazing. Some brave mofos here
On the afternoon of July 25, 2022, Sherwin Callander (aka Chick Magnet) of Huntsville passed away at the age of 102 with his daughter and granddaughter by his side. Rest in Peace, hero. We remember your sacrifice.
It's good to know that at least a part of his life, that contained a lifetimes worth of so much, was documented while he was able to tell the stories himself.
I'm there with you brother God bless him and my grandfather. Mine was supposed to be on the Arizona he and his 2 buddy's were lucky they went to church that morning . While they were leaving church he said I knew we were under attack when I saw that big red meatball. Men of steel. He had nightmares of picking up body parts of friends his whole life. Never forget.....
I just lost my grandpa and bestfriend at 97 years old. He was a ww2 vet. The man saw so many horrors in his life. But he was absolutely the most loving man I've ever met in my life. I miss him every single day.
Its nice that you had such a great relationship with him. I never had a good relationship with my grandparents growing up. We were never close. No particular reason. When they passed, I didn't even cry.
My uncle, Wayne Hamilton joined the Marines at age 17. He was a B.AR man. He told me many stories of the war fight from island to island. He was badly wounded and said he woke up in a navy hospital ship. He recovered and and in 1946 was honorable discharged. I lost my uncle on September 8th, 2022.He was 94 years old.I miss u Uncle Wayne. A true American Hero!!Rest easy uncle Wayne, till we see each other again. With love, your nephew, SARGENT ROCKY WAYNE HAMILTON, U.S ARMY.
My grantmother in russia is a war veteran as well, aged 97 she is still vital and can tell all the things she remember in detail. Im proud she still lives in this world.
She survived ww2 Cold War breaking of the Soviet Union gulf war Iraq war 9 11 and covid that’s quite a record I would say my great grandpa was ww2 vet he passed in 17 never talked about it I wonder if he was one of them who were there would have to ask
✌️🇺🇸 Yes agree...my dad was so humble to the day he passed away...Still miss him so much...He passed away in 1996. 1st Marine division to land on Guadalcanal and Okinawa.....God Bless all of our Brave Veterans Forever...🇺🇸 💞✌️
@@katherinegates1559 what’s crazy was my great grandfather was also in the 1st marine division on Guadalcanal I have his patch that he never sewed on to his uniform. He drove tanks on Guadalcanal
Supposedly the World War One generation is night and day harder I’ve read.. I read somewhere that the World War Two generation would have more in common with the millennials than the World War One generation. How insane is that?? Imagine how hard this wwI vets musta been…
I’m sure they hear this all the time in war.... if their mothers heard this they would be dead broken for life ... now let’s stop china invading taiwan and other places!! Wait.... what’s this about again?
this man saw the aftermath of pearl harbor, italy, africa, and normandy. he saw the entire war and we're lucky enough to even get a glimpse through his eyes. god bless sailor
@@moritz9077 he seen enough of the war and devastation to probably be scarred till this day if it weren’t for the US your numbers you so proudly cite would be near doubled. Not sure why you think 1 persons accounts of a war should be discredited because they weren’t in every single battle.
@@moritz9077 oh it was five years huh? Seeing as WW2 started in 1939 and the US joined in 1941, you'd think the war was only going on for 2 years. And I suppose D-Day and the battles after are really the only battles with American participation lol, it's not like the participated in the North African campaigns in '42, and the Invasion of Sicily in '43, guess I've got a lot to learn huh? Obvious sarcasm here lmao And who says they won the war alone lmao? The only theatre they actually won on their own was the Pacific, while the bulk of the fighting was in europe
@@moritz9077 Whoopee Doo, considering that the war was not fought in America but on European and Asian lands why should we have even given a damn how many people were dying to save their homelands? Russians pretty much died on their own soil, Germans pretty much died on their own soil or land they invaded, most Americans died on foreign lands. So who is the braver? The one being shot at and firing back or the one volunteering to go and be shot at to help an ally?
Yes we must not forget, ooh I forgot to put my mask on & take my child to be injected with an untested bio agent because the government told the news to tell me that I have to.
This is the best commemoration of our veterans ever made. I remember visiting VFW halls as a young cadet, late 70s/early 80s. I remember the Korean War vets, they were missing fingers or parts of their ears and noses, and I saw the frostbite damage. I visited my grandfather in the Lyons NJ VA hospital, he was a WW1 vet. There were rows of beds with the old guys, and so many were moaning in pain. We owe them everything we have.
Facts, too many people are so damn hateful towards our service members and they don’t deserve any of it, you don’t have to agree with our countries actions but you still should always respect service members. For they are the ones who have given us the freedoms we have .
Hearing that part broke me. Many of those young soldiers were still kids, so young but facing horrors few could even imagine. My heart goes out to all these brave soldiers and what they were willing to do for the freedoms we have today. May we never forget them.
It’s truly a shame that not many people know about this channel. It’s content is unmatched by anything. One day there will be no one left to interview and I hope the future generations will find this page. Much love and support! Keep making the best content on RUclips!
@@jigsawalwayswins8636 yea all about people care now is having a bmw, an iPhone, gossip about others and social media. And if somebody is proud of his/her country is 'weird', sadly.
I always look forward to the first Friday of the month because of the new episodes. I hope he can continue these especially with so many vets dying from old age. My uncle fought in WW2 and died last year at the age of 99
At the VA Hospital, when we see a WW II vet, they get massive respect from all the other vets. We go out of our way to hold the door for them and call them sir. They survived the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and WW II. God bless all the still living and those that have passed of the greatest generation.
"they survived the great depression" there's not really anyone left who truly survived it, even if you were 10 at the time of it, you'd be ~100 now... They didn't survive it, their parents and family did
My grandfather served in the navy during WW2 and is still alive today. He's not one to talk much about any violence he went through, just the places he's visited. He did tell me he was on the cleanup of Pearl Harbor. Thank you for what you're doing
My grandfather was the same for most of his life. It wasnt until Saving Private Ryan came out that he started sharing about what he survived. Before that he would just tell us all that he spent the war hiding in a fox hole. He didnt want us to have to feel any of that. I'm glad he finally did though.
My grandfather didn't talk about his impoverished childhood or WWII... until he had Alzheimer's. Couldn't remember what happened five minutes ago, but he remembered everything from his youth. He was a lieutenant a destroyer at Okinawa and some of the other later Pacific battles, then went to occupation force in Europe once the war was over.
@@localneo-graphic4647 It is amazing to me what that generation survived and how so many just went on with life, never really speaking of it. And most had already experienced so much before WWII even broke out.
@@JorgeGarcia-xd6ve they do, if you ever talk to them. A relative of mine flew spitfire in the war, when he was alive and we would say he was a hero he would insist he wasn't, even get annoyed - he would say the guys who didn't come home are heroes, as they paid the ultimate price.
It's amazing how they feel like they aren't heroes. Maybe it's thta once you've been in the shoes of someone who witnessed the ugliness of war. You can always think of someone else in the war who did something slightly more heroic in your view and you can't accept the title. Either way. It's beyon imagination what they endured.
This content isn't good, it's MORE than amazing. Mate, you are doing something that most people don't appreciate now, but will later. Thank for making these. And even if I'm Spanish,I have so much respect for WW2 vets. Much love from Spain.
@@ericbadia5 Ya, y eso que aqui en España se aprecian menos que nunca, ya que la última guerra gorda que tuvimos fue la guerra civil, y eso término en 1939, osea que tendrias algo como 100-110 años.
78 years later on the Day of D-Day. This is a real hero. Not only Normandy, but he did his part at Pearl Harbor, then to serve in North Africa and Italy and to top it off D-Day. Thank you sir. And to that whole Generation. We honor you all today.
"I want my momma." That really cuts deep. There's nothing more that makes me uneasy than to hear cries for help or screams of pain either in war movies or any audible footage of war. There really isn't anything else more saddening than to hear a Veteran remember these things. It's impossible to imagine how they got through it although hearing their memories is amazing for future generations to understand how we have evolved and how these things can be prevented.
Although the lucky ones got through it, they still got PTSD, most of them, and they never got help for it because "shell shock" -- what they called it then -- was just something that happened and there was no need to get treated. I feel sorry for those WWII vets who had to live with undiagnosed and untreated PTSD. My Dad was a Korean War vet, and he NEVER talked about his service, but I knew he hated it because he was very active in the Veterans Against the Vietnam War organization.
We have NOT evolved sadly. It's in our nation war has been waged since the beginning of time. We simply do not get along. Our weapons shoot further and faster and harder now.
@@SteelKicker01 My father wasn't tricked. He understood what Hitler was doing and represented and he put his life on the line to help stop one of the greatest evils of human history and to preserve the freedom of stranger neighbors overseas. Some had less informed and less idyllic reasons to enlist...sure, this is always true, but since when has politics or military not involved degrees of trickery? Do you not understand that all measures of freedom, peace and security you now, have ever or will ever enjoy are bought and paid for in blood of people in military and law enforcement, past and present, whether having entered into that service by trickery, selfishness or selflessness? Your words leave me wondering whether you know the sources of good and blessing in your life. God bless you and yours!
They were never a special breed. They are more or less you and me. They just had the experiences to decide to run into gun fire instead of running away from it. @@LiveHappy76 Oh, please. The actions of individuals might have been heroic and should be respected. But don't over glorify them. They did good and we are living in the results of their actions. But it was a problem occuring at their time and caused by their generation. It was only natural they deal with it themselves. Not that I don't respect them and think of them as incredible human beings that I can never hope to be compared to. But because of that, I study what went on with them, what they went through and found it not fun and glorious. They very much fought for their own interests too. We are just sharing, or to be more precise, leeching off their work. You seem to acknowledge it too. But your father went in willingly, to clean up a mess others made. And that made your father all the greater man than he is celebrated. I have no doubt about it. I only want to clarify just one thing, your father, and many others did everything they did in their own interests too. So don't over glorify them. They are heroes, but human ones, not godly.
I’ll never forget the first time seeing Saving Private Ryan in the theatre. There was an elderly lady in row in front of me, comforting her husband during the landing scene at Normandy. They were very discrete not trying to attract any attention to themselves. It was so poignant.. it was at that point , the movie stopped being a movie and became real life to me.
Such a great film, but yes it’s hard to believe the reality of it until you see an actual documentary/ footage such as this. Or in your case someone who has lived it. All my relatives who were in battles up to their death refused to speak about it. We live in a much different world now with the technological advances we have. Imagine killing thousands of people just from the push of a button thousands of miles away. It’s just so difficult to comprehend what these men felt back then at such young ages. 😢
Ah...the greediest generation that one that created global warming. They're the generation responsible for our real soon extinction. Yeah i feel lucky too
The scariest about this, most of the people you see in the beaches and ships aren't here with us anymore. Thank you WWII Veterans for protecting and serving the country! Today may never exist without you.
People should never take for granted this, the prosperous and peaceful times we can live in always came with a fight with who wanted them gone in the past and now.
I have both tears and chills watching this. My Grandfather was not at Normandy, but he was a WWII Combat Wounded Veteran receiving 3 Purple Hearts and 3 Bronze Stars. He was in the Army and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He then was deployed to the Northern Solomons and then to Guadalcanal...where he was severely wounded but recovered....he was then reassigned to The European Theater and fought in The Rhineland and The Ardennes (The Battle of the Bulge)...he was twice more wounded in Europe..including a bayonet wound in his leg. When I was a kid..I asked what happened...he simply said.. "I won" He passed away in 1996 at the relatively young age of 73. May God Bless All Who Served to Protect Our Freedom
Thats badass. My grandma remarried a WW2 veteran but i was too young to appreciate him. He died while i was still a young teenager. I wish i could go back and ask Jack some of his stories
It’s crazy to think that these sweet loving old men and women we knew as our grandparents lived threw literal hell on earth and a lot of them did really violent horrible acts. But they came home n lived lives of peace and love. Such an amazing generation
My grand father was at D~Day. The one time he spoke of it with me he had the same look in his eye and lump in his throat as this fine gentlemen. I was 14 and understood for the first time that war is a boy's dream but a man's nightmare
Part of being a soldier is helping your brothers and never leaving a man behind. Imagine being told not to do so and having to watch the horror unfold that day, I can't
It was an order...not of cruelty or indifference...........they had to get up on the beach and advance. To stop to try to help the wounded would get themselves killed as well. It was the terrain and open beach that was why. No place for cover.
I can see and hear the horror behind his eyes and the sigh, the sigh just says he is tired of closing his eyes and seeing all his friends dead and dying around him. Rest easy Sir, yours and others pain and sacrifice will never be forgotten
”I grabbed him by the arm and the meat just came off the bone”my god I can’t even imagine all the horrors they all saw. Greatest Generation is a just description. Thank You to all who were involved
When you say Greatest Generation, would you also consider Russian Vets? America joined the last 1 year of war in Europe, when it was foreseeable that Germany was losing on the Eastern Front. More people died on a single day in Eastern Europe, than the US has lost in the whole 1 year that they joined. 40million Russians, and 8million Germans lost their lives, whereas America has lost maybe around 200k. Why does the US always pretend they were the only Heros in WW2?The US literally kicked Germans against the head, took their wallets, while it was already on the ground - after Russia did all the work. Nonetheless, mad respect for all ww2 veterans from the US.
@@moritz9077 Because we tried to not be conquerors. If we involved ourselves any sooner the whole world would call us oppressors. How does the world look at America regarding the Middle East, oh yeah, oppressors. We just can't win with you foreigners.
@@justinhackstadt6677 yea because America never does something for anyone but themselves in terms of war. They always profit from it and then claim themselves heroes even tho they aren’t
@@moritz9077 “Thank you to all who were involved” what the hell are you on about man? He never showed any sort of bias towards one nations brave men. The word “generation” doesn’t imply anything except for a particular group of people born within a certain span of our timeline. You’re just looking to shit on America lmao making it way deeper than it is.
I’m proud to have met and known a wonderful man who was in the 2nd wave on June 6, 1944. In his own words he once told me, “I hit the beach at 7:20 AM... we ran and jumped over the first wave... because they all were gone.”
Just the thoughts going through your head of “I’m gunna die” and “this is the end” mixed with pure adrenaline. Just trying to picture what it could’ve been like is nearly impossible.
Once you're on that landing craft, there is only one way off.... You have no choice, Not all, but most of the WWII vets were drafted. In today's volunteer force, the possibility of your fate is done before you sign. If you dont confront the possibility that your fate could be the same as that first wave then you're a fool. Who is braver, these men, or those who volunteer for a combat MOS today? Those who volunteer confront the same possibility whether they serve in a combat zone, or not. They have no control over their eventual fate. They've already stepped on that landing craft. All our brave men and women who serve, no matter where they serve, should be respected equally. Their bravery, and patriotism, has no equal in America today. Follow Me! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@unitedwestand5100 the people today are not fighting battles like that. Not saying they are weak but compared to the men that stormed that beach these snowflakes that sign up for free school and hopes to never have to do anything it’s no question who is more brave. I support our military but to compare is just ridiculous. Bet those men storming that beach wish they had drones to bomb those machine gun nest and give them some cover which out military men and women today have.
@@TrippyWheelsEnduro ,. You dont know! That would be a naive assumption to make. A very stupid assumption.. We could have an aircraft carrier, and 3 other ships sunk tomorrow. We have some very strong and powerful adversaries. Advesaries with their own airpower, rockets, drones, and artillery. All of them won't shed their uniforms and run away like the Iraq Army did. Our soldiers and sailors must be prepared to fight anywhere in the world. They know that, and, they are... You are a very naive boy..... Unless you've served you have no idea...
You can never give enough credit for what they went through in WW2. And when you put it all together. The first eave on the beach were sacrificed in order to break the mode. They had no chance to live. It appears that was the only way to get a foot hold in the beach.
The pain in his voice is the reason I am able to live in this beautiful free nation today. Thank you and the many men and women protecting and defending our freedoms. Godbless our arm forces and God bless America.
It is sad that the young generation does not know history, these videos are priceless, these men will soon be gone, but their stories should not be forgotten
We had a substitute teacher at my High School who was a WW2 and Korea vet. I never got to hear his stories, but I remember hearing about how tense he would get when he would tell them. God bless these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I'm mexican and I really appreciate all these brave souls who fought for the world, they didn't have to do it, they never owed anything to humanity, but still they fought and won, for all mankind sake... I wish I can one day, meet at least one of them, and shake their hand and thank him for his sacrifice and effort, God bless them all.
That should be on your bucket list. I’m lucky enough to have known and be related to several of those great men. I’m blessed I get to maintain the health and well being of many WWII aircraft. You can just feel the soul in them. They were made for no purpose, none, other than to kill evil. You can sense their purity when you touch them.
At least be thankful we’ve avoided these absolutely devastating world conflicts for quite awhile. We should only be so proud of times spent killing eachother in the millions.
@@shroomwalkerpepe5913 1. They do cover these things 2. We treat what China teaches in its schools (nationalism) and the propaganda of North Korea as horrible, but it's okay for us to indoctrinate people in school. No, it's not, we must be held to the same standard and just present information. 3. The true patriotic thing to do, is look at one's country, and improve it. The American dream has not been reached yet. Today we carry out wasteful and disheartening wars constantly in the middle east. Democrats and Republicans alike perpetrate this. The rich send the poor to war to line their pockets. Don't blindly follow.
In germany we go over the WWII and the NS time at least 3 times in school. Not in elemantary school tho. For us it’s important that everyone kniws what happened so that it can never happen again from our country
My God we will never have badasses like this in our history ever again! I’m in the army myself and teared up a bit…. These guys are/ were really tough and truly inspiring! May Mr. Sherwin Rest In Peace 🥺🥲🫡
RIP my uncle Jim Becker. He was part of the 101st Airborne, dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day where he earned the Purple Heart, fought valiantly at the Battle of the Bulge, and helped to liberate Dachau concentration camp. He passed away just a few days ago.
On the 7th of June, 2019, I had the honor of meeting mister Callander, after visiting the Utah beach museum in Normandy. I was sitting on a bench together with my mother, while all of a sudden mister Callander and another ww2 veteran named Jim Young decided to sit right next to us. Both just wanted to make a little chat, but eventually ended up telling there entire life story. A moment I will always cherish. We must never forget the sacrifice these heroes made for our freedom.
what all did they tell you? Im sure people would love to hear it. quickquestion, oh btw Love the Apollo Mission control Picture on your page, just made me think of the great men that sat behind those computers, Gene Kranz, John Aaron etc.
Thank you so much for this video. My dad was born in 1923 and was drafted in the US Navy during WW2. He also went to San Diego for basic, and served on a hospital ship as a Corpman. He wouldn't talk about his experiences either, but suffered with depression until his death in 1985 (61 years old). He was the best and wisest man I've ever known.
God Bless! My dad served in Europe campaign and landed on Normandy 2 weeks after D-Day with the 84th Infantry Division and was in constant combat. The 84th pushed from France into Belgium and was hugely involved in the battle of the bulge (which my dad said he never thought he would get through alive)... Continued into Berlin at the end... He didn't talk much about his time due to the fact I think he had it pretty rough over there. Most of these old timers probably dealt with what today is called PTSD. My dad told me about his uncle who was captured by the Japanese on Wake Island, survived the death march and returned home. 6 months later he killed himself. War is a terrible thing. God Bless the men and women who served then and today...
My great grandfather served in World War 2. He served in the Black Devils brigade, the very first special service force. He passed away in 2017. I remember him telling me about some of the battles he fought in, like the battle of Monte Casino.
I realized that veterans are going away a long time ago and there are not enough interviews with them capturing their stories. Im happy that you guys are doing this, try and interview as many as you can from all around the world not just US. Great job, keep doing it and good luck.
“-that was the worst battle I believe I was in” Dude is so badass he doesn’t even realize that Normandy was arguably the worst/most brutal battle in history. Incredible.
It was brutal. However History is full of them. Imagine for example the battle at Canea. The Roman army (60k people) was compressed and just getting slaughtered slowly by the carthaginians. While they were unable to move. Roman soldiers stuck their head in the sand to suffocate themselves to get out of the horror. And there are countless more battles that were horrific. Still D-day must be ranking around the top of horrific battles somewhere yes. It must've been hell.
I give this man major credit to relive the horrors and tell his stories. My Dad and Uncle both served in ‘Nam and never shared a story from there. My Uncle came back a heroin addict to cope with life over there and my Pop forbade me to enlist in fear of me going to the Gulf war and experiencing war first hand. I regret sometimes for listening to him but who knows what would’ve happened.
My great uncle served in the Navy, pacific theater. I knew this as a kid but he would never speak of it, and we were told never to ask him about it. Later as an adult and many years after he passed I came across some of his belongings which my Grandfather had. He was on the USS Indianapolis. I remember feeling sick to my stomach when I saw that. God bless him all who serve.
My God, "I want my momma" whew, that hit me so hard because I have 2 boys roughly his age. That would haunt me for the rest of my life. God Bless these veterans!
Iam 26 years old and WW2 has always been an interest of mine these stories really put in perspective what they truly went through and most stories are amazing. I always enjoy hearing vets stories. This channel really does a good job of capturing their story and giving back ground to the story
As a Veteran myself, thank you for recording these stories of those that came before us. I am glad to have found your channel by happenstance. God Bless you and the work you do.
Only thing wrong with this video is it's not long enough. I can listen to all veteran's stories all day. Glad you're keeping these men's stories and history alive.
Pearl Harbor, DDay, Italy, Africa. He saw a lot of the war. This man walked through the textbook. I love these videos but darn I need more of their stories, there is so much there. Just one of those battles could be talked about for hours.
Never met my grandfather. He was an honest to god war hero on the icy ridges of Italy during ww2. 10th mountain. All I have are letters describing what he did. They are literally my most cherished possession. Thank you for making these videos and allowing the greatest generation to tell their stories. This is indescribably important.
I wonder how many high school history teachers are showing this channel's interviews in their classroom? Thanx for doing what you do, and a great big Thank You to the vets for participating. You guys are my heroes.
@@MemoirsofWWII Hey, thats great! I was actually being a little sarcastic, and here you go and renew my faith in teachers and kids! I was beginning to think nobody but us history nerds cared anymore. Thanx man, ya made my day. ;-)
@@ANDROLOMA I'm all for reviewing our mistakes, but Patriotism is dying in favor of it. The new generation ONLY sees the crimes, nothing positive . They despise their own country and want to see it burn.
I work at Providence Care for elderly people. I met 3 WWII Veterans & I was overwhelmed with excitement. They have no idea how cool they are to me. Such sweet souls. May God keep them protected under his guidence🙏🏾
For anyone wondering what specific Navy decorations are represented by the ribbons on PO Callander’s uniform (which you can see up close at 7:21) they are: (All left to right) Top row: World War II Victory medal; European - African - Middle East medal (earned 4x); Navy Good Conduct medal Second row: Navy Expeditionary medal; American Defense medal; American Campaign medal Third Row: Combat Action ribbon; Navy Unit Commendation medal; National Defense medal Fourth Row: Navy Reserve Sea Service medal; Navy and Marine Core Overseas Service ribbon; Navy Fleet Marine Force medal
One of the most memorable conversations I ever had was with a WW2 vet. Whether they stormed the beaches at Normandy or fought the last battles of Iwo Jima all them are true heroes. I only wish we could have such strong, real heroes today. This generation is a mere shadow of what we once were..
@@ANDROLOMA Would you mind explaining your comment . . . just so I can be sure I didn't misunderstand your intent? I get (and agree with your position) that the WWII vets made sacrifices for both their own and for future generations, but what do you mean when you say it is blind of the original poster not to see that fact?
@@DMDBSJD Very well. For him to conclude that "This generation is a mere shadow of what we once were.." is to be dismissive of the conditions which led the generation of the 1930s-1940s to oppose the rise of fascism. Any generation, when successfully inspired enough to oppose any virulent ideology, can muster the will to eradicate it just as successfully. The demise of fascism wasn't the result of any special generation, but rather a communal effort by a world-wide consciousness that genocide was wrong and tolerance of others was preferable. BTW David, that was an excellent question. One thumb up for you.
@@therion5458 Stories of exterminations were formulated before the camps were liberated. Think about it. The moral supremacy of the allies has had the US in the driver's seat of world events ever since.
@@therion5458 I'm carefully reading what you're writing. I interpret it as the Nazi genocide was less recognized than the communist pogroms during the Russian revolution. If we indulge our specious propensity for past historic blame we could also cite what European Americans did to native Americans, as far as mass killings go. In fact, a thorough study of history leads the student to the conclusion that might makes right, and the stronger society is the predominant society. You can scrutinize past motives only so far.
My great grandpa was in WWII and passed recently. I always loved hearing his stories about this era and his time in the war. Both good and bad..I think he liked that he could confide in someone and talk to me about it. Very eye opening and I miss him so much. These guys were a different breed. God bless this man for sharing his story with all of us.
My grandfather spent 4 years in WW2. US Army Infantry. He never spoke too much about it. I know he was in the Philippines and in Europe. He mentioned a few things about the jungles. He mentioned how an aircraft carrier was so close to the shore once that it looked like it filled the horizon. He passed in 2005 while I was deployed to Iraq as a US Army Infantryman. I will always regret not asking him more about his service. I also regret not being at his funeral to render him his last salute…. He was the best of us. He was my grandpa. RIP Elias “Si Si” Marquez. I miss you immensely, grandpa.
I can't watch a single episode without getting tears in my eyes. We Americans owe everything to these men and women who put their lives on the line for this great nation. The current political climate is a shame to these heroes and their efforts. May God bless us all. 🇺🇲
My grandfather passed away in 2016 at the age of 93. He drove a half-track in the 2nd wave. Stupidly, nor I or my mother ever arranged for NPR to have story corps talk to him and have his memories kept in the library of congress forever. I can’t imagine the sheer adrenaline and absolute hell around you. How in the hell did any of these men handle ptsd well enough to go on to have families and all that??
The part where he said that young boy cried out for his Mom... that really got me. In the end, that's all any of us really want. I miss mine every day.. lost her about 4 years ago. Doesn't matter how old I get, I wish she was still around. Anyway... respect to this gentleman, and to all the others that served... I have the UTMOST respect for you all.
Thank you for gathering and sharing all these stories. By the time my grandfather was ready to share his story, it was too hard for him to talk and we lost him shortly after. Thanks again. Also to all the men and women who served and serve today, THANK YOU!!!
I hadn't heard the perspective of a Higgins boat driver, especially concerning D-day. I'd also never heard about that mandate: "Don't help anyone, we need manpower on the beach!" It certainly makes sense in the larger picture, but must have been tough for him. Thanks for posting.
One day all these Men of Steel will be gone, it is a really good thing they are telling their stories for future generations.
Exactly💯
Nothing special about these guys. Caught up in the chess game as pawns. Stupid more than brave in my opinion.
@@Floppyoneactual attention seeking coward
@@Floppyoneactual You say that like no soldier ever knew what they were getting into, many did, many didn't.
@@Floppyoneactual they liberated loads of countrys and risked there lives and your saying that is not brave
Tell me something more braver
My dad died about 7 years ago. I sure wish you could have interviewed him. He flew a B-17 over Germany, and was shot down. He spent the last 9 months of the war as a POW. He had quite a few war stories.
I would love to hear his stories. My dad spent 26 years in the military but wasn’t in WW2. He was in Thailand during Vietnam.
Thomas please know reading your comment, I appreciate and owe my life and freedoms to your father and everyone else who served. I think about them everyday. 🇺🇲
The Mighty 8th Air Force ... every man a true American hero in that force
being in b17's was horrific, my grandfather watched one go down over Germany in a field in 1944 as a young German child. The children ran up to the plane and the bodies were burnt so badly they thought they were an African Crew. Then the German army arrived to clean up and made them leave the area. He watched this stuff happen regularly all while his father was also fighting at the front.
@@RubyBandUSA thank you very much for your kind words. One comment to the 2 vets and the cold war veterans.....I know there are not many veterans left from ww2 and the cold war but I would like to hear how they mistreated by the v a in that era.
Imagine the people who were born in late 1910's. First being born in the Spanish flu pandemic, being an adolescent during the great depression, early adulthood during WW2. By the time they were around 30 or so they had been through some tough times.
sounds like we are going to have tough times aswell right now we just going thru Coronavirus
@@Tony-nj9de That’s like comparing stubbing a toe and getting shot
@@austinleech4988 Well idk if this generation can handle a serious Historic war or whatever we too weak
@@austinleech4988 emotionally *
@@Tony-nj9de lol
Sadly it appears we lost Sherwin a few days ago. RIP and thank you for your brave service 🇺🇲
No it was like 10 months ago
@@FasterthanSpeed414 bro check the date, he commented that 11 months ago lol
@@FasterthanSpeed414 it does well to educate yourself before commenting… saves you from humiliation, especially on a video like this.
@@BrownTrout1238 For real lol. How stupid does one have to be to not even check the date on a comment they're replying to...? Especially when they're commenting specifically about the date something happened 😂
Rest in peace brother thank you for the country we had and I'll strive to hopefully live in it again
Imagine not only seeing the Pearl Harbor aftermath, but also being among those involved on D-day. Massive respect to this man and the greatest generation
Two worst carnages. Much respect to him.
Every time I see "saving private Ryan" I'm blown away by the storming of Normandy. Just the movie scenes are frightening, can't imagine the fear running through these men as they ran up that beach. The fact they made it up that death trap is amazing. Some brave mofos here
The greatest generation? 75% of them were racists lmfao
@@mclovinwilliams7792 and they saved our asses from some way worse racists, y'know the kind that commits genocide.
@@mclovinwilliams7792 it’s the name of the generation that preceded boomers
On the afternoon of July 25, 2022, Sherwin Callander (aka Chick Magnet) of Huntsville passed away at the age of 102 with his daughter and granddaughter by his side.
Rest in Peace, hero. We remember your sacrifice.
Damn on my birthday. Sad to hear
It's good to know that at least a part of his life, that contained a lifetimes worth of so much, was documented while he was able to tell the stories himself.
Anyone else want to hear more about the ‘chick magnet’ part?😂
Huntsville TX or Huntsville AL? These guys are the real heroes
I miss this generation so much. My dad served in Germany in 1944. God bless all of them and their families and may he and the others Rest In Peace.
My grandpa was on the USS Franklin and in pearl harbor he just passed away a couple months ago at 99. One of the greatest men I have ever known.
Sorry for your loss
I'm there with you brother God bless him and my grandfather. Mine was supposed to be on the Arizona he and his 2 buddy's were lucky they went to church that morning . While they were leaving church he said I knew we were under attack when I saw that big red meatball. Men of steel. He had nightmares of picking up body parts of friends his whole life. Never forget.....
May your grandpa rest in peace, God bless him 🙏
A year early😉
Sorry for the loss of a great man and hero. We shall never forget.
I just lost my grandpa and bestfriend at 97 years old. He was a ww2 vet. The man saw so many horrors in his life. But he was absolutely the most loving man I've ever met in my life. I miss him every single day.
You're 97? Dang dude rock on
Its nice that you had such a great relationship with him. I never had a good relationship with my grandparents growing up. We were never close. No particular reason. When they passed, I didn't even cry.
Sounds like my father... XO.
🫡 salute
My uncle, Wayne Hamilton joined the Marines at age 17. He was a B.AR man. He told me many stories of the war fight from island to island. He was badly wounded and said he woke up in a navy hospital ship. He recovered and and in 1946 was honorable discharged. I lost my uncle on September 8th, 2022.He was 94 years old.I miss u Uncle Wayne. A true American Hero!!Rest easy uncle Wayne, till we see each other again. With love, your nephew, SARGENT ROCKY WAYNE HAMILTON, U.S ARMY.
My grantmother in russia is a war veteran as well, aged 97 she is still vital and can tell all the things she remember in detail. Im proud she still lives in this world.
She survived ww2 Cold War breaking of the Soviet Union gulf war Iraq war 9 11 and covid that’s quite a record I would say my great grandpa was ww2 vet he passed in 17 never talked about it I wonder if he was one of them who were there would have to ask
that story needs to be shared
Bless ur moma hope she lives longest
Bless her heart
She sounds like a great woman Ivan.
Still no doubt the toughest generation, and some of the most humble. They should never be forgotten. Never.
Not like those draft dodgers
✌️🇺🇸 Yes agree...my dad was so humble to the day he passed away...Still miss him so much...He passed away in 1996. 1st Marine division to land on Guadalcanal and Okinawa.....God Bless all of our Brave Veterans Forever...🇺🇸 💞✌️
No doubt. You never see any of these guys being rude or disrespectful. They are great men and deserve the respect we give them. 100% agree
@@katherinegates1559 what’s crazy was my great grandfather was also in the 1st marine division on Guadalcanal I have his patch that he never sewed on to his uniform. He drove tanks on Guadalcanal
Supposedly the World War One generation is night and day harder I’ve read.. I read somewhere that the World War Two generation would have more in common with the millennials than the World War One generation. How insane is that?? Imagine how hard this wwI vets musta been…
The saddest thing is that these men and women will no longer be alive soon. But their stories and sacrifices will never be forgotten.
There weren't too many women involved in the D-Day landings me thinks...
@@BuckRolly1 but there were the woman spies, and freedom fighters. Not tryna start anything.
I feel as though we already have.
What women???
There were no women who storm Normandy
There will NEVER be another generation like these men. I am grateful for every one of them!!!!
The "I want my mama" part hit hard. God bless them
That hit me hard too
They were just children that never left home, truly sad war is the worst things humans are capable of
there's something deep inside where Mom is the last resort
I was about to say that
I’m sure they hear this all the time in war.... if their mothers heard this they would be dead broken for life ... now let’s stop china invading taiwan and other places!! Wait.... what’s this about again?
this man saw the aftermath of pearl harbor, italy, africa, and normandy. he saw the entire war and we're lucky enough to even get a glimpse through his eyes. god bless sailor
He signed up during growing tensions, but I don't think he had any idea what was about to unfold a few short months later. Bless him.
@@moritz9077 he seen enough of the war and devastation to probably be scarred till this day if it weren’t for the US your numbers you so proudly cite would be near doubled. Not sure why you think 1 persons accounts of a war should be discredited because they weren’t in every single battle.
@@moritz9077 You are incredibly ignorant.
@@moritz9077 oh it was five years huh? Seeing as WW2 started in 1939 and the US joined in 1941, you'd think the war was only going on for 2 years. And I suppose D-Day and the battles after are really the only battles with American participation lol, it's not like the participated in the North African campaigns in '42, and the Invasion of Sicily in '43, guess I've got a lot to learn huh?
Obvious sarcasm here lmao
And who says they won the war alone lmao? The only theatre they actually won on their own was the Pacific, while the bulk of the fighting was in europe
@@moritz9077 Whoopee Doo, considering that the war was not fought in America but on European and Asian lands why should we have even given a damn how many people were dying to save their homelands? Russians pretty much died on their own soil, Germans pretty much died on their own soil or land they invaded, most Americans died on foreign lands. So who is the braver? The one being shot at and firing back or the one volunteering to go and be shot at to help an ally?
We must not forget the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom. Thank you for making these videos.
Yes we must not forget, ooh I forgot to put my mask on & take my child to be injected with an untested bio agent because the government told the news to tell me that I have to.
@@thomasmcdonnell7914 tf
This is the best commemoration of our veterans ever made. I remember visiting VFW halls as a young cadet, late 70s/early 80s. I remember the Korean War vets, they were missing fingers or parts of their ears and noses, and I saw the frostbite damage. I visited my grandfather in the Lyons NJ VA hospital, he was a WW1 vet. There were rows of beds with the old guys, and so many were moaning in pain. We owe them everything we have.
Facts, too many people are so damn hateful towards our service members and they don’t deserve any of it, you don’t have to agree with our countries actions but you still should always respect service members. For they are the ones who have given us the freedoms we have .
@@igiveupatnames6443 chinabat virus
“I want my mama” sounds terrifying. You seeing your comrade die and calling his mama. Salute to these brave men ✊🏻
that part sent shivers on me, that must have been an awful sight... cant even imagine
Just a kid
"That was mean" dudes lived with that his whole life
Hearing that part broke me. Many of those young soldiers were still kids, so young but facing horrors few could even imagine. My heart goes out to all these brave soldiers and what they were willing to do for the freedoms we have today. May we never forget them.
Watching the Movie Saving Private Ryan really gave me an idea of he was talking about...
It’s truly a shame that not many people know about this channel. It’s content is unmatched by anything. One day there will be no one left to interview and I hope the future generations will find this page. Much love and support! Keep making the best content on RUclips!
Sadly most people today forget history and those who died so this world can be a better place but as the quote says when we forget history it repeats.
That's because most people nowadays are on tik tok with all the other "cool" kids
appreciate your support! thanks for watching
@@jigsawalwayswins8636 yea all about people care now is having a bmw, an iPhone, gossip about others and social media. And if somebody is proud of his/her country is 'weird', sadly.
I always look forward to the first Friday of the month because of the new episodes. I hope he can continue these especially with so many vets dying from old age. My uncle fought in WW2 and died last year at the age of 99
At the VA Hospital, when we see a WW II vet, they get massive respect from all the other vets. We go out of our way to hold the door for them and call them sir.
They survived the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and WW II.
God bless all the still living and those that have passed of the greatest generation.
You don’t call them sir they worked for a living....
@` ́ ` ́ your joking I hope
"they survived the great depression" there's not really anyone left who truly survived it, even if you were 10 at the time of it, you'd be ~100 now... They didn't survive it, their parents and family did
@im the only one with this name in the 30s? No they didn't, not in any serious way. You're off by several decades.
@` ́ ` ́ indeed🙏
My grandfather served in the navy during WW2 and is still alive today. He's not one to talk much about any violence he went through, just the places he's visited. He did tell me he was on the cleanup of Pearl Harbor. Thank you for what you're doing
My grandfather was the same for most of his life. It wasnt until Saving Private Ryan came out that he started sharing about what he survived. Before that he would just tell us all that he spent the war hiding in a fox hole. He didnt want us to have to feel any of that. I'm glad he finally did though.
My grandfather didn't talk about his impoverished childhood or WWII... until he had Alzheimer's. Couldn't remember what happened five minutes ago, but he remembered everything from his youth. He was a lieutenant a destroyer at Okinawa and some of the other later Pacific battles, then went to occupation force in Europe once the war was over.
@@localneo-graphic4647 It is amazing to me what that generation survived and how so many just went on with life, never really speaking of it. And most had already experienced so much before WWII even broke out.
@@jen30551 we stand on the shoulders of giants
Spend as much time as you possibly can with him. My Grandfather drove a Higgins boat, they sailed all over the Pacific theater.
You can tell as soon he stopped talking and took a breathe out he had a flashback🥺 godbless this man
"I picked him up by his arm, and the meat came right off the bone." Truly horrifying. One of the bravest men alive.
This is fucking wild ): so sad
And one of the luckiest!
There’s a story of a Pearl Harbor veteran who prayed to god to have his memory of that event erased, he died on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor
Never had to clean up a dead body before? Its not that bad.
@@shanetuma3845 pretty sure seeing someone dead let alone the amount of blood and let alone their organs full of blood, is pretty bad
They all say they aren't, but these guys are real superheroes to me.
Weka Wacker whos said they arent?
@@JorgeGarcia-xd6ve they do, if you ever talk to them. A relative of mine flew spitfire in the war, when he was alive and we would say he was a hero he would insist he wasn't, even get annoyed - he would say the guys who didn't come home are heroes, as they paid the ultimate price.
Weka Wacker oh Im sorry. I misunderstood what you said at first. But now I get it. Thanks.
@@JorgeGarcia-xd6ve no problem buddy :)
It's amazing how they feel like they aren't heroes. Maybe it's thta once you've been in the shoes of someone who witnessed the ugliness of war. You can always think of someone else in the war who did something slightly more heroic in your view and you can't accept the title. Either way. It's beyon imagination what they endured.
This content isn't good, it's MORE than amazing. Mate, you are doing something that most people don't appreciate now, but will later. Thank for making these. And even if I'm Spanish,I have so much respect for WW2 vets. Much love from Spain.
facts
Good comment.
Totalmemte tío. Creo que no se valora realmente lo que hicieron por nosotros, por tener los valores de hoy en dia
@@ericbadia5 Ya, y eso que aqui en España se aprecian menos que nunca, ya que la última guerra gorda que tuvimos fue la guerra civil, y eso término en 1939, osea que tendrias algo como 100-110 años.
@@simonsaura8138 pues ya ves. Es una lastima...
78 years later on the Day of D-Day. This is a real hero. Not only Normandy, but he did his part at Pearl Harbor, then to serve in North Africa and Italy and to top it off D-Day. Thank you sir. And to that whole Generation. We honor you all today.
He was at every place to experience that war 🫡💪🇺🇸🙏💯
"I want my momma."
That really cuts deep. There's nothing more that makes me uneasy than to hear cries for help or screams of pain either in war movies or any audible footage of war. There really isn't anything else more saddening than to hear a Veteran remember these things. It's impossible to imagine how they got through it although hearing their memories is amazing for future generations to understand how we have evolved and how these things can be prevented.
Although the lucky ones got through it, they still got PTSD, most of them, and they never got help for it because "shell shock" -- what they called it then -- was just something that happened and there was no need to get treated. I feel sorry for those WWII vets who had to live with undiagnosed and untreated PTSD. My Dad was a Korean War vet, and he NEVER talked about his service, but I knew he hated it because he was very active in the Veterans Against the Vietnam War organization.
that messed me up really bad when he said that
We have NOT evolved sadly. It's in our nation war has been waged since the beginning of time. We simply do not get along. Our weapons shoot further and faster and harder now.
Hearing him talk about the young man who said "I want my momma", that had me sobbing.
The horrors of wars is killing young adults. While peace is only option once you die
@@saveyourhero3307 patriots dying for the elite
Watch saving private Ryan
@@grantedenss yeah i watched it yesterday, it truly gives an image of how it happened back then
wait so the young man was injured and they couldn’t bring him back?
I cannot help but admire that special breed of men who fought in WWII and to them the world is eternally grateful.
I sometimes wonder if they were a special breed, or just a normal men who were tricked. Probably both.
@@SteelKicker01 My father wasn't tricked. He understood what Hitler was doing and represented and he put his life on the line to help stop one of the greatest evils of human history and to preserve the freedom of stranger neighbors overseas. Some had less informed and less idyllic reasons to enlist...sure, this is always true, but since when has politics or military not involved degrees of trickery?
Do you not understand that all measures of freedom, peace and security you now, have ever or will ever enjoy are bought and paid for in blood of people in military and law enforcement, past and present, whether having entered into that service by trickery, selfishness or selflessness? Your words leave me wondering whether you know the sources of good and blessing in your life. God bless you and yours!
@@LiveHappy76 the soviet union defeated germany
You need a history lesson
They were never a special breed. They are more or less you and me. They just had the experiences to decide to run into gun fire instead of running away from it.
@@LiveHappy76
Oh, please. The actions of individuals might have been heroic and should be respected. But don't over glorify them.
They did good and we are living in the results of their actions. But it was a problem occuring at their time and caused by their generation. It was only natural they deal with it themselves.
Not that I don't respect them and think of them as incredible human beings that I can never hope to be compared to. But because of that, I study what went on with them, what they went through and found it not fun and glorious. They very much fought for their own interests too. We are just sharing, or to be more precise, leeching off their work.
You seem to acknowledge it too. But your father went in willingly, to clean up a mess others made. And that made your father all the greater man than he is celebrated. I have no doubt about it.
I only want to clarify just one thing, your father, and many others did everything they did in their own interests too. So don't over glorify them. They are heroes, but human ones, not godly.
"All these moments will be lost, like tears in rain."
I'm heartbroken over this. The horror.
I’ll never forget the first time seeing Saving Private Ryan in the theatre. There was an elderly lady in row in front of me, comforting her husband during the landing scene at Normandy. They were very discrete not trying to attract any attention to themselves. It was so poignant.. it was at that point , the movie stopped being a movie and became real life to me.
Such a great film, but yes it’s hard to believe the reality of it until you see an actual documentary/ footage such as this. Or in your case someone who has lived it. All my relatives who were in battles up to their death refused to speak about it. We live in a much different world now with the technological advances we have. Imagine killing thousands of people just from the push of a button thousands of miles away. It’s just so difficult to comprehend what these men felt back then at such young ages. 😢
They dont make women like that anymore unfortunately.
interesting story ... thanks for sharing ...
@@donsolosahhhh yes, perfect opportunity for your misogynist drivel.
@rachelravagni817 Well, they don't. But, throw your buzzwords out there when you do not like the truth.
I feel honored to be a part of possibly the last generation to hear these stories from actual veterans.
Its just special and good, being witnesses to simple yet huge people like these. They're deserving history.
Thank fully , we're also the generation of preservation and information technology , these videos will and can be learnt for centuries forward
@Dusk they are giants, we are lucky to walk the earth with them
@@teggianosalerno5050 nah. they are just victims of evil politicians....
Ah...the greediest generation that one that created global warming. They're the generation responsible for our real soon extinction. Yeah i feel lucky too
The scariest about this, most of the people you see in the beaches and ships aren't here with us anymore. Thank you WWII Veterans for protecting and serving the country! Today may never exist without you.
People should never take for granted this, the prosperous and peaceful times we can live in always came with a fight with who wanted them gone in the past and now.
yet all the "bums" on the beaches take their freedom for granted i don't mean literally bums either.
@@dusk6159 and in January 2025 we all go Fascist like the 3rd Reich...every 80 years it happens
These larger-than-life men and women will NEVER be forgotten
Thank you for your service, Grandpa. Rest In Peace (July 19, 1925-April 6, 2021) ❤️🇺🇸
God bless his soul.
thank you :(
I have both tears and chills watching this.
My Grandfather was not at Normandy, but he was a WWII Combat Wounded Veteran receiving 3 Purple Hearts and 3 Bronze Stars.
He was in the Army and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He then was deployed to the Northern Solomons and then to Guadalcanal...where he was severely wounded but recovered....he was then reassigned to The European Theater and fought in The Rhineland and The Ardennes (The Battle of the Bulge)...he was twice more wounded in Europe..including a bayonet wound in his leg. When I was a kid..I asked what happened...he simply said.. "I won"
He passed away in 1996 at the relatively young age of 73.
May God Bless All Who Served to Protect Our Freedom
Dang, he really got to experience the entire war. Must have been damn good, damn lucky, or both, to make it out of that.
He won, indeed.
Boy did he earn his stripes.
Thanks for sharing those memories.
Thats badass. My grandma remarried a WW2 veteran but i was too young to appreciate him. He died while i was still a young teenager. I wish i could go back and ask Jack some of his stories
It’s crazy to think that these sweet loving old men and women we knew as our grandparents lived threw literal hell on earth and a lot of them did really violent horrible acts. But they came home n lived lives of peace and love. Such an amazing generation
The best generation ever. The men and women who gave their lives in the second world war, RIP
My grand father was at D~Day. The one time he spoke of it with me he had the same look in his eye and lump in his throat as this fine gentlemen. I was 14 and understood for the first time that war is a boy's dream but a man's nightmare
Last phrase is bang on
I don't usually get emotional that often but these stories touch my heart and make me cry most of the time. These WW2 vets are a true legends.
Same dude. Im on my lunch break tearing up a lil. This stuff hits deep.
Part of being a soldier is helping your brothers and never leaving a man behind. Imagine being told not to do so and having to watch the horror unfold that day, I can't
War then was way more savage than today’s
It was an order...not of cruelty or indifference...........they had to get up on the beach and advance. To stop to try to help the wounded would get themselves killed as well. It was the terrain and open beach that was why. No place for cover.
if they tried to help the wounded (50%) the germans would have killed all of them
I can see and hear the horror behind his eyes and the sigh, the sigh just says he is tired of closing his eyes and seeing all his friends dead and dying around him. Rest easy Sir, yours and others pain and sacrifice will never be forgotten
”I grabbed him by the arm and the meat just came off the bone”my god I can’t even imagine all the horrors they all saw. Greatest Generation is a just description. Thank You to all who were involved
When you say Greatest Generation, would you also consider Russian Vets?
America joined the last 1 year of war in Europe, when it was foreseeable that Germany was losing on the Eastern Front.
More people died on a single day in Eastern Europe, than the US has lost in the whole 1 year that they joined.
40million Russians, and 8million Germans lost their lives, whereas America has lost maybe around 200k.
Why does the US always pretend they were the only Heros in WW2?The US literally kicked Germans against the head, took their wallets, while it was already on the ground - after Russia did all the work.
Nonetheless, mad respect for all ww2 veterans from the US.
@@moritz9077 Because we tried to not be conquerors. If we involved ourselves any sooner the whole world would call us oppressors. How does the world look at America regarding the Middle East, oh yeah, oppressors. We just can't win with you foreigners.
@@justinhackstadt6677 yea because America never does something for anyone but themselves in terms of war. They always profit from it and then claim themselves heroes even tho they aren’t
@@jakobwolf66 Doesn't every country go to war for themselves?
@@moritz9077 “Thank you to all who were involved” what the hell are you on about man? He never showed any sort of bias towards one nations brave men. The word “generation” doesn’t imply anything except for a particular group of people born within a certain span of our timeline. You’re just looking to shit on America lmao making it way deeper than it is.
Some of the most bad ass men this country has ever seen. I couldn’t imagine being the first wave on that beach. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I’m proud to have met and known a wonderful man who was in the 2nd wave on June 6, 1944. In his own words he once told me, “I hit the beach at 7:20 AM... we ran and jumped over the first wave... because they all were gone.”
Just the thoughts going through your head of “I’m gunna die” and “this is the end” mixed with pure adrenaline. Just trying to picture what it could’ve been like is nearly impossible.
Once you're on that landing craft, there is only one way off....
You have no choice,
Not all, but most of the WWII vets were drafted.
In today's volunteer force, the possibility of your fate is done before you sign. If you dont confront the possibility that your fate could be the same as that first wave then you're a fool.
Who is braver, these men, or those who volunteer for a combat MOS today? Those who volunteer confront the same possibility whether they serve in a combat zone, or not.
They have no control over their eventual fate. They've already stepped on that landing craft.
All our brave men and women who serve, no matter where they serve, should be respected equally. Their bravery, and patriotism, has no equal in America today.
Follow Me!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@unitedwestand5100 the people today are not fighting battles like that. Not saying they are weak but compared to the men that stormed that beach these snowflakes that sign up for free school and hopes to never have to do anything it’s no question who is more brave. I support our military but to compare is just ridiculous. Bet those men storming that beach wish they had drones to bomb those machine gun nest and give them some cover which out military men and women today have.
@@TrippyWheelsEnduro ,. You dont know!
That would be a naive assumption to make. A very stupid assumption..
We could have an aircraft carrier, and 3 other ships sunk tomorrow.
We have some very strong and powerful adversaries. Advesaries with their own airpower, rockets, drones, and artillery.
All of them won't shed their uniforms and run away like the Iraq Army did.
Our soldiers and sailors must be prepared to fight anywhere in the world. They know that, and, they are...
You are a very naive boy.....
Unless you've served you have no idea...
That actually made me cry. Poor guy, thank you for your sacrifice.
You can never give enough credit for what they went through in WW2. And when you put it all together. The first eave on the beach were sacrificed in order to break the mode. They had no chance to live. It appears that was the only way to get a foot hold in the beach.
Thank you for doing this Son. These men deserve to be honored. They are national treasures.
The pain in his voice is the reason I am able to live in this beautiful free nation today. Thank you and the many men and women protecting and defending our freedoms. Godbless our arm forces and God bless America.
Pffft what freedom?
My grandad died before I had the chance to meet him. He was awarded his purple heart for a shrapnel wound received in Normandy.
Lucky! You might not even be here!
@@YouT00ber wait that’s actually true wow lol
@@YouT00ber wow when you it into perspective it’s crazy. Just imagine how many family names have been wiped out due to this!
My father had so much German and Italian shrapnel in him he set off metal detectors until he died at 87.
@@anthonyfoutch3152 your father was one tough man. RIP god bless
It is sad that the young generation does not know history, these videos are priceless, these men will soon be gone, but their stories should not be forgotten
It's such an honor to meet these fine men. Our generation don't understand how important your service is. As a young man, Thank you for your service.
Thanks for nothing
@@magicjohnson3121 no
That man saw almost every major event in WWII and lived through it all. Wow
The heavy breathing after he said “that was the worst battle I was ever in” tells you how painful it is recalling all of that
no, it's your comment that tells me that otherwise I would not have known
We had a substitute teacher at my High School who was a WW2 and Korea vet. I never got to hear his stories, but I remember hearing about how tense he would get when he would tell them. God bless these men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I'm mexican and I really appreciate all these brave souls who fought for the world, they didn't have to do it, they never owed anything to humanity, but still they fought and won, for all mankind sake... I wish I can one day, meet at least one of them, and shake their hand and thank him for his sacrifice and effort, God bless them all.
That should be on your bucket list. I’m lucky enough to have known and be related to several of those great men. I’m blessed I get to maintain the health and well being of many WWII aircraft. You can just feel the soul in them. They were made for no purpose, none, other than to kill evil. You can sense their purity when you touch them.
@@TheFirstSunbreaker cringe comment
Conscripts actually
I see these interviews and documentaries and I have to stifle tears cuz I just think how far this country has fallen from its greatest generation.
At least be thankful we’ve avoided these absolutely devastating world conflicts for quite awhile. We should only be so proud of times spent killing eachother in the millions.
@@jdavis234 We need to remember these times so that they do not repeat again. It would very easy to start ww3 tomorrow.
@@willspeakman2461 absolutely
These stories need to be told in elementary schools - straight through into college. The courage of these human beings is just unbelievable.
Naaa common core covers this at 7-8th grade for about 3 months
They dont want patriotic education anymore, goods bad today.
@@shroomwalkerpepe5913
1. They do cover these things
2. We treat what China teaches in its schools (nationalism) and the propaganda of North Korea as horrible, but it's okay for us to indoctrinate people in school. No, it's not, we must be held to the same standard and just present information.
3. The true patriotic thing to do, is look at one's country, and improve it. The American dream has not been reached yet. Today we carry out wasteful and disheartening wars constantly in the middle east. Democrats and Republicans alike perpetrate this. The rich send the poor to war to line their pockets. Don't blindly follow.
In germany we go over the WWII and the NS time at least 3 times in school. Not in elemantary school tho. For us it’s important that everyone kniws what happened so that it can never happen again from our country
@@nero_2375 in the United States, things are so backwards right now. Our kids are being taught that we should be ashamed of our past.
That part where he mentioned the man crying out for his mom, made me cry.
:(
Same
Even in interviews with nurses from Vietnam that’s what they say the dying soldier says,how sad most of them were just kids
Same here
Me too.
My God we will never have badasses like this in our history ever again! I’m in the army myself and teared up a bit…. These guys are/ were really tough and truly inspiring! May Mr. Sherwin Rest In Peace 🥺🥲🫡
Thank you for your service.
RIP my uncle Jim Becker. He was part of the 101st Airborne, dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day where he earned the Purple Heart, fought valiantly at the Battle of the Bulge, and helped to liberate Dachau concentration camp. He passed away just a few days ago.
My your uncle Rest In Paradise, God Bless him and our Greatest Generation 💕🇺🇸
On the 7th of June, 2019, I had the honor of meeting mister Callander, after visiting the Utah beach museum in Normandy. I was sitting on a bench together with my mother, while all of a sudden mister Callander and another ww2 veteran named Jim Young decided to sit right next to us. Both just wanted to make a little chat, but eventually ended up telling there entire life story. A moment I will always cherish. We must never forget the sacrifice these heroes made for our freedom.
what all did they tell you? Im sure people would love to hear it.
quickquestion,
oh btw Love the Apollo Mission control Picture on your page, just made me think of the great men that sat behind those computers, Gene Kranz, John Aaron etc.
Thank you so much for this video. My dad was born in 1923 and was drafted in the US Navy during WW2. He also went to San Diego for basic, and served on a hospital ship as a Corpman. He wouldn't talk about his experiences either, but suffered with depression until his death in 1985 (61 years old). He was the best and wisest man I've ever known.
God Bless! My dad served in Europe campaign and landed on Normandy 2 weeks after D-Day with the 84th Infantry Division and was in constant combat. The 84th pushed from France into Belgium and was hugely involved in the battle of the bulge (which my dad said he never thought he would get through alive)... Continued into Berlin at the end... He didn't talk much about his time due to the fact I think he had it pretty rough over there. Most of these old timers probably dealt with what today is called PTSD. My dad told me about his uncle who was captured by the Japanese on Wake Island, survived the death march and returned home. 6 months later he killed himself. War is a terrible thing. God Bless the men and women who served then and today...
The first wave was literally hell on earth, a true miracle those who survived
My great grandfather served in World War 2. He served in the Black Devils brigade, the very first special service force. He passed away in 2017. I remember him telling me about some of the battles he fought in, like the battle of Monte Casino.
I realized that veterans are going away a long time ago and there are not enough interviews with them capturing their stories. Im happy that you guys are doing this, try and interview as many as you can from all around the world not just US. Great job, keep doing it and good luck.
Thank you Sir for your service and sacrifice on our behalf! My father is a veteran of WWII and was a Corpsman in the Navy! He is still living.
“-that was the worst battle I believe I was in” Dude is so badass he doesn’t even realize that Normandy was arguably the worst/most brutal battle in history. Incredible.
It was brutal. However History is full of them.
Imagine for example the battle at Canea. The Roman army (60k people) was compressed and just getting slaughtered slowly by the carthaginians. While they were unable to move.
Roman soldiers stuck their head in the sand to suffocate themselves to get out of the horror.
And there are countless more battles that were horrific.
Still D-day must be ranking around the top of horrific battles somewhere yes. It must've been hell.
@@MarkVelthuis You cant compare wars fought with swords and spears to wars fought with guns
@@nickz5849 he just did
stalingrad is arguably the worst battle in history
@@nickz5849 No, however if i had too choose than i'd rather have fought on d-day than on cannae.
I give this man major credit to relive the horrors and tell his stories. My Dad and Uncle both served in ‘Nam and never shared a story from there. My Uncle came back a heroin addict to cope with life over there and my Pop forbade me to enlist in fear of me going to the Gulf war and experiencing war first hand. I regret sometimes for listening to him but who knows what would’ve happened.
These men did more for everyone of us than we will ever realise. Thank you, sir!
My great uncle served in the Navy, pacific theater. I knew this as a kid but he would never speak of it, and we were told never to ask him about it. Later as an adult and many years after he passed I came across some of his belongings which my Grandfather had. He was on the USS Indianapolis. I remember feeling sick to my stomach when I saw that. God bless him all who serve.
He was a brave brave man
My God, "I want my momma" whew, that hit me so hard because I have 2 boys roughly his age. That would haunt me for the rest of my life. God Bless these veterans!
Surely seems like it haunts him deeply. Absolutely horrific.
Iam 26 years old and WW2 has always been an interest of mine these stories really put in perspective what they truly went through and most stories are amazing. I always enjoy hearing vets stories. This channel really does a good job of capturing their story and giving back ground to the story
As a Veteran myself, thank you for recording these stories of those that came before us. I am glad to have found your channel by happenstance. God Bless you and the work you do.
thank you for you service and for watching!
What war do you serve?
@@Deltaf he may have not been in a war.
@@StillUseless1939 idk tho
Only thing wrong with this video is it's not long enough. I can listen to all veteran's stories all day. Glad you're keeping these men's stories and history alive.
I'm sure there are plenty other videos on YT about veterans stories. You just have to do a search for them.
You guys are a godsend to be able to produce such amazing videos to keep first hand knowledge of the greatest generation that ever lived
Pearl Harbor, DDay, Italy, Africa. He saw a lot of the war. This man walked through the textbook. I love these videos but darn I need more of their stories, there is so much there. Just one of those battles could be talked about for hours.
I wish I could shake the hand of every single one of these soldiers and thank them for all they been through forever legends in my eyes
Never met my grandfather. He was an honest to god war hero on the icy ridges of Italy during ww2. 10th mountain. All I have are letters describing what he did. They are literally my most cherished possession.
Thank you for making these videos and allowing the greatest generation to tell their stories. This is indescribably important.
I wonder how many high school history teachers are showing this channel's interviews in their classroom? Thanx for doing what you do, and a great big Thank You to the vets for participating. You guys are my heroes.
we hear all the time of History teachers using our content alongside their lessons. Thanks for watching!
@@MemoirsofWWII Hey, thats great! I was actually being a little sarcastic, and here you go and renew my faith in teachers and kids! I was beginning to think nobody but us history nerds cared anymore. Thanx man, ya made my day. ;-)
Im sure absolutely none...
But hopefully im wrong😔
@Douglas Brown I think it's the other way around
I pray for the generation that will never know these great men.
Sadly, most are now indoctrinated by Marxist teachers and professors to hate their own country and revile it's history.
@@IrishAmerican17 How is it "Marxist" to learn the sordid aspects of history?
Lout, educate thyself!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_war_crimes
@@ANDROLOMA I'm all for reviewing our mistakes, but Patriotism is dying in favor of it. The new generation ONLY sees the crimes, nothing positive . They despise their own country and want to see it burn.
@@Nepthu Nationalism is an absurd concept when compared against the grand scale of the universe.
-Arnold Toynbee
@@Nepthu true they can pick up guns to kill their own but shit their pants to fight for their countries sake
Your interviews leave me speechless. The horror and sacrifice these people endured must forever be appreciated and never forgotten.
Reminds me of my grandfather who past last august. Rip to all of these men and god bless All of these men. God bless America
These men were just built different. So strong, brave and honorable and so much more. Truly the GOAT of generations.
I work at Providence Care for elderly people. I met 3 WWII Veterans & I was overwhelmed with excitement. They have no idea how cool they are to me. Such sweet souls. May God keep them protected under his guidence🙏🏾
the love i have for this man without ever meeting him in my life is crazy. respect to him, his family, his brother, and his brothers in arms.
For anyone wondering what specific Navy decorations are represented by the ribbons on PO Callander’s uniform (which you can see up close at 7:21) they are:
(All left to right)
Top row: World War II Victory medal; European - African - Middle East medal (earned 4x); Navy Good Conduct medal
Second row: Navy Expeditionary medal; American Defense medal; American Campaign medal
Third Row: Combat Action ribbon; Navy Unit Commendation medal; National Defense medal
Fourth Row: Navy Reserve Sea Service medal; Navy and Marine Core Overseas Service ribbon; Navy Fleet Marine Force medal
What about the Vietnam? Did he serve there too. One would assume. Wow! Just wow. He's a man I'd love to talk to for hours.
One of the most memorable conversations I ever had was with a WW2 vet. Whether they stormed the beaches at Normandy or fought the last battles of Iwo Jima all them are true heroes. I only wish we could have such strong, real heroes today. This generation is a mere shadow of what we once were..
Those sacrifices were *for* the successive generations, and it's blind of you not to see that obvious fact.
@@ANDROLOMA Would you mind explaining your comment . . . just so I can be sure I didn't misunderstand your intent? I get (and agree with your position) that the WWII vets made sacrifices for both their own and for future generations, but what do you mean when you say it is blind of the original poster not to see that fact?
@@DMDBSJD Very well. For him to conclude that "This generation is a mere shadow of what we once were.." is to be dismissive of the conditions which led the generation of the 1930s-1940s to oppose the rise of fascism. Any generation, when successfully inspired enough to oppose any virulent ideology, can muster the will to eradicate it just as successfully. The demise of fascism wasn't the result of any special generation, but rather a communal effort by a world-wide consciousness that genocide was wrong and tolerance of others was preferable.
BTW David, that was an excellent question. One thumb up for you.
@@therion5458 Stories of exterminations were formulated before the camps were liberated. Think about it. The moral supremacy of the allies has had the US in the driver's seat of world events ever since.
@@therion5458 I'm carefully reading what you're writing. I interpret it as the Nazi genocide was less recognized than the communist pogroms during the Russian revolution. If we indulge our specious propensity for past historic blame we could also cite what European Americans did to native Americans, as far as mass killings go. In fact, a thorough study of history leads the student to the conclusion that might makes right, and the stronger society is the predominant society. You can scrutinize past motives only so far.
My great grandpa was in WWII and passed recently. I always loved hearing his stories about this era and his time in the war. Both good and bad..I think he liked that he could confide in someone and talk to me about it. Very eye opening and I miss him so much. These guys were a different breed. God bless this man for sharing his story with all of us.
This was Sherwin Callander. He passed away July 25, 2022 at the age of 102.
It seems this is the last decade for these men, as they are already reaching triple-digit age.
One thing I liked about those simpler times, men were men & women were women, and they knew it. The days of my Dad & Mom!❤❤❤
Wow what will we do when they are all gone ??? Feels depressing like a world I once knew it’s going to get rough guys
My grandfather spent 4 years in WW2. US Army Infantry. He never spoke too much about it. I know he was in the Philippines and in Europe. He mentioned a few things about the jungles. He mentioned how an aircraft carrier was so close to the shore once that it looked like it filled the horizon. He passed in 2005 while I was deployed to Iraq as a US Army Infantryman. I will always regret not asking him more about his service. I also regret not being at his funeral to render him his last salute….
He was the best of us. He was my grandpa.
RIP Elias “Si Si” Marquez. I miss you immensely, grandpa.
Thank you for your service. Love from Denmark
Always never fails to put me in tears, thank you all for continuing to interview these veterans. o7
I can't watch a single episode without getting tears in my eyes. We Americans owe everything to these men and women who put their lives on the line for this great nation. The current political climate is a shame to these heroes and their efforts. May God bless us all. 🇺🇲
My grandfather passed away in 2016 at the age of 93. He drove a half-track in the 2nd wave. Stupidly, nor I or my mother ever arranged for NPR to have story corps talk to him and have his memories kept in the library of congress forever. I can’t imagine the sheer adrenaline and absolute hell around you. How in the hell did any of these men handle ptsd well enough to go on to have families and all that??
They weren’t soft like most of us today.
I"m so glad he is talking about this. Hearing his story really lets everyone help carry the burden
I really want to give this man a big heartfelt hug. Although he deserves way more love and peace in his life.
The part where he said that young boy cried out for his Mom... that really got me. In the end, that's all any of us really want. I miss mine every day.. lost her about 4 years ago. Doesn't matter how old I get, I wish she was still around. Anyway... respect to this gentleman, and to all the others that served... I have the UTMOST respect for you all.
What an absolute example of a gentlemen. May you rest in peace. Thank you for your courage and service.
Thank you sir, so very, very, much!
May they all be remembered forever. Respects to all of you, from 🇨🇦✌️.
Thank you for gathering and sharing all these stories. By the time my grandfather was ready to share his story, it was too hard for him to talk and we lost him shortly after. Thanks again. Also to all the men and women who served and serve today, THANK YOU!!!
I hadn't heard the perspective of a Higgins boat driver, especially concerning D-day. I'd also never heard about that mandate: "Don't help anyone, we need manpower on the beach!" It certainly makes sense in the larger picture, but must have been tough for him. Thanks for posting.