WW2 Veteran Alone in the Jungles of Guam | Memoirs Of WWII #36
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- WW2 Veteran Andrew Puopolo recalls his exploits with the Marine Corps Boxing Team, the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and a terrifying night alone in the Japanese-infested jungles of Guam.
Memoirs of WWII Website: bit.ly/2w60kGM
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Written and Directed by Joshua Scott
Filmed by Heather Scott
Edited by Joshua Scott
Post Audio by Lane Tarr
Photo Enhancement and Additional Research by Hudson Louie
Archive Footage Sources:
www.archives.gov/
Archive Photograph Sources:
Army Air Forces
U.S. Army
National WWII Museum
City of Boston
Musical Score Source:
artlist.io/
Artlist Songs and Composers:
“Dark Tension” by Kyle Preston
“Scenes” by Runar Blesvik
“A Cold Dead Wind” by Kyle Preston
“Rae” by Kevin Graham
“No One But You” by Artie Shaw, acquired from archive.org/
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The worst thing about this channel is that there’s an expiration date. One day there won’t be anyone left alive to tell their personal stories. One day these videos will be all we have left and I am thankful that Memoirs of WWII is taking the time to make these amazing videos to respect and honor all who served in WWII
Maybe then they can talk to some korea and Vietnam vets. Then dessert storm
For thousands of years these videos will give people firsthand accounts of the biggest event in history so far. Imagine if we had HD video interviews of soldiers from the Battle of Thermopylae or the siege of Constantinople
The sad part is the youngest a World War II veteran couldn't be is 92 if they was 17 and when in in 1945 if they were any older or when in any earlier they are older so they won't be many left in 10 years
@@zenolachance1181 there were some 16 yr olds involved in the war in some way it was common for people to lie about their age and try to get enlisted. Now whether or not they’re still alive is another story.
There are many really good books written by veterans who fought in WW2 and Vietnam. I’m sure there are some from veterans of the Korean War, too.
When Andrew thanked them for taking the time to listen to his story, it made me cry a little bit. Thank you Andrew for your service.
I really couldn't believe when I heard him saying thank you. But I guess that's just the man he is. Andrew deserves all the thanks. True hero, along with many others that did and didn't make it home
Yep. Got me to. What a great man.
Yeah it choked me up when he thanked them. It needed to be the other way around!!
You're a fragile flower
I got teary eyed too
These videos should be shown in history classes all across the states.
DAMN RIGHT! ❤ ❤
Every single one of them.
@@loganhoy9516 jealous I can't be in your class lol
*all across the world*
@@Piss-Poor-Infantry if only
These guys have experienced our world in a way many of us couldn’t even fathom that it could ever be that way.
Yes, and the last two words of your statement are superfluous.
@@cpcattin Nice to see someone is fluent in the King's English....
True bcz world war three is just going to melt us and reset the ecosystem thanks to nuclear
It still is. Many simply have the luxury of being able to ignore it. Brace yourselves.
Yes they experience it through there xbox PlayStation
Honestly admitted how afraid he was to go into that jungle. What sane person wouldn't have been terrified? But he went in anyway because it was the right thing to do. A real hero.
They teach CRT? They ought to teach this!!!!
Yep. Bravery, courage: doing the right thing even when you're afraid. What an incredible generation of people.
Yeah no safe spaces for these guys, life is too easy now new generations are so weak and spoiled
@@johndiasjr9000 Right… Their only safe space was the hole they dug to sleep in…. Hoping they picked a spot that the mortars, artillery rounds, and bombs don’t happen to land directly on.
Let me tell you something, today's generation of weakling entitled brats would pucker up and fold up shop mentally within the first 5 minutes of boot camp let alone go through an entire world war.
There's 3 reasons I watch these videos:
1. To say thanks and pay respects
2. To hear the stories
3. The wonderful content
I need to watch these videos as almost repaying a debt. I wanted to serve my country, of course during peacetime, but I have asthma and would never had made it as a police officer, let alone a soldier. These stories need to be kept alive.
I’m a 26 year old grown man and these firsthand account stories of WW2 in the Pacific and Europe makes me tear up in my eyes a lot. It’s so disturbing and sad what these men went through to stop Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. Too bad we don’t have ww1 vets left they’ve all passed on. Would love to hear their stories
Stopped watching another video to come watch this as every single one of these is an absolute masterpiece. Huge thanks to the crew and everyone involved in the making of these memoirs. And especially a huge thanks to andrew for taking the time to tell his story.
These stories truly inspire me to be a better person after seeing what all these people had to endure. Both the fighting and the coping after the fact. This channel and its wonderful guests never fail to remind what I hold near and dear to heart in life.
it's kinda cool that I was just thinking about this channel randomly and 10 minutes later they uploaded
Thank you, we appreciate the compliment and for your support!
These are awesome cause it's persevering story's and first hand account that's would be lost or never told other wise. These first hand accounts are gold cause it's an honest and raw point Of view not whats in history books which is painted very black n white
Exactly man. I’ve never swapped videos so fast. These are truly amazing.
I agree with u, marine
Andrew you don't need to thank us, we thank you and all who gave everything. Semper Fi.
Awesome video. My grandfather served in Guam and Saipan in the army air corps. Ran radio lines up in the hills. He’s currently 98 and grandma’s 94, still both alive
I’m from Guam. My grandmother was a little girl during the war. She passed away years ago when I was still a boy. Thank you to your grandfather for his service
Please thank your grandfather for being part of the brave men and women to help save my family. My family and my people were affected tremendously and I cannot thank you enough on behalf of my family. Thank you thank you thank you
Same here, the only battle I know my grandfather fought in in world war 2 was Guam as a marine, I can tell it’s a very traumatic subject for him considering how much he likes to talk about Korea and just the blank face when someone mentions Guam, I want to question him further but knowing that the things he went through in their were likely some of the worst things imaginable by man, I don’t really want to bug him about it
My grandfather was in the Army Air Force in the pacific as well....what a blessing to still have your grandfather, sadly mine passed way to soon. Cherish the time you have with him.
Ask your pa' if he lost anything in the mountains of Mount Tenjo, I used to live there.
My father, Phillip J. Lopez served in the Pacific Theatre with the USMC in WWII. He was an amphibious tractor operator, transporting soldiers to the beaches in combat. RIP to the greatest generation.
Man shoutout to the last living ww2 veterans
Hats off to all you ww1 vets
@@waitemc no more living WW1 vets.
@@rosssteuck4989 hah
@@rosssteuck4989 damn really not even 1 person left ?
@@ottoso7044 theyed have to be like 120 years old
All too often you hear these mens stories, going to war with their brothers and closest friends, and coming home to only 1 or 2 of them still being alive, worse yet, being the only one who survived. It's heartwarming that Andrew was able to come home along with all of his friends, and live the lives they deserve together
As I was marveling at what this man has seen and done, it lifted my heart when he said his buddies had survived the war. Can't give him and his friends enough respect, but they get all of mine.
My grandpa was a Captain and a doctor in 1943. He literally went into the military the second he graduated from Stanford. He was in charge of 12 medics and saved countless lives in the Pacific. He had to take teenagers who's arms and legs got blown off and put them back together. He died in 1990 the year I was born so, I never got to meet him but, I have his Stanford graduation ring and tons of photos he took and letters he wrote.
These videos should be in every school for appropriate age children and all teens. Many served. My Uncle was captured at The Bulge, my MIL built F6F's, my FIL ran communications wire in the Philllipines, my oldest sister husband trained artillery men, and then guarded the Eisenhauer family. Everyone needs to know what these people suffered throught to give us all what we have today.
it’s 7:00 AM and my alarm is set for 8:00
These interviews should be shown in every school in America To let our kids know what these brave Men and Women did for our Country.
we have had several teachers tell us that they are using these videos alongside their history curriculum.
@@MemoirsofWWII thats incredible! I might suggest these to some of my high school teachers in fact now that I think about it!
Congress and or representatives should see these
@@MemoirsofWWII Not just high school! I’ve shown portions of these to first graders. They need to know young about freedom and sacrifice. I like in this one that they had Mass and everyone received absolution and Communion. Our religion is integrated into life, something else the young need to know.
@@Cervi65 ....... That's great to hear , thank you .👍
I dont understand why your channel isn't receiving grants. This is a noble cause and deserves more recognition. Thank you for the astonishingly great content!
I Can't even imagine how it was like for an American pilot that had been shot down and lost in the Middle of Night in the Jungles of the Pacific with Japanese soldiers crawling all over the place either in camouflage in the bushes or snipers in the trees. That would be very terrifying
My great grand father shot someone down then got shot down over europ and survived and brought home a nazi Luger and another piece of him
@@MikeSmith-vl5em wow I’m glad he survived
I attended church with a man that flew with Claire Chennault in the Flying Tigers in China. He was a very interesting man and it was sad when he and his wife passed away. His wife was one of a few women that was selected to pose as Rosie the Riveter for a WWII poster. She lost to the eventual woman that was selected. I found out about the family through their son Daniel Johnston who was touring as a musician/singer. Sad to see them pass away.
Add in knowing what the Japanese did to prisoners, and it must have been the most terrifying experience imaginable.
@@ktcarl ...I came across his grand daughter...Retail..Class act...
Thank you sir for being one of Guam's heroic liberators. My father was 19 years old and my mother only 15 in 1944 when the Marines liberated our island from the brutal Japanese occupation. There was a lot of suffering at the hands of the Japanese, who committed grave atrocities against our people because they remained steadfast, true, and loyal to the U.S. during the dire war years. The brave Americans who liberated Guam - those who died on our beaches and jungles or survived to continue the fight - will never be forgotten.
Australian, here. The Japanese treated our people in unspeakably vile ways, too. Some unprintable.
My heart & solidarity goes out to the people of Guam..
There’s a reason they call these people THE GREATEST GENERATION!
My great grandfather Rex was a fighter pilot in the war, and went on to work for NASA as an engineer. When he passed away close to 15 years ago, I was given his old bomber jacket. After watching these videos the last couple of days I might be inclined to ask my mother more about his time in the war as she’s been documenting our family’s genealogy for over 20 years now.
Do ask your mother about your great grandfather's time in the war. Give her a supporting hand, maybe something as little as a trip for sugar to the grocery store. It's not everybody who has the time, care, priority, and the wherewithal to work as she does on genealogy. - Nam vet.
i respect every single world war 2 veteran because they fought for us and they endured so much for us.
I really like listening to these vets tell their stories without a bunch of stupid questions being asked of them. They end up talking about things no interviewer would know about to ask.
What a great story. It's really amazing that all 5 survived when so so many Marines were killed. My Dad was a young sailor stationed on Guam in 1957. The Marines had one of the floors in the barrack where he was quartered so he became good friends with them. He still remembers seeing his Marine friends marching off into the mosquito infested jungle for maneuvers and thinking about what had occurred there 13 yrs earlier.
A Sergeant is not an officer, he is a non commissioned officer. Huge difference.
I wish someone would've interviewed my grandfather like this. He had a lot of interesting stories of those years. Too late now though.
I literally just said the exact same thing to my wife. I hate that I never heard his full story.
I was in Iraq, but these guys saw more than me. Bless you guys.
Great job guys. This is really outstanding work.
@Knights of Europa dude, get help. You need it/
My grandpa is a 97 year old ww2 vet and is still coherent . He has some amazing stories
They should interview him for this channel.
Thank you all WW1 and WW2 vets
Andrew has the classic “boxer’s nose”, to prove it. What a hero. We all need to honor these men, by speaking out, standing up to anyone and anything that threatens our shared values, as Americans. Including other Americans, politicians, friends and family of need be. Leaving a job, taking our kids out of these wretched schools, creating new systems, becoming self sufficient, earning the trust of one another, via actions. Putting our faith in ourselves and our local communities, instead of corrupt governments. That’s how we get it back. And, in all of this, must be an understanding of what we, ourselves, are willing to die for, just like these men. Our right to freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not preferred pronouns, lies, and corruption
Josh, I don't know if you realize this, but what you're doing is absolutely incredible and it probably gets tough to do at times, but please don't stop. You're bringing history to the ears of today's generations. You really are an amazing person for doing this.
my father was a Marine in the 1st Marine Division and he was in the invasion of Okinawa and prior to that Cape Goulester New Britain and Pelielu. They were all tough Invasions of course Okinawa was such a large invasion more ships than any other invasion of WWII. While the invasion on land was raging the Sailors on those ships were fighting for their lives almost every minute, trying to save their ships from the Japanese suicide planes, lots of lives and ships lost.
So glad to see another wwIi story. The Pacific was certainly hell.
Another great effort. There can’t be too many left now.
Thanks for your service my father was a Marine who was injured on Guam.
Men like you make me proud to be a Marine. Semper Fi and thank you Devil for paving the way for young Marines like myself!
Thank you for your service and for watching!
He certainly had an interesting story with the boxing team as well as the Pacific campaign. I'm thankful that there were men like him who did what they had to do for the U.S. and the world. Thank you for bringing us another incredible story!
I'm so glad we all get the opportunity to hear these veteran's stories. These videos will become a part of history.
Unlike a lot of WW2 veterans this man is an excellent story teller. Great interview.
My Dad was in the 1st wave on Guam a Navy Seabed attached to the Marine Corps taking the airstrip. Maybe Andrew and Him crossed paths who knows, I think they would have liked each other.
Why does my gut tell me, they did? I bet they did. Your poor Dad, what a tough deal that was, in the Pacific. Those guys, really got the worst of that war. Most of the men in the European theater, agree. They say it openly, they truly respected the men who were fighting in the Pacific. It must have been tough, in some way, for your family at times, to know how to give him a hand with it. They didn’t talk about it. Who can blame them. I’m from Seattle so most of the men who fought in the Northwest, fought in the Pacific. They would come back with these tropical illnesses, and suffer with them, on and off for the rest of their lives.
I’m from Guam, my grandmother was a little girl during that time. Thank you to your dad for his service
These Men are absolutely exceptional. The most effective warriors in human history.
The ending where this fine man said thank you for talking to me and talking about making a man of him and fighting for his country almost brought a tear to my eye
These videos are incredible. So glad someone is taking the time to capture these. Thanks!!
I got a little teary eyed at the end. I'm sending this to my father, a Korean war vet. He's in upstate New York. I'm Pohnpei,FSM. Nine thousand miles away.
Great video.
Si Yu’us ma’ase (Thank you) Mr. Andrew for your service to my island 🇬🇺! My grandparents had survived the atrocities during the occupation of the Japanese. I wouldn’t be here if men like you did not fight for us.
325,574 World War II Veterans are still alive as of march 2021 according to Veterans Affairs, but 250 pass away every day thats over 91k vets per year pass away. Not many years left there will be no World War II veterans to tell their story. So if you get the chance talk with one do it and honor them. Thank you to my uncle Jo Jo who stormed the beaches of Normandy, and thank you to my grandfather why he's not really considered a vet he was a welder/ electrician at the Philadelphia Shipyard building worships for World War II
Hope in instances where a soldiers such as Mr. Puopolo could get their rank restored after a minor infraction and in lieu of subsequent distinguished service. Thank you Mr. Puopolo for your service, to all that served and Memoirs of WWII for telling their stories !
There's a WW2 vet in West Sacramento California that was part of the crew with President George Herbert Walker Bush. He has some great stories to tell. Would be a worthy makings of a video.
do you have a contact for the Veteran? if so please fill out a veteran form on our website www.memoirsofwwii.com/veteran-form thanks for the lead!
I was in a sandwich shop outside of Jacksonville Florida in the 90s. An old man with a navy veteran hat came in. Someone asked him if had been in ww2. He said he had, and that he was on the sub ( I think that it was a sub ) that picked up GHW Bush after his plane went down.
He got a standing 0vation in the restaurant .
Thank You for being a soldier. I was too in the 60's. I salute you Sir.
Thank you
Thank God men like this lived when we needed them the most.
Bless you sir for this arrangement, and thank you for your service. This video nailed it, my grandfather was Army 6th infantry, Ft Leanardwood, Mo. Returned home shellshocked, jumped on a Harley with a sidecar, with his brother in arms "Buzz" Burger, they rode from Missouri to California to work on the Hoover Dam project, and survived that also! Once he got right, he became an accountant for the Northeast Missouri telephone company. Though still hid under the bed during fireworks of 4th of July!
Wow , mr Puopolo , it was an honor to listen to your story , thanks a lot for your service, respect
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤ with everything going on in America 🇺🇸 and the kids not knowing what was given us for our freedom we need more of these videos so maybe they will come to love our country as much as these brave man and women who gave it all for us ❤
I’m 75, my dad fought in WW2, I asked him questions which he wouldn’t give a definitive answer. I was drafted in 1969. When I returned home all he said now you know why I will not talk about it. I grabbed him and cried. Till this day I refuse to answer any questions.
Truly humbling stuff from a honest-to-God American hero.
Thank you, Mr. Puopolo. Highest respects and regards to you and yours, sir.
- Ed on the Ridge
Such a great historical video..and gentleman! My mother went by ship in 1940..at 28 years old and chaperone by an auntie..to serve as a nurse in Africa. The trip was in the middle of the war..and so they had to darken the ship at night..and all the passengers were given weighted...inflatable "wet suit"..to wear..and had night time drills in case of needing to use them. Unimaginable hardships on both sides! War is terrible!
And he thanks US for listening to his story. Such humility. It was an honor for us to be able to hear his story. It seems that heroes are always modest. A stellar human being this man...
Impossible to comprehend the hell on earth that these soldiers endured for our freedom. Never, ever forget.
commenting for the youtube algorithm. This was by far one of the best videos in this series...
My maternal grandfather was stationed on Guam near the end of the war and wrote in his journal about the friends he lost to missions into the jungle to flush out enemy hideouts. I can't imagine the fear of having to essentially walk into a death trap willingly.
The beer was "Golden!" I love it....Thanks to all who make these videos available to us...They remind me of why I have Freedom, and how very important it is to we Americans. USA!
Alcohol goes against general order number 1. All because supposedly were in Muslim countries? Yeah right. Military are treated like children in modern era military.
Thank you and your friends for your sacrifice for our country. My dad was in the infantry on Guam among other islands during the invasion, but he would never tell stories of what happened.
This is great. I love how clear and sharp his mind is. So lucky all four returned to get married. Iwo and Okinawa were hell on earth.
We should be thanking you for giving us your story, sir. Thank you.
What a guy, It was a humbling experience listening to his story, "The greatest generation".
What a gentleman. What a life! What a hero. Thank you to all our WWII vets, living and deceased.
Thank for your service 🙏
Thank you sir!!! It was an honor to watch and listen to you. My grandpa was ww2 vet from 42 to 45 was on first wave on 2 invasions including Omaha Beach with the 1st nfantry division. I lost him in 2014 and there is not a day goes by that I do not think about of him.
What do you mean first 2 invasions?
I'm so grateful for everything these men and women went through to stop the worlds most evil regime
All 5 of them survived and got to continue being friend’s for life. How awesome!
Yes, it's good to hear the veterans' stories and to learn from them, so that our kids and grand-kids hopefully never have to endure anything like a world war.
when he said " id like to thank you for the time to talk to me" that hit me so hard.. thank you guys so much for doing theses videos and please don't stop.. love you guys so much
This is a real American hero god bless you sir
This man is a true hero. He is honest, humble and a very respectful man. Thanks a lot for telling us your amazing story and to the people who make these stories public
First off I have to say he looks great for a world war II veteran! Second of all this was such a moving story. Don't get me wrong each one of these stories are incredible but for some reason and again put my finger on it this one just really touches you, or at least it did me. Maybe it's the fact that he thanked us for listening to his story. I always used to think to myself for whatever reason if I ever became unemployed or just had an abundant amount of time on my hands I would start a non-profit and listen veteran stories. I was not fortunate enough to listen to my grandfather's WW2 stories, And from what I've been told he really enjoyed telling them. So I personally want to thank the crew at the vets for doing these videos. This is one of my favorite channels on RUclips and I'm always look forward to watching each and every single one of these sometimes even multiple times.
This man needs a movie
Most important channel on youtube. Keep up the great work. I wish someone would do the same in France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan with their living veterans too.
our Goal is to get enough funding to travel overseas to capture these stories, we agree that all sides of the war need to be told! thanks for watching!
Thank you ANDREW PUOPOLO for your service to the UNITED STATES MARINE CORP, and your fighting in Southpacific World War II. GOD Bless !!!!!
Everytime i watch this all the stories they tell are so immersive , and show what true heros these veterans are
I'm thankful that someone made this video to record this Marine's exerience. I went to Guam in 98, when I was in the Corps, but back then they didn't really tell us much about the war there, although they did teach us a lot of USMC history in bootcamp. I also spent a year in Okinawa, same story, but I've spent time learning about these battles on my own. We must remember the sacrifices made by these fine men. Semper Fi
YESSS FINALLY A NEW VIDEO!! Thank you for your service🇺🇸🇺🇸
Family friend of my parents I went to work for in 1975 drove tank in Germany and was hit in the Battle of the Bulge disabling his tank. Ralph's tank was built by Ford Motor Company and he was very loyal to a company that guarded his life to bring him home alive. Veterans never talk much about what happened and documentaries like Andrew are difficult. I spent many years with Ralph until his death, you learned to be a good listener when something would trigger a memory.
We owe these men our gratitude and a promise to uphold their legacy.
I had uncle who's name was John hilla and he singed up for the marines in 1938 and served in every single battle in the pacific war form gudcal Canal to the battle of Okinawa
I just finished watching band of brothers for the second time and am currently doing research on my granddads ww2 service, this is just what I needed
Thank you Andrew for your service. A valiant warrier in wartime and a gentleman in peacetime. 🙏
Thank you for collecting these stories. I know some who probably don't want recall but glad there are many who do. My younger brother had a project in highschool where he interviewed a WWII veteran. It happened to be my older brother's father-in-law. He fought in Battle of the Bulge. He had to cut the interview short as the memories were too great for him to remember and bare. Glad I'm a supporter.
Thank you for your support!!
This man tells how it really was. Young, scared, alone, and didn’t wanna die but he still went and did his bit. That’s a hero.
What I wouldn’t give to just shake his hands and say thank you!!! What a man, what a story, what a life!!
Must be a bit dusty in here, my eyes are watering. My Grandad was a veteran of the Battle of Britain and North Africa with the RAF. God I miss sitting riveted listening to his war stories. I taped a few on my old Video Camera. One day I'll be strong enough to watch them without crying - Andrew reminded me of my Grandad so much.
These vets wouldn't talk about this stuff for years,only after stateside loss was added to what they'd experienced.
They are so rare,as most just never will share much more than name,rank & service.The guy that gets them to talk into🎥📹do a great job in more ways than 1
What a humble and inspirational man. A life well lived, with pride and honor.
Well done. What a thoughtful and heartfelt recollection of his experiences in the war.
Breaks my heart thinking about losing the best friends I grew up with. These are some of the hardest men to ever walk this earth.
I have watched all of the episodes and let me tell you, it is worth it.
Thank you for conducting these interviews which have been eye opening. I see in today's times the same convergence of realities here in the USA that brought the rise of Hitler. Later this week I will be chatting with a dear friend who as a child was lucky enough to barely escape Germany before the Allied invasion.
I have a hard time letting my emotions out, but every time I watch one of these videos it all comes out. Since I was 5 years old I’ve had a recurring dream of being a ww2 fighter pilot before I even knew what ww2 was and in my dream even 20 years later it always ended with me getting shot in the chest by an enemy plane. Not that there’s any correlation but since the first dream at 5 I now have a massive birthmark like stain in my chest.
That's crazy maybe you have been reincarnated...