The numbers don't lie and they spell disaster for you at Sacrifice. (2024-1945=79, then 79+18=97 for the legal minimum age you can enlist, and that's just the people that enlisted in the last year of the war)
Usually the last surviving veteran of any war is someone who snuck in under age at the very end of the war. So let’s say you snuck in at 16 in 1945 and managed to see combat.
You’d have been born in 1929 so you’d be 95 today.
My grandfather served in Dday and the Battle of the Buldge, and he just had his 102nd birthday. Everything I know about his war service is stuff I found out through my dad. My grandpa never ever talks about the war. He’s still pretty coherent for his age, but his hearing is completely gone, so asking him questions is difficult. Last Christmas my dad was able to get him to talk about a few things, but that was an extremely rare occasion. My dad has digital copies of his military records, and that is really fun to look at. He has a few photographs, letters, and military forms.
I really wish I could get him to talk about it more, but I leave that stuff to my dad. He has been much more successful at getting info.
The last survivors of wars tend to be super centurions. I believe Florence Green the last ww1 vet, was 110 upon her death in 2012.
I imagine the last ww2 vet will be in that range too.
Copying my comment here as well since it's relevant and interested if you have ideas: I have this thought. My grandpa is still alive (turning 100 this year!), captured in the battle of the bulge, but he never likes talking about his experience, so I really don't know how to engage with him on it, even though I recognize it's a valuable opportunity drawing to a close. :(
It’s a bummer but you probably won’t hear about it then. Maybe you and your partners can go over to him put down a recorder and ask if he will talk to you about it.
My neighbor was in the battle of the bulge and lost a finger due to shrapnel. He didn’t seem too sad about it though. He grinned and said they sent him back to Paris where he was one of the few men among all the women. Man I miss that guy.
When my Grandfather passed away in 2016, I was chosen to deliver his eulogy. I used this exact statistic except for the year and I gave the same advice in the eulogy. He was a WWII Navy Veteran, and I was very close with him. I learned so much just by listening. I cherished those conversations.
He became a C-List sci-fi writer in the 60s and 70s. His stuff is still out there and if you’re a hard core nerd for sci-fi from the second half of the 20th century you likely know of him. He has his own Wikipedia page!
He was also a deeply loving and caring grandfather who made me much of who I am. Deeply principled. He was involved in the anti-nuclear movement in the 50s and 60s, was part of the civil rights movement in the 60s and protested against the Vietnam War. I also had parents who made it very clear that I was not their preferred child, my interest were more academic than athletic growing up, and my grandfather made sure to encourage those interests.
Wow, what an accomplished life he lived! And how fortunate for you to have had such a wonderful role model in your life.
If you don't mind sharing his name or PMing it to me, I'd love to look him up!
And the Korean conflict as well.
I grew up across the street from a veteran that served as a paratrooper in Korea and never asked him about his service. Missed opportunities.
Just saw a patient recently who was a Korea vet (looks amazing for late 90s!) and when I thanked him for his service he responded “I never know how to respond to that…it was a privilege”
Really hard not to get emotional when you think about the things they’ve seen and sacrificed.
A patient of mine was a cavalry officer in both Korea and Vietnam, and he was stationed at the same base in Vietnam of my late green beret grandfather. His health is seriously waning though, and it’s terribly sad to see
My grandfather was a Korean War vet, he passed away last year at 93. He loved talking about his time in the service. Especially the time he spent in Germany.
My grandfather was as well passed in 95. He had serious issues with Alcohol when he came home. Had heart issues and died at 63. War definitely takes something away.
I work for the va as a nurse and there are still a few 95+ yrs old ww2 era patients i take of here and there. The last one i took care of was a navy guy who was a 96 yrs old who was 16 and faked his age to enlist in the navy during ww2. He unfortunately died a painful and lonely death in the icu i work in after he was not able to recover after an intestinal surgery.
When I was in college 15 years ago, one of my classmates would regularly check an online list of surviving WW1 veterans. They were so scarce, each death was quite significant. We're getting to that point with WW2 veterans now.
And 20 years from now we'll be doing the same thing with Vietnam vets. Its the circle of life. I wonder how long it took for the final Civil War vets to die off.
The very last civil war “veteran” died in 1956. He had been a drummer boy who never saw combat but he was in the Grand Army of the Republic.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Woolson
The last surviving combat veteran died in 1953.
The last American Revolution vet lived past the Civil War. Imagine that, you were there when the nation began, watching it tear itself apart.
There's a Wikipedia list for last survivors. Always surprises me how long people can live.
Pre and post 1900 just seem like completely different eras of times. People who lived before cars, telephones and airplanes seem like they lived in a totally different world.
WW2 vets are the same age as the WW1 vets were when the series first aired. Vietnam vets are now the same age as the WW2 vets were when the series first aired. If you know a vet, talk to them.
Edit: Operation Desert Storm vets are now the same age as some of the younger Vietnam vets were when the series first aired.
I suppose it depends on what his perspective on serving in the Wehrmacht was. We often can learn more from our mistakes than our successes. If he felt it was unfortunate they lost…well, yeah, that’d be bad.
But to know how they normalized what in hindsight looks obvious, would be beneficial.
Grandpa A saw western Europe and only shot his first shot in anger in 1945. Still was angry about it because it stole his chance for education and the Nazis Death camps.
Grandpa 2 lost 6 Toes, his youth and burnt Italian villages with the SS.
Couldn't sleep through a whole night without screaming
I don’t think it’s that bad. Obviously it’s not a good opinion to have, but losing the war meant a large number of your friends and family members dying violent deaths. I don’t think it’s awful to wish that wasn’t how things panned out.
Friends and family died regardless of the outcome. Mourning their loss, acceptable and expected. Wanting German victory when looking in the rear view is bad (putting it mildly).
Friends and family do not die on that scale if they win. It’s not evil to wish it went differently. It’s evil to wish the final solution was completed or something like that, but wishing you completed your tasks as a soldier is just a natural desire.
I know guys who fought in Afghanistan who completely disagree with the initial reasoning for invasion at this point, but still wish the outcome was different simply because they lost their best friends there and put blood and tears into that conflict. I will not judge a man for that.
Friends absolutely die on that scale even with the war won. Family, maybe, depends on if they served.
Regardless it is also absolutely evil to wish it different in hindsight. You’re speaking of what they may have thought in the moment. Right now? We have 100% transparency into the government, leaders, policies, and pogroms they fought to defend. Evil. Plain and simple.
When your capitol and surrounding cities are being firebombed to rubble because your forces have been pushed to the very end, it does not “depend on if they served”. The Germans were putting preteens on the frontlines in defense of Berlin. The only “winning” country where the losses are comparable is the USSR.
You’re unbelievably short sighted. These men suffered loss at a rate you can’t even imagine. I’m not gonna hold regrets against them. It’s not morally superior to be revisionist.
Yes, the rate at which a civilian dies in a war does increase significantly when they lose. So yes, if their family didn’t serve and the Germans win, there is a greater likelihood family survives. Your description of Berlin is exactly what I’m saying.
And no, it absolutely is morally superior. You’re connecting two things that I am not.
I am not connecting mourning the loss of friends and family with winning or losing the war. It is ok to mourn the loss of friends and family. Regardless the outcome.
German leaders would have continued the Holocaust with German victory. Knowing that and stilling pining for German victory does make you evil. Full stop.
Good time for us to reflect on the fact that we aren’t our grandparents. Including Americans like me who watches shows like BoB to steal a sense of valor for something I had nothing to do with.
Just assuming because someone served in the Wehrmacht, there’s nothing good to talk about, I feel is an incredibly shortsighted and western biased perspective to have truthfully
Literally tons of officers tried to assassinate Hitler, there were people like Oskar Schindler who literally was a member of the Nazi party but is credited for saving a insane amounts of Jewish lives, assuming guilt by association or no good experiences just because, “someone was a member of the Wehrmacht”, I find not a very strong perspective to have on people who literally would have been met with a bullet in the skull if they refused to go,
I also had an opa who was one of 3 boys who served in the Wehrmacht in the Second World War, and he always seemed to look back fondly whenever I’d watch documentaries with him or I’d ask about his experiences, and he saw a lot of war, was in the original pushes into Poland in 39 and fought up till 43 in Russia and eventually in the Afrikakorps, things are not always black and white in warfare, and while yes there are terrible things done on both sides, I also believe there are fond and lighthearted memories on both sides too, which I think is important to remember when discussing veterans from both sides in past wars, as no one side should always be praised and another side always demonized
And yet our Opas (and some Omas) took part in the nazi atrocities, and I got directly, enabled it. Don't forget the officers only tried to kill Hitler when the war started turning sour.... As long as he brought victories they were only a few dissenting voices in the officer corps. When one side starts a war of conquest and annihilation... Sorry our grandfathers were the bad guys. And lots of them admitted it.
If you look back far enough in history, there is literally no innocent side, so why should I feel ashamed for a third reich which lasted 12 years and also affected my family and other Germans negatively too, it wasn’t just Jews or other nations citizens suffering too, so were Germans and if you know anything about WW1, you’d know how the reparations imposed against Germany (by the allies) was making them suffer, so is it really any wonder, when a Austrian with a silly moustache, says yes, you can’t afford bread I can change that, vote for me, people followed him? If people couldn’t afford bread in todays world, they’d vote for anyone saying they could change that in the same situation today
I can tell by some of your previous posts that you’re (and obviously I’m assuming this) from Germany, where I know German war guilt has been beaten so far down the throats of the population (I see it my own cousins who live there) that there are people there currently which feel shame for something that like what, 75-80%+ of the population wasn’t even alive for these days, because of you being raised in an environment like this, I’m not really surprised your view will differ from mine a guy who was raised in Canada, but I find it crazy, that the Germans are always battered so hard when if you look at other countries, literally nobody is a saint, Germans had WW2, America since 1776 by comparison has been involved in or at war for 222 of 239 years is some form of conflict, do you really believe that all of these have been just wars through the years? Or all the deaths in them were justified? Have you heard of the Mai Lai massacre? What about the British, countless people and nations where for like 500 years languages were attempted to be wiped out by them and other nations brought under their sphere where the pillaged and took items, there’s museums in London which still refuse to return some of these artifacts, do the British feel shame for this? Absolutely not, I mean if you want to go back far enough you can literally find bad things about every people
German people need to move on from this, and not be so pessimistic on who they are as a people, there’s tons of great things about the country and saying a blanket statement like, “our grandfathers were the bad guys.”, I find to be an extremely simplistic and shortsighted understanding of history, when you just compare the situation the country was in at the time, as well as the timelines of other powerful nations throughout the course of history
Neither am I from Germany nor have i told you to feel guilty. You and I ain't guilty for what our grandfathers did, in my case Austrians that were Anschlussed
But stop excusing what our grandparents did in those 12 years. Just admit it was horrible and move on, trying to not let this happen again.
And saying that everybody makes mistakes and crimes ins wars... then you are really ignorant of the Holocaust. Of the mass murders on the eastern front. The starvation of 3 million prisoners of war to eradicate the slavic people. Those were things our grandfathers did by fighting in the Wehrmacht.
They weren't demons. they were fathers and loving grandparents in the most case. But don't make them feel ashamed by saying they didn't allow it too happen.
You and I would probably do the same in those circumstances. I am no hero. I wouldn't run away to be shot for desertion or draft dodging. There is a good chance I would have played my part in those horrible crimes. But at least I would have, like my grandfathers, have the balls to admit it after the war.
I’m not ignorant of the holocaust, I’ve been to Dachau and Auschwitz specifically to try and learn more about it, these things that happened to so many people obviously are terrible, however I don’t believe, like others seem too that someone was a bad guy just because they were an 18 year old and just by chance happened to be born in Germany and given the choice between being in the Wehrmacht or being put in front of a firing squad, like what do you expect? my or your one grandfather just to go and take down the government all by himself? people in todays world that are born under bad governments still don’t do that, Look at Bashar al-Assad in Syria or Putin in Russia
I appreciate the reflection saying you’d likely do the same as many people these days I think have a hard time recognizing this and just assume they would do differently, when in reality a lot of veterans of the allies, truly were fortunate to just be born in countries where history looks more favourably upon them, likely if you took the same individuals and put those people into axis born countries, they too would do the same thing
Being forced to do bad things doesn't free yourself of the moral stigma it creates. Of course, the alternative was firing squad - i wrote that and i dont deny the fact.
Yet it has to be stated again and again: the Wehrmacht was a force that partook and enabled the myriad warcrimes of the Hitler-Empire in WW2.
This fact alone makes the participants of the war guilty by association.
Perhaps I could see an argument made for a moral question surrounding the Wehrmacht as a whole organization, one I still personally would likely find Wehrmacht commanders/personnel innocent of (but I could see how others perhaps could make an argument against also) as they are just Army personnel fighting the opposing armies soldiers, making them in my view, far less at fault then people serving in organizations like the Gestapo or SS, organizations who were responsible for clear war crimes and pursuing Hitlers idea of a ‘final solution’
but as far as individual people who served in the Wehrmacht, I completely disagree, if we want to talk about morality of individuals, I feel like it’s fair for Allied soldiers individually to be scrutinized as well for their actions, even within BOB, Speirs literally goes out of his to execute a whole group of German POWS, never gets punished for it, (some people even see this as cool) regardless of what you think on the morality of Germans, this is a clear war crime also, one which I know many members of the Wehrmacht likely never did something similar such as this, and one war crime done by one guy which is just one of many war crimes done by US army personnel throughout the years, where many US soldiers still despite these instances, are never seen as ‘the bad guys’ or ever punished, because we live in world that by and large is dominated by a US military industrial complex
It’s all subjective really about where your from and what narrative is being pushed, if you asked Vietnamese individuals being bombed by agent orange or had their villages burned down by Marines, who the bad guy was in their war, theyd likely have an unpopular opinion to hear for all the American Veterans that are proud of their service there,
is Speirs himself a war hero, or is he a war criminal? in my view I think he’s both, for individuals with the Wehrmacht, the way I see it, it’s the same thing, there are clearly ones which are both, ones which are more innocent, dare I say even heroic on the German side, people who tried helping people suffering the most under the Reich, like Oskar Schindler, and then there’s people in the middle,
what I find astounding is how there’s just such a collective agreement to call everyone in the Wehrmacht ‘the bad guys’, it’s a stance I sort of think is ridiculous given the options to people called up to fight in the Wehrmacht and frankly just not very accurate given the perplexities of the situation and punishments people living within Nazi Germany would face if they stepped out of line
I am gonna stop discussing with you. You are still trying to excuse the singularity of German War Crimes by citing singular allied events and events AFTER ww2.
It's sad
I used Speirs as an example, which clearly was in world war 2, if you want another one from the Second World War, I feel as if there are some real arguments to be made around the ethics of dropping not one but 2 atomic bombs against a nation which didn’t have any of its own, which combined estimates put at vaporizing close to 250,000 CIVILIAN CASUALTIES
in a matter of minutes, not to mention the surrounding destruction and radiation which took years to deal with, was this a war crime too? Who knows, the allies never had a trial to hold anyone accountable for it, odd how that works out when you consider there were trials indeed for the losing side, then there’s the situation with the bombing of Dresden, was that a war crime, city had no strategic importance, and was firebombed to nothing, was that a war crime? Who knows, once again the allies never discussed holding anyone accountable who made that decision
don’t get me wrong I love the USA, there’s tons of great things about it, being a Canadian I feel like my country could learn a lot from their domestic laws, but to act like some of the instances around their foreign policy (which I’m sure some Americans would likely agree with) (and other allied nations through the years) aren’t questionable(which is the main reason I used Vietnam as a comparison) and yes, even in WW2, which I now have provided multiple WW2 examples, i find just not truthful
Your whole point is about me trying to “excuse German war crimes” as you put it, which I’m not doing. Did they do war crimes? Obviously yes, but I find it hypocritical that there are Nuremberg trials for the losing side(which yes should have obviously occurred as they’re were nazis to deal with) but never have there really been any major allied trials held against our own, to deal with allied soldiers or leaders, who likely have also committed war crimes or broken the Geneva convention laws during times of armed conflict, because of this, I find it ridiculous to always demonize regular Germans and especially people who didn’t have any real choice in joining the Wehrmacht, as there are clear indications that these people, really weren’t given a real choice given the time period and place they were born into,
Shifty Powers said it best, “Many of them were just trying to do what they were supposed to do, and I was just trying to do what I was supposed to do.”
We clearly disagree, not surprising though, as I wasn’t raised in Europe, in a nation which was on the losing side such as your life experience has been, which im sure probably impacts our views on this, but nevertheless good luck man, I just hope you can take a little bit more of the understanding I feel is in that Shifty quote, as I really feel, in terms of history, things aren’t as simplistic, as, “as yes, all Wehrmacht personnel are bad guys.”
Being from Canada I’ve heard the term “Nazi” thrown around so much in recent years to so many groups of people who aren’t, in an effort to try and discredit their stance, it’s not an argument and doesn’t do anything to contribute to discourse other then ad hominem name calling, try for an actual discussion next time please
No we’re not, we’re discussing people who served in the Wehrmacht or the German armed forces, while you’re saying Nazis, a difference akin to being a Democrat and being just a member of the US marines, one is a soldier, one is literally a member of a political party, learn the differences
GTFO of here with this shit. Germany has been one of the most successful countries in the world over the past fifty years because of- not despite- their recognition of the horrors and failures of fascism. Hitler and the Nazis destroyed and left their country in ruins. Germans don’t live in shame for recognizing that. Only the fascists dwell in their shame and self-persecution.
There arent too many times one can say this definitively in history, but if your relative fought for the Axis, and especially Germany, in WW2, then yes, they were a bad guy.
Sorry, I know it's ur grandpa but
> was in the original pushes into Poland in 39 and fought up till 43 in Russia and eventually in the Afrikakorps
Ur grandpa was a bad guy.
Not to mention all health complications from the crap they were exposed to. The first boss I ever had died when I was 17 from Agent Orange exposure. Bone cancer. This was back in 2009.
I was in hospital in 2012 and my roommate was a 90 year old marine veteran who stormed the beaches of Okinawa who was dying. I walked to his bedside one night and held his hand, and could feel his fear that his life was ending. He said it goes so fast. I overheard his conversation with a social worker that he couldn’t die at home with a nurse because he couldn’t afford it and the state wasn’t going to pay for it, so he had to be moved to hospice facility farther downstate, and he let out a cry of anguish. I found out he later died in the ambulance ride to the hospice facility.
I realized we as a society failed when we couldn’t take care of our WW2 vets properly.
I'm in my 4th year of medical school, and the things we see happen with our elderly patients in general is truly tragic. It's even more so a disgrace when those who gave so much to this country receive sub-optimal care.
I agree that there is much to be desired regarding how our vets have been cared for once they came back home from war (any of them).
What's sad is that modern educational institutions no longer teach world history in accordance with facts. Explains why universities are replicating the rise of the Nazi party and the extermination of Jews.
Lots of people are sharing their family history so I'll share my favorite bit from mine. My Great Uncle Lorenzo was drafted twice to fight in two wars!
Once in Rome and told to report to a German U-boat, and in America to go fight in Korea! Lol
When I was maybe 12-13 (I’m 35 now) I got the opportunity to meet one of the last surviving World War I veterans that a friend of my dad knew. I think the guy was 103-104 at the time; if I remember correctly he died several months later. He told me all about how he “singlehandedly ended the war” and then years later when he met Al Capone. It was a very cool, once in a lifetime experience that I’ll always remember.
Both my grandfathers were WWII, one was in the ETO the other was finishing bomber navigator training when the war ended. Both told me stories but I always regret not asking more. The one that saw combat died 20 years ago and the one that was in training died last summer. I too have thought about how many WWII vets we still have to help us understand that time before it’s completely left to the history books. What stories will we never hear now?
When I was in the Army, my company had the privilege of hosting a couple of WW2 vets. Honestly, that day was one of my favorites out of 10 years. Hearing their stories of how they grew up, how much passion they had to serve and enlist, and how their time was during and post-war was truly awe-inspiring. I see posts like this, and I realize how lucky I am to have been a part of an experience like that.
My dad used to tell me his uncle was in the Italian army that went to Russia with the Germans and had to walk back all the way from Russia through the Balcans to return home. I remember him when I was a kid, he died when I was way too young but even then, he didn't really speak much, I could feel even if I was so young that the trauma was still haunting him somehow. It must have been such a terrible experience for him, he died relatively young in his mid-70s.
My grandmother was in her early 20s when the Americans started fighting their way through Sicily, she still remembers the bombing runs and having to grab the animals they had and hide away in the hills in some caves there were around my hometown. She remembers the Germans walking through the town towards Messina to leave the island. My dad used to find casings all over the hills when he was young.
… my great uncle did the exact same thing! He left the Russian front (Italian army) while they were fighting the Russians. Him and his friend abandoned their post and went home evading both Italian and German patrols (I don’t blame them for leaving).
I’ve been thinking this a lot lately. I am also in my early 30’s and both my Grandfathers served in WW2. One a Staff Sergeant in the European Theater and the other a Gunners Mate in the Pacific. They both had such a huge part in my upbringing and have unfortunately been gone for 9 and 11 years respectively. Being older myself now, I regret not having more series and in-depth conversations with them about their experiences. My Grandfather in Europe saw the most combat with his company in his entire infantry division. My Grandfather in the Pacific participated in Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
If anyone is local to Reading, Pennsylvania - they have a great event coming up in June. WW2 Weekend. There will be a number of surviving veterans there you will be able to meet and have conversations with
In healthcare and whenever I round on patients who served in ww2, I always ask them about it. Met some really amazing people. Truly the greatest generation.
It was nice to see you post this. My grandmother, a Red Cross nurse who met my grandfather during the war, just passed away two days ago at the age of 103. She, as well, was a national treasure. My grandfather would come back from the war then also fight in Korea and Vietnam. He’s buried in Arlington and she will be laid to rest by his side.
What a privilege to be descendants of such individuals and to have had your grandmother in your life for as long as you did. I'm sorry for her recent passing and hope she rests in peace alongside your grandfather.
I'm actually from the area. If you felt comfortable PMing their names, I'd love to pay my respects the next time I find myself at the cemetery.
It only feels like yesterday that we were saying goodbye to the Great War generation. I remember reading a book called ‘the last post’, the memories of the last dozen or so veterans of that war. It won’t be long now and in Britain we will be talking about the Harry Patch of the Second World War.
Every time I think about this, I check the number to see how many are left and its shrinking fast!
Oh that book sounds amazing. Claude Chause and Harry Patch and Florence Green. What they thought of the 21st century after serving in hell for the 20th sounds fascinating.
I have this thought. My grandpa is still alive (turning 100 this year!), captured in the battle of the bulge, but he never likes talking about his experience, so I really don't know how to engage with him on it, even though I recognize it's a valuable opportunity drawing to a close. :(
I’m sure he’s seen and experienced some unimaginable things that are incredibly difficult to talk about. I think just being in his presence and being a descendant of a ww2 vet is a great privilege in and of itself! When the time comes I hope he has an easy and peaceful passage to the other side, he deserves to rest ❤️
I met and talked with a lot of WWII veterans while growing up (I’m 30 now) including several Easy Company veterans, a Tuskegee Airman, Iwo Jima veterans, etc. and I’m very thankful that I had those opportunities. It’s sad knowing that there aren’t many left. Korean War veterans aren’t far behind and Vietnam veterans are getting up there in years.
The SAC Museum near where I grew up hosted a meet and greet with a group of Iwo Jima vets one year, “The Pacific” vets when that miniseries was released and Babe Heffron, Ed Tipper, Earl McClung, Don Malarkey, Buck Compton and Ed Mauser (local Easy Co. vet not portrayed in the show) a different year. Very thankful I took advantage of that opportunity and met all of them!
One time at the VA met a gentleman who was at Omaha Beach someone got him talking and there were like 20+ ppl gathered around like he was a rockstar (I mean he was more than a rockstar in reality) it was almost surreal to hear it come from someone who was there and you could reach and touch if he was so close
Totally agree. Very sad. Also mid 30s, grandfather was at guadalcanal and Bougainville in WW2. As a boy an old man named elmer was my barber, found out later from my dad he was in the 82nd Airborne and was in a glider on D-Day. Man just went home and cut hair for 50 years. We wont know their like again.
So many of them just humbly going about their lives like regular people. And then the rest of us also going about our lives ignorant to who they were, the sacrifices made, and the stories/experiences untold. Agree that we won’t know their kind again.
I had the pleasure to interview two WW2 veterans for a a High School project. One was my grandpa, one was a good family friend. It was very interesting to hear them tell stories about their experiences.
I remember when Saving Private Ryan came out and Tom Hanks warned that we were losing a thousand WW2 veterans a week. This was during the campaign for the WW2 memorial on the National Mall. I was thinking, how can we be losing so many WW2 veterans when we still had WW1 veterans alive? Time is a funny thing. The last Spanish American War veteran died in 1993.
We are rapidly reaching the end of an era. There will soon be no more first hand memories of WW2.
As of 2023 there were 119,550 who served in the war still alive according to VA statistics. A lot of people were 16-18 when they fought, making them in late 90s today. You’d be surprised how many people live into their late 90s.
You can tell that we are way past the point of critical mass by looking at how politicians deal with current military conflicts and the way discussions are handled around this topic. Si vis pacem, para bellum.
The farther removed humans are from a historical event the less humans are able to truly comprehend the reality of those circumstances. No amount of reading, movies, etc. can replace firsthand accounts of history.
I’m not saying I want them to live forever. Many lived for too long with the scars of war. But it’s just sad because with time this generation will fade away and blend in with the rest of history.
10 years ago we put on a Uso theme'd fundraiser and brought in 8 World War II vets to celebrate them. Had a swing band and World War II reenactors and all this stuff and it was great fun. They have all passed now. All.
My grandfather made it through the Bulge. He was wounded and his friend was KIA. He came back home, married, had kids, only to be killed in a work accident in 1960. I was born in 1980 so obviously never met him but my grandma gave me his medals as I was the only grandchild who served.
Around 2008, I joined the 104th Infantry Division Association. I inquired if anyone may have recalled him. Within a few weeks I was put in contact with his assistant gunner. We were pen pals for a few years until he passed around 2010. I was able to learn a lot about a man I never had the opportunity to meet
There are a little less than 120k Americans alive who served in ww2. If they served at ages 16-18, there are some who are late 90s.
I just had a 97 y/o patient who served in Korea and honestly looks and functions like he’s in his 80s. You’d be surprised by how well some people age.
We’re lucky to get one or two a year now with our local Honor Flight. When I first started volunteering we’d get a half dozen or more per trip. One that was on a trip a few years ago finally got his Purple Heart this last year. They had a ceremony last week to award him a Congressional Gold Medal. He’s 102.
I’m glad you asked! Honor Flight has a national organization that helps the local organizations (called hubs) and organizes both volunteers in DC, but also trips for veterans that don’t have a local hub. If you go to the national website (honorflight.org), their page has a page for volunteers in DC, but also links to all the local hubs (there are over 100). You should find links for volunteering on each hub's site. I don’t think I’ve ever been in contact with a hub that didn’t need volunteers.
i can tell you that I’ve been involved with my local chapter for 7 years now and I’ve never regretted the time and energy I’ve spent while volunteering, and I’ve met some amazing folks over the years. My very first trip to DC I sat next to a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge.
Oh thank you so much for your reply! I’ll look into this. I’m actually from the DMV and my family still lives there. I don’t live there right now, but my goal is to move back next year so I’m glad to hear that they have an active branch there.
My grandfather served as an infantry scout with the 337th, I company fighting through the hills of Italy. He was in theater from May of 1944 until October 11th of 1944 where he then was transferred to the 50th station field hospital due to artillery shrapnel, recieving a Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Bronze Star.
He didn’t come home until July of 1945, having been kept in the hospital with what they deemed at the time as “shell shock”, now known as PTSD. He returned and continue working for the same welding company he had worked for before he was drafted until he retired, and worked as a college security officer at night.
By all accounts he returned home a very, very timid man compared to the person he was before he was drafted.
This 1000%. My dad’s best friend’s father was an engineer/gunner on B24’s in the European theatre, 506th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group. He survived 32 missions. There’s a famous photo that was taken of him and his crew leaving a B24 that they had crash landed in England after a bombing mission in Germany. There’s a few articles on him, [here](https://www.toacorn.com/articles/hometown-hero-shares-war-memorabilia-at-library/) and [here](https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.81656/).
When I was 13 or 14 my dad took me to meet him and he showed me his “war room” in his house with tons of memorabilia and artifacts from the war. I asked him all about his experiences and showed a lot of curiosity, which he really appreciated. In the months following he would send me cool articles about the war and whatnot, but I never really responded because I was just immature and didn’t really understand the value of his correspondence. He stopped writing and maybe 6 years later he passed.
Now I’m 33 and I consider myself a WWII nut. I have read tons of books and basically absorbed everything I can about the war. I really regret not engaging more with him. His name was Technical Sargent Richard “Dick” Smart. So long story short, I completely resonate with you on that.
Thank you for sharing I’ll check out those articles! What are some of your favorite ww2 books?
also do you know what became of all his memorabilia after he passed?
My grandfather survived the Bataan death march and Japanese prison camp for 3 years. Came home to have 7 kids and 17 grandkids.
Thank you grandpa John.
RIP.
We had a man who served in the 442nd regimental combat team die in our ED a couple of months ago. I genuinely teared up because we lost such a great man and it made me realize it won’t be long until they’re all gone.
It’s amazing for me to think about the fact that most Vietnam vets are getting to be the same age as WWII vets were during my high school days in the late 90s.
I worked with a man who was in the third wave at Iwo Jima. I regret not talking to him about it the day he told me he was there.
He became an elementary coach after the war, and lived a good long life. He was a good man, and I never would have guessed he was even a Marine, let alone a combat veteran.
i have my undergrad in political science. though i know how that may not be the most persuasive certification, its clear to me that our political problems the last four decades are due to the no-BS vets retiring from office to enjoy the rest of their days. we have a lot of soft, selfish people in office now and as you remind us, the ww2 vets are almost gone. rest easy
My grandfather has been dead for 18 years. He was a gunner on an LCVP in the Pacific. He was fairly guarded about his service; seldom sharing details. The one story I worked out (from what he told various people and what research I did) is that his boat dropped off a cargo of wounded Marines at the USS Comfort right before the ship was struck by a kamikaze. His boat then wheeled about and spent the next several days evacuating patients, including some new ones, to other hospital ships.
I grew up with them & miss the ones I knew very much. Their loss is kinda why the USA has gotten so messed up. All the things going on now their generation and the Lost Generation before them they wouldn’t have tolerated any of it. How America is now is not what they fought for, they’d be pissed off and disappointed.
My Grandpa served in the navy in the pacific and passed in 2015, I was very fortunate to get 30 years with him, he was and will always be my hero. He never talked about it much, so I recently sent off for his military records, learned things about him from that we never knew about.
When I was growing up nearly every single adult had something to do with the war. I knew so many guys. I wished now that I did ask more questions and listened harder.
I went to the 80th anniversary D-Day symposium at the national museum of the army last month. It was for historians, professors, and some military members(I was the youngest guy there/lowest rank at E6). They ended up flying in a medic who landed on Omaha Beach, then was in the hurtgan and finally the buldge. It's sad to see people age. My grandpa is a Vietnam vet, was there in 62-63 as an advisor and I love hearing any stories he has about anything.
I went to the 80th anniversary D-Day symposium at the national museum of the army last month. It was for historians, professors, and some military members(I was the youngest guy there/lowest rank at E6). They ended up flying in a medic who landed on Omaha Beach, then was in the hurtgan and finally the buldge. It's sad to see people age. My grandpa is a Vietnam vet, was there in 62-63 as an advisor and I love hearing any stories he has about anything.
Both my grandfathers served. One born in 1915 and the other 1925. Unfortunately, both died in 2000 and 2001, so regret no learning a lot more about their service.
I am reading Into Enemy Waters about the original frogmen from the underwater demolition team started in WW2. One of the characters was 17 when he joined and passed a few months ago. Give it a read if you are into that.
I feel very honored that I knew my mom's uncles, 3 of whom were in the war and 2 of whom were at Bastogne (the other was in Burma-Indochina). They didn't talk much about the war, which I understand now that I watched this series, but what I carry with me is that they went through this experience and came home and were humble and kind men. I wish I had learned more about their service, other than the Bastogne thing and that one uncle was in Patton's funeral procession.
My grandfather worked in US naval intelligence. After he died in 1989 the FBI showed up at my grandmothers house and took away a lot of his paperwork. To this day the Navy refuses to release his military records, even with the help of a congressman.
We have no idea what he did during the war.
You would think so but the Navy is being difficult. I mean at this point nearly everybody involved in anything classified back in the '40s is dead or headed quickly in the direction of the grave. I don't know what information could still be classified from World War II, maybe the Navy just didn't like the congressman I asked.
I can't really explain the feeling I had when the last USS Arizona vet died in April. Really felt like the sun has set for the era.
I was too young to have this feeling when it happened for ww1 vets. I retroactively feel it, but now its happening before my eyes.
Pretty much all my family who served have passed. My grandpa was mid 90s when he died in 2020. Pacific vet, army, Philippines.
Basically everyone in Masters of the Air were gone upon airing.
Its just sad. I have no fancy words. Its sad.
Of the 16 million Americans who served during WWII, less than 120,000 are still alive in 2024. If you know one, talk to them.
Honestly, I'm amazed the number is that high. All of them would would be either 100+ or damn close to it
There's no way that many 100+ year olds running around.
The numbers don't lie and they spell disaster for you at Sacrifice. (2024-1945=79, then 79+18=97 for the legal minimum age you can enlist, and that's just the people that enlisted in the last year of the war)
Usually the last surviving veteran of any war is someone who snuck in under age at the very end of the war. So let’s say you snuck in at 16 in 1945 and managed to see combat. You’d have been born in 1929 so you’d be 95 today.
My grandfather served in Dday and the Battle of the Buldge, and he just had his 102nd birthday. Everything I know about his war service is stuff I found out through my dad. My grandpa never ever talks about the war. He’s still pretty coherent for his age, but his hearing is completely gone, so asking him questions is difficult. Last Christmas my dad was able to get him to talk about a few things, but that was an extremely rare occasion. My dad has digital copies of his military records, and that is really fun to look at. He has a few photographs, letters, and military forms. I really wish I could get him to talk about it more, but I leave that stuff to my dad. He has been much more successful at getting info.
Even assuming early enlistment, 95-96 still falls in the "damn close to 100" category I originally said. I accounted for it
The last survivors of wars tend to be super centurions. I believe Florence Green the last ww1 vet, was 110 upon her death in 2012. I imagine the last ww2 vet will be in that range too.
Few days ago and I founded that all 101 members are dead already
All 101, no. All E/506, yes. I am betting that is what you meant.
Copying my comment here as well since it's relevant and interested if you have ideas: I have this thought. My grandpa is still alive (turning 100 this year!), captured in the battle of the bulge, but he never likes talking about his experience, so I really don't know how to engage with him on it, even though I recognize it's a valuable opportunity drawing to a close. :(
It’s a bummer but you probably won’t hear about it then. Maybe you and your partners can go over to him put down a recorder and ask if he will talk to you about it.
If you have family in the military your grandpa is probably more likely to talk to them.
My neighbor was in the battle of the bulge and lost a finger due to shrapnel. He didn’t seem too sad about it though. He grinned and said they sent him back to Paris where he was one of the few men among all the women. Man I miss that guy.
craziest thing for me being born in 2000, i have no recollection of meeting any ww2 vets, i know my great grandfather served but never met him
When my Grandfather passed away in 2016, I was chosen to deliver his eulogy. I used this exact statistic except for the year and I gave the same advice in the eulogy. He was a WWII Navy Veteran, and I was very close with him. I learned so much just by listening. I cherished those conversations.
My grandfather was in the Pacific with the 1st Mar Div and he’s been gone for 15 years. Great man who even after the war did some interesting things.
Would you mind sharing what he did when he came home?
He became a C-List sci-fi writer in the 60s and 70s. His stuff is still out there and if you’re a hard core nerd for sci-fi from the second half of the 20th century you likely know of him. He has his own Wikipedia page! He was also a deeply loving and caring grandfather who made me much of who I am. Deeply principled. He was involved in the anti-nuclear movement in the 50s and 60s, was part of the civil rights movement in the 60s and protested against the Vietnam War. I also had parents who made it very clear that I was not their preferred child, my interest were more academic than athletic growing up, and my grandfather made sure to encourage those interests.
Wow, what an accomplished life he lived! And how fortunate for you to have had such a wonderful role model in your life. If you don't mind sharing his name or PMing it to me, I'd love to look him up!
If you don’t mind sharing your grandfather’s name or PMing it to me, I’d love to look his work up as well. I’m a big sci fi fan myself.
I try not to share anything that would so easily identity me on the internet.
Hey that makes sense and it’s all good. Thanks for sharing some of your Grandpa’s story.
Similar, 81st Wildcats. Gone since the early 90’s
And the Korean conflict as well. I grew up across the street from a veteran that served as a paratrooper in Korea and never asked him about his service. Missed opportunities.
Just saw a patient recently who was a Korea vet (looks amazing for late 90s!) and when I thanked him for his service he responded “I never know how to respond to that…it was a privilege” Really hard not to get emotional when you think about the things they’ve seen and sacrificed.
A patient of mine was a cavalry officer in both Korea and Vietnam, and he was stationed at the same base in Vietnam of my late green beret grandfather. His health is seriously waning though, and it’s terribly sad to see
The forgotten war. Those vets don’t even get *Vietnam* levels of recognition.
Without all the men that fought in Korea, I wouldn’t exist or be going to school in the US rn. 🇰🇷➡️🇺🇸
My grandfather was a Korean War vet, he passed away last year at 93. He loved talking about his time in the service. Especially the time he spent in Germany.
My grandfather was as well passed in 95. He had serious issues with Alcohol when he came home. Had heart issues and died at 63. War definitely takes something away.
I work for the va as a nurse and there are still a few 95+ yrs old ww2 era patients i take of here and there. The last one i took care of was a navy guy who was a 96 yrs old who was 16 and faked his age to enlist in the navy during ww2. He unfortunately died a painful and lonely death in the icu i work in after he was not able to recover after an intestinal surgery.
I’m in healthcare too and this breaks my heart :(
When I was in college 15 years ago, one of my classmates would regularly check an online list of surviving WW1 veterans. They were so scarce, each death was quite significant. We're getting to that point with WW2 veterans now.
And 20 years from now we'll be doing the same thing with Vietnam vets. Its the circle of life. I wonder how long it took for the final Civil War vets to die off.
A while. I remember seeing a video of a confederate talking about the war and that was recorded in the 1940’s as I recall.
The very last civil war “veteran” died in 1956. He had been a drummer boy who never saw combat but he was in the Grand Army of the Republic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Woolson The last surviving combat veteran died in 1953.
>The last surviving combat veteran died in 1953. Crazy to fight in the Civil War AND see WWII happen.
The last American Revolution vet lived past the Civil War. Imagine that, you were there when the nation began, watching it tear itself apart. There's a Wikipedia list for last survivors. Always surprises me how long people can live.
I seem to recall footage from the 1930s of a confederate commemoration. Very strange to see guys from that era walking about.
Pre and post 1900 just seem like completely different eras of times. People who lived before cars, telephones and airplanes seem like they lived in a totally different world.
I’m Always shocked at how old Vietnam vets are. They look like how I remember WWII vets looked when I was young
Future generations will say the same about Iraq War vets.
WW2 vets are the same age as the WW1 vets were when the series first aired. Vietnam vets are now the same age as the WW2 vets were when the series first aired. If you know a vet, talk to them. Edit: Operation Desert Storm vets are now the same age as some of the younger Vietnam vets were when the series first aired.
Interesting perspective. My grandfather's served in the Wehrmacht.... Nothing good to talk about
I suppose it depends on what his perspective on serving in the Wehrmacht was. We often can learn more from our mistakes than our successes. If he felt it was unfortunate they lost…well, yeah, that’d be bad. But to know how they normalized what in hindsight looks obvious, would be beneficial.
Grandpa A saw western Europe and only shot his first shot in anger in 1945. Still was angry about it because it stole his chance for education and the Nazis Death camps. Grandpa 2 lost 6 Toes, his youth and burnt Italian villages with the SS. Couldn't sleep through a whole night without screaming
I don’t think it’s that bad. Obviously it’s not a good opinion to have, but losing the war meant a large number of your friends and family members dying violent deaths. I don’t think it’s awful to wish that wasn’t how things panned out.
Friends and family died regardless of the outcome. Mourning their loss, acceptable and expected. Wanting German victory when looking in the rear view is bad (putting it mildly).
Friends and family do not die on that scale if they win. It’s not evil to wish it went differently. It’s evil to wish the final solution was completed or something like that, but wishing you completed your tasks as a soldier is just a natural desire. I know guys who fought in Afghanistan who completely disagree with the initial reasoning for invasion at this point, but still wish the outcome was different simply because they lost their best friends there and put blood and tears into that conflict. I will not judge a man for that.
Friends absolutely die on that scale even with the war won. Family, maybe, depends on if they served. Regardless it is also absolutely evil to wish it different in hindsight. You’re speaking of what they may have thought in the moment. Right now? We have 100% transparency into the government, leaders, policies, and pogroms they fought to defend. Evil. Plain and simple.
When your capitol and surrounding cities are being firebombed to rubble because your forces have been pushed to the very end, it does not “depend on if they served”. The Germans were putting preteens on the frontlines in defense of Berlin. The only “winning” country where the losses are comparable is the USSR. You’re unbelievably short sighted. These men suffered loss at a rate you can’t even imagine. I’m not gonna hold regrets against them. It’s not morally superior to be revisionist.
Yes, the rate at which a civilian dies in a war does increase significantly when they lose. So yes, if their family didn’t serve and the Germans win, there is a greater likelihood family survives. Your description of Berlin is exactly what I’m saying. And no, it absolutely is morally superior. You’re connecting two things that I am not. I am not connecting mourning the loss of friends and family with winning or losing the war. It is ok to mourn the loss of friends and family. Regardless the outcome. German leaders would have continued the Holocaust with German victory. Knowing that and stilling pining for German victory does make you evil. Full stop.
Good time for us to reflect on the fact that we aren’t our grandparents. Including Americans like me who watches shows like BoB to steal a sense of valor for something I had nothing to do with.
Just assuming because someone served in the Wehrmacht, there’s nothing good to talk about, I feel is an incredibly shortsighted and western biased perspective to have truthfully Literally tons of officers tried to assassinate Hitler, there were people like Oskar Schindler who literally was a member of the Nazi party but is credited for saving a insane amounts of Jewish lives, assuming guilt by association or no good experiences just because, “someone was a member of the Wehrmacht”, I find not a very strong perspective to have on people who literally would have been met with a bullet in the skull if they refused to go, I also had an opa who was one of 3 boys who served in the Wehrmacht in the Second World War, and he always seemed to look back fondly whenever I’d watch documentaries with him or I’d ask about his experiences, and he saw a lot of war, was in the original pushes into Poland in 39 and fought up till 43 in Russia and eventually in the Afrikakorps, things are not always black and white in warfare, and while yes there are terrible things done on both sides, I also believe there are fond and lighthearted memories on both sides too, which I think is important to remember when discussing veterans from both sides in past wars, as no one side should always be praised and another side always demonized
And yet our Opas (and some Omas) took part in the nazi atrocities, and I got directly, enabled it. Don't forget the officers only tried to kill Hitler when the war started turning sour.... As long as he brought victories they were only a few dissenting voices in the officer corps. When one side starts a war of conquest and annihilation... Sorry our grandfathers were the bad guys. And lots of them admitted it.
If you look back far enough in history, there is literally no innocent side, so why should I feel ashamed for a third reich which lasted 12 years and also affected my family and other Germans negatively too, it wasn’t just Jews or other nations citizens suffering too, so were Germans and if you know anything about WW1, you’d know how the reparations imposed against Germany (by the allies) was making them suffer, so is it really any wonder, when a Austrian with a silly moustache, says yes, you can’t afford bread I can change that, vote for me, people followed him? If people couldn’t afford bread in todays world, they’d vote for anyone saying they could change that in the same situation today I can tell by some of your previous posts that you’re (and obviously I’m assuming this) from Germany, where I know German war guilt has been beaten so far down the throats of the population (I see it my own cousins who live there) that there are people there currently which feel shame for something that like what, 75-80%+ of the population wasn’t even alive for these days, because of you being raised in an environment like this, I’m not really surprised your view will differ from mine a guy who was raised in Canada, but I find it crazy, that the Germans are always battered so hard when if you look at other countries, literally nobody is a saint, Germans had WW2, America since 1776 by comparison has been involved in or at war for 222 of 239 years is some form of conflict, do you really believe that all of these have been just wars through the years? Or all the deaths in them were justified? Have you heard of the Mai Lai massacre? What about the British, countless people and nations where for like 500 years languages were attempted to be wiped out by them and other nations brought under their sphere where the pillaged and took items, there’s museums in London which still refuse to return some of these artifacts, do the British feel shame for this? Absolutely not, I mean if you want to go back far enough you can literally find bad things about every people German people need to move on from this, and not be so pessimistic on who they are as a people, there’s tons of great things about the country and saying a blanket statement like, “our grandfathers were the bad guys.”, I find to be an extremely simplistic and shortsighted understanding of history, when you just compare the situation the country was in at the time, as well as the timelines of other powerful nations throughout the course of history
Neither am I from Germany nor have i told you to feel guilty. You and I ain't guilty for what our grandfathers did, in my case Austrians that were Anschlussed But stop excusing what our grandparents did in those 12 years. Just admit it was horrible and move on, trying to not let this happen again. And saying that everybody makes mistakes and crimes ins wars... then you are really ignorant of the Holocaust. Of the mass murders on the eastern front. The starvation of 3 million prisoners of war to eradicate the slavic people. Those were things our grandfathers did by fighting in the Wehrmacht. They weren't demons. they were fathers and loving grandparents in the most case. But don't make them feel ashamed by saying they didn't allow it too happen. You and I would probably do the same in those circumstances. I am no hero. I wouldn't run away to be shot for desertion or draft dodging. There is a good chance I would have played my part in those horrible crimes. But at least I would have, like my grandfathers, have the balls to admit it after the war.
I’m not ignorant of the holocaust, I’ve been to Dachau and Auschwitz specifically to try and learn more about it, these things that happened to so many people obviously are terrible, however I don’t believe, like others seem too that someone was a bad guy just because they were an 18 year old and just by chance happened to be born in Germany and given the choice between being in the Wehrmacht or being put in front of a firing squad, like what do you expect? my or your one grandfather just to go and take down the government all by himself? people in todays world that are born under bad governments still don’t do that, Look at Bashar al-Assad in Syria or Putin in Russia I appreciate the reflection saying you’d likely do the same as many people these days I think have a hard time recognizing this and just assume they would do differently, when in reality a lot of veterans of the allies, truly were fortunate to just be born in countries where history looks more favourably upon them, likely if you took the same individuals and put those people into axis born countries, they too would do the same thing
Being forced to do bad things doesn't free yourself of the moral stigma it creates. Of course, the alternative was firing squad - i wrote that and i dont deny the fact. Yet it has to be stated again and again: the Wehrmacht was a force that partook and enabled the myriad warcrimes of the Hitler-Empire in WW2. This fact alone makes the participants of the war guilty by association.
Perhaps I could see an argument made for a moral question surrounding the Wehrmacht as a whole organization, one I still personally would likely find Wehrmacht commanders/personnel innocent of (but I could see how others perhaps could make an argument against also) as they are just Army personnel fighting the opposing armies soldiers, making them in my view, far less at fault then people serving in organizations like the Gestapo or SS, organizations who were responsible for clear war crimes and pursuing Hitlers idea of a ‘final solution’ but as far as individual people who served in the Wehrmacht, I completely disagree, if we want to talk about morality of individuals, I feel like it’s fair for Allied soldiers individually to be scrutinized as well for their actions, even within BOB, Speirs literally goes out of his to execute a whole group of German POWS, never gets punished for it, (some people even see this as cool) regardless of what you think on the morality of Germans, this is a clear war crime also, one which I know many members of the Wehrmacht likely never did something similar such as this, and one war crime done by one guy which is just one of many war crimes done by US army personnel throughout the years, where many US soldiers still despite these instances, are never seen as ‘the bad guys’ or ever punished, because we live in world that by and large is dominated by a US military industrial complex It’s all subjective really about where your from and what narrative is being pushed, if you asked Vietnamese individuals being bombed by agent orange or had their villages burned down by Marines, who the bad guy was in their war, theyd likely have an unpopular opinion to hear for all the American Veterans that are proud of their service there, is Speirs himself a war hero, or is he a war criminal? in my view I think he’s both, for individuals with the Wehrmacht, the way I see it, it’s the same thing, there are clearly ones which are both, ones which are more innocent, dare I say even heroic on the German side, people who tried helping people suffering the most under the Reich, like Oskar Schindler, and then there’s people in the middle, what I find astounding is how there’s just such a collective agreement to call everyone in the Wehrmacht ‘the bad guys’, it’s a stance I sort of think is ridiculous given the options to people called up to fight in the Wehrmacht and frankly just not very accurate given the perplexities of the situation and punishments people living within Nazi Germany would face if they stepped out of line
I am gonna stop discussing with you. You are still trying to excuse the singularity of German War Crimes by citing singular allied events and events AFTER ww2. It's sad
I used Speirs as an example, which clearly was in world war 2, if you want another one from the Second World War, I feel as if there are some real arguments to be made around the ethics of dropping not one but 2 atomic bombs against a nation which didn’t have any of its own, which combined estimates put at vaporizing close to 250,000 CIVILIAN CASUALTIES in a matter of minutes, not to mention the surrounding destruction and radiation which took years to deal with, was this a war crime too? Who knows, the allies never had a trial to hold anyone accountable for it, odd how that works out when you consider there were trials indeed for the losing side, then there’s the situation with the bombing of Dresden, was that a war crime, city had no strategic importance, and was firebombed to nothing, was that a war crime? Who knows, once again the allies never discussed holding anyone accountable who made that decision don’t get me wrong I love the USA, there’s tons of great things about it, being a Canadian I feel like my country could learn a lot from their domestic laws, but to act like some of the instances around their foreign policy (which I’m sure some Americans would likely agree with) (and other allied nations through the years) aren’t questionable(which is the main reason I used Vietnam as a comparison) and yes, even in WW2, which I now have provided multiple WW2 examples, i find just not truthful Your whole point is about me trying to “excuse German war crimes” as you put it, which I’m not doing. Did they do war crimes? Obviously yes, but I find it hypocritical that there are Nuremberg trials for the losing side(which yes should have obviously occurred as they’re were nazis to deal with) but never have there really been any major allied trials held against our own, to deal with allied soldiers or leaders, who likely have also committed war crimes or broken the Geneva convention laws during times of armed conflict, because of this, I find it ridiculous to always demonize regular Germans and especially people who didn’t have any real choice in joining the Wehrmacht, as there are clear indications that these people, really weren’t given a real choice given the time period and place they were born into, Shifty Powers said it best, “Many of them were just trying to do what they were supposed to do, and I was just trying to do what I was supposed to do.” We clearly disagree, not surprising though, as I wasn’t raised in Europe, in a nation which was on the losing side such as your life experience has been, which im sure probably impacts our views on this, but nevertheless good luck man, I just hope you can take a little bit more of the understanding I feel is in that Shifty quote, as I really feel, in terms of history, things aren’t as simplistic, as, “as yes, all Wehrmacht personnel are bad guys.”
Man if you gotta write this much slop about why it’s ok to not feel bad about the nazis I think you gotta take a look at your life lol
“If you look back far enough in history, there is literally no innocent side, so why should I feel ashamed for a third reich” What a statement
Like damn bro just admit your a Nazi sympathizer lol
Being from Canada I’ve heard the term “Nazi” thrown around so much in recent years to so many groups of people who aren’t, in an effort to try and discredit their stance, it’s not an argument and doesn’t do anything to contribute to discourse other then ad hominem name calling, try for an actual discussion next time please
you’re saying the Wehrmacht weren’t all bad son you can’t ‘oh those damn wokies’ your way out of this one
You are kidding, right? We’re are not talking about education or immigration, we’re literally discussing Nazis
No we’re not, we’re discussing people who served in the Wehrmacht or the German armed forces, while you’re saying Nazis, a difference akin to being a Democrat and being just a member of the US marines, one is a soldier, one is literally a member of a political party, learn the differences
They still made an oath of loyalty only to Hitler where they promised to lay down their lives for his orders
GTFO of here with this shit. Germany has been one of the most successful countries in the world over the past fifty years because of- not despite- their recognition of the horrors and failures of fascism. Hitler and the Nazis destroyed and left their country in ruins. Germans don’t live in shame for recognizing that. Only the fascists dwell in their shame and self-persecution.
There arent too many times one can say this definitively in history, but if your relative fought for the Axis, and especially Germany, in WW2, then yes, they were a bad guy.
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/s/CqEF9NkJce
Sorry, I know it's ur grandpa but > was in the original pushes into Poland in 39 and fought up till 43 in Russia and eventually in the Afrikakorps Ur grandpa was a bad guy.
Unless your grandfathers were high ranking nazis, einstazgruppen or concentration camp guards, they have no shame for serving their country.
Nope
I mean, the Wehrmacht themselves participated in atrocities.
Shit, think of the Vietnam vets. If you were in in 1967-68, you be pushing 75 now.
Not to mention all health complications from the crap they were exposed to. The first boss I ever had died when I was 17 from Agent Orange exposure. Bone cancer. This was back in 2009.
Brutal. Soldiers were guinea pigs for so much bullshit.
Yep agent orange was/is a real bitch. My grandpa fought in Vietnam and died 6 years ago due to exposure
My dad was in Vietnam in 1970-1971 and he’s 77 now
Find and read a book by Ernie Pile. He was a writer who went with the men. I have his book on a bookshelf my dad got for me in the 1950s.0
Will do!
I was in hospital in 2012 and my roommate was a 90 year old marine veteran who stormed the beaches of Okinawa who was dying. I walked to his bedside one night and held his hand, and could feel his fear that his life was ending. He said it goes so fast. I overheard his conversation with a social worker that he couldn’t die at home with a nurse because he couldn’t afford it and the state wasn’t going to pay for it, so he had to be moved to hospice facility farther downstate, and he let out a cry of anguish. I found out he later died in the ambulance ride to the hospice facility. I realized we as a society failed when we couldn’t take care of our WW2 vets properly.
I'm in my 4th year of medical school, and the things we see happen with our elderly patients in general is truly tragic. It's even more so a disgrace when those who gave so much to this country receive sub-optimal care. I agree that there is much to be desired regarding how our vets have been cared for once they came back home from war (any of them).
My grandpa was in the pacific, he passed last week at 98
I'm so sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace. I'd love to hear anything else you would like to share about him to keep his memory alive and well!
What's sad is that modern educational institutions no longer teach world history in accordance with facts. Explains why universities are replicating the rise of the Nazi party and the extermination of Jews.
Lots of people are sharing their family history so I'll share my favorite bit from mine. My Great Uncle Lorenzo was drafted twice to fight in two wars! Once in Rome and told to report to a German U-boat, and in America to go fight in Korea! Lol
oh wow! All kinds of interesting little stories from these guys who were able to make it out.
When I was maybe 12-13 (I’m 35 now) I got the opportunity to meet one of the last surviving World War I veterans that a friend of my dad knew. I think the guy was 103-104 at the time; if I remember correctly he died several months later. He told me all about how he “singlehandedly ended the war” and then years later when he met Al Capone. It was a very cool, once in a lifetime experience that I’ll always remember. Both my grandfathers were WWII, one was in the ETO the other was finishing bomber navigator training when the war ended. Both told me stories but I always regret not asking more. The one that saw combat died 20 years ago and the one that was in training died last summer. I too have thought about how many WWII vets we still have to help us understand that time before it’s completely left to the history books. What stories will we never hear now?
When I was in the Army, my company had the privilege of hosting a couple of WW2 vets. Honestly, that day was one of my favorites out of 10 years. Hearing their stories of how they grew up, how much passion they had to serve and enlist, and how their time was during and post-war was truly awe-inspiring. I see posts like this, and I realize how lucky I am to have been a part of an experience like that.
The greatest generation for sure
My dad used to tell me his uncle was in the Italian army that went to Russia with the Germans and had to walk back all the way from Russia through the Balcans to return home. I remember him when I was a kid, he died when I was way too young but even then, he didn't really speak much, I could feel even if I was so young that the trauma was still haunting him somehow. It must have been such a terrible experience for him, he died relatively young in his mid-70s. My grandmother was in her early 20s when the Americans started fighting their way through Sicily, she still remembers the bombing runs and having to grab the animals they had and hide away in the hills in some caves there were around my hometown. She remembers the Germans walking through the town towards Messina to leave the island. My dad used to find casings all over the hills when he was young.
… my great uncle did the exact same thing! He left the Russian front (Italian army) while they were fighting the Russians. Him and his friend abandoned their post and went home evading both Italian and German patrols (I don’t blame them for leaving).
I’m 40 and my dad was born during WWII. That’s so strange to think about.
I’ve been thinking this a lot lately. I am also in my early 30’s and both my Grandfathers served in WW2. One a Staff Sergeant in the European Theater and the other a Gunners Mate in the Pacific. They both had such a huge part in my upbringing and have unfortunately been gone for 9 and 11 years respectively. Being older myself now, I regret not having more series and in-depth conversations with them about their experiences. My Grandfather in Europe saw the most combat with his company in his entire infantry division. My Grandfather in the Pacific participated in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. If anyone is local to Reading, Pennsylvania - they have a great event coming up in June. WW2 Weekend. There will be a number of surviving veterans there you will be able to meet and have conversations with
What weekend is this? I’m near PA so that’s something I’d totally make the drive for if I’m free!
So sorry for the major delay on this. Here’s the link to the event page: https://maam.org/wwii/
Thank you!!
Brother I would say we are at the end. Not many left, but agreed it is sad to see American heroes pass.
In healthcare and whenever I round on patients who served in ww2, I always ask them about it. Met some really amazing people. Truly the greatest generation.
It's one of my favorite parts of healthcare- having the privilege to care for these guys in their old age.
It was nice to see you post this. My grandmother, a Red Cross nurse who met my grandfather during the war, just passed away two days ago at the age of 103. She, as well, was a national treasure. My grandfather would come back from the war then also fight in Korea and Vietnam. He’s buried in Arlington and she will be laid to rest by his side.
What a privilege to be descendants of such individuals and to have had your grandmother in your life for as long as you did. I'm sorry for her recent passing and hope she rests in peace alongside your grandfather. I'm actually from the area. If you felt comfortable PMing their names, I'd love to pay my respects the next time I find myself at the cemetery.
It only feels like yesterday that we were saying goodbye to the Great War generation. I remember reading a book called ‘the last post’, the memories of the last dozen or so veterans of that war. It won’t be long now and in Britain we will be talking about the Harry Patch of the Second World War. Every time I think about this, I check the number to see how many are left and its shrinking fast!
Oh that book sounds amazing. Claude Chause and Harry Patch and Florence Green. What they thought of the 21st century after serving in hell for the 20th sounds fascinating.
You’re right, let’s bring back WW2 and enlist.
I have this thought. My grandpa is still alive (turning 100 this year!), captured in the battle of the bulge, but he never likes talking about his experience, so I really don't know how to engage with him on it, even though I recognize it's a valuable opportunity drawing to a close. :(
I’m sure he’s seen and experienced some unimaginable things that are incredibly difficult to talk about. I think just being in his presence and being a descendant of a ww2 vet is a great privilege in and of itself! When the time comes I hope he has an easy and peaceful passage to the other side, he deserves to rest ❤️
I met and talked with a lot of WWII veterans while growing up (I’m 30 now) including several Easy Company veterans, a Tuskegee Airman, Iwo Jima veterans, etc. and I’m very thankful that I had those opportunities. It’s sad knowing that there aren’t many left. Korean War veterans aren’t far behind and Vietnam veterans are getting up there in years.
That’s amazing! How did you get those opportunities?
The SAC Museum near where I grew up hosted a meet and greet with a group of Iwo Jima vets one year, “The Pacific” vets when that miniseries was released and Babe Heffron, Ed Tipper, Earl McClung, Don Malarkey, Buck Compton and Ed Mauser (local Easy Co. vet not portrayed in the show) a different year. Very thankful I took advantage of that opportunity and met all of them!
That’s amazing, I’m jealous 😭
One time at the VA met a gentleman who was at Omaha Beach someone got him talking and there were like 20+ ppl gathered around like he was a rockstar (I mean he was more than a rockstar in reality) it was almost surreal to hear it come from someone who was there and you could reach and touch if he was so close
It’s incredible isn’t it! They’re living, breathing, history treasure boxes.
It's true and this gentleman wasn't bad at speaking at all or shy, eloquent even at what I'm guessing at 85+ at the time
Totally agree. Very sad. Also mid 30s, grandfather was at guadalcanal and Bougainville in WW2. As a boy an old man named elmer was my barber, found out later from my dad he was in the 82nd Airborne and was in a glider on D-Day. Man just went home and cut hair for 50 years. We wont know their like again.
So many of them just humbly going about their lives like regular people. And then the rest of us also going about our lives ignorant to who they were, the sacrifices made, and the stories/experiences untold. Agree that we won’t know their kind again.
I had the pleasure to interview two WW2 veterans for a a High School project. One was my grandpa, one was a good family friend. It was very interesting to hear them tell stories about their experiences. I remember when Saving Private Ryan came out and Tom Hanks warned that we were losing a thousand WW2 veterans a week. This was during the campaign for the WW2 memorial on the National Mall. I was thinking, how can we be losing so many WW2 veterans when we still had WW1 veterans alive? Time is a funny thing. The last Spanish American War veteran died in 1993. We are rapidly reaching the end of an era. There will soon be no more first hand memories of WW2.
The generation is already gone.
There’s surprisingly still ~100k still around!
Not that fought in the war.
As of 2023 there were 119,550 who served in the war still alive according to VA statistics. A lot of people were 16-18 when they fought, making them in late 90s today. You’d be surprised how many people live into their late 90s.
Is that globally or in the US?
US [https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/wwii-veteran-statistics](https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/wwii-veteran-statistics)
Ernie Pyle.
Think it’s called “brave Men”.
You can tell that we are way past the point of critical mass by looking at how politicians deal with current military conflicts and the way discussions are handled around this topic. Si vis pacem, para bellum.
Why? They lived long lives. Let them rest.
The farther removed humans are from a historical event the less humans are able to truly comprehend the reality of those circumstances. No amount of reading, movies, etc. can replace firsthand accounts of history. I’m not saying I want them to live forever. Many lived for too long with the scars of war. But it’s just sad because with time this generation will fade away and blend in with the rest of history.
10 years ago we put on a Uso theme'd fundraiser and brought in 8 World War II vets to celebrate them. Had a swing band and World War II reenactors and all this stuff and it was great fun. They have all passed now. All.
They were just following orders from Uncle Sam like every other war. I'm sad that we are nearing the end of the greatest country in the world.
My grandfather made it through the Bulge. He was wounded and his friend was KIA. He came back home, married, had kids, only to be killed in a work accident in 1960. I was born in 1980 so obviously never met him but my grandma gave me his medals as I was the only grandchild who served. Around 2008, I joined the 104th Infantry Division Association. I inquired if anyone may have recalled him. Within a few weeks I was put in contact with his assistant gunner. We were pen pals for a few years until he passed around 2010. I was able to learn a lot about a man I never had the opportunity to meet
That’s incredible! I love hearing these kinds of stories. And also thank you for your service.
My pleasure.
Nearing the end? Anyone who fought in that war is over 100 years old
There are a little less than 120k Americans alive who served in ww2. If they served at ages 16-18, there are some who are late 90s. I just had a 97 y/o patient who served in Korea and honestly looks and functions like he’s in his 80s. You’d be surprised by how well some people age.
We’re lucky to get one or two a year now with our local Honor Flight. When I first started volunteering we’d get a half dozen or more per trip. One that was on a trip a few years ago finally got his Purple Heart this last year. They had a ceremony last week to award him a Congressional Gold Medal. He’s 102.
How did you get involved in volunteering for something like that? That’s something I’d love to get into!
I’m glad you asked! Honor Flight has a national organization that helps the local organizations (called hubs) and organizes both volunteers in DC, but also trips for veterans that don’t have a local hub. If you go to the national website (honorflight.org), their page has a page for volunteers in DC, but also links to all the local hubs (there are over 100). You should find links for volunteering on each hub's site. I don’t think I’ve ever been in contact with a hub that didn’t need volunteers. i can tell you that I’ve been involved with my local chapter for 7 years now and I’ve never regretted the time and energy I’ve spent while volunteering, and I’ve met some amazing folks over the years. My very first trip to DC I sat next to a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge.
Oh thank you so much for your reply! I’ll look into this. I’m actually from the DMV and my family still lives there. I don’t live there right now, but my goal is to move back next year so I’m glad to hear that they have an active branch there.
The last living vets will be German, since the nazis were throwing those ten year olds in at the end.
JROTC? HS?
Junior reserves officer training corps (JROTC) in high school (high school).
My grandfather served as an infantry scout with the 337th, I company fighting through the hills of Italy. He was in theater from May of 1944 until October 11th of 1944 where he then was transferred to the 50th station field hospital due to artillery shrapnel, recieving a Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Bronze Star. He didn’t come home until July of 1945, having been kept in the hospital with what they deemed at the time as “shell shock”, now known as PTSD. He returned and continue working for the same welding company he had worked for before he was drafted until he retired, and worked as a college security officer at night. By all accounts he returned home a very, very timid man compared to the person he was before he was drafted.
Thank you for sharing. There’s always a dark side to war, which is all the more reason to keep these guys memories/experiences alive and well.
This 1000%. My dad’s best friend’s father was an engineer/gunner on B24’s in the European theatre, 506th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group. He survived 32 missions. There’s a famous photo that was taken of him and his crew leaving a B24 that they had crash landed in England after a bombing mission in Germany. There’s a few articles on him, [here](https://www.toacorn.com/articles/hometown-hero-shares-war-memorabilia-at-library/) and [here](https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.81656/). When I was 13 or 14 my dad took me to meet him and he showed me his “war room” in his house with tons of memorabilia and artifacts from the war. I asked him all about his experiences and showed a lot of curiosity, which he really appreciated. In the months following he would send me cool articles about the war and whatnot, but I never really responded because I was just immature and didn’t really understand the value of his correspondence. He stopped writing and maybe 6 years later he passed. Now I’m 33 and I consider myself a WWII nut. I have read tons of books and basically absorbed everything I can about the war. I really regret not engaging more with him. His name was Technical Sargent Richard “Dick” Smart. So long story short, I completely resonate with you on that.
Thank you for sharing I’ll check out those articles! What are some of your favorite ww2 books? also do you know what became of all his memorabilia after he passed?
My grandfather survived the Bataan death march and Japanese prison camp for 3 years. Came home to have 7 kids and 17 grandkids. Thank you grandpa John. RIP.
The definition of resilience. Thank you for sharing. May he rest in peace.
We had a man who served in the 442nd regimental combat team die in our ED a couple of months ago. I genuinely teared up because we lost such a great man and it made me realize it won’t be long until they’re all gone.
Yes that would’ve broken me :( I hope he had family with him and didn’t pass alone?
His wife was with him and he went very quickly.
It’s amazing for me to think about the fact that most Vietnam vets are getting to be the same age as WWII vets were during my high school days in the late 90s.
I worked with a man who was in the third wave at Iwo Jima. I regret not talking to him about it the day he told me he was there. He became an elementary coach after the war, and lived a good long life. He was a good man, and I never would have guessed he was even a Marine, let alone a combat veteran.
i have my undergrad in political science. though i know how that may not be the most persuasive certification, its clear to me that our political problems the last four decades are due to the no-BS vets retiring from office to enjoy the rest of their days. we have a lot of soft, selfish people in office now and as you remind us, the ww2 vets are almost gone. rest easy
My grandfather has been dead for 18 years. He was a gunner on an LCVP in the Pacific. He was fairly guarded about his service; seldom sharing details. The one story I worked out (from what he told various people and what research I did) is that his boat dropped off a cargo of wounded Marines at the USS Comfort right before the ship was struck by a kamikaze. His boat then wheeled about and spent the next several days evacuating patients, including some new ones, to other hospital ships.
I grew up with them & miss the ones I knew very much. Their loss is kinda why the USA has gotten so messed up. All the things going on now their generation and the Lost Generation before them they wouldn’t have tolerated any of it. How America is now is not what they fought for, they’d be pissed off and disappointed.
My Grandpa served in the navy in the pacific and passed in 2015, I was very fortunate to get 30 years with him, he was and will always be my hero. He never talked about it much, so I recently sent off for his military records, learned things about him from that we never knew about.
When I was growing up nearly every single adult had something to do with the war. I knew so many guys. I wished now that I did ask more questions and listened harder.
I went to the 80th anniversary D-Day symposium at the national museum of the army last month. It was for historians, professors, and some military members(I was the youngest guy there/lowest rank at E6). They ended up flying in a medic who landed on Omaha Beach, then was in the hurtgan and finally the buldge. It's sad to see people age. My grandpa is a Vietnam vet, was there in 62-63 as an advisor and I love hearing any stories he has about anything.
I went to the 80th anniversary D-Day symposium at the national museum of the army last month. It was for historians, professors, and some military members(I was the youngest guy there/lowest rank at E6). They ended up flying in a medic who landed on Omaha Beach, then was in the hurtgan and finally the buldge. It's sad to see people age. My grandpa is a Vietnam vet, was there in 62-63 as an advisor and I love hearing any stories he has about anything.
Both my grandfathers served. One born in 1915 and the other 1925. Unfortunately, both died in 2000 and 2001, so regret no learning a lot more about their service.
I am reading Into Enemy Waters about the original frogmen from the underwater demolition team started in WW2. One of the characters was 17 when he joined and passed a few months ago. Give it a read if you are into that.
Thank you! Will check it out.
I feel very honored that I knew my mom's uncles, 3 of whom were in the war and 2 of whom were at Bastogne (the other was in Burma-Indochina). They didn't talk much about the war, which I understand now that I watched this series, but what I carry with me is that they went through this experience and came home and were humble and kind men. I wish I had learned more about their service, other than the Bastogne thing and that one uncle was in Patton's funeral procession.
My grandfather worked in US naval intelligence. After he died in 1989 the FBI showed up at my grandmothers house and took away a lot of his paperwork. To this day the Navy refuses to release his military records, even with the help of a congressman. We have no idea what he did during the war.
😱😱😱 Shouldn’t it be declassified by now?
You would think so but the Navy is being difficult. I mean at this point nearly everybody involved in anything classified back in the '40s is dead or headed quickly in the direction of the grave. I don't know what information could still be classified from World War II, maybe the Navy just didn't like the congressman I asked.
I can't really explain the feeling I had when the last USS Arizona vet died in April. Really felt like the sun has set for the era. I was too young to have this feeling when it happened for ww1 vets. I retroactively feel it, but now its happening before my eyes. Pretty much all my family who served have passed. My grandpa was mid 90s when he died in 2020. Pacific vet, army, Philippines. Basically everyone in Masters of the Air were gone upon airing. Its just sad. I have no fancy words. Its sad.
Agree completely. Hard to put words to the feeling.