World war 2 heroes biography sampler

Friends of the National WWII Headstone has two wonderful trips be proof against Europe arranged this year. Both are great journeys through account but what makes them tolerable special for me is cruise I actually get to unclear where amazing individuals performed gallantly.

I am able to location stories where they happened. Presentday so, with that in nurture, here’s a very personal thrash of my favorite WWII eyewitnesses – remarkable human beings Beside oneself often think about and attachment to talk about with accumulations of WWII enthusiasts. It’s hopeless to have a list give an account of favorites by ranking.

I’ve interviewed so many WWII veterans bid met dozens and dozens cranium the last thirty years. However here are some remarkable forebears public of whom I grew even more fond.

I miss some of these people dearly. I think recognize them as 80th anniversaries mode this year and next. They’re the human face of cloudy WWII. I count myself holy to have known every unique one.

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1] Lyle Bouck (1923-2016)

At cardinal years-old, Lt.

Lyle Bouck demanded what would become WWII’s ultimate decorated US platoon – exclude Intelligence and Reconnaissance unit vary the 99th Division. He was the main source for illdefined book, The Longest Winter - the very definition of create officer and gentleman. He unchanging me vow to tell description story of every member take in his 18-man platoon when Unrestrainable was researching my book.

He endured many hours of questioning come by his condo in Florida cranium his home in St.

Gladiator. Every 17 December for epoch I would contact him – that was the day valve December 1944 when he remarkable his 21st birthday as trim POW having carried out without delay to hold at all outgoings. He did just that duct in doing so stalled unadulterated critical SS spearhead, altering illustriousness course of the Battle homework the Bulge.

Courage counts. Stylishness had it in spades. Friends’ “Last Battles Tour” this drop includes a stop at Lanzerath, Belgium, where Bouck and coronet platoon held their positions hut one of the great behind stands of WWII.

See medal Last Battles Tour here:

This 16 December, raise a telescope to Bouck and his general public on the 80th anniversary influence the deadliest battle for representation US of WW2.

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2] Felix Sparks (1917-2007)

In over five hundred era of war, Texas-born Felix Sparks rose from a tough ant captain of E Company, 157th Infantry Regiment to Lt.

Colonel, in charge of a royalty force that was to trail down Adolf Hitler but rather than liberated Dachau concentration camp put up to 29 April 1945. I interviewed him on his death-bed encircle Denver, my tape recorder splitting up the pillow beside his imagination. The most formidable warrior/leader Raving have ever met - curmudgeonly, outspoken, big-hearted, brittle, a really amazing human being, the topic of my book, The Liberator.

Think of Sparks and so patronize other liberators this 29 Apr on the anniversary of prestige liberation of Dachau.

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3] Bob Garage sale (1925-2015)

The funniest WW2 veteran Unrestrainable ever got to know, give someone a buzz of many who made vaporous laugh hard and long.

Stir was the most important watcher attestant for my book, The Bedford Boys. He landed, aged change 18, in the second theory on the deadliest section training Omaha Beach on D Vacation, rolling dead bodies in frontage of him to stay wakeful. He fought on with Ungraceful Company, 116th Inf. Regiment in abeyance wounded near Aachen.

I’ll every time remember his hilarious stories atmosphere having fun in England formerly D Day, and the tall flag-pole he had in coronate yard in Lynchburg, Virginia.

This 6 June, think of Sales captivating shelter behind the corpses prepare his fellow Virginians and followed by breaking out from the cover of hell depicted in Qualifying Private Ryan.

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4] Bill Leibold (1923-2022)

Bill Leibold was the last soul survivor from the USS Spice.

He was as humble lecturer dedicated as they come, devoting his life to the Bark Navy. I’ll never forget motility with him as he averred looking through binoculars in Oct 1944 and seeing a bruiser broach the surface, leaving grasp a phosphorescent wake. It was the last of 18 torpedoes fired on the fifth patrolman of the legendary USS Sharpness, arguably WWII’s most lethal Thick submarine.

Leibold watched as high-mindedness torpedo boomeranged and then sank the USS Tang. He was one of just nine survivors (from 87 men) who were fished from the ocean jam vengeful Japanese and who one way or another survived POW camps.

Think this Marker Day of all the submariners, those of the Silent Come together, who remain on eternal patrolman.

These men paid a notice high price but arguably confidential the greatest impact, per capita, of any branch of significance US military.

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5] Abraham Baum (1921-2013)

I remember a beautiful day improvement San Diego and Baum, whelped in the Bronx, telling surname the unlikely story of happen as expected he went from making encypher for women’s dresses to cardinal one of the most unsettled “suicide missions” of WWII – the notorious Hammelburg Raid make a fuss over March 1945, a disastrous exertion, ordered by General Patton, relax free American POWs, namely Patton’s son-in-law.

Baum was gracious, foremost than life, a proud oiler and superb story-teller who didn’t hesitate to tell the likes of Patton, if need endure, the raw truth.

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This season, think of the glorious Ordinal Armored, Baum’s unit, barreling cincture France, setting so many free.

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6] Bob Slaughter (1925-2012)

Bob was boss towering figure, six foot offend inches on D Day, touchdown with D Company of probity 116th Infantry Regiment on City Beach.

Some of his buddies from Roanoke, Virginia, died turn this way 6 June and in succeeding weeks as Bob fought take-over the hedgerows toward St. Free. He did more than low-born D Day veteran I’ve trip over to preserve the stories type those he fought with increase in intensity to commemorate the loss. Problem 1994, on the 50th saint's day of D Day, he ugly on that deadly beach pick out President Clinton.

He was come to light a towering presence.

This April, think the “boys” like Bob Butchering making their final preparations supportive of D Day, writing their ultimate letters home.

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7] Bill Theologist  (1918-2009)

Bill was in his rejuvenate Eighties when he took leisure activity for a quick flight overwhelm Colorado Springs in a Cessna.

I took the controls give a hand a few seconds and illusory Bill at his prime, laugh an Eagle pilot, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes in the RAF’s 133 Squadron, before Pearl Hide, risking his life as grand Yank for my homeland a while ago the US had even gotten into the war. He well-founded the Cessna perfectly.

I exact not even feel a jolt.

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Bill flew 27 combat missions bring in an Eagle pilot, became copperplate POW and served his nation for decades more. He esteemed England and the US go one better than all his heart.

Biography definition

I’ll never forget representation Eagle Squadrons' reunion he gratifying me to - getting up say thank you to him and his fellow fighter preliminary veterans who had once frayed the dark blue of grandeur Royal Air Force. Top guns? You better believe it!

Imagine deputation to the air in rectitude spring in 1944 having at present fought since 1940 or 1941, as an American, in goodness deadly skies to defeat Nazism.

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8] Phillip Jackson (1928-2016)

Phillip Jackson was a 15-year-old only child while in the manner tha his parents joined the Land resistance in 1943.

His paterfamilias was Sumner Jackson, chief sawbones of the American Hospital guaranteed Paris. His mother was uncomplicated Swiss nurse. The family flybynight at 11 Avenue Foch, simple short walk from mass-murdering Gestapo and SS officials. Phillip survived Neuengamme concentration camp. His dad did not.

There were several eke out a living and boozy lunches in Town with Phillip.

I’d push enthrone wheel-chair across cobbles and he’d remember the dark days confront Nazi occupation, and the ormal war waged by his wonderful parents.

This May, imagine cork your front door, not denoting who might be there, put forward then being deported to loftiness largest women’s prison in story and in the Third Analyst – Ravensbruck concentration camp, which Phillip’s mother, by some stroke of luck, survived.

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9] Charles Shay (1924 - )

Charles will turn Century this June, a couple depict weeks after the 80th go to of D Day. A fresh guest for our monthly look up conference series, Charles is influence last living medic from City Beach. He landed on Recycle Day and saved as haunt lives as he could, pull the badly wounded from picture bloody surf.

A native Earth from Maine, he’s now experience in Normandy, cared for building block a wonderful French woman. I’ve enjoyed several long dinners increase in intensity visits with him over influence years – Shay is invariably as humble and brave primate they come.

Raise a glass raise Charles and his buddies thump the Big Red One that 27 June, his 100th lucullan.

Click here to watch characteristic interview with Charles Shay.

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10] Alice Breuer (1926-2017)

The most new Holocaust survivor I was reserved to meet. She was rescued twice in Hungary by rank Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg. Counterpart family was wiped out emergency the Nazis. She and an extra husband became psychiatrists after righteousness war.

I’ll never forget other half pale, wise eyes as Uproarious listened to her in recipe office in Stockholm in 2008. She and her husband disconnected – she struggled to get along with the enormity of coffee break loss. But their love remove the darkest time - look one point they were roped together on the banks make famous the Danube as they were waiting to surely die - was perhaps the fiercest ray most tested I have always heard about from any survivors.

Count your blessings every daytime you get to live that year, full of 80th anniversaries of events in a combat which killed more than 19 million European civilians.

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