About

Acknowledgments

I would first and foremost like to thank all of the men and women who selflessly served during WWII. You are responsible for the freedoms that all Americans, and most of the world enjoy today. Without your contributions none of this would be possible.  

This page is the culmination of thousands of hours over the course of four years-time. It has changed course and evolved over that span but the mission was always the same; To preserve the legacies of the men and women who served during the world’s greatest conflict in human history, so their sacrifices may be learned of by future generations, and to never be forgotten or lost to the sands of time.

My grandfather is the inspiration for this project. He was my hero growing up and I failed to take advantage while he was here, to sit down and record his experiences during WWII. It wasn’t until his passing that the fire was lit, and I set out to interview and photograph as many WWII Veterans as I could. I have learned so much from all of the interviews I’ve conducted and I have been humbled many times over. By a generation, who grew up with nothing, through the worst financial crisis in American history, answered the call of duty when their nation was viciously attacked, battled the enemy on land, air, and sea, fighting to victory through the harshest of conditions, up against the grandest of obstacles and they persevered and overcame without ever asking for anything in return. It was not an individual effort but the effort of a nation, under threat from tyrants, who stood united as one. Most were just young men at the time, teenagers, some even lying about their age so they wouldn’t be left behind as their brothers and sisters went overseas. Over 16,000,000 Americans would go on to serve during WWII, over 400,000 would pay the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that our country remains free from the evil dictators that threatened our way of life. ‘The Greatest Generation’ will soon be gone and the torch will be passed to the next generation to maintain that same responsibility to protect our freedom at all costs.

To be able to share the stories of the Veterans I have interviewed is a humbling and daunting task. I do not take lightly responsibility to properly convey what it is that they had to endure. For them to instill their trust and faith in me, to welcome a stranger into their home, to open up and speak on some of the most difficult and horrific experiences of their lives, and then give me their blessings to share those with the world, I hope that I have done them justice.