WW2 Paratrooper Recalls His Top Secret D-Day Mission | Remember WWII 

My Uncle was in the 82nd Airborne and jumped on D-Day, fought in the Bulge and managed to survive all of it and come home. I wish he would have made a video like this...he managed to get a furlough to come home before going over to England, I have a pic of him with my Grandma on her front porch dated 1944. He had his little cap on with the patch with the parachute on it. I cherish that picture.

I spent 3 years as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division in the mid 80's. These WW2 airborne vets were like rock stars to us whenever they would visit Ft. Bragg. AATW!

My dad grew up in a rough area of Newcastle in the 1930’s. When he joined up in 1939 his dad said to him ‘the army will kill you’ - his dad fought in ww1. My dad ended up landing on Sword beach on d day, fought for Caen, the battle of Normandy, then up to Arnhem, then Nijmegen bridge, then down to Belgium to the bulge northern shoulder (British) then across into Germany and down, and was at the liberation of Belsen concentration camp, then he guarded the river Elbe to stop the Russians from crossing it because they were running wild. Not bad for someone who’s dad said the army would kill him. 👍🇬🇧

When the officer died, demonstrating how safe it was, and no one quit. This was our greatest generation!

Amazing testimony. I could listen to men like this all day. Makes me feel very humble to think the World I have lived in since 1964 was paid for by these people. Thank you sir.

Documenting stories like these is super important, great work.

His ability to recall such detail after that many years is completely amazing.. I have a hard time remembering things now and im only 34 lol. Of course a traumatic brain injury doesn't help my case lol. What a great interview

He is very sharp for his years. My dad was born in 1924 and enlisted with his brother too, after Pearl Harbor. Definitely the greatest generation...

An ordinary man doing extra ordinary things. Thank You.

No words can describe what this man went through.

My father was Para. D-Day, Bulge counter attack, Rhine Crossing, Palestine and Suez. I never heard him talk about his combat experiences. He only told me stories about other aspects like the time he bumped into a friend from his village one night while training in India for jungle warfare in prep for the invasion of Japan. I had always wanted a dog but dad was deaf to my requests. Years later mum told he had one in Palestine which he got from a policeman returning to the UK. Used to take “Bob”, a breed of boxer, on parachute jumps. He’d hook Bob up in a war dog chute and call him when he went through the door and Bob would follow. When the British left Palestine the dogs were left behind. Mum said dad shot him and vowed to never have another dog. I see that today the dogs get come home with their partner/comrade.

Hero! Thank you for keeping us free! God bless you!😢❤

This piece really resonated with me. My dad was an officer in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and over the years he gradually opened up about his experiences in the war. He mostly shared the humorous bits (there were a few) and I think that’s what helped keep him sane because he rarely delved into the dark stuff with me. That I had to research on my own and some of it was both horrifying and heroic at the same time. Ex coelis.

Thank you for your courageous service sir!! You are a true, American hero!!!🇺🇸💗💝💯👏🙏

Wow! A terrifically fascinating perspective! Amazing! God bless you all! And never forget: War is Hell! 🇺🇲

Thank you sir for your service

So inspiring! A great testimony by a great man. Thanks so much Leonard! Please receive our love from France.

Amazing story from an amazing man

God bless you.

These men from Ww2 were the best of the best. I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for what they endured during Ww2. ❤ These brave men were a cut above all other generations. God bless you all.

Thank you

Id like to thank this guy for his service. It certainly takes toughness to get through his experience

Quite a war story. Glad you survived.

These paratroopers did stuff none of us paratroopers in modern day did. Jiminy, they are HARD CORE heroes. I followed them into the Army, but never did what they did.

Thank you for your service ❤ courage, sacrifice for freedom and country 🇺🇸

Dang he lookes like he is in his 60's. Still very sharp too.

He knew he was alive in survival from war ONLY after his mother gave him chocolate pie *at* *home* . His realization that he was going to *live* *on* occurred only up until that very moment. Over half a century later, here, the rush of that realization came back to him. It is sobering to see an elderly, mature, advanced senior man struck emotionally by a moment that jarred him an eon ago as an early 20-year old youth. Actually re-living the very moment he understood he was *going* *to* survive World War Two.

Thank you for your service and for our liberty. Great respect for the US Army. I met a lot ww2 veterans. You are my heros. ❤😊

I remember watching a movie about American paratroopers. During jump training, the training officer jumped first out of the plane and his chute never opened.

Great man.

I salute you Sir.

The reason he only cries at the end is more than just a coincidence. During the war you have to numb yourself. When he finally got home he most likely had a wash of emotions which is why he recalls that day and starts crying as he remembers what he experienced. What a profound tale in history

Wow how brave they showed you how safe it was and officer died! I salute you and your comrades!

This guy is 97? wow

Wow. What an experience. First Normandy, then forced to clean up Dresden after the fire bombings. What horrors he must have witnessed there. That could have been an episode itself. Or maybe that is not something someone who has actually experienced it wants to talk about.

you are an amazing man with great empathy and respect for life. bless you for your service and sacrifices for this country. Godspeed forever and a day. in Jesus name we stand Amen

Very brave men

Kilmer. Passed it many times. It is now a job Corp campus.

Four minutes into this interview he described SNAFU. What a nightmare these young guys had to put up with.

Welcome home brother.

wonder if he knew kurt vonagurt the author?

AATW!!!

What is the timeline he is talking about? Born in 1925, he'd and have 15 or 16 when Pearl harbor occurred

🫡

My uncle was awarded a silver star for his service in the infamous heurtgen forest in ww2. My father also served in the coast guard during the war. These men are my heroes. ❤

Thank you for your service! You're one of the many hero's of WWII

good job Rishi, keep up the good work

Real Tough service!

I did a parachute jump with the Army met some real ex special forces guys, they are something else absolutely no fear, I realised it was not for me, I almost landed on powerlines and a wind mill.

This fellows' experiences are incredible, especially being sent to Dresden after the bombing. If a person is not familiar with the bombing of Dresden , it is well worth researching.

I can't imagine seeing dresden before and after they destroyed it .what a story incredible

Oh Lordy did that put a lump in my throat or what. Like one of my mates said to me when we visited Dachau "we just dont learn do we..." Respect. Well done too Rishi great work you are doing. Lest we forget.

I hope today's youth hear your story and realize the freedoms we have are not free. That probably was the best tasting chocolate pie you ever had. Thank you very much for sharing your story.

Massive respect for you gentlemen 👏👏

Thank you for your service, Sir!

I would bet this man knew my uncle who was also at dresden.His name was Jessie Clyde stover.In the end,him and 2 others escaped and walked to American lines.He told my mother some wild stories.

The officer with the streamer was a hokes. They wanted guys to terminate early so you didn't waste their time.

He was at Dresden at the same time as Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.