world war ii

WWII Veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Louis Conter, who was aboard USS Arizona on Dec. 7, 1941, is one of the last two living Veterans of the ship.

When then-Army 1st Lt. Jim Riffe was preparing for the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945, he kept a small, black book. In it were the names of the 29 men he commanded. Seven would be dead within weeks. Fourteen wounded. When the now 100-year-old retired colonel prepares to celebrate the 76th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day Sept. 2, he said the names in that small, black book are what he will remember. He said remembering those names is what honors those heroes, something he advised Afghanistan Veterans to do as they deal with the news of the pullout. “Remember the individuals you served with,” Riffe said.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Louis C. Graziano, who was part of the third wave of landings in Normandy during World War II.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Guy Whidden, who served as a paratrooper during the Normandy landings.

During World War II, Reba Z. Whittle served in the United States Army Nurse Corps. After the aircraft she was aboard was shot down in September 1944, she became the first American female military prisoner of war in the European Theater.

On Code Talker’s Day, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Marine Corps Veteran Samuel Sandoval, a Navajo who fought during World War II.

First Lieutenant Fiske Hanley served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. During a mission in March 1945, he was shot down and imprisoned in Japan until the end of the war. Here is his story.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Air Forces Veteran August Bolino, who served with the 8th Air Force in Europe during World War II.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Harold S. Miller, who served as a merchant mariner during World War II and as a communications specialist in Korea.

On the Coast Guard's 231st birthday, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Robert Goldman, who earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart during World War II.

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Randall Ching who fought with the 5th Ranger Battalion during World War II.

This #OperationSong spotlights “Good Co-Pilot,” based on the experience of World War II and Korean War Veteran Richard Stroud.