Impossible To Forget D-Day 78 Years Later | Memoirs Of WWII #42
2022 ж. 2 Мау.
2 236 550 Рет қаралды
After 78 years, WW2 Veteran Onofrio “NoNo” Zicari can not forget the struggles and losses of the invasion of Normandy, one of the most pivotal battles of the Second World War.
Memoirs of WWII Website: bit.ly/2w60kGM
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Written and Directed by Joshua Scott
Filmed by Heather Scott
Edited by Joshua Scott
Post Audio by Lane Tarr
Photo Enhancement and Additional Research by Hudson Louie
Archive Footage Sources:
www.archives.gov/
Primary Musical Score Source:
artlist.io/
Artlist Songs and Composers:
“Reach” by Caleb Etheridge
“Thoughts In Motion” by Tristan Barton
“I Miss You” by Tom Goldstein
“Just Floating Along” performed by Artie Shaw and his orchestra
When men like this talk, people should listen. We should do all we can to record the experiences and advice of men like this. These events must be taught in their entirety so younger generations can understand the causes as well as consequences and hopefully avoid repeating events like this. I respect this man and sincerely appreciate him sharing his experiences with us.
Most definitely!! This horrible war should never been forgotten And this gentleman I love him What a generation!!
If they don't listen, better not come my way
Very much so. I listen intently. I listen carefully, and remember.
Absolutely right. Men like this are a rare breed and we can all learn a great deal from them.
Amen brother
For being at least 96 years old this man is incredibly sharp. Could easily pass for 30 years younger
Yea that's what I was thinking that guy is 96?!
@@Janellabelle Not everyone who is over 70 has Dementia. Most older people are fine. My Dad died at 89 - completely lucid and intelligent. My Mom - Dementia at 86 to present ( 90 )
As far as I can tell he's still alive, his 100th birthday was in December of 2022.
@@southerncross5360 apparently until the last veteran it will be around until 2035. Which is quite steep but I suppose it's possible.
FATHER GOD OPEN THE GATES OF YOUR HEAVILY KINDOM TO THIS HERO.
“I was in a State of Grace, and unafraid of dying, I was scared, sure, but if I died, I died, that’s all” Positively Profound. The World owes these Men so very much…
300 000 japanese civilians? the firebombing of german settlements to kill civilians? you really think there was a GOOD side in the war?
As a practicing Catholic, I can understand his thinking. 🥰🙏✝️
@@pjsmith4369myself as well.
That really moved me. I’m not a practicing Catholic but may be finding my way slowly back. It just reminds me that my grandfather, who served in the Pacific theater, wore tags and had all sorts of things on him that stated that he was Catholic, call a priest for last rights.
That statement impressed me the most because I myself am a Catholic and understand that that is the most important state person can be in on this earth. Heavens are home, and if we die in state of Grace, we go to heaven ,if we die, not in the state of Grace, we go to hell .our whole purpose of this earth is to work to get to heaven, by following God’s commandments and avoiding sin, as best we can.
My grandfather was a paratrooper during D-Day. Ended up getting picked up by the Germans and became a POW. He was announced dead to his family until rescued towards the end of the war. He never really spoke about his experience but you got the vibe the man went through absolute shit. Proud of that man and it's an honor to call him my grandfather
😢
As an avid skydiver, just the fact he landed unhurt is something in itself. I hate to hear that he went through such a horrid experience but so happy to hear he ended up being alive. None of my relatives would ever speak of it either. After watching documentaries like this, it’s just humbling and reminds us of how thankful we should be that we had relatives such as yours. 😢
Wish he'd tell his story like this man had a chance to. We need this stuff archived
my friend's grandfather from soviet side (Ukrainian), 101 years old now. Fought for soviets against germans, then got captured by Germans, forced to work for them (digging trenches...etc), then after Germans retreated, he was "freed" by soviets, who accused him that he worked for Germans, and sent him to Syberia for many years. After all that, he's still alive...crazy ...even was occupied again by Russians in this current war (liberated again in one of the Ukrainian offensive's last year)
I would record every conversation with him
in 2014 I ran into a WW2 submariner while taking my dad to the doctor. I was totally in awe at what he had to say and I realized this was very rare to get to talk to one of these gentlemen. I asked him if he had any wounds or injuries from the war. He laughed and said "Son, there are no disabilities from submariners. We either came out of the war untouched or dead." Made a lot of sense.
Wow
Did you get his contact info?
I used to be a hearing aid practitioner in Southern California and one of my patients had her concentration camp tattoo still visible on her arm from when she was a young girl prisoner.
You were one of the lucky few who got to meet one of the men from a generation that literally fought to rescue the world from tyranny.
@@bladski3110 Whaatttttt
As a German, I would like to thank such men. No matter if British, American, French, Russian, or all the other nations, as well as the own resistance under the Nazi rule. It is due to the courage and the will that I was allowed to grow up in a free country. Thank you!
Really gotta suck being in the losing side. Becoming and american colony and not being able to have any type of pride for your country because of losing that war.
@@guida1480 The only disrespectful thing here with no pride are you and your comment.
We are sorry your great and grandparents had to go through all that
@@guida1480 Germany never was an american colony bro go do your homework
@@jannebreitenbach2715 I like your american bases over there.
I’m so so sad that we are loosing this generation bit by bit 💔slowly but surely. This generation were the most loyal,brave and solid of all.Pretty soon there will be nothing but stories about these national treasures.I love and respect the elderly so so much,even the grumpy ones.This gentleman and his brothers in arms are the reason we are here today
It is but at last these men can finally find peace. I can't imagine the damage that has been inflicted and how often it comes back to them. The torment. It's brutal. That is the good and the bad of the human mortality. I glad they lived we will remember them forever.
We have had wars since then but nobody is interested in hearing the soldiers talk about it. They have been fighting all over the world, experiencing the hell of battles then coming back home never to be thought of as heroes. Our troops all deserve our deepest respect. Whenever I see a soldier in uniform, the last time was on a plane, I call out “ young sailor (or soldier) thank you for your service” then others join in. We need to do right by all our troops and that includes listening to the stories that make us cringe and cry. When the troops came home from WWII they were greeted with open arms and offered all sorts of jobs. Troops today face unemployment and housing shortages. They are treated like they failed at being great somehow.
@@farmwife7944I agree with you 100%! I have much respect for our military, and it’s heartbreaking to hear of the incredible hardships they endure once home after already sacrificing much for their country. I love how you thank the military in public also- rather than it just being you alone thanking them for their service, your actions are encouraging those around you to join in and also show gratitude! I’m going to start doing that too!
@@farmwife7944The last war the U.S actually defended its freedom was WWII. The others were all just proxy wars.
@@farmwife7944I understand Vietnam and some other instances but there is a big difference between fighting a war to protect the future and freedoms of the world and fighting a war to keep control over oil supply's in the middle east.
As an Englishman living in France, I cannot ever thank these men enough for their sacrifice and bravery. A debt that can never be repaid.
I know. It sure would suck to live in a homogeneous society without all these Africans, or to have to live without Jewish banking practices. Whew, we dodged a bullet there. Hitler bad, amirite??
I just stopped a gentleman in Costco that was wearing a World War II veteran hat and thanked him for his service. He served in Okinawa and stayed in Japan for 12 months after liberation. I am 35 and as everyone knows, it’s rare to see WW2 vets out and about these days. Our brief exchange of pleasantries made my day and I had goosebumps for a solid 10 mins afterwards.
Thank him for his service? For what? Volunteering to go to War…well
@@bigmajordawg Anyone who volunteers to kill savages should be thanked
@@bigmajordawg are you kidding me? He put his life on the line to stop evil and this is what you say humans are supposed to support each other what they hell are you saying imagine you join the army and get sent off to the front lines just for some scum to say that his service shouldn’t be thanked you Don’t know what crap he has went through
@@bigmajordawg damn dude
Earlier this year I was leaving the VA hospital,( I’m an Iraq vet) in Brooklyn when I saw a WWII vet who was with the RED BALL EXPRESS!!!! I thanked him for his service. I think his son was more surprised than he was .
My Dad passed away this past Feb. 20, 2022. He was 99 years and 4 months old to the day, He was a Marine in WWII. He survived the battle for Okinawa. He was proud to be a Marine, but he never talked too much about it. It felt good that I was able to arrange Military Honors at his funeral.
He died just a few short days before Russia and Ukraine went to war
@@Confuzedtoe666 😂😂😂
thats heartbreaking
@@aryanchatterjee1012 true but at least he lived 94 he will more likely outlive all of us here rn
@@aryanchatterjee1012 99 I mean
Thank you for your service. My father was there on D-Day. He was in the 753rd tank battalion allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord). Before D-Day he was in North Africa (Operation Torch 1942) Sicily, Tunisia, Algeria, Kasserine Pass. My father claimed that his generation did not really win the war against evil, they only slowed it down for a while.
Your father is looking like he was right.
We need his stories from you, the kids of the ww1 n ww2 hopefully come out soon, we gotta get this country back on track
If you’re wounded serving this country, you deserve a medal and the recognition.
wow "you almost died so have a medal to solve your problems"
Im pretty sure its purple heart lol
And to think, these men returned home, made lives for themselves. They got on with being good people and living in spite of the horrors. National treasures.
A lot of my relatives who went came back and were alcoholics for the rest of their lives. It ruined them.
The "shell shock" which is major ptsd, I cannot fathom. I've been abused and assaulted almost my whole life and I have severe PTSD. Rip to all of the men, women and children that should never have to endure that sickening disgusting way they died. Rest peacefully. I hope they are somewhere where zombies can't haunt them.
I wish we could hear the testimonies of the folks who _didn't_ make it back. Rest in peace to 'em.
@@setharpyep my Grandfather fault in the Pacific, he drank his self to death he had 4 bronze stars and a purple heart.
When you think you are having a bad day or week, remember these soldiers.
Oldskool, no shixt man
Really, I tell kids that I'm around that are complaining about this and that how easy they have it, so many kids them days didn't get a chance to experience life, a lot of them guys enlisted,lots were drafted, but climbed off them boats knowing their fate, it was almost sure death, but they went, so stop complaining I tell them.
Oh sorry i cant feel bad cause other have other problems? So youre supposed to be happy forever. Idiotic
Uh no...we shouldn't privatise our shitty lives because of that Your logic is trash
@@phillipparker8947 yeah we all should be thankful for the good things we have
I tip my hat to these men. I served in the Iraq war. I nearly died in Iraq but I feel like these guys had it worst than we did. We had gear that kept us alive. But these guys are just incredible. No words can truly express how grateful I am for all they have done to pave the way. Semper Fi gentlemen.
Hooray brother from me! Thank you for your service.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your service. You make me proud, to be an American.
You a hero also bro if you was born in their time I’m sure you would have the courage if anyone of us men knew the evil that was approaching with Japanese and nazi we wouldn’t second guess it fr.
@@TrickZ_Retz Thank you sir and best wishes to you.
The Greatest Generation. That's this guy. No bullshit. That's NoNo.
I had a family member who was a soldier in the Hungarian army during world war 2! They fought in Stalingrad with the Germans against the Russians! He got shot! It wasn't fatal, but he lost his conscience and passed out! The Hungarians found him, but they thought he is dead so they removed his dog tags, and shoes and they threw him in a mass grave! He landed at the top of the grave so he wasn't crushed by the dead bodies! When he gained back his consciousness he was able to climb out and he started looking for his fellow soldiers! It was during winter time in Russia so it means - 30 celsius on a sunny day! It's extremely cold! He was captured by the Russians! They didn't kill him but he spent 10 years in a Russian work camp as a prisoner of war! He survived the 10-year-long suffering and he got home! Everyone freaked out because they thought he was dead! He passed away in 1998 at his home! It wasn't a sudden death, but somehow he felt that the end is near! It was during nighttime and his daughter told us he asked her to not turn off the light because he doesn't want to die in the darkness!
Good story too many Exclamation points! Though! Try using a period. Thanks.
@@andrewhall7930 I thought the same thing lol. Amazing story though.
Even though he fought on the side of the nazis, still a brave man. Both my grandfathers fought in ww2 my mothers father first generation Scottish in America, as a air born army. Then my dads father (father is Scottish as well) his father was in the British army, in the highland black watch. I used to love hearing them tell stories
@@andrewhall7930Hello Andrew, thanks for your comment! Sorry English is not my mother language so I often make many grammatical errors! Because of this, I was a bit hesitant to share this story.
@@alastairmacloud317 They had no choice, unfortunately! The Germans forced a lot of people from all over Europe to fight for them. Many were put into penal battalions and were thrown at the enemy.! They had to fight with rifles and hand grenades because the Germans refused to use the tanks! They were holding on bravely, but the Russians overwhelmed them in the end. They've sent 200 thousand Hungarian soldiers to fight there and the majority of them died! They had to fight in -30 and -40 Celsius which is extremely cold! They were soldiers who froze to death!
My grandpa Domingo Cervantes landed on Omaha beach in June, 1944. He was captured by the Germans and was a POW until the end of the war in May 1945. I am so very proud to have had him and his stories about the war. I cannot thank enough all of the WW2 soldiers who gave all they had for me, even though I wouldn’t be born for another 30years. I appreciate this short documentary and all the other works that y’all made. Thank you!
You must be proud to have such a great man in your family... I'm sure he will always remembered
Did he ever speak of his treatment in the camp?
How did the Germans treat him?
These kinds of people were sent to camps, the same concentration camps and perhaps some other terrible places like that where they kept them, made them undress, squeezed their testicles, gave very little food, forced to do all sorts of work, deprived them of sleep and various other tortures.@Gleichtritt
The sheer amount of hell this man seen and went through and still sounds so humble and sincere is mind blowing
This stuff isn't a joke, it's history. I admire this guy, having to share the experience remembering all the bodies, blood and death, he sees the importance of our generation knowing about these atrocities
There isn’t a memoirs of world war 2 video I haven’t seen. Watching these videos gives me a sense of pride and helps me love America even more.
Same here. Not sure how old you are but looking at these old men as someone in his 20’s… I can’t even imagine what they went through. Amazing to think there were many kids from 15 and up that lied to get into the army.
@@tommymc7535 I am 19 years old. Ever since this channel started I have been an avid viewer. One day if it ever comes down to it I’d be willing to give up myself. Each died for a cause he considered more important than his own life. They didn’t volunteer to die, they volunteered to defend values in which men have always been willing to die if need be, for the values of what we call civilization. And how they must’ve wished, in all the ugliness that war brings, that no other generation of young men to follow would have to undergo and share that same experience.
Your nationalism is definitely the key to avoiding war in future.
Old America good but today America sucks btw I'm not american
The generation that risked and gave their lives in World War 2 should always be honored as well as any veteran and service man. My uncle also was awarded the Purple Heart. These were honorable men.
What an absolute legend this man is. These people should be showed the upmost of respect
People should never underestimate elderly people as you never know what they've been through. This gentleman is 100% worthy of our respect and gratitude for his bravery during WW2
“Who the hell is gonna go to sick call in normandy” i wish everyone in todays service could hear this. I actually laughed at this. The state our service is in right now makes me sad. I wish they would show this in basic training. I really appreciate everything that you do with these interviews. Thank you to you and to this fine gentleman.
So many sick call warriors/malingerers - medic
@@MediocreMedic123 My grandfather was a medic w 82nd Airborne in WW2 , e rank of capt. He carried a .30cal carbine. He was i DDay, Operation Market Garden, and wounded in The Battle of The Bulge! He saw alot of killing , and was reluctant to talk about it , for the memories were not sweet!
the Royals were always the real Nazis they are all evil con artists
I’m French. I was born in Normandy. This means a lot to me. Thank you Mister NoNo.
I lost a good friend of mine last year who served in WW2. He ran up Utah beach on D-day. Fought in the Bulge and the Rhine. His name was Lawrence "Gumpy" Bowlin. He also recalled the cleanup day like it was last week. He drew pictures. Amazing detailed art of everything he saw. Guns, soldiers, vehicles, landscapes, scenarios. Unbelievable, he was.
My father developed schizophrenia because of fighting in Africa, then fighting and camping in Italy for a year. (His emotional outbursts, etc delusions affected the family over the years). Towards the end of the war the army flew him to NYC at a mental facility to hopefully heal. From the pictures I have, he had a hellava good time there but coming back home - smiles can hide a lot. He never talked about his army years but it would have helped him, and I believe, his sons and daughter. I'm positive he killed people because he had to. War is a no-mans land full of horror.
Absolutely, it can really badly affect someone's mental health. Don't even need to go to war for that but there is a higher potential for it there. And some people are more vulnerable to that in general even before they entered the war and they develop mental problems there easier. I know many stories about how their parents after war were very difficult to live with, had a lot of depression, anxiety and other problems. Were distant from their kids. The problem is that many of them had kids in the first place. They should not have had, especially not in that condition. But some war survivors made an obvious decision to not bring any kids after the war into this cruel world. I know stories like that too
He's struggling with it and cant forget it. Must have been horrible ofcourse. I salute you real hero! Most of the people these days dont even know what these hero's did for us. We wont forget all those legend!
Amen
The communist democrats are trying to make everyone forget! This isn't politics! It's an attack on America! Home grown terrorists!
Wow, what a humble man. Glad someone fought to get him the recognition he deserves. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Normandy area. I took off my shoes and walked out into the water on Omaha beach, visited the American cemetery, went to the museum in St Maire Eglise , climbed into German bunkers overlooking Omaha beach, just to get a glimpse of what these guys went through. I can highly recommend a visit to the area, it was the trip of a lifetime for me.
Good on y
"Saint MÉRE"... mother, in French.
@@PauloPereira-jj4jv , lol, yeah I figured I mangled that pretty bad, should have looked up the correct spelling. Such a great place to visit, enjoyed my time there.
"Ohhh no, layem down flat, these are my boys, my boys." What a beautiful, heartwrentching recollection. What composure he had, according dignity to our fallen boys amidst all the chaos and terror.
The fact that this man could still throw in a joke or 2 and still smile its just unbelievable ❤❤ i couldn't 😢😢 forever grateful for those that went through the horrors of war so hopefully we wouldn't ❤
The greatest generation. Thank you gentlemen for everything you did and the sacrifices you made. God bless
5:15 brought me to tears. The way he described that, horrified me… “I’m going home I’m going home I’m going home…”
This gentleman has paid the price of our freedom his whole life. Sir, thank you from all of us. It’s an honor to hear your story. Josh I’m continuously amazed at you and your team’s ability to produce these videos to forever capture these WWII veterans’ stories. After decades of laying WWII veterans to rest in Military Funeral Honors, I have seen the numbers dwindle to almost none left. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
kzhead.info/sun/jJ2dmpRsmKeMmaM/bejne.html 💗
My dad was a proud WW2 Navy vet who served on board a Destroyer Escort running convoys across the U-Boat infested North Atlantic. When he crossed the bar in 2006, it was during Iraq and Afghanistan deployments, and we did not know if there would be anyone available to do the Navy honors at his funeral. However, there were two Navy men who were able to perform the flag folding with a recording of Taps playing, and we were grateful to them for being there. Thank you for volunteering to do these military honors at the funerals of our WW2 veterans. I know their families appreciate it so much.
God Bless you sir and thank you for your service my grandfather was captured by the italians he was a partisan soldier with Tito under Yugoslavia he was handed over to the Nazis and spent 3 years in Russia in a POW camp and the stories he told me as a young man are unbelievable he survived and i am here today because he was blessed to peel potatoes and woyld eat the skin and bring back as much potato skins in his groin and arm pits to feed his fellow POWs nowadays this younger generation does not know what hell your generation went thru to rid this world of Hate....all the best may God Bless you Amen!!!!
What an amazing gentleman, God be with you respect from Ireland 🇮🇪
"I've seen a lot of dead soldiers" that line alone... He's seen so much
From a french frog living in Rouen, Normandy, your service is not frogotten, Sir. I teach my kids to think about what you did for us. And it was the right thing to do. But you needed guts. Hats off, Sir "Nono", may you live a healthy and long life. Thank you.
@@terrymurphy2032 you are a connoisseur 😉👍
Frog?
@@dreamthedream8929that's a nickname for the French. 😊 Sort of like calling all Americans Yankees.
Nothing makes me feel better than to hear from these soldiers. There was a time I hated my life, felt hopeless. Some of the greatest men that helped me through were guys like this.
Hello James How are you doing today?
Here is The True Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER (Genesis 1) HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
These weren’t Navy Seals these were farmers, plumbers, chefs, mechanics etc . . . These men were fighting for our freedom and global peace. These men have so much respect 🫡 from me!
I can relate with him, I’ve been away from combat 8 years now. My hard combat tour was in 2004. I stay away from my old combat buddies, just so I can try to forget.! It never leaves you, it never goes away.
thank you for your service man, i really hope you wake up every day feeling better than the last. whatever you need to do, do it and your loved ones will thank you endlessly.
Love and hugs, Trevor.
I feel you brother. It's a cross we will bare until the day we die. I've been trying to repress the memories for almost 20 years. And they are still as sharp and fresh as if it happened 20 minutes ago. All I can do is live life the best I can for those who never got the chance.
Thank you for your service man🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@mikedegnan5252 I lived in a boarding house for a few years WAY back. They man who ran it was D-Day Vet. He often said he wished he could see his buddies more. One day, a really good buddy came from across the country to visit him. Afterward, he was different for days.. weeks even. I know they talked and talked. I could tell it was bittersweet for them. RIP No docs or movies have ever budged me the way their stories do. I still hear his limericks and lamentations in my head. Little sayings they made up for morale. If these events can resonate so completely to young people by proxy, they should be told to every generation by skilled historians. I will always be Anti-War and Pro Soldier. Hope you and your buddies are doing well. TYFYS
I always get emotional listening to these veterans talking about their experiences and memories. You can feel they cut deep.
kzhead.info/sun/jJ2dmpRsmKeMmaM/bejne.html 💗
Yup same here dude
History is so important for human being to understand how cruel we can be sad really sad
The last survivor of the U.S.S Arizona from the attack on Pearl Harbor passed away... My heart broke and I cried my eyes out. However he is finally with his brothers. And I will cry uncontrollably, when the last WWII Veteran passes away... NEVER FORGET DECEMBER 7, 1941 REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR NEVER FORGET JUNE 6, 1941 REMEMBER D-DAY
Thank you
My grandfather fought at the battle of the bulge and was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was the greatest man I've ever known and I still miss him so much. All of these men were heroes and a credit to the human race.
I was in Bastogne just a few weeks ago and visited the Battle of the Bulge museum. Just walking around in that museum made me feel terrible. I can't start to imagine what these heroes went through, fighting for the freedom of people on another continent. Thank you, Mr. Zicari, and all other veterans! We owe you big-time.
That museum is amazing, but it gives you chills too. They have some amazing stuff there, i would recommend everyone to go there
Yes we owe these heroes everything! Try visit Ypres, not one battle but five, for four straight years. WW1 was the most vicious war in the history of mankind (not in terms of # of victims), but in terms of the mess that caused it, and what followed from it, until this very day. I am very happy and thankful for this hero telling this to us all. People,... Listen!!!
And Bastogne was in WINTER picture being outside for one day in the freezing cold then imagine Months out there. My God these me were brave.
No words good enough to thank you Sir!
Yes for freedom and bla…
Listening to this man brought tears to my eyes.
We just need to appreciate the man who survived for his service and the man who recorded the footage
The man who recorded got shot in the leg and kept his camera above the water
And that is why I have the greatest love and respect for this man and the soldiers of Canada, England and the United States, who indeed are the greatest generation! My grandfather, father and uncles were Canadian soldiers🇨🇦!
i hope you have the same respect for all the other nationalities who fought against hitler
@@jimloontiens9275 Oh quit. I'm sure he does, but since that's what the video mentioned for this D-Day invasion story, she probably just referred to them. Please don't try to find or take offense when none was given.
@@jimloontiens9275 I certainly do! All the people and veterans of all the countries that fought Germany are included in the greatest generation! D day was an event that started all freedom loving countries to stand up. Russia, Poland,France and occupied countries of Europe, Africa etc. are included and respected!
@@susanfresneda2213 that's great but you should also understand the distinction between England and Great Britain - England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are distinct countries and each was involved. Yanks and Canadians often refer to Great Britain as England and it grips the shit out of the other 3 countries.
@@hughblackwood8231 I should have said the countries that make up the United Kingdom. My ancestry is Scottish,English,Irish and Ukrainian. I am Canadian born and have the greatest respect for all those countries that make up the D Day invasion of France.
Makes me miss my Papa. He fought in the Battle of the Atlantic as part of the Royal Canadian Navy. He passed in 2011. I still miss his stories.
same here my papa would tell me some of these stories as he was also a DDay survivor. he passed in 2019 at the ripe age of 96. miss him more and more everyday. would give anything to talk to him one more time. ❤
My father-in-law Charles Cox was a British Paratrooper he told me many stories including how he was captured at Arnhem. He passes away in June 2021, he was 100 years old.
I cried when I watched this. My dad died, my grandpa, all my great uncles and uncles. All vets, they were my heroes.
It blows my mind that this guy is around 100 years old. Sounds like he's in his 70's not a stutter or slur in his speech at all, still sharp as a tack.
Unlike Brandon, eh??
These are the real men, thank you for your service everyone thank you
We must appreciate being able to listen to WWII vets like him. It won't be long until that entire generation is gone, and we won't be able to hear about these events from someone who was there.
As you get older, long-term memories come back to you more strongly. my grandfather fought for the Austrian monarchy in WW1 and for the Germans in WWII and he didn't die until I was 15. his stories were as detailed as if it had been yesterday.
Your grandfather probably has a huge experience of war, did he fight during the whole wars ?
Dude your grandpa survived two wars and still lived a long fucking life? My deepest respect for your grandfather, I assume you are German or German-American, I am Mexican so logically I do not have any immediate connection to any veteran but I have absolute respect to anyone who fought, and not only that, but your grandfather also fought on two of the hardest lines in history, mad. Fucking. Respect, Godspeed your family man, bis später Bruder! Eines Tages hoffe ich, Deutschland zu besuchen.
@@pericleslegendario7022 No, I am Austrian and also live in Austria. At that time, Austria belonged to the German Reich as the Ostmark. Since I'm already 55 years old myself, I knew a lot of veterans from World War II when I was young.
@@alois4336 No, my grandfather was born in 1900 and was recruited for the last year of WWI. Fought in WWII from 1942-1945. In World War I he was never wounded, in World War II he was shot twice. In 1945 he was taken prisoner by the Russians, but managed to escape with a comrade during transport. After that he stalked the country for several weeks, hiding during the day, stealing food and leaving at night. When they then encountered American soldiers, they surrendered. They definitely didn't want to be interned with the Russians. He was then taken to an American prison camp in Germany and released by Christmas 1945. Despite seeing so much horror, he was one of the calmest, kindest, most peaceful people I've ever known. I can't remember a word he said aloud. He lived to be 83 and also died in 1983, his comrade who fled with him lived to be in his 90s. This generation was damn tough, no matter what country. Today they're all sitting at the psychiatrist's and crying.😆
@@jaegermeister1968 my bad, but still what an amazing chance to being able to meet so many veterans, i have met two by mere luck, one german and one american, goodspeed to you sir, and goodspeed to Austria too.
“There is nothing glorious in the war”. This man is really very special. 🖤
Men like this have true guts and true courage. I can barely imagine the horrors that they faced. Courage and sacrifice like this are what it takes to stop an evil person like Hitler. I can only hope that mankind itself will wake up and cast aside this need to dominate their little corner of the world. I salute this man and every man and woman like him.
I had the privilege of meeting a man when I was visiting the Gordon Highlanders museum in Scotland in October, who is one of if not the last living members of the Gordon highlanders who stormed the beaches of Normandy. Huge honour to meet him. I didn’t want to take up much of his time as what time he has left aught to be spent on more meaningful things than talking to me. But it was great to shake his hand tell I love his work and get on my way. Ive had the privilege of meeting Long Tan veterans (Australia’s version of Le Drang valley from Vietnam) I’ve met ww2 SASR guys and one time an actual first day landing Anzac, and even though I’m Australian and the man I met that day was Scottish I hold him in the exact same regard. To often we say “he was fighting for our country” when we talk about guys serving in ww2. Whether he be an Anzac, a commonwealth soldier, an American soldier, all of them were fighting for the world not just some country. In the battle of democracy vs tyranny. These men, and this man in this video, are exclusively why 3billion people today at least can call themselves alive and free.
Takes a lot of courage to go into battle like that. Takes a lot of courage to talk about it as well. But in doing both, he did a great service to us younger generations - giving us a future free of Nazi tyranny, and teaching us how terrible war truly is. I’m autistic, so, if not for men like him who helped defeat the Nazis, I might not be alive today.
A future free of Nazi tyranny? Better look around for the tyranny happening in front of your eyes now.
Cyb- cause moms side hav dark spanish skin Krauts would have Zyklon B the lot off us iff they had won w.w.2.
@@asmodeus1274 such as?
@@Cybermat47 If I have to explain to you what’s happening in the US right now, then I can’t help you.
@@asmodeus1274 Some of us see it but there are still a lot of sheep being led to their slaughter.
If this gentleman was part of the Battle of the Bulge, its possible he served with my grandfather who was a Paratrooper in the 101st. He was badly wounded in the battle, he was a machine gunner and had his arm nearly shot off when he leaned over to reload his gun, but that saved his life as the bullet would have hit right in the heart otherwise. They took him to a field hospital and grafted the bone from his shin to make him a new shoulder. His leg was sensitive after the war but he could lift his arm to chest level and he was grateful. For his efforts he was awarded a Purple Heart. He never talked much about he war, he didnt like to remember it. But he told us the story of him being wounded and a story about him walking to the frontline with his squad. They were all chatting and merry until they came upon the road they were supposed to use to go to the front. A tank had come and bulldozed the road, revealing that hundreds of bodies had been bulldozed off the road to make way for the advancing column. They were rotting and mangled. They were all quiet after that until the battle. He went on to be a Master Jeweler after the war, until he passed away in 2013. I salute these brave men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the world from a true evil. Your documentary series is doing these people a great service. Keep it up.
May your grandpa rest in peace. My great grandpa served in the US Army Air Corps before it was called the Air Force in the Pacific, I believe from 1942-43 or 44
Update 1 year later: Hero is still alive, currently at the age of 100 (B. 1923). He was in the Fifth wave @ Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. In 2021 at 98, he was awarded a Purple Heart medal for his injuries at Omaha, 77 years later. "Lest we forget!"
He is the same age as Richard attenborough from jurassic Park. Richard was the one filming the bombing from the bomdardiers across Europe during war. His brother David is still living, perhaps he didn't go to war but he did take care of two Jewish girls at their home in england who escaped Germany and lost their families there during war
😂I am glad he received the Purple Heart he so deserved from participating in the Normandy Landings on D-Day. I am so glad that No No is still around and Lively as ever. I wish I could just have a day to spend with him and listen to his stories, I imagine they must be so profound. 😢💔 I think for him to have survived D-Day and grateful he was able to pass that on to future generations. 🙏 Vaya con Dios y en paz descansen, senor. Mucho gusto ❤❤
All my best to Onofrio and his legacy. There is so much to be learned from his outlook on life. Welcome home, soldier.
My dad had really bad memories after helping to liberate a concentration camp in Germany. Years later just out of my teens, I met a wonderful man...but he would wake up wringing wet from sweat from memories of Nam. War..the memories never die even when the war has ended.
When I was in school, one of our teachers said:"Talk with your grandparents about the war and, if possible, record it. People will forget and they will repeat everything." I talked with them but never recorded it. Born in 1976, I grew up when times were good and what they told me, about what they experienced, gave me nightmares until today. My Grandpa was near Moscow with the Wehrmacht, he was a hard, disciplined man who rarely laughed but when he talked about the war, he shuddered and started to cry. He never liked Hitler, but, as an uneducated farmer, what big choice did he have between getting shot right now for "Kriegsdienstverweigerung" (conscientious objection) or at least trying to survive at the front? He survived, got hit by a Russian machine gun in the right leg and the right shoulder, he almost froze to death, saw his best friend getting his head blown off and somehow he managed to escape from Russia to France, where he ended as a POW. He always said, that war is hell, but the worst of all was hunger and thirst and that it is better getting shot than starving to death. He also mentioned, that he never felt any anger against the Russians or the French, he just tried to survive and so did them. Grandpa died several years ago from cancer. I pray, that no one of us will have to experience what our grandparents had to do and see.
Sorry about your Grandfather. I lost both of mine in WW2. My grandmother on my Mums side remarried in the war and he to was killed. He was my Mums father.
Respect voor deze man, en allen die daar waren HELDEN ❤
These men are national treasures I could talk To guys like this for hours and I have it makes me appreciate this country and I have so much more hearing stories like this. This is eerily close to how my grandfather and a customer of mine who was also there described that day. He told me the scene in saving private Ryan really choked him up because of how realistic it was. He also described it as absolute chaos as soon he approached the landing area all he could hear were all the gunshots and explosions then the screaming and yelling guys were getting mowed down as soon as the doors dropped others were climbing out early to avoid this and some drowned with all their heavy equipment on he said it was difficult to find cover and suppress or return fire because like he said the barrage of gunfire was constant and the only reprieve they got was every few hundred rounds when the Germans had to change barrels on the mg42 I asked if he was scared and got a look me song that was a dumb question 🤣 he said he never thought for a second he wasn’t coming back and tragically he said most or all of his friends who thought they were going to die did. He said he could still remember the smell of the ocean mixed with gunpowder and a heavy metallic smell from a the blood he said he saw a lot of what he considered very tough men get weak in the knees
Hello Jeremy How are you doing today?
I nearly cry every time I watch one of these videos
I could have listen him speak an entire day. I was there on the 75th anniversary. I’ll remember it for my entire life. This man is a hero, pure and simple
I had an uncle, who passed away few years ago already. He was on that beach, on "D-Day". I've asked him a few time to relate what he had lived on that day. He never told me. He said that it was too brutal to tell such story. It takes a lot of courage, to take the time and share with the others what these guys had lived. Very often, I take the time to remember about the sacrifice they've made so WE are living in a democratic and a free world.
My grandfather was there too. He wouldn’t talk about it either. All he told me was he didn’t think he would live through it. My grandmother told me one thing he did that haunted him was after d-day. It involved a young girl in a town. They were hiding near her. She started screaming and he bopped her with the butt of his gun to knock her out so she’d be quiet. I guess he told her that after their first daughter was born. Of all the things he did he felt worst over that. He was a kind man so it had to be a terrible situation for him to do something like that.
Thank you for your service. For putting your life on the line many years before my family can immigrate to this great country we all the United States of America 🇺🇸! God Bless you sir and forever hold you and all those who picked up arms in your time to defend us all in the future!
As a Vietnam veteran, I can understand what he is saying. Those men went through hell from the shore landings to the airborne getting shot in the sky. Just horrific what they went through! Heros in the truest form!
None of the men who landed on Omaha beach in the first wave had ever been in combat, and that was deliberate. Eisenhower, who never experienced combat himself, thought men who knew what was coming wouldn’t have pressed forward. The boys landing on Omaha were sacrificed.
Hi, some of the GIs that landed in the first wave were in the 1st Infantry Division “Big Red One”. They were in the landings in North Africa and Italy before Normandy. They had seen combat and they still pushed forward.
The problem with the story is that many had landed in Sicily and North Africa, and the worry about them pushing forward is defeated by the fact that there was no where else to go, if you wanna live you gotta get off the beach. The soldiers that had never seen combat would be far more likely to freeze up once there, the ones that had would be more likely to freeze up before getting in the boat.
6d age no not sacrificed. They new where they were going and went willingly.
@@juliemerritt5144 I thought the Normandy Landings were kept under right wraps? All they probably knew was that it would be an amphibian landing. I doubt they could have foreseen the hell they were about to experience.
@@juliemerritt5144 LOL...yea
I salute that man. Sharing those experiences is a near impossible thing to do, but it's definitely something the whole world needs to hear, especially now
I brought my grandpa over to duxford in the late 90‘s. He was a former Luftwaffe-pilot back in ww2 flying the me109 and later the fw190. We had beautiful days in the uk watching the warbirds. What really brought tears to my eyes was seeing them standing there, holding their hands and remember together what they all went through while honoring their fallen.
It's amazing how cognitive this extraordinary gentleman is still. He's a hero to me
Only , they were all set up so, the perception is still backwards Religion is not real
Both of my grandfather's served in the Army. One passed before I was born, and the other, my PA would never speak on it. All I know is, he saw something horrific enough to change him. He passes away at 92, and left me hus dog tags. They're my most prized possessions.
I' am German and born 1955! Thank you for fighting against the Nazis and our freedom!
🌹
My grandpa was a paratrooper and landed on Normandy at the end. He never wanted to talk about what he saw or what he went through. But he did make a friend in a German soldier he met that day. They were friends until my grandpa died about 6 years ago.
My grandfather served in both great war's and everyday I worked for him as a apprentice carpenter I could see the pain in his face without him telling me anything. I never understood this till I did my time in Ireland and the Falklands and this was nothing compared to what this great man and every other went though. I for one will never forget what you all went through. Thank you from the UK!
Thank you for your service and for sharing, Pathfinder.
huge respect for your grandfather. i was born in ireland so a little harder to praise lmao, either way i can respect your bravery sir
@@Oscarreactsyt I can understand your feelings and thank you for sharing this and your respect, I in turn respect what life was like for the good people of Ireland during the troubles.
They were phony wars They Royals are the real Nazis
You can never forget the things you did the things you have to do and War and remember reading an old Journal of the internet about how it was like fighting in World War One then I read a journal about World War Two and then a journal to Korean War to Vietnam I can just imagine what they had to go through s*** they have seen losing their friends their brothers those that they trained with so hard especially when you're good friend dies your best friend God bless all of our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice God bless them all
My grandfather Canadian WW2 vet just passed in oct at 98, was to turn 99 in jan 2023. I wish i interviewed him but he did write a memoir so that is very special to us ❤
Spoke to a paratrooper from D Day Whidden he passed last year but his story about it was amazing and it was an awe moment. The younger generations need to hear these stories, these veterans are forever a part of history
Huge respect to the fallen and those who went through this hell. Lest we forget. Nous n'oublierons pas 🇺🇸🇨🇵
War is a racket WW2 was a phony war
An amazing interview, what an to honor to hear this gentleman speak, God Bless him! Here we are embarking on the 78 Anniversary of D Day a time of great sacrifice that should never be forgotten.
The eyes of these men always tell a story of their own, in every video.
"Nothing glorious about war. It's terrible." Take that to heart.
Thank you Mr. Zicari and God Bless. My Dad was there that day with the 1st. Infantry Division, 32nd. F.A Battalion. He was awarded a Bronze Star with a 'V' for valor for his actions that day...
I could cry from that story. Thanks to all the allied forces for freeing Europe. And greetings from germany!👍
It's incredible what these men went through. And will continue to go through for the politicians who sit in their comfort while making war.
I’m so sad for what these boys went through and I’m so so thankful for what they gave so our country and others could be free. May we never forget!
One of my great uncles was a longshoreman on Omaha Beach. He served with the segregated 502nd Port Battalion. The 502nd came ashore on D-Day+1. Corpses, abandoned weapons, and damaged vehicles littered the beachhead. The 502nd sustained its first casualties when three longshoremen drowned while coming ashore. The first order of business for all longshore battalions was to probe the beachhead of landmines. Troop transports waited offshore until it was safe to land reinforcements. The landmines were cleared within a few days but the 502nd lost a few more longshoremen in the process. Unloading food, munitions, and fuel from boats to trucks was a daily occurrence once the beachhead was free of landmines. This was done under fire in the first few weeks of the invasion. The longshoremen were subject to artillery barrages and sniper fire. Bodies washed ashore Omaha Beach in the weeks following D-Day. The longshoremen often found themselves retrieving those bodies. My great uncle returned to Norfolk a broken man. He coped with the trauma by drinking alcohol. He died from cirrhosis of the liver at only 39. It must’ve been hard to have served your country, only to return to a still-segregated America.
Thanks for that perspective. I can't imagine going through that and then coming home to face what he had to face in the States.
Well we love him, appreciate him and his sacrifice even though a lot of people back then didn't.
He served.Never should have taken to the bottle. Never again segregation.
@@e.a.corral4713 Easy to say.
Thank you for your story and by telling your great uncles story you are keeping his memories alive, thank you from Australia.
I met Mac in 2007 at a F.E.M.A. trailer site. He was a security officer with another company in Algiers, across the Mississippi from New Orleans. 84 years old and still serving his community.
My Dad was a WWII Veteran in the Army who fought in Italy. I once had a Nam Vet tell me the Men that were WWII Veterans were Men of Men! I have much respect and appreciation for all our Men and Woman in all branches of the service. Thank you all and may our good Lord Bless each of you.
Mr. Zicari is quite a guy. Survived the War & came back home to start a family. Just like my Father who served in the Submarine Service as a 1st Class Motor Machinist. He was also of Italian descent. Sad that he had to go through so much trouble to receive his Purple Heart. Luckily, he did so before he passed away. These men have lots of wisdom & I think that it is wonderful that he shares his memories of the war with young people. God Bless 'NoNo'!
Thank you to so many servicemen and women who served our country. This generation was so committed. WWII was a unique time for the world. Thank you to all veterans! I hope and pray with our younger generations that they appreciate their freedoms. We need to reflect upon what our military personnel have done and what they will continue to do.
I was very lucky to have a ww2 vet as a naber frend. He has been gone for a few years now. But I will never forget the things that he Taught me. His name was toney.
It’s sad to think that soon there will be no more survivors from WW2, no more stories like these.
Daddy was a paratrooper he got two purple hearts he only told funny stories. He also said that the German Soldier was a good soldier. And respected them. 82nd 504th was Daddy's unit. Headquarters Company.
Keeping his sense of humor after such a long road really inspires me.