the greatest generation
Posted on 10. Jun, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in inspiration, personal
I’ve been meaning to make this post for several days now but I was waiting to get some more pictures.
My great-great uncle Bill Duane, who is 93 years old, fought in WWII. You would never know it from talking to him–he is so humble and kind and soft-spoken. He will sit silently at dinner listening to conversation and then suddenly and quietly make the most hilarious comment–he is just as sharp as a tack.
Yesterday, he and my family returned from a two-week trip to Europe where he revisited the places where he fought almost 70 years ago. Through his remarkably detailed stories and the pictures my family took, he was able to give us all the smallest glimpse of what fighting in the second war was like. Lying in hedge rows with heavy equipment. Waiting to recapture a bridge, bringing wounded soldiers into medical tents. The honor of bringing freedom and liberation to so many families in France. He landed on Omaha beach. He was standing literally feet away from Eisenhower when his unit was told, “You must take Hill 122 or the invasion will fail and we’ll be pushed back into the sea.” So Bill Duane’s unit took it. It was a bloody and fierce battle but we know the outcome.
Those are all real memories to my great-great uncle, not just chapters in a history book or clips from a documentary.
They all had the most amazing journey around Europe on their trip in the last few weeks–I almost don’t know where to begin and it seems like around every turn was another serendipitous meeting. Bill Duane met with the former Marshall of the Russian Air Force, which is the top position in their Air Force. They also presented him with a medal. Bill Duane’s unit met the Russians at the Elbe River. The Russians were aware of a Russian veteran who remains alive who met the Americans at the Elbe, and he was at the meeting. It was billed as (probably) the last meeting in Moscow of a US & Russian veteran who met at the Elbe and received coverage on the front page of the Moscow Times and several other international publications.
There seemed to be so much more respect for war veterans in Russia and the rest of Europe than we have here. World War II is a BIG deal to Russians. Victory in Europe Day is a National holiday and they venerate their WWII Veterans. Dozens and dozens of people came up to Bill Duane and personally thanked him, or shared stories with him about their own families’ experiences in the war. One person even shared that his brother’s life was saved by Bill Duane’s own division–as a medic, it could have been Bill who saved him! So moving.
On D-Day, on one of the final days of their trip, Bill Duane raised the flag at the American Cemetery in Normandy. 66 years later.
I just wanted to share some of the pictures my dad took on the trip that I found very moving.
1. Bill Duane with a Russian Colonel who also fought on the Elbe and the former Marshall of the Russian Air Force 2. The path into the Kremlin 3. In front of “The Super Tiger,” the only one on display in the world. 4. Outside President Medvedev’s office
5. At the grave of a Nebraskan soldier in American Cemetery on Omaha Beach
6. At Omaha Beach 7. These were French reenactors who were playing the part of US G.I’s. There were TONS of reenactors. These guys specifically thanked Bill Duane for their freedom.
8. Bill Duane received an honor guard from soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, The Big Red One! At the end of the ceremony they presented Bill Duane with a Division patch and pocket flag that had been carried by one of them in Iraq. 9. He was asked to raise the flag on the anniversary of D-Day in Normandy–this is the woman who supervised the ceremony.
10. Raising the flag at Normandy on D-Day
I teared up writing this post and I wish I had been able to make it on the anniversary of D-Day itself, but the pictures and stories add so much. I know here in America we don’t always think of the hard-won battles of WWII and the quality of life we are able to enjoy today because of the sacrifices of so many people. I know I am guilty of forgetting that.
Although I was home with Alice and not in Moscow or Normandy or St. Lo in the last few weeks, these pictures and the stories they tell make me feel like I was there. I am so proud of my great-great uncle and honored to be part of his family. And I am proud to have that picture of him with Alice. I can’t wait to someday tell her all of his stories.
xo
22 Responses to “the greatest generation”
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jes
11. Oct, 2010
7:52 pm
This is so touching in so many ways. My great grand mother was a russian jewish prizoner in a concentration camp. She made it here in 1948 and married all thanks to men like your uncle!
Kasey
12. Jun, 2010
8:49 pm
Thanks for sharing about your great great uncle and his service to our country. It brought tears to my eyes. My dad fought in Vietnam and I would love to hear stories about his experiences, but it’s not something he chooses to discuss.
Brooke Stokes
12. Jun, 2010
12:24 pm
Your Great Great Uncle did so much for this country. As a history major, I’m glad that we still have a few veterans out there to give us first hand accounts of the war, it makes it so much more real.
jennifer J
12. Jun, 2010
11:18 am
What a wonderful man – and, wow, you look a lot like him, in his young military photo! Thank you for sharing, as always!
Laura
12. Jun, 2010
2:36 am
Thank you, Megan, for sharing your wonderful great-great uncle and his amazing journey with us! Both of my grandfathers were also WWII veterans and though they have passed away, I treasure the times they shared their unbelievable war stories. I wish I would have listened more… I agree with a previous post by Em — get what you can on video to share with Alice and future siblings and even their children… Blessings to your family.
@meganrocks
11. Jun, 2010
9:27 pm
What a fantastic post Megan, thanks so much for sharing! You really know how to tell a story and engage your followers.
Alicai
11. Jun, 2010
3:44 pm
Thank you for posting this. It brought tears to my eyes! Both of my grandfathers were also in WWII and one of them was a POW.
Em
11. Jun, 2010
3:08 pm
This post was so touching. I had grandparents who have since passed that were in WWII and I am so sad that my kids will never meet them and hear their amazing stories. We’re so different from that generation; they’re tough as nails. I hope that you’ve video taped some of his stories to share with your little girlie, I wish I would have done it with my grandparents!
Stephanie
11. Jun, 2010
12:13 pm
Thank you for your story. The stories of WWII are very important to be told. Both of my grandfathers were in WWII and one of my grandmothers was a WAVE in Washington DC during the war too. One of my grandfathers was a bomber pilot and ended up a prisoner of war in Germany. It took many years before he would tell us the story of his captivity. He wrote down his experiences and now we are so glad because he has a pretty severe case of dementia. But I know that all us grandkids have found the story very meaningful. He was always our hero but now even more so.
Godmama Teresa
11. Jun, 2010
10:16 am
The last couple of years, my workplace has hosted a breakfast on Veterans’ Day for area Veteratns. We started doing it as a way to honor the residents of our facility who are veterans. I put together a poster each year with pictures of our veterans along with a short story on their service years. All of these stories are amazing…and it does make you realize how fortunate we are that we have had, and continue to have, dedicated indviduals who sacrifice and fight for the freedoms we enjoy. Thanks for your post!
Richelle
11. Jun, 2010
10:00 am
What a beautifully moving post. Thank you for sharing this with us. I am so touched by those men and women who fought during this particularly trying time in our nation’s history. Next time you see your uncle, please thank him for me.
Jen
11. Jun, 2010
9:39 am
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Sarah
11. Jun, 2010
8:38 am
Thank you so much for sharing the story of your uncle. It was amazing.
Charli
11. Jun, 2010
8:20 am
Thank you so much for posting this.
My grandfather fought in WWII (the Pacific Theatre) and reading this reminded me so much of his stories. With his birthday coming up I have been thinking a lot about him and I wish that he could have met his youngest great-granddaughter… He had a stroke the night we came home from the hospital and never woke up again.
It seems you really cherish your uncle and that is amazing. It always touches my heart to hear of veterans being honored so highly.
Jill
11. Jun, 2010
7:11 am
Amazing post, brought tears to my eyes!
kylydia
11. Jun, 2010
5:54 am
What a great post. Thank you so much for sharing it. I love all of the pictures and was really moved by your great-great uncle’s story.
Stephanie
10. Jun, 2010
11:55 pm
Thank you so much for writing this post!!!! I think it is so important for us not to forget the great sacrifices made for our freedom!! What an honor to be related to such an honorable man. My dad served in the USMC & now my brother is serving as well. Please pass on my gratitude to your Uncle!!
Kay
10. Jun, 2010
11:10 pm
I was so hoping you were going to post more about him!
I saw a mention of his history in a post about Alice and then the photo on twitter of him raising the flag. The stories – the memories – of veterans are so important, not just for posterity but because their lives and their insights remind us not what we are, but what we’re supposed to be – of the best that’s in us and how responsible each individual person is for every tragedy and every success this world can know. I certainly never miss an opportunity to take a moment, buy someone a cup of coffee and just listen to them talk.
Thank you for sharing!
kim*
10. Jun, 2010
10:57 pm
Very neat! I will have to share this with my fiance so he can show his airsoft friends. Thanks for sharing!
Anna
10. Jun, 2010
10:51 pm
I cried reading this. WWII shaped my family so much-so many of my uncles and both grandfathers were there, one grandmother and her sister worked in a war factory building planes…I am so thankful, inasmuch as I have room for understanding what they sacrificed, for the bravery and hope they had. Please, when you next see him, tell your great-uncle thank-you for me. I don’t know him, but I may well not be here if it was not for him and other valiant men like him. Thank you soooo much for posting his story and the photos.
Robin
10. Jun, 2010
10:51 pm
Thank you for sharing. I showed my children ages 9 and 13 and my son’s comment was, “He is a real hero. Spiderman is just a story but Bill Duane is the real deal!” Thank you to Bill Duane and all the other selfless people who have put their lives on the line for the freedom of others. What a wonderful day it will be when you can share this with your daughter.
Kathleen
10. Jun, 2010
10:16 pm
This story is so moving – I have goosebumps! Thank you for sharing this reminder of how amazing people are and how grateful we should be.