I really couldn't believe when I heard him saying thank you. But I guess that's just the man he is. Andrew deserves all the thanks. True hero, along with many others that did and didn't make it home
The worst thing about this channel is that there’s an expiration date. One day there won’t be anyone left alive to tell their personal stories. One day these videos will be all we have left and I am thankful that Memoirs of WWII is taking the time to make these amazing videos to respect and honor all who served in WWII
For thousands of years these videos will give people firsthand accounts of the biggest event in history so far. Imagine if we had HD video interviews of soldiers from the Battle of Thermopylae or the siege of Constantinople
The sad part is the youngest a World War II veteran couldn't be is 92 if they was 17 and when in in 1945 if they were any older or when in any earlier they are older so they won't be many left in 10 years
@@zenolachance1181 there were some 16 yr olds involved in the war in some way it was common for people to lie about their age and try to get enlisted. Now whether or not they’re still alive is another story.
Honestly admitted how afraid he was to go into that jungle. What sane person wouldn't have been terrified? But he went in anyway because it was the right thing to do. A real hero.
@@johndiasjr9000 Right… Their only safe space was the hole they dug to sleep in…. Hoping they picked a spot that the mortars, artillery rounds, and bombs don’t happen to land directly on.
Let me tell you something, today's generation of weakling entitled brats would pucker up and fold up shop mentally within the first 5 minutes of boot camp let alone go through an entire world war.
I need to watch these videos as almost repaying a debt. I wanted to serve my country, of course during peacetime, but I have asthma and would never had made it as a police officer, let alone a soldier. These stories need to be kept alive.
I’m a 26 year old grown man and these firsthand account stories of WW2 in the Pacific and Europe makes me tear up in my eyes a lot. It’s so disturbing and sad what these men went through to stop Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. Too bad we don’t have ww1 vets left they’ve all passed on. Would love to hear their stories
Stopped watching another video to come watch this as every single one of these is an absolute masterpiece. Huge thanks to the crew and everyone involved in the making of these memoirs. And especially a huge thanks to andrew for taking the time to tell his story. These stories truly inspire me to be a better person after seeing what all these people had to endure. Both the fighting and the coping after the fact. This channel and its wonderful guests never fail to remind what I hold near and dear to heart in life.
These are awesome cause it's persevering story's and first hand account that's would be lost or never told other wise. These first hand accounts are gold cause it's an honest and raw point Of view not whats in history books which is painted very black n white
Awesome video. My grandfather served in Guam and Saipan in the army air corps. Ran radio lines up in the hills. He’s currently 98 and grandma’s 94, still both alive
I’m from Guam. My grandmother was a little girl during the war. She passed away years ago when I was still a boy. Thank you to your grandfather for his service
Please thank your grandfather for being part of the brave men and women to help save my family. My family and my people were affected tremendously and I cannot thank you enough on behalf of my family. Thank you thank you thank you
Same here, the only battle I know my grandfather fought in in world war 2 was Guam as a marine, I can tell it’s a very traumatic subject for him considering how much he likes to talk about Korea and just the blank face when someone mentions Guam, I want to question him further but knowing that the things he went through in their were likely some of the worst things imaginable by man, I don’t really want to bug him about it
My grandfather was in the Army Air Force in the pacific as well....what a blessing to still have your grandfather, sadly mine passed way to soon. Cherish the time you have with him.
As I was marveling at what this man has seen and done, it lifted my heart when he said his buddies had survived the war. Can't give him and his friends enough respect, but they get all of mine.
All too often you hear these mens stories, going to war with their brothers and closest friends, and coming home to only 1 or 2 of them still being alive, worse yet, being the only one who survived. It's heartwarming that Andrew was able to come home along with all of his friends, and live the lives they deserve together
My father, Phillip J. Lopez served in the Pacific Theatre with the USMC in WWII. He was an amphibious tractor operator, transporting soldiers to the beaches in combat. RIP to the greatest generation.
@@MemoirsofWWII Not just high school! I’ve shown portions of these to first graders. They need to know young about freedom and sacrifice. I like in this one that they had Mass and everyone received absolution and Communion. Our religion is integrated into life, something else the young need to know.
My grandpa was a Captain and a doctor in 1943. He literally went into the military the second he graduated from Stanford. He was in charge of 12 medics and saved countless lives in the Pacific. He had to take teenagers who's arms and legs got blown off and put them back together. He died in 1990 the year I was born so, I never got to meet him but, I have his Stanford graduation ring and tons of photos he took and letters he wrote.
These videos should be in every school for appropriate age children and all teens. Many served. My Uncle was captured at The Bulge, my MIL built F6F's, my FIL ran communications wire in the Philllipines, my oldest sister husband trained artillery men, and then guarded the Eisenhauer family. Everyone needs to know what these people suffered throught to give us all what we have today.
I dont understand why your channel isn't receiving grants. This is a noble cause and deserves more recognition. Thank you for the astonishingly great content!
What a great story. It's really amazing that all 5 survived when so so many Marines were killed. My Dad was a young sailor stationed on Guam in 1957. The Marines had one of the floors in the barrack where he was quartered so he became good friends with them. He still remembers seeing his Marine friends marching off into the mosquito infested jungle for maneuvers and thinking about what had occurred there 13 yrs earlier.
Thank you sir for being one of Guam's heroic liberators. My father was 19 years old and my mother only 15 in 1944 when the Marines liberated our island from the brutal Japanese occupation. There was a lot of suffering at the hands of the Japanese, who committed grave atrocities against our people because they remained steadfast, true, and loyal to the U.S. during the dire war years. The brave Americans who liberated Guam - those who died on our beaches and jungles or survived to continue the fight - will never be forgotten.
Australian, here. The Japanese treated our people in unspeakably vile ways, too. Some unprintable. My heart & solidarity goes out to the people of Guam..
I Can't even imagine how it was like for an American pilot that had been shot down and lost in the Middle of Night in the Jungles of the Pacific with Japanese soldiers crawling all over the place either in camouflage in the bushes or snipers in the trees. That would be very terrifying
I attended church with a man that flew with Claire Chennault in the Flying Tigers in China. He was a very interesting man and it was sad when he and his wife passed away. His wife was one of a few women that was selected to pose as Rosie the Riveter for a WWII poster. She lost to the eventual woman that was selected. I found out about the family through their son Daniel Johnston who was touring as a musician/singer. Sad to see them pass away.
I really like listening to these vets tell their stories without a bunch of stupid questions being asked of them. They end up talking about things no interviewer would know about to ask.
He certainly had an interesting story with the boxing team as well as the Pacific campaign. I'm thankful that there were men like him who did what they had to do for the U.S. and the world. Thank you for bringing us another incredible story!
I got a little teary eyed at the end. I'm sending this to my father, a Korean war vet. He's in upstate New York. I'm Pohnpei,FSM. Nine thousand miles away. Great video.
Josh, I don't know if you realize this, but what you're doing is absolutely incredible and it probably gets tough to do at times, but please don't stop. You're bringing history to the ears of today's generations. You really are an amazing person for doing this.
325,574 World War II Veterans are still alive as of march 2021 according to Veterans Affairs, but 250 pass away every day thats over 91k vets per year pass away. Not many years left there will be no World War II veterans to tell their story. So if you get the chance talk with one do it and honor them. Thank you to my uncle Jo Jo who stormed the beaches of Normandy, and thank you to my grandfather why he's not really considered a vet he was a welder/ electrician at the Philadelphia Shipyard building worships for World War II
My great grandfather Rex was a fighter pilot in the war, and went on to work for NASA as an engineer. When he passed away close to 15 years ago, I was given his old bomber jacket. After watching these videos the last couple of days I might be inclined to ask my mother more about his time in the war as she’s been documenting our family’s genealogy for over 20 years now.
Do ask your mother about your great grandfather's time in the war. Give her a supporting hand, maybe something as little as a trip for sugar to the grocery store. It's not everybody who has the time, care, priority, and the wherewithal to work as she does on genealogy. - Nam vet.
Bless you sir for this arrangement, and thank you for your service. This video nailed it, my grandfather was Army 6th infantry, Ft Leanardwood, Mo. Returned home shellshocked, jumped on a Harley with a sidecar, with his brother in arms "Buzz" Burger, they rode from Missouri to California to work on the Hoover Dam project, and survived that also! Once he got right, he became an accountant for the Northeast Missouri telephone company. Though still hid under the bed during fireworks of 4th of July!
This man is a true hero. He is honest, humble and a very respectful man. Thanks a lot for telling us your amazing story and to the people who make these stories public
Hope in instances where a soldiers such as Mr. Puopolo could get their rank restored after a minor infraction and in lieu of subsequent distinguished service. Thank you Mr. Puopolo for your service, to all that served and Memoirs of WWII for telling their stories !
And he thanks US for listening to his story. Such humility. It was an honor for us to be able to hear his story. It seems that heroes are always modest. A stellar human being this man...
Thank you and your friends for your sacrifice for our country. My dad was in the infantry on Guam among other islands during the invasion, but he would never tell stories of what happened.
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤ with everything going on in America 🇺🇸 and the kids not knowing what was given us for our freedom we need more of these videos so maybe they will come to love our country as much as these brave man and women who gave it all for us ❤
Thank you sir!!! It was an honor to watch and listen to you. My grandpa was ww2 vet from 42 to 45 was on first wave on 2 invasions including Omaha Beach with the 1st nfantry division. I lost him in 2014 and there is not a day goes by that I do not think about of him.
Yes, it's good to hear the veterans' stories and to learn from them, so that our kids and grand-kids hopefully never have to endure anything like a world war.
My Dad was in the 1st wave on Guam a Navy Seabed attached to the Marine Corps taking the airstrip. Maybe Andrew and Him crossed paths who knows, I think they would have liked each other.
Why does my gut tell me, they did? I bet they did. Your poor Dad, what a tough deal that was, in the Pacific. Those guys, really got the worst of that war. Most of the men in the European theater, agree. They say it openly, they truly respected the men who were fighting in the Pacific. It must have been tough, in some way, for your family at times, to know how to give him a hand with it. They didn’t talk about it. Who can blame them. I’m from Seattle so most of the men who fought in the Northwest, fought in the Pacific. They would come back with these tropical illnesses, and suffer with them, on and off for the rest of their lives.
The beer was "Golden!" I love it....Thanks to all who make these videos available to us...They remind me of why I have Freedom, and how very important it is to we Americans. USA!
Alcohol goes against general order number 1. All because supposedly were in Muslim countries? Yeah right. Military are treated like children in modern era military.
when he said " id like to thank you for the time to talk to me" that hit me so hard.. thank you guys so much for doing theses videos and please don't stop.. love you guys so much
What a wonderful story. Very rare to find a group of pals that all made it back alive. Andrew is a gem. Very humble and honest. Thanks to him for sharing his part of our history and to you at MofWWII for making it happen.
I'm thankful that someone made this video to record this Marine's exerience. I went to Guam in 98, when I was in the Corps, but back then they didn't really tell us much about the war there, although they did teach us a lot of USMC history in bootcamp. I also spent a year in Okinawa, same story, but I've spent time learning about these battles on my own. We must remember the sacrifices made by these fine men. Semper Fi
The ending where this fine man said thank you for talking to me and talking about making a man of him and fighting for his country almost brought a tear to my eye
Thank you, Andrew, for your sacrifices and service to our country so that WE can enjoy the freedoms we have. My father also served in the pacific theater in the same timeframe as you.
Thank you for collecting these stories. I know some who probably don't want recall but glad there are many who do. My younger brother had a project in highschool where he interviewed a WWII veteran. It happened to be my older brother's father-in-law. He fought in Battle of the Bulge. He had to cut the interview short as the memories were too great for him to remember and bare. Glad I'm a supporter.
First off I have to say he looks great for a world war II veteran! Second of all this was such a moving story. Don't get me wrong each one of these stories are incredible but for some reason and again put my finger on it this one just really touches you, or at least it did me. Maybe it's the fact that he thanked us for listening to his story. I always used to think to myself for whatever reason if I ever became unemployed or just had an abundant amount of time on my hands I would start a non-profit and listen veteran stories. I was not fortunate enough to listen to my grandfather's WW2 stories, And from what I've been told he really enjoyed telling them. So I personally want to thank the crew at the vets for doing these videos. This is one of my favorite channels on UA-cam and I'm always look forward to watching each and every single one of these sometimes even multiple times.
I like his buddies made it back but my heart sank when he said im the only one out of the 4 who is alive right now true heroes who will never be forgotten what great man
I love watching history and those that lived it, so many stories, so many viewpoints, yet still we sometimes never learn from the lives of others and what they went through, only to bring the cycle around again. WHAT IS FREEDOM WORTH? ASK THOSE THAT DIED TRYING TO DEFEND IT.
Such a great historical video..and gentleman! My mother went by ship in 1940..at 28 years old and chaperone by an auntie..to serve as a nurse in Africa. The trip was in the middle of the war..and so they had to darken the ship at night..and all the passengers were given weighted...inflatable "wet suit"..to wear..and had night time drills in case of needing to use them. Unimaginable hardships on both sides! War is terrible!
When Andrew thanked them for taking the time to listen to his story, it made me cry a little bit. Thank you Andrew for your service.
I really couldn't believe when I heard him saying thank you. But I guess that's just the man he is. Andrew deserves all the thanks. True hero, along with many others that did and didn't make it home
Yep. Got me to. What a great man.
Yeah it choked me up when he thanked them. It needed to be the other way around!!
You're a fragile flower
I got teary eyed too
The worst thing about this channel is that there’s an expiration date. One day there won’t be anyone left alive to tell their personal stories. One day these videos will be all we have left and I am thankful that Memoirs of WWII is taking the time to make these amazing videos to respect and honor all who served in WWII
Maybe then they can talk to some korea and Vietnam vets. Then dessert storm
For thousands of years these videos will give people firsthand accounts of the biggest event in history so far. Imagine if we had HD video interviews of soldiers from the Battle of Thermopylae or the siege of Constantinople
The sad part is the youngest a World War II veteran couldn't be is 92 if they was 17 and when in in 1945 if they were any older or when in any earlier they are older so they won't be many left in 10 years
@@zenolachance1181 there were some 16 yr olds involved in the war in some way it was common for people to lie about their age and try to get enlisted. Now whether or not they’re still alive is another story.
There are many really good books written by veterans who fought in WW2 and Vietnam. I’m sure there are some from veterans of the Korean War, too.
These videos should be shown in history classes all across the states.
DAMN RIGHT! ❤ ❤
Every single one of them.
@@loganhoy9516 jealous I can't be in your class lol
*all across the world*
@@Piss-Poor-Infantry if only
These guys have experienced our world in a way many of us couldn’t even fathom that it could ever be that way.
Yes, and the last two words of your statement are superfluous.
@@cpcattin Nice to see someone is fluent in the King's English....
True bcz world war three is just going to melt us and reset the ecosystem thanks to nuclear
It still is. Many simply have the luxury of being able to ignore it. Brace yourselves.
Yes they experience it through there xbox PlayStation
Honestly admitted how afraid he was to go into that jungle. What sane person wouldn't have been terrified? But he went in anyway because it was the right thing to do. A real hero.
They teach CRT? They ought to teach this!!!!
Yep. Bravery, courage: doing the right thing even when you're afraid. What an incredible generation of people.
Yeah no safe spaces for these guys, life is too easy now new generations are so weak and spoiled
@@johndiasjr9000 Right… Their only safe space was the hole they dug to sleep in…. Hoping they picked a spot that the mortars, artillery rounds, and bombs don’t happen to land directly on.
Let me tell you something, today's generation of weakling entitled brats would pucker up and fold up shop mentally within the first 5 minutes of boot camp let alone go through an entire world war.
There's 3 reasons I watch these videos:
1. To say thanks and pay respects
2. To hear the stories
3. The wonderful content
I need to watch these videos as almost repaying a debt. I wanted to serve my country, of course during peacetime, but I have asthma and would never had made it as a police officer, let alone a soldier. These stories need to be kept alive.
I’m a 26 year old grown man and these firsthand account stories of WW2 in the Pacific and Europe makes me tear up in my eyes a lot. It’s so disturbing and sad what these men went through to stop Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire. Too bad we don’t have ww1 vets left they’ve all passed on. Would love to hear their stories
Stopped watching another video to come watch this as every single one of these is an absolute masterpiece. Huge thanks to the crew and everyone involved in the making of these memoirs. And especially a huge thanks to andrew for taking the time to tell his story.
These stories truly inspire me to be a better person after seeing what all these people had to endure. Both the fighting and the coping after the fact. This channel and its wonderful guests never fail to remind what I hold near and dear to heart in life.
it's kinda cool that I was just thinking about this channel randomly and 10 minutes later they uploaded
Thank you, we appreciate the compliment and for your support!
These are awesome cause it's persevering story's and first hand account that's would be lost or never told other wise. These first hand accounts are gold cause it's an honest and raw point Of view not whats in history books which is painted very black n white
Exactly man. I’ve never swapped videos so fast. These are truly amazing.
I agree with u, marine
Awesome video. My grandfather served in Guam and Saipan in the army air corps. Ran radio lines up in the hills. He’s currently 98 and grandma’s 94, still both alive
I’m from Guam. My grandmother was a little girl during the war. She passed away years ago when I was still a boy. Thank you to your grandfather for his service
Please thank your grandfather for being part of the brave men and women to help save my family. My family and my people were affected tremendously and I cannot thank you enough on behalf of my family. Thank you thank you thank you
Same here, the only battle I know my grandfather fought in in world war 2 was Guam as a marine, I can tell it’s a very traumatic subject for him considering how much he likes to talk about Korea and just the blank face when someone mentions Guam, I want to question him further but knowing that the things he went through in their were likely some of the worst things imaginable by man, I don’t really want to bug him about it
My grandfather was in the Army Air Force in the pacific as well....what a blessing to still have your grandfather, sadly mine passed way to soon. Cherish the time you have with him.
Ask your pa' if he lost anything in the mountains of Mount Tenjo, I used to live there.
Andrew you don't need to thank us, we thank you and all who gave everything. Semper Fi.
Man shoutout to the last living ww2 veterans
Hats off to all you ww1 vets
@@waitemc no more living WW1 vets.
@@rosssteuck4989 hah
@@rosssteuck4989 damn really not even 1 person left ?
@@ottoso7044 theyed have to be like 120 years old
As I was marveling at what this man has seen and done, it lifted my heart when he said his buddies had survived the war. Can't give him and his friends enough respect, but they get all of mine.
All too often you hear these mens stories, going to war with their brothers and closest friends, and coming home to only 1 or 2 of them still being alive, worse yet, being the only one who survived. It's heartwarming that Andrew was able to come home along with all of his friends, and live the lives they deserve together
My father, Phillip J. Lopez served in the Pacific Theatre with the USMC in WWII. He was an amphibious tractor operator, transporting soldiers to the beaches in combat. RIP to the greatest generation.
These interviews should be shown in every school in America To let our kids know what these brave Men and Women did for our Country.
we have had several teachers tell us that they are using these videos alongside their history curriculum.
@@MemoirsofWWII thats incredible! I might suggest these to some of my high school teachers in fact now that I think about it!
Congress and or representatives should see these
@@MemoirsofWWII Not just high school! I’ve shown portions of these to first graders. They need to know young about freedom and sacrifice. I like in this one that they had Mass and everyone received absolution and Communion. Our religion is integrated into life, something else the young need to know.
@@Cervi65 ....... That's great to hear , thank you .👍
Great job guys. This is really outstanding work.
@Knights of Europa dude, get help. You need it/
My grandpa was a Captain and a doctor in 1943. He literally went into the military the second he graduated from Stanford. He was in charge of 12 medics and saved countless lives in the Pacific. He had to take teenagers who's arms and legs got blown off and put them back together. He died in 1990 the year I was born so, I never got to meet him but, I have his Stanford graduation ring and tons of photos he took and letters he wrote.
There’s a reason they call these people THE GREATEST GENERATION!
These videos should be in every school for appropriate age children and all teens. Many served. My Uncle was captured at The Bulge, my MIL built F6F's, my FIL ran communications wire in the Philllipines, my oldest sister husband trained artillery men, and then guarded the Eisenhauer family. Everyone needs to know what these people suffered throught to give us all what we have today.
I dont understand why your channel isn't receiving grants. This is a noble cause and deserves more recognition. Thank you for the astonishingly great content!
What a great story. It's really amazing that all 5 survived when so so many Marines were killed. My Dad was a young sailor stationed on Guam in 1957. The Marines had one of the floors in the barrack where he was quartered so he became good friends with them. He still remembers seeing his Marine friends marching off into the mosquito infested jungle for maneuvers and thinking about what had occurred there 13 yrs earlier.
Thank you sir for being one of Guam's heroic liberators. My father was 19 years old and my mother only 15 in 1944 when the Marines liberated our island from the brutal Japanese occupation. There was a lot of suffering at the hands of the Japanese, who committed grave atrocities against our people because they remained steadfast, true, and loyal to the U.S. during the dire war years. The brave Americans who liberated Guam - those who died on our beaches and jungles or survived to continue the fight - will never be forgotten.
Australian, here. The Japanese treated our people in unspeakably vile ways, too. Some unprintable.
My heart & solidarity goes out to the people of Guam..
Thank you all WW1 and WW2 vets
i respect every single world war 2 veteran because they fought for us and they endured so much for us.
I Can't even imagine how it was like for an American pilot that had been shot down and lost in the Middle of Night in the Jungles of the Pacific with Japanese soldiers crawling all over the place either in camouflage in the bushes or snipers in the trees. That would be very terrifying
My great grand father shot someone down then got shot down over europ and survived and brought home a nazi Luger and another piece of him
@@MikeSmith-vl5em wow I’m glad he survived
I attended church with a man that flew with Claire Chennault in the Flying Tigers in China. He was a very interesting man and it was sad when he and his wife passed away. His wife was one of a few women that was selected to pose as Rosie the Riveter for a WWII poster. She lost to the eventual woman that was selected. I found out about the family through their son Daniel Johnston who was touring as a musician/singer. Sad to see them pass away.
Add in knowing what the Japanese did to prisoners, and it must have been the most terrifying experience imaginable.
@@ktcarl ...I came across his grand daughter...Retail..Class act...
My grandpa is a 97 year old ww2 vet and is still coherent . He has some amazing stories
They should interview him for this channel.
I really like listening to these vets tell their stories without a bunch of stupid questions being asked of them. They end up talking about things no interviewer would know about to ask.
I wish someone would've interviewed my grandfather like this. He had a lot of interesting stories of those years. Too late now though.
I literally just said the exact same thing to my wife. I hate that I never heard his full story.
Men like you make me proud to be a Marine. Semper Fi and thank you Devil for paving the way for young Marines like myself!
Thank you for your service and for watching!
These Men are absolutely exceptional. The most effective warriors in human history.
He certainly had an interesting story with the boxing team as well as the Pacific campaign. I'm thankful that there were men like him who did what they had to do for the U.S. and the world. Thank you for bringing us another incredible story!
So glad to see another wwIi story. The Pacific was certainly hell.
These videos are incredible. So glad someone is taking the time to capture these. Thanks!!
I got a little teary eyed at the end. I'm sending this to my father, a Korean war vet. He's in upstate New York. I'm Pohnpei,FSM. Nine thousand miles away.
Great video.
Josh, I don't know if you realize this, but what you're doing is absolutely incredible and it probably gets tough to do at times, but please don't stop. You're bringing history to the ears of today's generations. You really are an amazing person for doing this.
I'm so glad we all get the opportunity to hear these veteran's stories. These videos will become a part of history.
Thank You for being a soldier. I was too in the 60's. I salute you Sir.
Thank you
Thanks for your service my father was a Marine who was injured on Guam.
Another great effort. There can’t be too many left now.
Unlike a lot of WW2 veterans this man is an excellent story teller. Great interview.
325,574 World War II Veterans are still alive as of march 2021 according to Veterans Affairs, but 250 pass away every day thats over 91k vets per year pass away. Not many years left there will be no World War II veterans to tell their story. So if you get the chance talk with one do it and honor them. Thank you to my uncle Jo Jo who stormed the beaches of Normandy, and thank you to my grandfather why he's not really considered a vet he was a welder/ electrician at the Philadelphia Shipyard building worships for World War II
My great grandfather Rex was a fighter pilot in the war, and went on to work for NASA as an engineer. When he passed away close to 15 years ago, I was given his old bomber jacket. After watching these videos the last couple of days I might be inclined to ask my mother more about his time in the war as she’s been documenting our family’s genealogy for over 20 years now.
Do ask your mother about your great grandfather's time in the war. Give her a supporting hand, maybe something as little as a trip for sugar to the grocery store. It's not everybody who has the time, care, priority, and the wherewithal to work as she does on genealogy. - Nam vet.
Bless you sir for this arrangement, and thank you for your service. This video nailed it, my grandfather was Army 6th infantry, Ft Leanardwood, Mo. Returned home shellshocked, jumped on a Harley with a sidecar, with his brother in arms "Buzz" Burger, they rode from Missouri to California to work on the Hoover Dam project, and survived that also! Once he got right, he became an accountant for the Northeast Missouri telephone company. Though still hid under the bed during fireworks of 4th of July!
All 5 of them survived and got to continue being friend’s for life. How awesome!
it’s 7:00 AM and my alarm is set for 8:00
This man is a true hero. He is honest, humble and a very respectful man. Thanks a lot for telling us your amazing story and to the people who make these stories public
Truly humbling stuff from a honest-to-God American hero.
Thank you, Mr. Puopolo. Highest respects and regards to you and yours, sir.
- Ed on the Ridge
What a gentleman. What a life! What a hero. Thank you to all our WWII vets, living and deceased.
Thank for your service 🙏
Hope in instances where a soldiers such as Mr. Puopolo could get their rank restored after a minor infraction and in lieu of subsequent distinguished service. Thank you Mr. Puopolo for your service, to all that served and Memoirs of WWII for telling their stories !
And he thanks US for listening to his story. Such humility. It was an honor for us to be able to hear his story. It seems that heroes are always modest. A stellar human being this man...
Thank you and your friends for your sacrifice for our country. My dad was in the infantry on Guam among other islands during the invasion, but he would never tell stories of what happened.
What a guy, It was a humbling experience listening to his story, "The greatest generation".
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤ with everything going on in America 🇺🇸 and the kids not knowing what was given us for our freedom we need more of these videos so maybe they will come to love our country as much as these brave man and women who gave it all for us ❤
Thank you sir!!! It was an honor to watch and listen to you. My grandpa was ww2 vet from 42 to 45 was on first wave on 2 invasions including Omaha Beach with the 1st nfantry division. I lost him in 2014 and there is not a day goes by that I do not think about of him.
What do you mean first 2 invasions?
Yes, it's good to hear the veterans' stories and to learn from them, so that our kids and grand-kids hopefully never have to endure anything like a world war.
Wow , mr Puopolo , it was an honor to listen to your story , thanks a lot for your service, respect
My Dad was in the 1st wave on Guam a Navy Seabed attached to the Marine Corps taking the airstrip. Maybe Andrew and Him crossed paths who knows, I think they would have liked each other.
Why does my gut tell me, they did? I bet they did. Your poor Dad, what a tough deal that was, in the Pacific. Those guys, really got the worst of that war. Most of the men in the European theater, agree. They say it openly, they truly respected the men who were fighting in the Pacific. It must have been tough, in some way, for your family at times, to know how to give him a hand with it. They didn’t talk about it. Who can blame them. I’m from Seattle so most of the men who fought in the Northwest, fought in the Pacific. They would come back with these tropical illnesses, and suffer with them, on and off for the rest of their lives.
I’m from Guam, my grandmother was a little girl during that time. Thank you to your dad for his service
Thank God men like this lived when we needed them the most.
The beer was "Golden!" I love it....Thanks to all who make these videos available to us...They remind me of why I have Freedom, and how very important it is to we Americans. USA!
Alcohol goes against general order number 1. All because supposedly were in Muslim countries? Yeah right. Military are treated like children in modern era military.
Thank you Andrew for your service. A valiant warrier in wartime and a gentleman in peacetime. 🙏
What a humble and inspirational man. A life well lived, with pride and honor.
Mr. Puopolo thank you for your service.
Josh and Heather thank you your labor of love.
Everytime i watch this all the stories they tell are so immersive , and show what true heros these veterans are
Thank you for your service we will not forget you, Andrew.
What I wouldn’t give to just shake his hands and say thank you!!! What a man, what a story, what a life!!
when he said " id like to thank you for the time to talk to me" that hit me so hard.. thank you guys so much for doing theses videos and please don't stop.. love you guys so much
What a wonderful story. Very rare to find a group of pals that all made it back alive. Andrew is a gem. Very humble and honest.
Thanks to him for sharing his part of our history and to you at MofWWII for making it happen.
I'm thankful that someone made this video to record this Marine's exerience. I went to Guam in 98, when I was in the Corps, but back then they didn't really tell us much about the war there, although they did teach us a lot of USMC history in bootcamp. I also spent a year in Okinawa, same story, but I've spent time learning about these battles on my own. We must remember the sacrifices made by these fine men. Semper Fi
We owe these men our gratitude and a promise to uphold their legacy.
I'm so glad that his friends survived. This made me cry. I love these stories. Thank you to all the men & woman who have served and are serving now.
The ending where this fine man said thank you for talking to me and talking about making a man of him and fighting for his country almost brought a tear to my eye
Thank you Andrew. I owe my freedom, my children's freedom and my grandchildren's freedom to you and all the veterans like you.
This is great. I love how clear and sharp his mind is. So lucky all four returned to get married. Iwo and Okinawa were hell on earth.
Thank you, Andrew, for your sacrifices and service to our country so that WE can enjoy the freedoms we have.
My father also served in the pacific theater in the same timeframe as you.
Thank you for collecting these stories. I know some who probably don't want recall but glad there are many who do. My younger brother had a project in highschool where he interviewed a WWII veteran. It happened to be my older brother's father-in-law. He fought in Battle of the Bulge. He had to cut the interview short as the memories were too great for him to remember and bare. Glad I'm a supporter.
Thank you for your support!!
We should be thanking you for giving us your story, sir. Thank you.
Thank you Andrew, for sharing your amazing story and your amazing friends with the world!
Impossible to comprehend the hell on earth that these soldiers endured for our freedom. Never, ever forget.
YESSS FINALLY A NEW VIDEO!! Thank you for your service🇺🇸🇺🇸
commenting for the youtube algorithm. This was by far one of the best videos in this series...
Absolutely amazing story. Thank you for your service Mr. Puopolo. You are an American Hero!
First off I have to say he looks great for a world war II veteran! Second of all this was such a moving story. Don't get me wrong each one of these stories are incredible but for some reason and again put my finger on it this one just really touches you, or at least it did me. Maybe it's the fact that he thanked us for listening to his story. I always used to think to myself for whatever reason if I ever became unemployed or just had an abundant amount of time on my hands I would start a non-profit and listen veteran stories. I was not fortunate enough to listen to my grandfather's WW2 stories, And from what I've been told he really enjoyed telling them. So I personally want to thank the crew at the vets for doing these videos. This is one of my favorite channels on UA-cam and I'm always look forward to watching each and every single one of these sometimes even multiple times.
Proud to have men like you fight for this country 🙏🏽
Well done. What a thoughtful and heartfelt recollection of his experiences in the war.
I like his buddies made it back but my heart sank when he said im the only one out of the 4 who is alive right now true heroes who will never be forgotten what great man
These are definitely the most heartfelt video's I've ever seen and man they truly were the greatest generation!
I was in Iraq, but these guys saw more than me. Bless you guys.
I'm so grateful for everything these men and women went through to stop the worlds most evil regime
I love watching history and those that lived it, so many stories, so many viewpoints, yet still we sometimes never learn from the lives of others and what they went through, only to bring the cycle around again. WHAT IS FREEDOM WORTH? ASK THOSE THAT DIED TRYING TO DEFEND IT.
I have watched all of the episodes and let me tell you, it is worth it.
i grew up in guam, and it’s incredible all of the relics left behind on the island
I just finished watching band of brothers for the second time and am currently doing research on my granddads ww2 service, this is just what I needed
Such a great historical video..and gentleman! My mother went by ship in 1940..at 28 years old and chaperone by an auntie..to serve as a nurse in Africa. The trip was in the middle of the war..and so they had to darken the ship at night..and all the passengers were given weighted...inflatable "wet suit"..to wear..and had night time drills in case of needing to use them. Unimaginable hardships on both sides! War is terrible!
wow, very moving, got alot out of his story, total hero. Thank you Mr. Pupolo!!!
Awesome. I thank everyone that has fought and died for my homeland. I'm truly grateful.
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, service, sacrifice and courage for freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Love and hugs, Andrew. I'm glad you came home. Your story was mesmerizing, thanks for sharing.
Its a gift to hear the stories of these men who fought for our safteys and freedoms we have.....thank you sir for your servce....
Andrew we thank you and we love you