For those who didn't spot it. The ol' timer veteran wears the French Legion of Honour. That's the highest distinction this country ever gives along with the Order of Liberation which is a dead order (only ~1000 were ever given until 1946 and the last older died in 2021). This man is a war hero.
the thing is the legion d'honneur is not only a military distinction and it can be given to celebrities aswell, the legion d'honneur is loosing its value nowadays
Nope. The WW2 vet had a cushier role (Navy anti-aircraft gunner) than the modern rifleman in Afghanistan. There are indeed different varieties of War and that's why he said you've been through hell, cos relatively speaking he had it easier in the navy.
@@Opqrxyz a reply with ten thousand likes was removed because it wasn't complimentary to the military. Is UA-cam headquartered in Myanmar??? Down with fascism.
@@XavierPerezwhaleman a reply with ten thousand likes was removed because it wasn't complimentary to the military. Is UA-cam headquartered in Myanmar??? Down with fascism.
I’m an American that was deployed to Iraq. The blank stare in response to being told he’s been through a lot was powerful. I felt that. The feeling of being understood by a veteran you respect is an indescribable feeling for Iraq vets.
Thanks for enlisting! If you don't mind, I'm a bit curious. How do you feel about the war in its entirety since you've left Iraq verses before you went in? I've heard plenty of stories about how some vets felt like the war was pointless. I rarely hear about a vet saying it was justified. I totally understand if you don't want to give a stranger some answers about a personal thing, but I figured it's worth a shot lol.
@@JDB1991.I wouldn’t say it was pointless. As a country, we may not have seen a complete turnaround of Iraq, but we may have positively affected someone’s life while we were there. I deployed from 2007-08 and 2010. We did a lot of good as a lot of bad rained down on us in the form of mortars, rockets, bullets and IED’s. We built roads, propped up the Iraqi Air Force and Army, built schools, secured elections, and attempted to root out corruption in the Iraqi Police. After we “withdrew” ISIS did begin their march through the country. That is what triggers the animosity for sure. We worked so hard to secure the airfields and fix a broken system. The fact of the matter is though, we had a timeline that was set at the start of the conflict by Bush. Fvck ISIS.
I personally wasn't in the military, I don't think I could have handled it. But, you men that sacrificed so much of your life, just to allow people like me to be safe and free, I can't express enough thankfulness towards you. I want you to know that you are deeply appreciated, and respected by most Americans, thank you, and welcome back home.
If you pay attention to his voice, you'll notice the younger is stuttering with his words more and more with each question.. he's nervous. The older veteran was right, he probably went through alot.
@@onlywhenprovoked Agreed. Modern soldiers dont understand what it's like to watch hundreds, if not thousands, or more, of your allies dying in front of your eyes. Edit: small typo.
@@zidanecristianoaveiro thats more of the 35 - 70 age range. Of course any fad or meaning can get blurred over the years, but no Millennial (and maybe genz?) Would insult someone like that they respected. Its mostly reserved for the most of the half dead bastards that run our country. Not only unable to relate to the newer generations but also become counterproductive in how our society advances
Literally so true. When he said “you’ve been through son, haven’t you” you can tell in the chaps eye he’s been there and completely understands the trauma.
I work with seniors and believe me, folks that make it to that age 95% of the time are in better shape than your regular 65-70 yr old, it's still amazing to me.
People don't realize how traumatic WW2 was for the soldiers that saw action. The war drove my great uncle insane. He was seventeen and lied about his age to enlist. He was part of the third army during the battle of the bulge and the liberation of mauthausen. He showed clear signs of horrendous PTSD that nobody noticed because PTSD wasn't known much back then. He once held a gun to my grandfather's head thinking he was a German soldier. He rarely talked about his service, but on reflecting liberating Mauthausen, he got all teary eyed and said "I wouldn't treat a dog that way." Poor man drank himself to his grave. War is a terrible thing. It destroys people. I thank a merciful God that we haven't had a war that destructive since.
That is so sad… it reveals the cruelty and evil from the fall of man. Im so sorry about your uncle. I’ll be praying for you and your family and that you find healing and peace through Christ.
They didn't call it PTSD. They referred to it as "shell shock". They were aware there was trauma. I've seen films of soldiers with shell shock. Post WWII, dogs were used to help soldiers acclimate. They were aware in the U.S. at least. General public didn't know much.
His fault for lying ngl, just gonna put it as blunt as that. Stupid children then thought they'd be heroes and be able to serve for their country while still being developing kids who don't know how to even control their own emotions yet. Shouldve known better.
Also anyone who's in their early twenties or younger don't have a memory of 9/11, which was one of the significant reasons the current war started. So that's crazy too
I met a lady the other day, she was 95 and her husband lost his life in the war.. She was extremely humble and I thanked her...asked her about her husband and I said he's a hero... And she got teary and said..People are quick to forget in todays world
I fought in Afghanistan for the German Forces and never in all the years has someone said " You've been through quite alot son, havent you? ", not my parents, not my wife, my comrades ,society or anyone. Hearing this old Veteran say this words give me peace in some way I cant describe even he didnt aimed them at me. Thank you Sir
Der fehlende Respekt für unsere Bundeswehr in Deutschland ist schlicht beschämend. Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, was Sie durchgemacht haben, bin Ihnen aber dankbar dafür. Dankbar dafür, nicht weil ich den Krieg in Afghanistan befürworte, sondern weil durch Ihren Einsatz jemand anderes nicht hin musste. Ich glaube, den Menschen ist heutzutage nicht mehr bewusst, was für ein Opfer ein Soldat erbringt.
Had a housemate who served in Afghanistan. He used to wake up screaming. Came home from work one day to find a suicide note cause he couldn't take it anymore. Visit his grave every year. Still gets to me I couldn't help him.
I lost a good friend who was in my unit he went to iraq a couple times he stayed back in the rear while we deployed. When our first sergeant brought us together and told us what happend I was fucking crushed and still am he was a really good person and will always be missed.
The old soldier is wearing quite some distinction and yet talks like he was just on a ship and didnt have much trouble. So humble... I think he saw quite a lot more. And he rather puts the young soldier in the spotlight. We will miss this generation so much in the future. Probably already do nowadays... :(
@@zr3755 if he was a hero,the western world wouldn’t be the shithole it is today,plus I don’t believe in the “good guys and bad guys” charade when talking about war. He performed his duties well and got credit for it.
my granddad was telling me the other day about how his older friends were getting letters of recognition and government benefits now as they've now reached 95 y/o and fought in ww2... But most of his friends are only 91-94 and actually lied about their age when enlisting. Sad to think that there were young teenagers, children really, fighting in a war because they felt they had to. P.S. my granddad fought in vietnam and made friends afterwards with some ww2 vets
@@jo1857 bro man that match was insane where were you hiding i couldnt find you Yeah bro that was sick oh i was hiding in the bunker you didnt check Damn bro nice well ya wanna play again or you gonna get off? Well yeah i think im gonna get off Last seen ww2
What an absolute pair of heroes. When the Veteran said ‘you’ve been through quite a lot son’ it was like he was hugging the other ex-soldier who has obviously been through a hell of a lot of suffering. Brilliant to watch and understand what these men went through.
Being called "son" from WW II veteran is bigger award and honor than any medal Edit: I get some responses that “son” is normal by any older people - I don’t deny in other countries, but where I come from, being called “son” by anyone but your own father is very rare and it already means something
Seeing the older veteran acknowledge how much the younger went through is so touching. Many of us including these younger veterans couldn’t imagine fighting in the older vet’s war, yet he says himself he wouldn’t want to fight in the younger man’s wars. It really speaks to how, to veterans, war is war no matter how bad or what was used.
It was so interesting to hear the WW2 vet talk about how long it took to stop seeing Germans as enemies. My grandfather is from the Philippines and helped the Americans fight the Japanese. He never really talked about it. But to the day he died, he would never buy anything Japanese
Civilians rounded up and murdered. Girls and women raped. Babies thrown in the air to be caught by bayonets. So many stories like that from the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. It's no wonder your grandpa felt that way. Hope he's at peace.
@potatoboyhats905 While all this is true, the allies also committed some heinous war crimes, we just don't hear about them as often. War is hell, and drives humans to commit inhumane acts
@@r.s.richey9956 Biscarri Massacre, Nuclear Bombings, Soviet Army Inaction in the Warsaw Uprising, numerous rapes and massacres post-Axis defeat in Germany and Japan. Very much not lost on me how much war crime the Allies were responsible for.
Likely that the older vet recognizes that pain. It's not his first time talking to a broken man. Perhaps at one point he was that man. He understands what the young soldier needs to hear from him, and gives him the support the older soldier likely didn't have in that way.
I've volunteered at a nursing home for almost 11 years. Nearly all the men and some women were veterans of WWII when I started. Now...there's only one left. Their stories are so important, it breaks my heart that my niece and nephew will never hear them. With separation comes a lack of immediacy and relevance, which feels like one step closer to repeating it all over again. RIP, greatest generation
This pains me so much. I hear so often hate or apathy towards the older generations. The common flaw of mankind is to forget and to believe we know better, we’re quick to do that.
@@trustme4456 im guessing a non native English speaker? Haven't is a contraction of "have not". The literal meaning of "Have not you, son?" Does not make any sense does it? Well... There's a metric fuck ton of dialects, idioms, and implied meanings in english. What "Haven't you, son" translates to is "Have you not, son?" The old man is asking him if he could honestly say that he hasn't been through some shit
@@trustme4456 ah.. yeah. My bad. A tip is don't worry too much about the grammar. Most english speakers don't focus too hard on it. A good trick is to say it in your head. Your mind (or at least a native speaker) will naturally create commas or breaks where needed.
I have never got back to "ok" no one understands. Everyone wants you to be you again and ok. Watching men die and losing people takes something from you. I don't know how to return to "normal"
He brought it upon himself when he signed up to be a rich persons pawn fighting for oil and not actually protecting the country. No sympathy for his choice in careers, he made that bed now he can lay in it. Can't handle it? Shouldn't have joined in the first place.
@@daddydankmemes6260 I actually think it's a bit poorly edited. They could have easily left his reaction AT LEAST a few more seconds to fully see his deep thought.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you, son?" The video could have been just that and it would have been just as powerful. It felt like a stab through the chest.
It certainly is. My grandma's husband (not my grandpa, they were married after they were 80yrs old) fought in the Pacific during WWII on 3 different ships as a turret gunner. He lost his hearing in one ear entirely, but only partially in the other, because of the shells exploding in close proximity to him, but he is one of my heros and has a heart like an Ox and a soul of gold. He's 97 years young and the way he's going he'll probably outlive all of us. God bless that man, and I'm damn proud to call him family. The joke running we have as a family is, "We have to start thinking about what kind of world we're going to leave behind for Walt."
The sense of humor on that gentleman was the quickest disarm maneuver I'd ever seen. "It's safer on a ship, I can't swim" really caught me by surprise. Quite impressive to see these two men from different generations discussing their experiences.
Its true war takes our innoncence and I think thats why I and a lot of others struggle with what happened during war. You aren't who you used to be and you have this image of who you were and nothing you do will get you back to it. Thats why mental health stuff is so important nowadays. I know so me of the best advice a buddy gave me when I got back was to go watch my favorite kids movie and that helped in that moment. It can be rough if we can't identify whats going wrong inside our heads.
It's strange. With people being in the military in general, your mind is rewired, to a point where you almost completely forget who you were, and it's interesting that you mention childhood movies and such. Things I'd watch as a kid were just there to occupy me. I wouldn't pay much mind emotionally, rather just for the pure entertainment value. Now, watching a lot of my favorite childhood shows, it's hard to separate emotion from it. It's like, when you're watching The Land Before Time as a kid, you don't really bat an eye at the moment where Littlefoot loses his mother. Watching it now, you understand now the severity of the issue, and it's automatically translated as, "Damn, that's fuckin awful, bro... Little dude just lost his own mom". Maybe I'm over-analyzing it, maybe it's just all sentiment and nostalgia. It does feel strange though.
@@sethwood1676 My granddad is a WWII veteran and he said that the war took his youth also. When he says that he doesn't mean that it took his innocence (although it did). He means it quite literally. He didn't have that time to fall in love, to go out with friends and simply enjoy life. When he returned from the war he had to go straight into the working world and rebuilt his country.
You've been through quite a lot,haven ya* ? Please visit a otolaryngologist (ear doctor) i recommend neurologist also. Reason neurologist (to check yours and the other people that are supporting you by liking your comment brain that is damaged for some kind of reason)All i mean that your hearing is not good.. P.S no bad feelings ;)
@@thelight3435 the difference being the WW2 had a meaning and public support, but the public feels very differently about Iraq. So it’s harder in that way for the younger man.
@@butterf1sh This is why I make a point of thanking military personnel when I see them... I think back to how people in my own country treated 'nam vets, and I think "we can't let this happen again..." You can hate the war. You can object to the war, but keep in mind the soldier is just doing what s/he thinks is right...
What does this mean? They re literally puppets in the hands of countries who deploy them just to run the military industry and the political interests. I agree you must respect soldiers, but also it s important to realize they re basically killing machines protecting their country interests (of course I m not talking about WW vets)
@@francescorovere4081 It's not like they can do anything about it. Once you're in, you can get out but your mind is still in the battlefield or even worse at the frontline.
Canadian here.... Ive never met a soldier that I haven't thanked. Thank you to all the men and women who have served and continue to do so.... We'll never have the words to truly express our gratitude. Heroes one and all.... Thank you
I’m a Canadian and my grandparents lives were all but saved during Market Garden. The relationship between the Canadians and the Dutch over WWII is always deeply emotional for me, I can see why my grandparents couldn’t wait to jump on a boat with one change of clothes and no where to live just to get here.
My father was a US Marine who fought in the Pacific during WWII. He saw combat on many islands, in the Phillipines and on Okinawa, so he fought in the jungle and in the towns. When his best friend's son came home after fighting as a Marine in Vietnam, they would sit for hours and talk. My father never spoke much at all about the war and neither did Mickey (the Vietnam vet) but when they got together you could just sense that they had shared experiences. When my dad was in the hospital hospice, Mickey visited him, I left them alone to talk. When Mickey came out of the room he was crying. He looked at me and said, "I love your dad. He saved my life." I never forgot that moment. It was 25 years ago and I still tear up when I recall it. I loved my father but I never really realized until that moment how much other people loved him too and what he meant to them. I miss him every day and I can't wait to hug him again one day. I know I'll have to "fight" through the mob to get to him. Love you Pops ❤
when I heard him say that and saw the look in the other guy's eyes, I had to take a seat. I feel for the younger lad and the older gentleman understands his feelings.
Yeah hit me hard too, i dont serve in the military but my brother was, he's a bit mess up after Afghanistan, he always told me the scream he heard and innocent civilians being murder, War is never glorious, nothing good come from war.
@@dannykstick I haven't I have friends who are and I've felt that way when I'm talking to alumni who went through what I struggled with in college. I figure this impact would be at least 5x what I felt then because
You get the same feeling when you come back and they ask *"Are you alright?"* I still can't answer that to this day. Iraq and Afghanistan twice. Two separate Combat Engineer tours. One where I followed as the youngest Airman, the other I led as the lowest NCO. The most intense of those was in Afghanistan. Look up Kandahar Airport Bombing 2015. Happened so suddenly and ended quietly. Me, a young 20 year old 3 striper having to guide civilians to shelters and man defensive fighting positions with others who only had a pistol and 2 mags while I had a full kit. Not to mention the tracer fire coming from various directions and hearing the Giant Voice say "GROUND ATTACK, GROUND ATTACK IN PROGRESS" followed by the Cavalry theme. It rained that night too, so the acoustics were bouncing off of everything and I had to challenge every Shadow I saw. It was all an adrenaline rush I'll never forget and countless expressions I'll always remember. "Are you alright?" I can't answer that. *...But, I can keep going.*
My grandmother was probably one of the few people in my life who could never bore me with her story. She was italian and died 2 years ago at 91 years old. She told me so many stories about the war with so much passion into it and she would always do it with a smile. I was only between 8 and 14 years old so I couldn't really grasp how hard it was for her. I remember her telling me she had to turn off the lights in her house and close the windows every night to avoid getting targeted by the planes and how her and the family had little to eat and there were 8 of them. Her husband died when my father was just 13 which means that she stayed alone, with her 3 sons and 1 daughter, for 43 years and managed to build what today exists. I don't remember telling her that I loved her, which is something I kind of regret, but I've always felt like she knew how much I appreciated her.
I know a lot of people that regret enlisting (in the US). Especially my best friend. It was her dream, she was so excited. She's a Marine now. She hates it. At one point she told me she'd rather be dead. It's hell.
@@a.avindur Very sad. A friend of mine was in the same boat. He had been training most of his life with his older brother, who had served. Then when he graduated high school he went straight to the Marines as was his dream and served four years. He hated it the whole time but at least it helped him get into nursing school after.
Mackenzie Autumn my father was a marine for 20 years, retired, never regretted a thing. There’s nothing wrong with enlisting so long as you have two things: 1: The right reason, I.e. serving to protect as a mindset. 2: That you’re strong enough to endure hell and not complain much about it. This goes for any military, not just the US. For as long as you fight for your people (the right intention) there’s nothing wrong with being a soldier. There might be something wrong with the government which may run portions (or wholes) of it, but that’s separate from the soldier. Just my opinion on that.
I've met a lot of WW2 Soldiers over the year's,and one really stood out he was a regular customer and he was telling me about how much hassle it was going through a metal detector because he had so much German scap metal in his body,and yet he a very positive person who said something that still shakes me thinking about it.He said "Son you don't know Hell until you're using the dead body of the guy you were talking too as a shield".Ty to all who serve and continue to serve .
Him saying “you’ve been through a lot haven’t you, son” is a sentence that speaks volumes, and the meaning behind it is deafening coming from a veteran
@@crestfallensunbro6001 This brave young vet went to war based on faulty intelligence from a country that is supposed to be his country’s best ally. (I am an American) and the older vet fought in a war that saved the world against a clear cut enemy. Also England was being attacked and traumatized on daily occurrence during the blitz. His reasons were so clear even 70 years later. Iraq had no connection to 9/11. I am so sorry for all the trauma caused by his experiences and I thank him for being such a good friend to the US even though our government was the ultimate cause of his trauma. The US can be great and it can really do some awful things. We are far from perfect. I think acknowledging that makes me a better person. An idea is only as admirable as the people who carry it out. Peace.
When he said he didn’t know how to swim and then said “where would you swim to?” He was clearly joking but everyone just stood quiet like they were reflecting on that
@@afcgeo882 actually shooting a man in the water was considered a war crime and neither sides (German nor American I mean; USSR and Japan didnt give a shit) did it because when a solider is stranded in water they are considered POW. Germans didnt generally do that because well once they start disrespecting American soldiers at that level or British soldiers then they knew that is how German soldiers will thereby be treated by American/British soldiers. It was kind of an understood agreement. They were put in camps for POWs
k ho52 It was done ALL the time. The Luftwaffe had specific tactics devoted to shooting survivors at sea and Americans shot plenty of Japanese too. All sides did it. Yes, it was against the rules. They all did it though. It’s well documented.
My father (RIP) was also a WW2 Veteran and seldom talked to me about his experiences in the war. I like to think that he was trying to shield me from his memories. I miss him dearly. Glad I watched this video. Thanks
People are saying how the old man is mentally stronger but he’s also had a lot of time to heal and come to terms with what happened, you can’t expect the younger guy just get over his emotions if it’s still fresh in his mind , they’re both seem like brilliant lads and I wish them the best
In 50 years perhaps we will see another interview. The younger guy now grey and old, and another young man, born in 2040 sharing his valid and intense experiences.
@@jessicasarahliddell8883 I disagree, I think it was easier for them to recover and be okay with what happened because they were fighting true evil, the Nazis, the Japanese Empire. Today our soldiers don’t feel their fighting a worthy fight at times. Our fights today are proxy wars often times revolving around oil, not nearly as noble a cause as fighting the greatest threat to freedom the worlds even seen.
TRS I believe the french government is awarding them to all the allied soldiers who helped liberate France. Sadly a lot of the soldiers have passed away before they could of been awarded with them.
"you've been through quite a lot son, haven't you" what a powerful first few words, with that you instantly feel the connection they have. Thanks for the video.
It’s not easy to find anymore, nowadays you can see the difference between elder people to us younger people, i like to greet everyone when in walking on the street (a mexican thing) and almost only the elders are the only ones greeting back...it puts into perspective the difference in the way people is nowadays, no respect anymore
“You’ve been through quite a lot haven’t ya son?” That hit me deep, even a soldier who’s survived WW2 and is still living on to 95 is surprised by how much a much younger generation soldier has to go through in these modern wars. Truly spectacular to what these two men had to go through. Thank god for these amazing souls.
@@aydenedwards1751 LMFAO Your stupidity made my day. Like, come on, I could have understood the misinterpretation if we weren't explicitly informed as to the age of the elderly veteran in the video.
At the same time, I imagine it's reassuring in a way. I'm pretty sure that no matter how much trauma and pain that man went through, there were MANY people who just expected him to "man up" and deal with it. In which case this understanding and empathy by someone who has been through one of the toughest conflicts in history would mean an awful lot.
That’s really touching to me, because it radiates on the young man’s face, all the pain he’s gone through. And the aged soldier can see right through it because to some extent he knows how much soldiers have to go through
Damn. I teared up when they shook hands at the end and they just looked at each other, the young man knowing he would never see the old man again and the old man hoping the young soldier eventually finds his way back. Like he did.
I'll have you know it's okay they are keeping in touch there's another video where this young guy reacted to comments on this exact video but him and the WWII vet are keeping in touch and staying friendly :))
@@jackhoffmanhoffman35 What are you getting at? He's been scarred for potentially life, can understand why he wouldn't be as chipper as you might think.
"I always felt safer on the ship, I can't swim." "You can't swim? Though you were a sailor?" "They never taught me, but where would you swim to? You're a long way from home. Doesn't matter if you can swim or not." Hands down one of my favorite exchanges of all time.
I served in the Marine Corps from 2005 to 2012 with one deployment to Iraq in 2008. We had tough vehicles, state of the art technology, breathable uniforms, and boots that were like sneakers. I have nothing but respect for those who served before me. Leather boots that gave you trench foot. Wool uniforms in hot climates. Charging towards enemy gunfire. War will never be easy, but it gets easier. What I went through was still one of the most challenging experiences of my life. I can't imagine what those who came before me endured.
I'm glad your home and safe. I love the respect you have for other soldiers and their wars. My generation knows the impact you and your fellow soldiers made. I am grateful for the safety your gave & still give to us. The world is a better place because of your bravery and selflessness. We will never meet but just know that your are loved, admired and revered by many!!!
The way the younger soldier stopped and looked at the older vet after he said "You've been through alot haven't ya son" was the most heartbreaking shit
The old man downplaying his role as an AA-gunner, because he is so humble and understanding towards the young soldier, but literally an entire ship relied on him and his fellow gunners to make sure it didn’t go down with everyone in it.
These guys had balls. I heard a story one time, from a vet, who was a B-17 pilot in Europe. Over half his crew was wounded, and unable to bail out. His ball turret gunner was trapped, because the hatch broke due to flak fire, so he was trapped in there. The bomber was heavily damaged, and when on approach to land, he discovered the landing gear won't retract down. He landed the plane, and seven of the men survived, two died of wounds sustained in battle, and one poor soul was trapped in the ball turret
As the old Vet said, he himself didn't go through those thing until 1970s, and the WWII ended in 1945. That's about 30 years or so. And also as they've said, they fought two totally different type of war. It takes time, if lucky. and unfortunately some of them will have to take those post traumatic symptoms for the rest of their life. God bless them and all of us.
AA crew had their own type of danger and fear. They didnt see nearly as much of the hand to hand/first person stuff but they were in constant fear of 12.7mm-30mm rounds hitting all around them and trying to hit a small moving dot in the air. It was equally as horrible but in different ways.
"It took me until 1970 to realize they were the same as us, doing what they had to do" ... So much respect for this old man. The way he speaks and thinks, you wouldn't believe his age. And so peaceful now, he found this peace. God bless both of them.
CodingCrusader1095 Yes I know all that thank you. ‘I’m sheltered’ because happened to speak a truth albeit one that was uncontexted I’ll grant you. While we’re discussing my sheltered life and my complete lack of knowledge of the real world, Please look up Kristallnacht if you don’t know what it is already. Not only was that soldiers but civilians also. The wermacht I can have some sympathy for as they were soldiers on the front line. But only a certain amount.
Band of Brothers crosses generations. The respect between them is strong. It was a beautiful, honest conversation that I am thankful to be able to hear and see. Thank you both for your service. Hoorah!
Depends on who you kill and under what circumstances. If you kill someone who has no regard for human life, someone who just kills because they want to...I think it's fine if he's murdured.
@Tim Snortin' you're clearly not a great example for children, and you dont realize how much impact a adult can have on children under 5. Their brains are sponges, so what you do and teach within those years are crucial. I see your early years were not to kind.
This was surprisingly touching, especially when the older veteran said "You've been through quite a lot son, haven't you?" I have an incredible amount of respect for these two gentlemen and their peers.
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you son?” This, this honestly feels so surreal and different hearing this, imagine what it was for him, a modern world soldier, hearing from a World War II Veteran, about what he’s been through
@@dutdut2.059 exactly, I know for a fact it isn't gone but he's had 70 long years to think about it and learn as a human being, so while it's still definitely in his mind as a metaphorical scar, he's come to bear it and accept it
I do think the fact that the older gentleman said that warfare has definitely changed a lot in modern times. Back then it was clear who the enemy was, where they were, and why you had to fight them. Nowadays, it seems much more ambiguous and chaotic. There's a mutual understanding that both sides are just doing the bidding of their own governments, and while it is evil in its own way, it's somewhat of a necessary evil. Really screws with people's emotions and causes people to question if it's really worth all the fighting and suffering.
@@senseilecuck7974 Almost true, he had two big losses the biggest of course is in Russia, the second was against the Egyptians in Acco or St-Jean-D'Acre which is situated in actual Israel, but yes he was a fantastic tactician even if the population hated him because of hunger that the Empire brought
The old boy saying “you’ve been through a lot, son” and “I’ve learned a lot from you” would’ve brought a lump to my throat, if I was there. Respect to both of you from a fellow vet
Moe Alpha I know it’s not meant to be taken too literally, but you can always swim ashore and get captured by the enemy. It’s not ideal but it gives you better odds of survival than drowning (unless you’re one of those fanatic fuckers like the Japanese or Taliban who would rather blow themselves up). It was fucking shitty of the British military not to have taught him swimming, and no amount of rationalization can change that.
@@ZhangK71 It's not just folks in the navy, but an enormous amount of fishermen don't know how to swim either. 99% of the time you're too far from land anyway so there's almost no point knowing how to. That's their rationale. Where are you going to 'swim ashore to' when you're in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?
Man , when the elder said " Well you've been through quite a lot son , haven't you ? " It felt like he was saying to the other soldier " Are you Ok son ? "
A sign of a hero. He didn't even complain for one second...that's so incredibly. I really sorry that all this people will be gone 10 years from now. I wish they'd live a 100 years more so that more generations could hear their stories.
@@aaayhvcvb3219 He did it because he was ordered to do it! You sound like you blame simple soldiers, who had no choice but to follow orders! Blame those fucking nazis who had started all this!
The entire conversation, the energy they're both eluding, how each listens so intently with such care, everything is leaving me speechless. One of the most powerful and profound videos I've seen. Thank you for putting this together and thank you to the two gentlemen for sharing their stories.
The way the Old Soldier approached his talk in this interview. He had spent decades to heal his wounds, mind and body. He could've talked about all that too but he let the Young Soldier talked. Because, probably, he knew the Young Soldier is now still wounded and he needs someone to talk to. So, he listened. He let the Young Soldier to get all those pain out of his chest; so that the Young Soldier could heal.
Likely still in "QUITTER" mode too....this guy decided HE knew better than his leaders......First ingredient in a failed military action....a "soldier" who thinks he knows more than his superiors. Like Bergdhal .......
@@BOBBYRIF1 he never thought he knew more all he said was he didn't agree with them.And what u may not understand is what constant combat fighting does to your mental,being constantly ambushed. Tbh he may never be able to sleep comfortably for a long time.If you were the one out their on those tours u would probably "QUIT" to.
@@CHAOSKAGE It has been 15 years since I left Iraq. 2 Two back to back tours of constant fighting destroyed my family as well as myself. I still have trouble sleeping.
Unfortunately I don't know that the chance will ever be gone, there will always be more wars, more veterans. Someday the younger man will be the older man, telling a young father about how he's glad they didn't have to face the same things.
Randy Randerson Humpty Dumpty already fell off the wall even if he’s back together their will always be pieces missing. Pain can be overcome but it can’t be fixed or forgotten.
I'm always touched by how soldiers are the quickest to see "the enemy" as humans, while us safe and out of risk at home are the first to dehumanize the other.
Because we're the same. Just your everyday person fighting in either A) another man's holy war or B) fighting a rich man's war for oil or other resources. Many of "the enemy" want to make it home to their families too.
The two primal forms of intimacy are fucking and killing. There is nothing more personal or human than these. If you are an otherwise mentally and emotionally healthy person and you kill other people, for any reason, you'll be examining that shit for the rest of your life, coming to terms with it. Being alive.
Infantry say that among the first things they’re tought are to assume the enemy is smart, that they’ll find cover... That they’ll try to pull the same tactics as you.
@@vice_santos that's reality, I know some of them on the last military fuckup our country did. Some of them no longer have Fathers, Mothers have to bury their own Sons. Wives have to bury their own husbands.
As someone who once cared for the elderly i had the privilege of looking after a chap who was on gold beach on d-day. He told me many stories, some of which were hard to hear but he spoke with such pride and such admiration for the friends he lost over those days. I thanked him for what he did all those years ago and he turned to me and said people like me, who care for people, are the real heroes. I was taken aback by his humility and kindness and was almost in tears by this point. His name was Arthur Biggs. What a wondeful human being he was.
My late neighbor was a ww2 vet and served in the European theater. I helped him out with harvesting his fruit trees and we'd talk. I remember asking him once if he took part in any of the major battles. He said no, but his unit was one of the first to discover the concentration camps.
Thank you for sharing this. I also care for the elderly (a CCA-nurse it's called in Canada) and this comment brought up some emotions for me as well. I'm currently sitting on my couch in severe back pain wondering why I took this career path in the first place. Yes, it's unpleasant having to take a muscle relaxant every couple of weeks to keep the aches and pains of the job away, and my hot water bottle is on its last leg. But through all the rough days when I find myself questioning my sanity for taking this job- moments like what you just described sum up all of the "why's". People like this elderly WW2 veteran have fought for our freedom. One day he may end up needing care in a nursing home. It's up to us to take care of them and realize what these people have contributed to in their past. Now, they need us. ❤
I work in Healthcare, and I have the pleasure of talking and listening to the stories of a 108 year old WW2 veteran who does not have dementia or alzherimers disease. He's an absolute badass but i can still see the pain in his eyes. I always shake his hand and thank him for everything.
i work in healthcare aswell, its always amazing to talk to ww2 vets, just to hear their stories and experiences. Even with dementia they may still recall particular stories. just talking to Old folks in general is always cool to take a moment and listen to what they have to say. One of my Favorites was an old man who suffered a stroke, and even with his condition and on his way to the icu he still managed to laugh and give me shit lol
You fucking legend bro. You have a good soul......ive got a young dude in my town,its a small place so you kinda know everyone, that randomly broke down in front of me once. I just held him. Shake his hand and thank him whenever i see him try and let him know i care at least. Its literally unimaginable.
Speaking of the devil we coded a 108 year old lady at work today. She passed away, but my goodness 108 years on this earth.. i felt bad for doing cpr on her. She is finally at rest
I keep coming back to this video every now and then because witnessing such a display of humanity on the web is pretty rare to find. I see two human beings who have suffered and digging quite deep into their own selve, which is something I always admire
@Daniel Chang we all have lost ghost(Simon Riley) As a kid it was traumatizing to loose a fictional character... I cannot begin to imagine what it feels to loose a real person and that too your brother in arm.
@Daniel Chang Funny you mention it, Paul McAleese's (the guy he mentioned who had fallen in Afghanistan) father is John McAleese, a legend of the SAS, was one of the Iranian Embassy raiders, and finally, the Inspiration for Captain John Price.
The moment where the elder says "You've been through a lot haven't you son." and the younger veteran just looks at him with empty eyes and doesn't say a word, but you can clearly see the turmoil inside he must be feeling from those words.
@John Smith to be honest I doubt it war destroys people, training and the actually departures and all that truly break down a person and only build up the necessities and throw away anything else, this man saw so many of is regiment die and he killed many people, both of them have, the older man prolly has done alot of healing and he prolly has been able to rebuild alot of himself while the younger is still prolly torn and still struggling with the fact that he got himself practically stripped from him and hes prolly still trying to build himself back up
The young soldier was like holding his tears back. His stares are blank. Makes me sad. Hope he recovers from what he have been through. May he find peace in what ever he is doing now.
I don't think they ever recover, but just learn to cope with it. It's a shame that the support that is required isn't there when its needed! I feel as a nation we don't thank our veterans anywhere near enough.
Simon Flanders i agree. No matter what nation we are from, we should have a stable support for our troops, especially those who went through war. It’s not gonna be easy when they come back, and it will never be easy for them.
@@lucaconte7812 relax there bud. It was barely over 20% of troops drafted in WWII. Meaning about 80% willingly chose. That's what I would call a just bit of the majority 😉 I do not serve and am grateful for those that do. Nothing wrong with taking a career in the military.
@@lucaconte7812 you know what was scarier? Vietnam. not a Vietnam vet but it was terrifying for the US soldiers to not know where the enemy was and using traps and civilians to kill soldiers, and all 18 year olds were forced to serve in this "war".
Watch more from The Gap series ➤ bit.ly/2IldmHd
Minutes With series ➤ bit.ly/3kckORZ
m
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For those who didn't spot it.
The ol' timer veteran wears the French Legion of Honour. That's the highest distinction this country ever gives along with the Order of Liberation which is a dead order (only ~1000 were ever given until 1946 and the last older died in 2021).
This man is a war hero.
the thing is the legion d'honneur is not only a military distinction and it can be given to celebrities aswell, the legion d'honneur is loosing its value nowadays
@@leonmartinalonso2920 Agreed, but I am certain this particular guy wasn't just handed one without earning it.
@@MrJayehawk yeah I know, I’m just saying that nowadays it’s not a symbol of bravery, it’s loosing its Valor and it’s kinda sad
Not knowing your countries military decorations that's awesome knowledge. Thank you 🙏
@@MrJayehawk Maybe he just didn't surrender
When a WW2 veteran is saying “you’ve been through a lot son” that must be a powerful moment for him
Why lmao
Edit: The dude before me deleted his comment...
The_Motek because it means a lot coming from from someone who’s been through that much
Nope. The WW2 vet had a cushier role (Navy anti-aircraft gunner) than the modern rifleman in Afghanistan. There are indeed different varieties of War and that's why he said you've been through hell, cos relatively speaking he had it easier in the navy.
@@paudilicious duhhh no shit, i asked the guy before me, why he commented "lmao". Not the brightest hm?
@@Sonicade yes ezier life in navy in ww2 ...wut about those torpedoes and Kamikazee
XD
The older man has healed and can smile. The young lad is broken. Very sad.
It is. It is.
time heals all wounds. he will be better.
@@Opqrxyz Blaming west for all the problems won't resolve anything
@@Opqrxyz a reply with ten thousand likes was removed because it wasn't complimentary to the military. Is UA-cam headquartered in Myanmar??? Down with fascism.
@@XavierPerezwhaleman a reply with ten thousand likes was removed because it wasn't complimentary to the military. Is UA-cam headquartered in Myanmar??? Down with fascism.
I’m an American that was deployed to Iraq. The blank stare in response to being told he’s been through a lot was powerful. I felt that. The feeling of being understood by a veteran you respect is an indescribable feeling for Iraq vets.
For your service, thank you. Respect and thank you for answering the call.
Thanks for enlisting! If you don't mind, I'm a bit curious. How do you feel about the war in its entirety since you've left Iraq verses before you went in? I've heard plenty of stories about how some vets felt like the war was pointless. I rarely hear about a vet saying it was justified. I totally understand if you don't want to give a stranger some answers about a personal thing, but I figured it's worth a shot lol.
@@m.h.6499 for answering the call of the bankers that needed the oil? Yeah, right.
@@JDB1991.I wouldn’t say it was pointless. As a country, we may not have seen a complete turnaround of Iraq, but we may have positively affected someone’s life while we were there. I deployed from 2007-08 and 2010. We did a lot of good as a lot of bad rained down on us in the form of mortars, rockets, bullets and IED’s. We built roads, propped up the Iraqi Air Force and Army, built schools, secured elections, and attempted to root out corruption in the Iraqi Police. After we “withdrew” ISIS did begin their march through the country. That is what triggers the animosity for sure. We worked so hard to secure the airfields and fix a broken system. The fact of the matter is though, we had a timeline that was set at the start of the conflict by Bush. Fvck ISIS.
I personally wasn't in the military, I don't think I could have handled it. But, you men that sacrificed so much of your life, just to allow people like me to be safe and free, I can't express enough thankfulness towards you. I want you to know that you are deeply appreciated, and respected by most Americans, thank you, and welcome back home.
The old man is just listening but that’s what the young man needs
That was very well said. Just as important as that is his willingness to speak about his feelings.
If you pay attention to his voice, you'll notice the younger is stuttering with his words more and more with each question.. he's nervous. The older veteran was right, he probably went through alot.
The old man has had many many decades to heal.
@@onlywhenprovoked Agreed. Modern soldiers dont understand what it's like to watch hundreds, if not thousands, or more, of your allies dying in front of your eyes.
Edit: small typo.
@@XykuJoxa definitely true but also a good thing right?
Elderly people affectionately calling younger guys “son” is my favorite thing
Agreed, it's charming
Meanwhile youngsters of today call them BOOMERS and try so hard to insult them.
@@zidanecristianoaveiro thats more of the 35 - 70 age range. Of course any fad or meaning can get blurred over the years, but no Millennial (and maybe genz?) Would insult someone like that they respected. Its mostly reserved for the most of the half dead bastards that run our country. Not only unable to relate to the newer generations but also become counterproductive in how our society advances
Literally so true. When he said “you’ve been through son, haven’t you” you can tell in the chaps eye he’s been there and completely understands the trauma.
@@zidanecristianoaveiro that was a heavy swing and a miss. You almost know what you're talking about. Try again
This man looks, speaks, and carries himself very good for 95..
I work with seniors and believe me, folks that make it to that age 95% of the time are in better shape than your regular 65-70 yr old, it's still amazing to me.
Ikr
Looks very young for his age too he’s very healthy
It’s insane how good he looks
Luis Urena it only makes sense my friend
People don't realize how traumatic WW2 was for the soldiers that saw action. The war drove my great uncle insane. He was seventeen and lied about his age to enlist. He was part of the third army during the battle of the bulge and the liberation of mauthausen. He showed clear signs of horrendous PTSD that nobody noticed because PTSD wasn't known much back then. He once held a gun to my grandfather's head thinking he was a German soldier. He rarely talked about his service, but on reflecting liberating Mauthausen, he got all teary eyed and said "I wouldn't treat a dog that way." Poor man drank himself to his grave.
War is a terrible thing. It destroys people. I thank a merciful God that we haven't had a war that destructive since.
That is so sad… it reveals the cruelty and evil from the fall of man. Im so sorry about your uncle. I’ll be praying for you and your family and that you find healing and peace through Christ.
@@lilliannasosa6822I second this
They didn't call it PTSD. They referred to it as "shell shock". They were aware there was trauma. I've seen films of soldiers with shell shock. Post WWII, dogs were used to help soldiers acclimate. They were aware in the U.S. at least. General public didn't know much.
His fault for lying ngl, just gonna put it as blunt as that. Stupid children then thought they'd be heroes and be able to serve for their country while still being developing kids who don't know how to even control their own emotions yet. Shouldve known better.
@@labsled ok
I just realized we're the last generation who can talk to WW2 vets.
gotta appreciate
Ww2 and mainly 1 vets would have been able to talk to american civil war vets
Wolf Tapia
Damm you’re right
Oh shit...
Also anyone who's in their early twenties or younger don't have a memory of 9/11, which was one of the significant reasons the current war started. So that's crazy too
goddamn that guy looks good for 95, both mentally and physically
Right! I thought he looked too young to have fought in WW2
He sitting there so relaxed to with all the medals he got, real inspiring!
u into older joey?
@@smenjamin2825 huh
Please don’t damn God
I met a lady the other day, she was 95 and her husband lost his life in the war..
She was extremely humble and I thanked her...asked her about her husband and I said he's a hero...
And she got teary and said..People are quick to forget in todays world
I’ll never forget those men. I’ll never forget the women that stepped up when the men left. God bless the greatest generation.
@publicuser2534 very true, it's a shame how most of today's generation act
People forget and repeat the horrible mistakes of the past.
I fought in Afghanistan for the German Forces and never in all the years has someone said " You've been through quite alot son, havent you? ", not my parents, not my wife, my comrades ,society or anyone. Hearing this old Veteran say this words give me peace in some way I cant describe even he didnt aimed them at me. Thank you Sir
Danke für Ihre Dienstleistung
God bless you Julian...seeing this you may realize you are not alone. You are a brave man.
Der fehlende Respekt für unsere Bundeswehr in Deutschland ist schlicht beschämend. Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, was Sie durchgemacht haben, bin Ihnen aber dankbar dafür. Dankbar dafür, nicht weil ich den Krieg in Afghanistan befürworte, sondern weil durch Ihren Einsatz jemand anderes nicht hin musste. Ich glaube, den Menschen ist heutzutage nicht mehr bewusst, was für ein Opfer ein Soldat erbringt.
julian
wir sind dir dankbar für deinen dienst
ich wünsche dir viel viel glück und FRIEDEN in deinem weiteren leben
welcome home brother, be at peace.
Gotta say, the old man looks actually really well to be 95
Justin Winn not a day over 12
@@lilnotoriginal7850 I don't know about that.. lol
@@PillarsOfProphecy not a day over 2
Like he’s still in the womb
@@WavingTerror848 not a day over sperm life gang
Had a housemate who served in Afghanistan. He used to wake up screaming. Came home from work one day to find a suicide note cause he couldn't take it anymore. Visit his grave every year. Still gets to me I couldn't help him.
It wasn't your fault mate. He was already broken :/ . I know it's sad, and I can only hope that he is in peace now.
Always innocent people die just because several cowards in the government have some personal problem with one another.
I lost a good friend who was in my unit he went to iraq a couple times he stayed back in the rear while we deployed. When our first sergeant brought us together and told us what happend I was fucking crushed and still am he was a really good person and will always be missed.
@@locritus could have kept your damn mouth shut.
Azuredawn That’s true
The old soldier is wearing quite some distinction and yet talks like he was just on a ship and didnt have much trouble.
So humble... I think he saw quite a lot more. And he rather puts the young soldier in the spotlight.
We will miss this generation so much in the future. Probably already do nowadays... :(
With all those ribbons on his jacket that man was most likely a demon
@@StcddotYou misspelt "hero"
@@zr3755 if he was a hero,the western world wouldn’t be the shithole it is today,plus I don’t believe in the “good guys and bad guys” charade when talking about war. He performed his duties well and got credit for it.
@@Stcddotstraight up old
Homie was on demon time🤣💯
We will, as a child ww1 and 2 veterans were everywhere many handicapped,, amazing blokes to grow up around,,
The old vet has dealt with his demons, the young vet has a long road ahead of him.
Different type of demons Jeret.
@@matn7743 your my demon
@@grantspersonal you're
@@kingadalou You have nothing else to do, eh?
@@HudMan4U do you? Its a Sunday and not supposed to go outside
Who else is surprised that the elderly man is 95. He looks fantastic for his age.
I honestly thought he was 60. Hope he is living well.
@Sportsfanatic28 i was referring to his looks. My bad Mr. Sportsfanatic
my granddad was telling me the other day about how his older friends were getting letters of recognition and government benefits now as they've now reached 95 y/o and fought in ww2... But most of his friends are only 91-94 and actually lied about their age when enlisting. Sad to think that there were young teenagers, children really, fighting in a war because they felt they had to.
P.S. my granddad fought in vietnam and made friends afterwards with some ww2 vets
@@jo1857 bro man that match was insane where were you hiding i couldnt find you
Yeah bro that was sick oh i was hiding in the bunker you didnt check
Damn bro nice well ya wanna play again or you gonna get off?
Well yeah i think im gonna get off
Last seen ww2
@@KWithaFont not really funny at all, not because the video isn't meant to be funny, just because your not funny at all
When a goddamn WW2 veteran says you’ve been through a lot then you must have been through hell
Not really
@@aguppie joking right?
@@aguppie are you kidding or stupid?
Chris Payne u stupid or something
Chris Payne delete ur comment
What an absolute pair of heroes. When the Veteran said ‘you’ve been through quite a lot son’ it was like he was hugging the other ex-soldier who has obviously been through a hell of a lot of suffering. Brilliant to watch and understand what these men went through.
The world war 2 vet saying “youve been through quite a lot havent you son?” Jesus Christ. What an honor
When?
Surely does bro
@@specterr3177 2:45
Made me cry :(
@@drai-chillabitokay1857 thx
Being called "son" from WW II veteran is bigger award and honor than any medal
Edit: I get some responses that “son” is normal by any older people - I don’t deny in other countries, but where I come from, being called “son” by anyone but your own father is very rare and it already means something
agreed.
agreed
Not really but ok
@@kgkomrin dont ruin things you annoying toad
@@monke980 anyway I love the way the elder vet say he is a communist inside his heart.
Seeing the older veteran acknowledge how much the younger went through is so touching. Many of us including these younger veterans couldn’t imagine fighting in the older vet’s war, yet he says himself he wouldn’t want to fight in the younger man’s wars. It really speaks to how, to veterans, war is war no matter how bad or what was used.
Yea but there is a differnts from a war withe a cauntry withe the same Military might and a war withe a country which has a far weaker Military
@@FBI--OPEN--UP--- but here youre surrounded and much more modern age
Really frames the famous Fallout quote, "War never changes"
that's because war, war neve changes
At least back then there was a clear enemy. Different wars have different evils are are awful.
It was so interesting to hear the WW2 vet talk about how long it took to stop seeing Germans as enemies. My grandfather is from the Philippines and helped the Americans fight the Japanese. He never really talked about it. But to the day he died, he would never buy anything Japanese
That youngster just yapping his jaw off ain't he 2:41
Can't really blame him. Anyone in Asia at the time, can't be faulted by their hatred of Japan. Imperial Japan was intense (to put it lightly)
Civilians rounded up and murdered. Girls and women raped. Babies thrown in the air to be caught by bayonets. So many stories like that from the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. It's no wonder your grandpa felt that way. Hope he's at peace.
@potatoboyhats905
While all this is true, the allies also committed some heinous war crimes, we just don't hear about them as often. War is hell, and drives humans to commit inhumane acts
@@r.s.richey9956 Biscarri Massacre, Nuclear Bombings, Soviet Army Inaction in the Warsaw Uprising, numerous rapes and massacres post-Axis defeat in Germany and Japan. Very much not lost on me how much war crime the Allies were responsible for.
“It took all my youth”.
This is very sad.
And here I am complaining about crappy wifi. Us youth today are so priviliged.
Wtf when i read this it played exactly when he said this
@@nuttybangerz same.
I can't play fortnite after watching this 😭😭😭😭😭
Maria Pia Monthe Lol I’m sorry the republicans sent him to war over and over again
Imagine having a WWII veteran tell you that you've been through quite a lot... Must be tough for that guy.
yeah true
nope
Likely that the older vet recognizes that pain. It's not his first time talking to a broken man. Perhaps at one point he was that man. He understands what the young soldier needs to hear from him, and gives him the support the older soldier likely didn't have in that way.
Imagine taking the time to comment and be negative if a video bored you so much. Good grief you must be attention starved. I'll hug ya mate, cheers.
@@GoogleGoogle-fd6do Why are you watching it then ? I found it interresting and it might help some people !
"you've been through a lot haven't you, son?"
I felt like the younger guy was holding back a lot of feelings that he couldn't reply. Bless them both
He was. Same reason why he didn't want to say too much on the question asking if they've lost comrades.
I love how he said that instead of "I have had it worse than you"
@@messyartdesk8141 you can't really rate wars worse because you don't know what the individual person seen in that time ...
@@messyartdesk8141 infantry vs. Naval gunner is comparing apples to oranges
Yeah the look the younger guy gave when he said that made me drop a couple tears..
I've volunteered at a nursing home for almost 11 years. Nearly all the men and some women were veterans of WWII when I started. Now...there's only one left. Their stories are so important, it breaks my heart that my niece and nephew will never hear them. With separation comes a lack of immediacy and relevance, which feels like one step closer to repeating it all over again. RIP, greatest generation
Can you record the stories of the one hero that is left?
This pains me so much. I hear so often hate or apathy towards the older generations. The common flaw of mankind is to forget and to believe we know better, we’re quick to do that.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you son?"
Jesus... Thats a hard hitter
Hey what the meaning of
"Havent you son ?"
And what os that
I am confused
@@trustme4456 im guessing a non native English speaker?
Haven't is a contraction of "have not". The literal meaning of "Have not you, son?" Does not make any sense does it? Well... There's a metric fuck ton of dialects, idioms, and implied meanings in english.
What "Haven't you, son" translates to is "Have you not, son?"
The old man is asking him if he could honestly say that he hasn't been through some shit
@@moonshinetheleocat1235 ohhh thank
It was havent you, son
I didnt see any comma😅
So i got tricked
@@moonshinetheleocat1235 yes i am arabic
But know much about English
@@trustme4456 ah.. yeah. My bad. A tip is don't worry too much about the grammar. Most english speakers don't focus too hard on it. A good trick is to say it in your head. Your mind (or at least a native speaker) will naturally create commas or breaks where needed.
"It's been 12 years I'm still in fight mode."
Not all scars are on your body.
I have never got back to "ok" no one understands. Everyone wants you to be you again and ok. Watching men die and losing people takes something from you. I don't know how to return to "normal"
@@leostrazsa5440 I'll pray for you Leonard, that the Lord Christ provide healing and peace.
@@leostrazsa5440 I'm thinking of you. Take every day as it comes, and I hope you have/can get the support you need
ZyloTheTinyTonTerror very true!!
He brought it upon himself when he signed up to be a rich persons pawn fighting for oil and not actually protecting the country. No sympathy for his choice in careers, he made that bed now he can lay in it. Can't handle it? Shouldn't have joined in the first place.
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t ya?” His silence was deafening.
The look in the young soldier's eyes killed me a little.
Matt Fellows indeed it did. There’s more to being a soldier under the equipment.
It's edited to look that way. So they can use it in the thumbnail
@@daddydankmemes6260 I actually think it's a bit poorly edited. They could have easily left his reaction AT LEAST a few more seconds to fully see his deep thought.
Couldnt agree more my heart broke for him in that moment. I pray for healing of his mind body and soul 🙏🏼💙
"You've been through a lot, haven't you, son?"
The video could have been just that and it would have been just as powerful. It felt like a stab through the chest.
It certainly is. My grandma's husband (not my grandpa, they were married after they were 80yrs old) fought in the Pacific during WWII on 3 different ships as a turret gunner. He lost his hearing in one ear entirely, but only partially in the other, because of the shells exploding in close proximity to him, but he is one of my heros and has a heart like an Ox and a soul of gold. He's 97 years young and the way he's going he'll probably outlive all of us. God bless that man, and I'm damn proud to call him family. The joke running we have as a family is, "We have to start thinking about what kind of world we're going to leave behind for Walt."
I teared up when he said it.
Hart attacc
@@TheTsar1918 Same man.
I watched the younger guys face and I think it hit him just as hard
The sense of humor on that gentleman was the quickest disarm maneuver I'd ever seen. "It's safer on a ship, I can't swim" really caught me by surprise. Quite impressive to see these two men from different generations discussing their experiences.
“It took all my youth” that line hit me
Its true war takes our innoncence and I think thats why I and a lot of others struggle with what happened during war. You aren't who you used to be and you have this image of who you were and nothing you do will get you back to it. Thats why mental health stuff is so important nowadays. I know so me of the best advice a buddy gave me when I got back was to go watch my favorite kids movie and that helped in that moment. It can be rough if we can't identify whats going wrong inside our heads.
Hit me too. 20 year retiree. Body has seen better days.
It's strange. With people being in the military in general, your mind is rewired, to a point where you almost completely forget who you were, and it's interesting that you mention childhood movies and such. Things I'd watch as a kid were just there to occupy me. I wouldn't pay much mind emotionally, rather just for the pure entertainment value. Now, watching a lot of my favorite childhood shows, it's hard to separate emotion from it. It's like, when you're watching The Land Before Time as a kid, you don't really bat an eye at the moment where Littlefoot loses his mother. Watching it now, you understand now the severity of the issue, and it's automatically translated as, "Damn, that's fuckin awful, bro... Little dude just lost his own mom". Maybe I'm over-analyzing it, maybe it's just all sentiment and nostalgia. It does feel strange though.
Seth Wood no disrespect meant but wouldn't that be considered becoming a man, if your not the same as you were when you were younger
@@sethwood1676 My granddad is a WWII veteran and he said that the war took his youth also. When he says that he doesn't mean that it took his innocence (although it did). He means it quite literally. He didn't have that time to fall in love, to go out with friends and simply enjoy life. When he returned from the war he had to go straight into the working world and rebuilt his country.
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t ya lad”
Only a man that’s went through hell would ask a question like that... just to comfort him.
Only a man that has been through hell and back could ask something like that
That one touched home
You can see it written all over his face.
Definitely got that thousand yard stare going on.
They too know.
You've been through quite a lot,haven ya* ?
Please visit a otolaryngologist (ear doctor) i recommend neurologist also.
Reason
neurologist (to check yours and the other people that are supporting you by liking your comment brain that is damaged for some kind of reason)All i mean that your hearing is not good..
P.S no bad feelings ;)
I see a old man who made his peace, and a young lad with dead eyes who is still haunted.
Let's pray that the young soldier can work through it all and come out the other side with the same peace.
@@thelight3435 the difference being the WW2 had a meaning and public support, but the public feels very differently about Iraq. So it’s harder in that way for the younger man.
@@butterf1sh This is why I make a point of thanking military personnel when I see them... I think back to how people in my own country treated 'nam vets, and I think "we can't let this happen again..."
You can hate the war. You can object to the war, but keep in mind the soldier is just doing what s/he thinks is right...
What does this mean? They re literally puppets in the hands of countries who deploy them just to run the military industry and the political interests. I agree you must respect soldiers, but also it s important to realize they re basically killing machines protecting their country interests (of course I m not talking about WW vets)
@@francescorovere4081 It's not like they can do anything about it. Once you're in, you can get out but your mind is still in the battlefield or even worse at the frontline.
Canadian here.... Ive never met a soldier that I haven't thanked.
Thank you to all the men and women who have served and continue to do so.... We'll never have the words to truly express our gratitude.
Heroes one and all.... Thank you
I’m a Canadian and my grandparents lives were all but saved during Market Garden. The relationship between the Canadians and the Dutch over WWII is always deeply emotional for me, I can see why my grandparents couldn’t wait to jump on a boat with one change of clothes and no where to live just to get here.
The way they kept looking at each other dead in the eye and the respect.
Jennifer Mann yea they’re having a great “conversation”
Yeah never seen anyone have a “conversation” looking each other in the eyes they usually look at their legs 🤦
Im the 1000th like lol
@Koolkid your big dumb
They know that the man across from them understands what its like to be on the battlefield. Very few people know what its like out there.
The pain of older generation's is knowing that your pain didn't spare his.
Oi
Preach. 👍🏾
This is a beautiful yet painful comment. Its true.
Luke Johnson woah. I love what you just said. ❤️✝️
@@RonnieJamesDio666 short yet powerful makes more sense don't ask me why but I know
“War does not care who is right or wrong, only who is left.”
"if we don't end war,war will end us"
B A R S
Dammmm
call of duty comment not allowed
@@likaruch.8545 war is human nature
My father was a US Marine who fought in the Pacific during WWII. He saw combat on many islands, in the Phillipines and on Okinawa, so he fought in the jungle and in the towns. When his best friend's son came home after fighting as a Marine in Vietnam, they would sit for hours and talk. My father never spoke much at all about the war and neither did Mickey (the Vietnam vet) but when they got together you could just sense that they had shared experiences. When my dad was in the hospital hospice, Mickey visited him, I left them alone to talk. When Mickey came out of the room he was crying. He looked at me and said, "I love your dad. He saved my life." I never forgot that moment. It was 25 years ago and I still tear up when I recall it. I loved my father but I never really realized until that moment how much other people loved him too and what he meant to them. I miss him every day and I can't wait to hug him again one day. I know I'll have to "fight" through the mob to get to him. Love you Pops ❤
The level of respect between these men is incredible.
Both military men same troubles different scenario, best thing I have seen on UA-cam for a long time
They've earned every ounce of it as well. I assure you without a shred of doubt in my mind.
they kill people
that have a family
@@cristodisoho3639 ppl like you trigger me the most, snowflake.
"You’ve been through quite a lot haven’t ya son?” Damn that was powerful, if I was the younger guy I'd have to resist holding back a tear :'(
Have you served before?
when I heard him say that and saw the look in the other guy's eyes, I had to take a seat. I feel for the younger lad and the older gentleman understands his feelings.
Yeah hit me hard too, i dont serve in the military but my brother was, he's a bit mess up after Afghanistan, he always told me the scream he heard and innocent civilians being murder, War is never glorious, nothing good come from war.
@@dannykstick I haven't I have friends who are and I've felt that way when I'm talking to alumni who went through what I struggled with in college. I figure this impact would be at least 5x what I felt then because
You get the same feeling when you come back and they ask *"Are you alright?"*
I still can't answer that to this day.
Iraq and Afghanistan twice. Two separate Combat Engineer tours. One where I followed as the youngest Airman, the other I led as the lowest NCO.
The most intense of those was in Afghanistan. Look up Kandahar Airport Bombing 2015. Happened so suddenly and ended quietly. Me, a young 20 year old 3 striper having to guide civilians to shelters and man defensive fighting positions with others who only had a pistol and 2 mags while I had a full kit. Not to mention the tracer fire coming from various directions and hearing the Giant Voice say "GROUND ATTACK, GROUND ATTACK IN PROGRESS" followed by the Cavalry theme. It rained that night too, so the acoustics were bouncing off of everything and I had to challenge every Shadow I saw. It was all an adrenaline rush I'll never forget and countless expressions I'll always remember.
"Are you alright?"
I can't answer that.
*...But, I can keep going.*
If I read his medals correctly he was a badass,
what do they stand for?
.
Commenting cause I wanna know...
Commenting coz i wanna know it too
.
My grandmother was probably one of the few people in my life who could never bore me with her story. She was italian and died 2 years ago at 91 years old. She told me so many stories about the war with so much passion into it and she would always do it with a smile. I was only between 8 and 14 years old so I couldn't really grasp how hard it was for her. I remember her telling me she had to turn off the lights in her house and close the windows every night to avoid getting targeted by the planes and how her and the family had little to eat and there were 8 of them. Her husband died when my father was just 13 which means that she stayed alone, with her 3 sons and 1 daughter, for 43 years and managed to build what today exists. I don't remember telling her that I loved her, which is something I kind of regret, but I've always felt like she knew how much I appreciated her.
2:45
i'd rather to be called "son" from an old soldier more than be called a "friend" from any celebrity.
It costs a lot and its the highest respect.
Dunno about the highest respect, its just a british thing
Nils Grozev Well I love this thing. It gives me chills every time I hear it.
@@nilsgrozev6882 it’s said in america too probably more
@@AmberWoodMusicx nah u tweaking
@@nilsgrozev6882 nah he aint. bruh they even say that a lot in movies
"You've been through a lot."
His eyes say everything.
Yes, you can see meat and testosterone in those eyes.
I know a lot of people that regret enlisting (in the US). Especially my best friend. It was her dream, she was so excited. She's a Marine now. She hates it. At one point she told me she'd rather be dead. It's hell.
His eyes broke my heart. I hope he can heal.
@@a.avindur Very sad. A friend of mine was in the same boat. He had been training most of his life with his older brother, who had served. Then when he graduated high school he went straight to the Marines as was his dream and served four years. He hated it the whole time but at least it helped him get into nursing school after.
Mackenzie Autumn my father was a marine for 20 years, retired, never regretted a thing. There’s nothing wrong with enlisting so long as you have two things:
1: The right reason, I.e. serving to protect as a mindset.
2: That you’re strong enough to endure hell and not complain much about it.
This goes for any military, not just the US. For as long as you fight for your people (the right intention) there’s nothing wrong with being a soldier. There might be something wrong with the government which may run portions (or wholes) of it, but that’s separate from the soldier. Just my opinion on that.
The old guy telling the younger one "I learned a lot from you"
That hit me HARD.
@@brynion2117 exactly i completly agree
I cried watching this. The old bloke was from the same war as my grandfather who I never knew.
@National Socialist I certainly hope you don't run into anyone in your life that has the same attitude as you. You wouldn't like it.
@@sentientmlem727 says the guy named connor
@@PretzelSage says the guy named Donut
I've met a lot of WW2 Soldiers over the year's,and one really stood out he was a regular customer and he was telling me about how much hassle it was going through a metal detector because he had so much German scap metal in his body,and yet he a very positive person who said something that still shakes me thinking about it.He said "Son you don't know Hell until you're using the dead body of the guy you were talking too as a shield".Ty to all who serve and continue to serve .
"Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die" - Herbert Hoover
Deepika Verma
So true and it makes me very sad
Deepika Verma well yeah, when your older and basically controlling a government it becomes harder to see the horrors of war.
Call Of Duty reference huh
@@mihij4773 No, Herbert Hoover reference, not a videogame
Just like the Shinobi War
Him saying “you’ve been through a lot haven’t you, son” is a sentence that speaks volumes, and the meaning behind it is deafening coming from a veteran
❤❤
Especially a WW2 vet
Makes me cry everytime he says it
@@BlackKnight-ll8qh i think the younger soldier nearly cried as well, which id say means the older soldier hit the nail on the head.
@@crestfallensunbro6001 This brave young vet went to war based on faulty intelligence from a country that is supposed to be his country’s best ally. (I am an American) and the older vet fought in a war that saved the world against a clear cut enemy. Also England was being attacked and traumatized on daily occurrence during the blitz. His reasons were so clear even 70 years later. Iraq had no connection to 9/11.
I am so sorry for all the trauma caused by his experiences and I thank him for being such a good friend to the US even though our government was the ultimate cause of his trauma.
The US can be great and it can really do some awful things.
We are far from perfect. I think acknowledging that makes me a better person. An idea is only as admirable as the people who carry it out. Peace.
When he said he didn’t know how to swim and then said “where would you swim to?” He was clearly joking but everyone just stood quiet like they were reflecting on that
Masterpiece One Day Because it’s true. In WW2, the enemy didn’t rescue you. They either shot at you in the water or at best, left you there to tread.
@@afcgeo882 actually shooting a man in the water was considered a war crime and neither sides (German nor American I mean; USSR and Japan didnt give a shit) did it because when a solider is stranded in water they are considered POW. Germans didnt generally do that because well once they start disrespecting American soldiers at that level or British soldiers then they knew that is how German soldiers will thereby be treated by American/British soldiers. It was kind of an understood agreement. They were put in camps for POWs
k ho52 It was done ALL the time. The Luftwaffe had specific tactics devoted to shooting survivors at sea and Americans shot plenty of Japanese too. All sides did it. Yes, it was against the rules. They all did it though. It’s well documented.
@@afcgeo882 I'm speaking about men actually at sea not airmen
k ho52 So am I.
My father (RIP) was also a WW2 Veteran and seldom talked to me about his experiences in the war. I like to think that he was trying to shield me from his memories. I miss him dearly. Glad I watched this video. Thanks
Clean shave, wearing a tie, shine shoes, Wearing a lot of medals, combed hair.. Looks like he still follow the soldier routine.
Raym Janjua It’s just a question don’t have to get too mad about it.
@@phantombri2053 what do you think he walks around in 🤦♂️😂
@Raym Janjua No reason to get upset over a UA-cam comment.
rylan You don’t even know what simp means do you? Stop using words you don’t even know the meaning of 😂
@Raym Janjua he just asked a question, what is your problem? 😂
People are saying how the old man is mentally stronger but he’s also had a lot of time to heal and come to terms with what happened, you can’t expect the younger guy just get over his emotions if it’s still fresh in his mind , they’re both seem like brilliant lads and I wish them the best
I hear you brother. Cheers from AZ 🇺🇸
Aaron B sorry to hear that ❤️
In 50 years perhaps we will see another interview. The younger guy now grey and old, and another young man, born in 2040 sharing his valid and intense experiences.
@@chrislewis8714 ooo that would be so cool
@@jessicasarahliddell8883 I disagree, I think it was easier for them to recover and be okay with what happened because they were fighting true evil, the Nazis, the Japanese Empire. Today our soldiers don’t feel their fighting a worthy fight at times. Our fights today are proxy wars often times revolving around oil, not nearly as noble a cause as fighting the greatest threat to freedom the worlds even seen.
I'm quite amazed that the older soldier is wearing the "Legion d'Honneur" wich is the most important french decoration. Huge respect.
TRS I believe the french government is awarding them to all the allied soldiers who helped liberate France. Sadly a lot of the soldiers have passed away before they could of been awarded with them.
TRS im not 100% sure but I think my great grandpa was awarded that a few years ago
Nicholas Armstrong utmost respect for your great grandpa mate.
Nicholas Armstrong big respect to your great grandpa
@@aegg9915 Not all the soldiers only the ones that landed the 6 june that are still alive (and some other for special act of bravoure of course)
"you've been through quite a lot son, haven't you" what a powerful first few words, with that you instantly feel the connection they have. Thanks for the video.
The elderly man is so modest and humble this is a characteristic we should all have
Hard to find it
Good point
It’s not easy to find anymore, nowadays you can see the difference between elder people to us younger people, i like to greet everyone when in walking on the street (a mexican thing) and almost only the elders are the only ones greeting back...it puts into perspective the difference in the way people is nowadays, no respect anymore
@@LNF_MR I do the same thing and always find the same. Kindred spirits you and I.
Amen
“You’ve been through quite a lot haven’t ya son?”
That hit me deep, even a soldier who’s survived WW2 and is still living on to 95 is surprised by how much a much younger generation soldier has to go through in these modern wars. Truly spectacular to what these two men had to go through. Thank god for these amazing souls.
I seriously doubt you’re a WW2 vet
@@aydenedwards1751 he never said he was a ww2 vet??
@@aydenedwards1751 I don't think you get it
Epic Guy he never mentioned he was
@@aydenedwards1751 LMFAO Your stupidity made my day. Like, come on, I could have understood the misinterpretation if we weren't explicitly informed as to the age of the elderly veteran in the video.
When a ww2 veteran says "you've been through a lot son" that's real sad.
At the same time, I imagine it's reassuring in a way.
I'm pretty sure that no matter how much trauma and pain that man went through, there were MANY people who just expected him to "man up" and deal with it.
In which case this understanding and empathy by someone who has been through one of the toughest conflicts in history would mean an awful lot.
That’s really touching to me, because it radiates on the young man’s face, all the pain he’s gone through. And the aged soldier can see right through it because to some extent he knows how much soldiers have to go through
That hit me real hard
@@shotpister1002 whats really touching you? your fathers tip?
@@sonnyc3826 What the fuck is your damage?
2:45 “You’ve been through quite a lot son…”
Damn. I teared up when they shook hands at the end and they just looked at each other, the young man knowing he would never see the old man again and the old man hoping the young soldier eventually finds his way back. Like he did.
this comment did the same beautiful sentiment
Your comment has that effect more than the handshake because it paints a picture and births a thought in one's mind
They still talk
@@painsenpai01 I’ll call yyy
I'll have you know it's okay they are keeping in touch there's another video where this young guy reacted to comments on this exact video but him and the WWII vet are keeping in touch and staying friendly :))
The class of this older gentleman is undeniable.
Hes chad
@@jackhoffmanhoffman35 What are you getting at? He's been scarred for potentially life, can understand why he wouldn't be as chipper as you might think.
They dont make people like him no more ...
@@antonnvl5019 100%
Cool pfp
"I always felt safer on the ship, I can't swim."
"You can't swim? Though you were a sailor?"
"They never taught me, but where would you swim to? You're a long way from home. Doesn't matter if you can swim or not."
Hands down one of my favorite exchanges of all time.
True
You Didn't join Freemasonry under the pressure of your Peers Did you ?
even if you could swim and float on a piece of scrap or whatever, noone’s coming to save you
It is what it is mindset. Very powerful but also a reminder of how it was drilled into them, fighting for freedom
Most sailors dont survive when their ship goes down.
I served in the Marine Corps from 2005 to 2012 with one deployment to Iraq in 2008. We had tough vehicles, state of the art technology, breathable uniforms, and boots that were like sneakers. I have nothing but respect for those who served before me. Leather boots that gave you trench foot. Wool uniforms in hot climates. Charging towards enemy gunfire. War will never be easy, but it gets easier. What I went through was still one of the most challenging experiences of my life. I can't imagine what those who came before me endured.
I'm glad your home and safe. I love the respect you have for other soldiers and their wars. My generation knows the impact you and your fellow soldiers made. I am grateful for the safety your gave & still give to us. The world is a better place because of your bravery and selflessness. We will never meet but just know that your are loved, admired and revered by many!!!
The way the younger soldier stopped and looked at the older vet after he said "You've been through alot haven't ya son" was the most heartbreaking shit
Which scene?
@@m.a.9481 2:47 time stamp 😞
2:43
He hasn't been through shit. They didn't do anything in Kosovo, and now they're dropping 500$ worth bombs on 15$ worth tents
He wasnt the only one that stoped talking
The old man downplaying his role as an AA-gunner, because he is so humble and understanding towards the young soldier, but literally an entire ship relied on him and his fellow gunners to make sure it didn’t go down with everyone in it.
He's had a LOT of time to process and heal from it also, we hope. A lot more time than young veterans have had.
These guys had balls. I heard a story one time, from a vet, who was a B-17 pilot in Europe. Over half his crew was wounded, and unable to bail out. His ball turret gunner was trapped, because the hatch broke due to flak fire, so he was trapped in there. The bomber was heavily damaged, and when on approach to land, he discovered the landing gear won't retract down. He landed the plane, and seven of the men survived, two died of wounds sustained in battle, and one poor soul was trapped in the ball turret
As the old Vet said, he himself didn't go through those thing until 1970s, and the WWII ended in 1945. That's about 30 years or so. And also as they've said, they fought two totally different type of war. It takes time, if lucky. and unfortunately some of them will have to take those post traumatic symptoms for the rest of their life. God bless them and all of us.
Then he must be one hell of an AA gunner. Hats off to him.
AA crew had their own type of danger and fear. They didnt see nearly as much of the hand to hand/first person stuff but they were in constant fear of 12.7mm-30mm rounds hitting all around them and trying to hit a small moving dot in the air. It was equally as horrible but in different ways.
"It took me until 1970 to realize they were the same as us, doing what they had to do" ... So much respect for this old man. The way he speaks and thinks, you wouldn't believe his age. And so peaceful now, he found this peace. God bless both of them.
Gotta love old people like this, no longer bitter and understanding of the younger generations.
Doing what they had to do
Executing innocent Jewish people
There goes a polite old man, uninterested in re opening wounds
@@TheManorBeast lmao jew-lover
CodingCrusader1095
Yes I know all that thank you. ‘I’m sheltered’ because happened to speak a truth albeit one that was uncontexted I’ll grant you.
While we’re discussing my sheltered life and my complete lack of knowledge of the real world, Please look up Kristallnacht if you don’t know what it is already.
Not only was that soldiers but civilians also.
The wermacht I can have some sympathy for as they were soldiers on the front line. But only a certain amount.
Andy C
Absolutely.
A far more reasoned response I completely agree with
Band of Brothers crosses generations. The respect between them is strong. It was a beautiful, honest conversation that I am thankful to be able to hear and see. Thank you both for your service. Hoorah!
“We were fighting in someone else’s country and in a way they were just defending it” Damn.
@@JulianY2K12 don't think it's karma.
@@JulianY2K12 And because of people like him you get to post your inane and equally stupid comment.
@@jameswatsonatheistgamer yeah it was a shitty comment I made while drunk. My bad, people
It’s called imperialism
@@JulianY2K12 lol
“Hell of a thing killing a man. You take away everything he’s got and everything he is gonna have”
A powerful experience most humans will never get to have.
Taylor thank god they won’t.
Lmfao wtf
Depends on who you kill and under what circumstances. If you kill someone who has no regard for human life, someone who just kills because they want to...I think it's fine if he's murdured.
Aaron Senseney Yo, that’s an Unforgiven quote
"I've learned a lot from you..."
Those are the deepest words of appreciation anyone can say, regardless of age.
@Tim Snortin' bro 4 year olds say a lot but I dont think you'll ever live to hear one say "I've learned a lot from you..."
They really are . I can only hope one day , that some one says that to me.
Interpersonal Communicator you good man did a scary marine hurt you or some shit?
@Tim Snortin' you're clearly not a great example for children, and you dont realize how much impact a adult can have on children under 5. Their brains are sponges, so what you do and teach within those years are crucial. I see your early years were not to kind.
This was surprisingly touching, especially when the older veteran said "You've been through quite a lot son, haven't you?"
I have an incredible amount of respect for these two gentlemen and their peers.
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you son?” This, this honestly feels so surreal and different hearing this, imagine what it was for him, a modern world soldier, hearing from a World War II Veteran, about what he’s been through
& the young guy still seems depressed about his experiences, while the older one is at peace after 70 years...
@@dutdut2.059 exactly, I know for a fact it isn't gone but he's had 70 long years to think about it and learn as a human being, so while it's still definitely in his mind as a metaphorical scar, he's come to bear it and accept it
I do think the fact that the older gentleman said that warfare has definitely changed a lot in modern times. Back then it was clear who the enemy was, where they were, and why you had to fight them. Nowadays, it seems much more ambiguous and chaotic. There's a mutual understanding that both sides are just doing the bidding of their own governments, and while it is evil in its own way, it's somewhat of a necessary evil. Really screws with people's emotions and causes people to question if it's really worth all the fighting and suffering.
;-)
I teared up because of that alone.
This old soldier is wearing the "Légion d'honneur", it's the highest decoration of the French army, and was created by Napoléon. All my respect.
Gg that you know that
Napoleon, one of the French I respect the most (bcause he invade all Europe by himself that’s pretty dope)
@@senseilecuck7974 He felt in RUSSIA
@@aladdin1633 yeah but he still invade all Europe by himself (except Russia)
@@senseilecuck7974 Almost true, he had two big losses the biggest of course is in Russia, the second was against the Egyptians in Acco or St-Jean-D'Acre which is situated in actual Israel, but yes he was a fantastic tactician
even if the population hated him because of hunger that the Empire brought
The old boy saying “you’ve been through a lot, son” and “I’ve learned a lot from you” would’ve brought a lump to my throat, if I was there. Respect to both of you from a fellow vet
Would've brought a lump, Hell!
I had to go get another glass of water to wash mine down.
Love and Respect from another one.
Same. That made me cry. The heaviness...
that silent look he answered with spoke volumes... just shattered
Fat fingers lol
Best vid share please
That stare the young soldier gives when he hears he has been through a lot, that split second, says it all…
"if you're a long way from home, doesn't matter if you can swim or not"
That's really basic but profoundly impactful
Moe Alpha I know it’s not meant to be taken too literally, but you can always swim ashore and get captured by the enemy. It’s not ideal but it gives you better odds of survival than drowning (unless you’re one of those fanatic fuckers like the Japanese or Taliban who would rather blow themselves up). It was fucking shitty of the British military not to have taught him swimming, and no amount of rationalization can change that.
Impactful.
Wtf are you talking abot he said that its GOOD for People to die not to swim
@@matijas3844 you are dumb as fuck
@@ZhangK71 It's not just folks in the navy, but an enormous amount of fishermen don't know how to swim either. 99% of the time you're too far from land anyway so there's almost no point knowing how to. That's their rationale. Where are you going to 'swim ashore to' when you're in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?
Man , when the elder said " Well you've been through quite a lot son , haven't you ? "
It felt like he was saying to the other soldier " Are you Ok son ? "
That's exactly what he did
It hit me different
Are ya winning son
The WW2 veteran saw things in the eyes of the younger veteran, and he knew.
The younger man's eyes said "No sir... I don't think so... Not yet."
“It took all my youth” almost made me cry. Yet he had no regrets. Hats off sir.
A sign of a hero. He didn't even complain for one second...that's so incredibly. I really sorry that all this people will be gone 10 years from now. I wish they'd live a 100 years more so that more generations could hear their stories.
Señor Kaktusz he isn’t a hero he’s a fool who went to an unjust war for regional interests that killed more innocents than anything
@@aaayhvcvb3219 He did it because he was ordered to do it! You sound like you blame simple soldiers, who had no choice but to follow orders! Blame those fucking nazis who had started all this!
@@senorkaktusz5940 it really was just Hitler, there were other young people feeling the same way on the Nazi's side
@@Antorion I really meant Hitler and a few others. Most of the Germans soldiers were innocent too.
The entire conversation, the energy they're both eluding, how each listens so intently with such care, everything is leaving me speechless.
One of the most powerful and profound videos I've seen. Thank you for putting this together and thank you to the two gentlemen for sharing their stories.
"Soldiers aren't machines. We're just people." - Thomas lasky.
Halo 4
H m
You just gave me PTSD from playing halo 4 back in the day😥
“She said that to me once...about being a machine...”
Right but they are trained to be machines
The way the Old Soldier approached his talk in this interview. He had spent decades to heal his wounds, mind and body. He could've talked about all that too but he let the Young Soldier talked. Because, probably, he knew the Young Soldier is now still wounded and he needs someone to talk to. So, he listened. He let the Young Soldier to get all those pain out of his chest; so that the Young Soldier could heal.
Yea I've watched this video 100s of times its heart warming and breaking at the same time
omg this is so deep!!1!
jk but that's kinda true
It even hurts to think how hurt they are
You’re the kind of person who explains random unnecessary shit to your friends when watching a show
@@fujivr5924 bro you cool?
“It’s been 12 years and I’m still in fight mode” wow....Jesus man
Carlos Asenvader blessings to you man I couldn’t imagine
Likely still in "QUITTER" mode too....this guy decided HE knew better than his leaders......First ingredient in a failed military action....a "soldier" who thinks he knows more than his superiors. Like Bergdhal .......
Bobby Riffle ....okay? Lol
@@BOBBYRIF1 he never thought he knew more all he said was he didn't agree with them.And what u may not understand is what constant combat fighting does to your mental,being constantly ambushed. Tbh he may never be able to sleep comfortably for a long time.If you were the one out their on those tours u would probably "QUIT" to.
@@CHAOSKAGE It has been 15 years since I left Iraq. 2
Two back to back tours of constant fighting destroyed my family as well as myself. I still have trouble sleeping.
Nothing but my deepest respect for these two gentlemen. True heroes.
There needs to be more of this type of thing before the chance is gone.
History is very important
@@user-ri5oc5rw5b
Indeed it is
Yeah, we never should have killed hitIer, he would have made an interesting guest
We have the same profile pic lol
Unfortunately I don't know that the chance will ever be gone, there will always be more wars, more veterans. Someday the younger man will be the older man, telling a young father about how he's glad they didn't have to face the same things.
Looking at the pain in the younger man's eyes should tell ALL of us that our veterans aren't getting the help and care that they need.
It hurts my soul that it isn’t only a US problem. I thought Europe would be better with vet affairs
That isn't our problem, the shitty government is the one that isn't taking care of them
Randy Randerson Humpty Dumpty already fell off the wall even if he’s back together their will always be pieces missing. Pain can be overcome but it can’t be fixed or forgotten.
Randy Randerson Well some are pussys.
Vocabulaire: 100% Gees this is just one of the best scentenses I've ever heard
I'm always touched by how soldiers are the quickest to see "the enemy" as humans, while us safe and out of risk at home are the first to dehumanize the other.
Because soldiers know the enemy is in the same situation they're in
They are all fighting in a war they do not want to fight most likely
Because we're the same. Just your everyday person fighting in either A) another man's holy war or B) fighting a rich man's war for oil or other resources.
Many of "the enemy" want to make it home to their families too.
The two primal forms of intimacy are fucking and killing. There is nothing more personal or human than these. If you are an otherwise mentally and emotionally healthy person and you kill other people, for any reason, you'll be examining that shit for the rest of your life, coming to terms with it. Being alive.
True.
Infantry say that among the first things they’re tought are to assume the enemy is smart, that they’ll find cover... That they’ll try to pull the same tactics as you.
That ending handshake said everything! The way they locked eyes and both genuinely felt the moment was amazing! Truly touched my and my heart!
“In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.”
- Herodotus
Or wives, daughters, and sisters that didn't even receive their loved one's bodies back.
Christyandi K why you gotta add that?
@@vice_santos that's reality, I know some of them on the last military fuckup our country did. Some of them no longer have Fathers, Mothers have to bury their own Sons. Wives have to bury their own husbands.
Placido Penitente unfortunately the author has been dead for some 3000 years, if he were still with us we could show him the misogyny of his words.
"Only the dead have seen the end of War." -Plato
As someone who once cared for the elderly i had the privilege of looking after a chap who was on gold beach on d-day. He told me many stories, some of which were hard to hear but he spoke with such pride and such admiration for the friends he lost over those days. I thanked him for what he did all those years ago and he turned to me and said people like me, who care for people, are the real heroes. I was taken aback by his humility and kindness and was almost in tears by this point. His name was Arthur Biggs. What a wondeful human being he was.
truly 😍
My late neighbor was a ww2 vet and served in the European theater. I helped him out with harvesting his fruit trees and we'd talk. I remember asking him once if he took part in any of the major battles. He said no, but his unit was one of the first to discover the concentration camps.
Thank you, Arthur Biggs 💐
@@warbacca1017 Christ, that's got to hit hard.
Thank you for sharing this. I also care for the elderly (a CCA-nurse it's called in Canada) and this comment brought up some emotions for me as well. I'm currently sitting on my couch in severe back pain wondering why I took this career path in the first place. Yes, it's unpleasant having to take a muscle relaxant every couple of weeks to keep the aches and pains of the job away, and my hot water bottle is on its last leg. But through all the rough days when I find myself questioning my sanity for taking this job- moments like what you just described sum up all of the "why's". People like this elderly WW2 veteran have fought for our freedom. One day he may end up needing care in a nursing home. It's up to us to take care of them and realize what these people have contributed to in their past. Now, they need us. ❤
"It all depends on how the media portrays us" Damn...
My mom, whose two brothers were in Vietnam, said that the media & anti-war protesters killed more American soldiers than the Vietcong ever did.
It's really sad how soldiers in Vietnam were treated when they got home. They were shunned and spat on. It makes me angry
@Daniel Washford soldiers did nothing, they just served their country. Many were drafted, the government was stupid, not the soldiers
Daniel Washford you understand these men were drafted against their will? right?
Solomon Lee OMG I read this comment as soon as he said it.
"Where would u swim to?" , is such an incredible statement, applicable on many levels.
The pain in the eyes of the younger one is what really got me. So much pain. There are no winners in war. Only those who live, and those who die.
Actually there are winners in wars.
Well there are winners in war but everyone still loses something
@@elcan6426 there are winners in wars, just not the soldiers.
Not true. There are men who feel vitalized by war. Read Ernst Junger's Storm of Steel.
braeden winstead the only ones that win are diplomats that don't have to fight
This is the true meaning of the expression: “Every war is different. Every war is the same”
War. War never changes
That quotes makes no sense. No sense as in it's common sense; it shouldn't be an expression.
HighHell99 it makes sense, the art of war changes, the impact it has on the people stays the same
@@leo_wentzel i think he means that it goes without saying.
@@patryko.1832 Men do though, through the roads they walk
I work in Healthcare, and I have the pleasure of talking and listening to the stories of a 108 year old WW2 veteran who does not have dementia or alzherimers disease. He's an absolute badass but i can still see the pain in his eyes. I always shake his hand and thank him for everything.
i work in healthcare aswell, its always amazing to talk to ww2 vets, just to hear their stories and experiences. Even with dementia they may still recall particular stories. just talking to Old folks in general is always cool to take a moment and listen to what they have to say. One of my Favorites was an old man who suffered a stroke, and even with his condition and on his way to the icu he still managed to laugh and give me shit lol
You fucking legend bro. You have a good soul......ive got a young dude in my town,its a small place so you kinda know everyone, that randomly broke down in front of me once. I just held him. Shake his hand and thank him whenever i see him try and let him know i care at least. Its literally unimaginable.
Speaking of the devil we coded a 108 year old lady at work today. She passed away, but my goodness 108 years on this earth.. i felt bad for doing cpr on her. She is finally at rest
Sam King thats good shit man, Its good to just be genuine with people, look them in the eye and smile. Sometimes thats all it takes to keep them going
@@nicklorigo3507Wow thats awesome 108 years hey. Really heavy though, performing CPR, i can get that it would feel bad.
I keep coming back to this video every now and then because witnessing such a display of humanity on the web is pretty rare to find. I see two human beings who have suffered and digging quite deep into their own selve, which is something I always admire
He wiped away a tear when he talked about his fallen brothers
All my respect for both of these men
Daniel Chang in COD 😂😂😒😂
@Daniel Chang HAHAHAH
@Daniel Chang we all have lost ghost(Simon Riley) As a kid it was traumatizing to loose a fictional character... I cannot begin to imagine what it feels to loose a real person and that too your brother in arm.
@Daniel Chang Funny you mention it, Paul McAleese's (the guy he mentioned who had fallen in Afghanistan) father is John McAleese, a legend of the SAS, was one of the Iranian Embassy raiders, and finally, the Inspiration for Captain John Price.
they where fighting for imperialists, i dont have pity for stormtroopers.
The moment where the elder says "You've been through a lot haven't you son." and the younger veteran just looks at him with empty eyes and doesn't say a word, but you can clearly see the turmoil inside he must be feeling from those words.
@John Smith to be honest I doubt it war destroys people, training and the actually departures and all that truly break down a person and only build up the necessities and throw away anything else, this man saw so many of is regiment die and he killed many people, both of them have, the older man prolly has done alot of healing and he prolly has been able to rebuild alot of himself while the younger is still prolly torn and still struggling with the fact that he got himself practically stripped from him and hes prolly still trying to build himself back up
I saw it too. It wasn't cut. Everything flashed before his eyes and I felt his pain.
It was real.
Just shut the fuck up. The cringe is real
@Phil oh my God man 🤦🏻♂️
@Phil McCrevice what's wrong with people being poetic?
The young soldier was like holding his tears back. His stares are blank. Makes me sad. Hope he recovers from what he have been through. May he find peace in what ever he is doing now.
I don't think they ever recover, but just learn to cope with it. It's a shame that the support that is required isn't there when its needed! I feel as a nation we don't thank our veterans anywhere near enough.
Simon Flanders i agree. No matter what nation we are from, we should have a stable support for our troops, especially those who went through war. It’s not gonna be easy when they come back, and it will never be easy for them.
Soldiers nowadays choose to be in the army as a career. In WW1 and 2 you were sent to fight against your will. That one was a real trauma.
@@lucaconte7812 relax there bud. It was barely over 20% of troops drafted in WWII. Meaning about 80% willingly chose. That's what I would call a just bit of the majority 😉 I do not serve and am grateful for those that do. Nothing wrong with taking a career in the military.
@@lucaconte7812 you know what was scarier?
Vietnam. not a Vietnam vet but it was terrifying for the US soldiers to not know where the enemy was and using traps and civilians to kill soldiers, and all 18 year olds were forced to serve in this "war".