I could stay hours listening to the memories of these "boys"
@johneasler9967
4 жыл бұрын
My dad was a tail gunner in SBD's and SB2C's in WWII. Damn, I miss him
@bread-cf8fl
4 жыл бұрын
What's his name?
@neils891
4 жыл бұрын
You have good blood in your veins. His legacy lives on in you. On behalf of those who enjoy freedom today and to the honor of your father, I’d like to thank you and your entire family for your service to this great nation. God bless you and God bless America! Thank you!
@chopprz
4 жыл бұрын
Hans Jandell Felizardo Mr. Easter
@freyalibby
3 жыл бұрын
Well we all thank him for his service
@charlieaustin2818
4 жыл бұрын
God bless these men from the “Greatest Generation”
@cliffthelightning
Жыл бұрын
Im from the Netherlands and we were liberated by brave men like these (different theater i know. They will be remembered for eternity.
@thestrum71
Жыл бұрын
This shows how a great generation deals with life in the long run. Nothing short of heroes, their perspective on how they lived it and moved on should be in schoolbooks....
@roseybut
7 жыл бұрын
As time passes these wonderful old warriors get fewer and fewer. We must celebrate and honour their achievements by recording for posterity their experiences for those fortunate generations untouched by war. Great film. Well done.
@mpayne8206
2 жыл бұрын
I get emotional every single time I talk about sacrifices made in The bravery displayed by these great men. I'm even more emotional about the fact that we are letting them down. The bravery it took to take off of a carrier knowing that you don't have enough fuel to get back but we had to hit Japan hard so they made that flight anyway. The courage it took to stay in a dive seeing your wingman and best friends getting shot down from the massive amount of fire coming from the target you're diving on and from Japanese fighter planes trailing. I thank them for their willingness to continue to serve when the chips were down. What kind of headspace must they have been in to be one of a few planes to make it back only to fuel up and go out again without question? I think about the brave men on the u-boats storming the beaches of Normandy... Being in that first wave knowing that you're charging not for a swift victory but to pay the way and a path for the second wave. Thank you to the men on the submarine who could have played it safe but instead push forward to the center of the hornet's nest. We weren't the best equipped by a long shot we weren't the most skilled pilots, but we were able to prevail because of courage in the face of fear and love of country. I'm thankful for the brave and steadfast women who held the country together while the men were at war. I think a big difference was that Japan was fighting for an emperor but we were fighting for freedom. Some may, but I will never forget your selfless sacrifices and forever grateful
@PAYNEJOHNC
4 жыл бұрын
My dad was a Radioman/Gunner in the Dauntless. He saw combat with the 331st Dive Bomber Squadron in the South Pacific. He was stationed on Majuro Atoll in 1944-1945 and had received orders to deploy to Izena Island off of Okinawa when the war ended. He was then sent to Tsing Tao China after the war where her earned the title China Marine. He's 94 and still telling me stories of his war experience. Amazing generation
@strix7833
5 жыл бұрын
These men truly were in the greatest generation this country has ever had. It is such an honor to have amazing men like this on our side. I have full respect for all the survivors left and those who have fallen in the war 🇺🇸
@HondaWyo
4 жыл бұрын
there will never be men on this planet again like the men that served during ww2
@kbanghart
3 жыл бұрын
@@HondaWyo wrong, they have existed throughout history
@MilitantMountaineer
3 жыл бұрын
@@kbanghart there are fewer and fewer with each passing generation and thats a fact.
@kbanghart
3 жыл бұрын
@@MilitantMountaineer tell that to the military
@65stang98
2 жыл бұрын
exactly. people dont have the knowldge or know how nowadays like these men. every single one of them can fight, hunt, grow a garden, and provide for their own no matter the circumstances i realized that watching my grandparents. that generation had the old way of an upbringing but with the advantage of rapidly growing technology. Best generation and in my opinion one of the best times to live before social media and stuff like that
@SunnyIlha
Жыл бұрын
Rear Gunner, SBD Dauntless. What a daring thing to be doing in a crazy place in an airplane.
@grimkupid8478
4 жыл бұрын
It's a damn shame how many of the these stories will never be told because the hero's have already passed. Thanks for sharing this!
@seansky2721
Жыл бұрын
"You still owe me $5.00." I laughed out loud, which was good because these old, steely eyes inexplicably leaked as these two grand gents told their story. Thanks George.
@derweibhai
3 жыл бұрын
My grandfather raised me. He was the tailgunner in an SBD on USS Enterprise CV6 FreeTime m 43-45. Wish I would have gotten his stories on tape!!!! We lost him in 2004.
@wimsele
4 жыл бұрын
Glad someone had the intelligence to interview these men and document their stories before they were gone.Thank You.
@yes_head
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for this! Dick's story about half hanging out of the back of a Dauntless in a dive, trying desperately not to go flying out of it, all while trying to hang onto this big double machine gun mount, PLUS chucking bits of equipment at the Zeros coming at them... If you saw it in a movie you'd think, "That's just Hollywood."
@kbanghart
3 жыл бұрын
Exactly, many times movie directors have to tone events down, because the audience would just complain it's not believable.
@LiamWade-y8q
Жыл бұрын
We need more people like this!!
@clyde8661
5 жыл бұрын
They are Legends and legends might gone but their heroism stay in our memories and in the History
@davidpiano8551
7 жыл бұрын
a fond salute to these old warriors and aviators.
@stanwatson6616
Жыл бұрын
Much respect and thanks to these warriors.
@eugenedouglas1551
Жыл бұрын
Awesome George just Awesome. Thanks to you and all involved. Most importantly thank you to all those that served in WW2.
@petebjerkelund5088
Жыл бұрын
Man that was great. The rest of us are so lucky that you've put these men's stories down so well, Rattleass Jr. Thank you.
@scottpayton1352
9 ай бұрын
That was fantastic. I'm an old Soldier and that brought tears to my eyes.
@terrydawkins9936
2 жыл бұрын
Thank God for theses men
@stevejauncey3086
2 жыл бұрын
What a pair of characters 😊
@bartomand3681
5 жыл бұрын
Watched this on Remembrance/Veteran's Day 2019. Thanks to the Greatest Generation, and all of those who sacrificed and served.
@terryrussel3369
4 жыл бұрын
This interview is Precious Beyond Price. God Blessed America with Men like these and Still Does.
@zacharyatwell5868
4 жыл бұрын
Can’t stop crying this is powerful
@redwatch1100
3 жыл бұрын
Ikr. Me too bro.
@ediz6984
4 жыл бұрын
SBD Dive-Bomber is one of the best fighter machines ever produced. Its rear gunner makes it a fighter which actually makes the real feel of a fighter against its enemy on its tails.
@Bambihunter1971
Жыл бұрын
Love the story, especially the ending. 🙂
@davesims1615
5 жыл бұрын
These guys were definitely the best of best generation we will ever have the honor to enjoy god bless them....
@davedavis662
4 жыл бұрын
What an honor just to hear these two old war hero’s reminiscing. May God still bless them and all the rest past and present. No one can truly appreciate what they sacrifice unless they have done so themselves. But we are obligated to try. Thank you gentlemen!
@tyreekmurillo4524
2 жыл бұрын
these are some intriguing stories
@HondaWyo
4 жыл бұрын
watching this makes me tear up. my grandpa severed and he was so full of stories. but i would always listen to them. but there was a lot of thing he wouldnt talk about. Found out later that was because the work he did was classified during the Manhattan project. he passed april 22nd this year and hate knowing i will never beable to hear a story from him again. and what makes me even more mad is at myself for never recording any of them. he was such a smart man, taught me so much with mechanics, electrical, welding, photography, and even though i never got to go up in a plane with him he taught me alot about aircraft.
@cynthiadesmond4906
3 жыл бұрын
Was just watching Midway..a new Fav of mine..looked up Dick Best..lived to be 90!!.. Also Happy Birthday.what a hero🇺🇸👏👏❤
@rbrockhaus
4 жыл бұрын
God bless these brave men
@livingadreamlife1428
4 жыл бұрын
Nothing compares to hearing a first person account of battle and the small details that make it real.
@wb256
3 жыл бұрын
Dad enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October of 1941 at the age of 17. He served as radioman/gunner in Torpedo Squadron 14. He flew in Grumman TBF Avengers and Douglas Dauntless Dive Bombers aboard the second WASP aircraft carrier (CV-18) in the Pacific until the end of the war.
@Capt_OscarMike
4 жыл бұрын
I'm a grown man who has experienced the best and worst of men...Have defended, spilled blood, and had my own blood spilled for this country...Yet, there is something about the men (men, please, these were kids, kids who became men extremely quick) of The Greatest Generation that moves my often static emotional gauge...I must confess I found myself smiling, chuckling & that emotional tug occur during the final minute of this video...Each day I find myself seeing those I have admired my entire life become frail and pass...maybe reminding me of my own mortality or more likely is me yearning for a time when American's understood what it meant to be an American...when a handshake and a man's word meant something; when if you messed with my family then you messed with the entire family...in short, a yearning to live life again knowing what I didn't realize or recognize when I was young. The one consistent however is never doubting the gratitude, honor, and respect we all owe these men and all of America during those years... America, n infant nation compared to Europe, biblical, Middle Eastern, Russian, and Asian countries...America's foundation has been shattered, broken and eroded under causing the collapse of significant components which IMO are not repairable...America was a blessed country and a blessed people...no longer and it saddens me personally...the leftist BS of entities such as this medium and their ignorance is disgusting...yet, what option do people have these days??? placating to 10-15% of the population based on misleading and unsubstantiated information (ie not on facts)...young people not being emphasized absolutes exist, genders are 2 & getting the *hit knocked out of you for running your mouth or bullying will happen again unless the change occurs... Yes, yearning for yesteryear is what ails me these days. God Bless these men and thanks for sacrificing for the rest of us.
@kbanghart
3 жыл бұрын
A lot of your comment was fine until you started complaining about leftist BS lol, sounds like more pathetic excuses, just enjoy these videos and try not to bring politics into everything.
@ThePandaJedi
4 жыл бұрын
My Grandfather (currently 96 years old) was a tail gunner on an SBD. He was tellling me and my brother stories about his time just the other night (10/18/20).
@chew2elah
4 жыл бұрын
My grandfather was a gunner/ radioman in the SBD with the Marine Corps VMSB-234 through Guadalcanal, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands and into New Zealand.
@australianmade2659
4 жыл бұрын
I love these men. From Australia 🇦🇺
@geebody8969
4 жыл бұрын
I could listen to these men all day long. Salute to the greatest navy on earth.
@MrSweeperUSA
4 жыл бұрын
The balls these heros have are so big I'm surprised they could get on the plane again! What they went through just unimaginable. Thank you for your service.
@universalpancakes4101
4 жыл бұрын
The men that served in WWII, hell, the men that serve/served in every war are fucking legends.
@rc_videoshooter9638
Жыл бұрын
As somebody who spent a career in concert production working with the biggest names in entertainment, your creative talent and ability to get these amazing veterans to get so specific is just phenomenal. "Sneaky Pete" and "washing machine charlie?" Come on!
@georgecampbell9638
4 жыл бұрын
These old pilots look great for over 70 years later
@zenodotusofathens2122
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks for putting this together. It is a great contribution to the historical record
@EasyTiger700
5 жыл бұрын
What an absolute joy to watch. 👍🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
@terryblack4385
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing the memories. Thanks to the "Eleven" for your service to our country.
@steveb6103
4 жыл бұрын
My dad recieved his carrier rating on the day the Hornet was sunk. He ended up on the USS Essex. Ended the war on the second USS Hornet.
@nagumobutai1701
3 жыл бұрын
This is awesome for these heroes.
@paulw176
4 жыл бұрын
thanks for uplaoding this! Beautiful aircraft...my Uncle was a tailgunner in WW2 on both Wasp and Hornet ...
@fazole
3 жыл бұрын
I've read a number of WW2 aviation stories and these are among the best! I knew a guy who was a Navy mechanic flying in the back of an old SNJ just after the war. He was carrying a tool box on his lap and the hotshot pilot decided to do some aerobatics. The toolbox went right thru the floor!
@ericjensen1740
5 жыл бұрын
These guys had the best view. Especially at Midway.
@SolidMikeP
4 жыл бұрын
Just leaves you wanting to hear more about them and all the incredible acts they have committed in their lives.
@richardmiralles1676
2 жыл бұрын
You can read a Amazon book written by R. Miralles called WAR and FIRE an Autobography.
@blind1294
4 жыл бұрын
Just to say thank you to you all !! words cant explain how much I appreciate what you went through for me to be here today, love from the uk.
@firefly510
2 жыл бұрын
Super stuff. Love it.
@armedinbama
3 жыл бұрын
Mr. Veesey was my next door neighbor when I was a kid. I wish I had been more cognizant of such things when I had daily access.
@kbanghart
3 жыл бұрын
Don't beat yourself up over it. A lot of us experienced the same.
@armedinbama
3 жыл бұрын
@@kbanghart Thanks. 👍 By the way, Mr. Veesey passed away September 9th, 2021. He was 97.
@garyolivier792
4 жыл бұрын
That was great !! Thank you for doing this!!
@petejoseph8257
3 жыл бұрын
Brave boys to great men. Thanks for your service, guys.
@ernietheattorneycom
3 жыл бұрын
My god this is priceless. Thank you for this incredible share. God bless these men.
@armedinbama
3 жыл бұрын
FYI: Ose Veesey passed away September 9th, 2021. He was 97. May he rest in peace.
@richardmiralles1676
2 жыл бұрын
I am Richard Miralles and I am almost 98. I will miss my great buddy Ose and I am lucky to have fought the war with him and had him as a friend. I know my time is very short and I can't wait until we can be together again.
@armedinbama
2 жыл бұрын
@@richardmiralles1676 God bless you, Richard! 😊🙏
@GeorgeRetelas
2 жыл бұрын
@@richardmiralles1676 It's been an honor to call you friend! Ose was a real treat to meet and interview. My favorite part was watching the two of you interact after all those years.
@Воваяпонский
4 жыл бұрын
Вы молодец вы герой я не забуду никогда вас уважение и знаю что таких людей очень мало я рад что есть такие люди .
@galangputra8833
4 жыл бұрын
13:27 this hit me hard in reality
@tomservo5347
2 жыл бұрын
Having your plane catch on fire during startup yet going out and finding another plane that had probably been redlined just so they wouldn't miss the mission shows the 'can do' attitude of these men. Our country misses them!
@robertmorey4104
4 жыл бұрын
Wow great video. So cool to see those two together. "You still owe me 5 dollars". Lol. Great stories, love the then and now photos. Never hear much about the rear gunners. Thanks for making this video. KZitem at it's best. Brave men like this are why we are still free!
@GeorgeRetelas
3 жыл бұрын
Check out Dauntless Dick's new memoir "WAR AND FIRE" on Amazon: read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B08888NWD5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_S4nRFbM8Y12WM
@firefightergoggie
4 жыл бұрын
Oh great, these guys got to go into vertical dives towards the ocean with Mitsubishi A6M fighters in pursuit while shooting cannons at them, Japanese anti aircraft artillery shooting up at them...all while facing rearwards.
@bruceli9094
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service... forever. Your brave spirit will always live on 🇺🇸❤🇺🇸❤
@netdog713
4 жыл бұрын
My grandmother's cousin's husband was a Marine Corps tailgunner in the Pacific. Never talked about it but I would have loved to hear his story before he passed. These guys were heroes.
@JMD215
4 жыл бұрын
Amazing historical recounts, I'm so sad I didn't get to question my grandfather more about his time in the war. He always claimed it was the most exciting time of his life being 18 and traveling the world. My grandfather came from a large Italian family with 8 brothers and 1 sister(aunt Rita). Im not positive how many actually enlisted but it was at least 5 if not all. But she ordered to write all of them every Sunday by my great grandmother. My grandfather and a couple of other of his brothers were in the navy. My uncle Pete was a Sea-bee and stationed in the Pacific on a certain ship and my grandfather was just a normal seaman also in the pacific. My uncle's Sea-bees ship was sunk during an attack by Kamikazes. My grandfather's ship actually rescued them from the ocean not knowing that his brother was in the group they were saving. When they got the survivors on board, my grandfather recognized a guy that looked like his brother Pete. He walked up to take a closer look and to his amazement, it was his brother he hadn't seen since they enlisted. This happened right before Christmas I don't know which year but they were able to actually spend Christmas together on the ship and have Christmas dinner together. That is the main story my grandfather and uncle would always tell at family reunions. All the brothers survived and made it home, unfortunately, there is only 1 of the 8 still living. But my uncle Pete's daughter married a gentleman who was a west point cadet who later became a Rear Admiral. His name was Rear Admiral Kevin Delaney who ended up being the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic fleet stationed out of Jacksonville Fl. He has since passed but I remember as a kid when he would show up at reunions in his dress whites with so many medals it looked like a plate of armor. I wish I would have been more interested in their stories when I was younger but now it's too late. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who sacrificed & served this great nation you all are the true heroes. And I love listening to these stories and the class all these gentlemen & women have.
@richardthorn7726
4 жыл бұрын
As a former Naval Aircrewmen what a great video
@garethmurphy9060
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this It has just put a smile on my face God bless these men and all the other men and women who did what they did so we can be the people we are today .
@blusnuby2
4 жыл бұрын
Hoo-Rah Navy warriors ! THANKS for 'putting it all on the line' for our GREAT nation, so long ago...The definitive book on this subject is: DAUNTLESS HELLDIVERS, by Harold Buell. BIG SALUTES to all of you brave MEN & WOMEN of The Greatest Generation who served during WW2 !!
@isaacmcpeek9636
3 жыл бұрын
I knew many of these men of Greatest Generation as my Grandfathers church friends. He was a veteran with the Ohio 37th Infantry Division. The war stories in the Pacific of Guadalcanal, Munda, Bouganville and the Philippines were common in trips to Grandpas house and or his friends. His uncle fought on the Marne in France in WW1 we still have his service .45. My father 20 years with the Signal Corps in the Army. My brother & I Iraq war vets. We love our country & our vets are all our heroes in my house hold.
@Johno1992
4 жыл бұрын
They really were the greatest generation and it's a shame so many of these stories will go untold If anybody is looking for more story's about ww2 check out memoirs of ww2
@SeverSTL
4 жыл бұрын
Thanx. Better than any war movie.
@jcchienx
4 жыл бұрын
True heroes and great victory!
@p38cobra
4 жыл бұрын
Beautiful
@edsonlorencetti8172
6 жыл бұрын
Great job! The Pacific war was terrible, these guys are great heroes! I'm from Brazil, how can I buy this movie?
@GeorgeRetelas
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you! The movie is available at: www.ElevenTheMovie.com/
@IndependentBear
4 жыл бұрын
Beautiful!!! Thank you for making this video.
@stulynn2005
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing these mens stories
@johnsiegel7912
3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely brilliant. Thank you!
@joer5627
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you Gentlemen!
@jasonhuiting5193
4 жыл бұрын
I don't know how those planes could get airborne being weighed down so much by the weight to those guys steel balls
@keepemclassic6791
4 жыл бұрын
Those planes were built for the weight of 400+ pound balls of steel.
@floundergearjam
4 жыл бұрын
Do any of these guys know what a real walking badass they are? Probably too humble.
@massacmongo995
4 жыл бұрын
Heroes all .Thank you Gentlemen for all our FREEDOMS .
@jamesmartin4902
5 жыл бұрын
Awesome documentary, good job....
@cashoutmurkn
4 жыл бұрын
Beautiful stuff man ⚓️
@TheHuntercamper
2 жыл бұрын
Thank You
@peanutbutterisfu
2 жыл бұрын
It’s too bad digital video and KZitem wasn’t a thing a few decades earlier we lost out on a lot of stories. To anyone with grandparents still around go hang out with them more don’t worry about ur friends so much.
@totallysmooth1203
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this.
@lost70s
4 жыл бұрын
That was really good !!! Thanks for making and posting ... really really good man ....
@rmstorms
4 жыл бұрын
It was Dick Best and his split second decision that won the battle. Not to mention his 1000 lb bomb finished Akagi.
@redwatch1100
3 жыл бұрын
He had two carrier hits that day. He came back and put one in Hiryu later that afternoon.
@kbanghart
3 жыл бұрын
I was looking for an interview with dick best and it came up with this video, which is also awesome!
@birdking6389
5 жыл бұрын
great man, salute!
@sallyb3
4 жыл бұрын
Great video and reunions
@andrewmacomber1638
4 жыл бұрын
What an incredible story these men are my heroes!❤️
@terryroth2855
11 ай бұрын
My Dad was an 18 year old USMC radioman on a SBD. I once asked him if he was ever afraid of getting shot down. Hell no he said. When that damned Major put that thing in a dive and we were going 800 MPH😃and the wings were flapping like a bird, I knew they were going to break off. That's when I thought I would die.
@larrytischler570
3 жыл бұрын
I had a friend at work that was a rear gunner on a torpedo plane at the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He was very young and had little experience so he was in the flight group that was held in reserve. This bunch were not sent out since the enemy had already turned and were running away and the first US Navy attacks were at extreme range and many failed to reach their carrier on the return trip due to empty fuel tanks. Torpedo plane rear gunners were not nearly as sure of a completed mission as the dive bombers due to lack of speed and the low angle of attack.
@WEC304
4 жыл бұрын
being a dive bomber/pilot in this era sounds scary but something I wish I could do
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