The title of the video and the subject and soldier caught me, because the neighbor next door when I was 9-13 years old was a 101st veteran (around 99-03, he passed around that time). I didnt even know he was in the 101st when he was alive, he never mentioned it. The man wasnt much for words, but he did walk over one day and taught me how to split wood rounds with a sledgehammer and wedges when I was about 13, and I always remember him when I split wood to this day. He walked over to me struggling in the driveway and said "you don't really know what you're doing, do you? Here, grab a wedge and I'll show you..." His name was Griffith ("Griff"). He named his son Jeep, which I imagine there had to have been a story from the war about, though I never thought to ask. After he passed I would go next door and help his wife with problems she had from time to time and watch the house when she was away. Once, after helping her, she took me into a room of the house which had some framed mementos from his service, insignia of the 101st, uniform, pictures, and so on. She explained to me that he was in the battle of the bulge and was seriously wounded in combat. Since things were so dire, they were doing triage for wounded, and he was put in the 'do not save' tent where they were just making them comfortable as they could but had little prospect of survival. A nurse making rounds talked to him and they realized that he was close to someone she knew back home, so she grabbed a doctor and got him to agree to try to save him. Luckily he was able to do so so he could make it back home to meet and marry Helen, and eventually teach me how to split wood one summer.
I wish some of today's politicians could hear this man's story. He teaches us all so much about what life is all about. So modest & humble. A real life history book. What a man. So proud of men like him.
These are the type of men who should run out country. Not the ones with money that hide behind closed doors. I say this because these men know first hand depending on the decision you make will determine the outcome of your decision.
I had the same experience with my neighbor who lived across the street from me. I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was hiding by his porch playing and he came out and asked me if I ever heard of Bastogne. I said I hadn't. He went on to tell me he was with the 101st in Bastogne. That got me to finding books and reading about it. God bless our Vets!
Crazy how sharp this man's mind is at his age. Very fortunate that you were able to get an interview with him before he passed away. 9/11/22 RIP to an amazing human being and an American Hero!
As a member of the hundred first airborne in Vietnam I am so humbled buy these gentlemen that served in WWII. Everything he said about the training was exactly the same for us. They had a different War they had to stand up and fight face-to-face with their enemy. We had a jungle that we had to worry about. At least we could hear the enemy coming and prepare for them. I am so proud to wear the Screamin Eagle and paratrooper on my hat and I'm surprised at how many normal people that I come in contact with know what the Screamin Eagle patch is and what it stands for. Also I want to thank you and your organization for bringing the stories to light for the General Public. I finally got the welcome-home, that we all missed when we got home, at the recent Heroes honor Festival in Daytona Beach on Memorial Day weekend. I took my oldest son with me so that he could see some of the stories that were being told by the people that were there and people that had come to entertain us. Again thank you for all that you do for us veterans. PFC. Jim Renderer (Doc Sleepy) combat medic. 1/327th inf. 101st Airborne Tiger Force
Jim- had a uncle in new zealand born 4 months premature. in bush in 1915 a.d. - he was a runt with a bad inferority complex. when w.w.2 started he kept well away from it in the bush but someone kept posting him white feathers, which inplied that he was a guttless coward. it pissed him off so much he went to nearest rectritin post in- Waipawa town thinki they would refuse him. But he got a shock when they said he had the perfect snipers body and he ended upp as a trained sniper in north africa and italy. in new zealand army. he made it back too the bush in new zealand in 1946.- 17 men out off 120 men in his company committed suicide in Italy as it got mosr nasty on road too Berlin city.
Doc- I'm a Veteran of OIF '03-'04. I spoke to a Korean war vet who'd been through the ringer. I told him despite my hardships I'd never seen anything like what he'd seen. He told me, the Vietnam guys said the same thing about Korean War vets, he said the same about WW2 vets, and the WW2 vets said the same about the fellas in WW1. In the end we all agree, war is hell. And nobody feels worthy of this statement since time immemorial but Thank You for your service.
Jim, you boys didn’t fail America, America failed you. I was born in ‘66 so barely remember much about the war, but I’ve read a LOT about it. EFF the hippies who have no idea what you guys were faced with, the decisions that were made and the reasons why. Our war fighters are the absolute best in the world when tasked with a clear mission, and support to accomplish the objective. Y’all were not. This grateful American appreciates your service, so thank you and welcome home.
I met him today, September 22, 2019, in Uden/Netherlands. He was here for the 75th anniversary of operation Market Garden. He told me that he jumped...again ! He is 98 ! What a great man !
@Robert Bonneau Just being an airborne soldier makes him great in my opinion. US paratroopers, during WW2 were elite troops. Most washed out during training. Anyone who managed to make it through all that demanding training is a badass. He and all the paratroopers of that war deserve much respect. And I do have that respect for them. I'm 7 years prior service. Army Field Artillery. What I did and went through and endured is not even close to what these guys did.
@Robert Bonneau Who are you accusing of stolen valor? I served 7 years in a Army Field Artillery unit. It wasn't easy. But I really respect the infantry and especially the airborne infantry. I'm really trying to understand who you are accusing of what.
My father also fought in the Ardennes. Mom told us he had to be hospitalized for months in hospital in Belgium due to frostbite. Doctors warned of amputating a leg. He kept it & went back to the war. His discharge papers show five Bronze Stars. Normandy, Ardennes, Northern France, Central Europe, Rhineland. His hands were also affected & he often wore cotton gloves w Vaseline on them for skin problems. Imagine sleeping in a truck, or hole in the ground, with no fires in the coldest winter of your life. He never talked about the war. As a boy, I'd ask him what he did there. "Played a lot of poker." Didn't keep his medals. I never saw them.
You sir, are a total bad ass!!!! Even at 98!!!! Thank you for my freedom. I know it isn’t free. Because of you men, I was able to serve. OIF Vet here. Honestly I don’t feel worthy of stepping into your boots. Because of you we have what we have today.
Hand on my heart right at the end. Such humility. God Bless him, his fellow soldiers, and those who didn't come home. They gave us a gift that's mind-boggling in scale and value. May they never be forgotten.
We barely have any WW2 vets left if any. These men are the true definition of hardmen mixed in with hard kids Heros!! These men made hard time into soft times well you know the saying! I really hope that we talked to every last one of them and got their stories down like this. Love these guys!
You would be hard pressed to find a modern day Private First Class who has such a clear understanding of the overall battle space. That he so clearly remembered the finite details of the operations he was involved in is amazing and it was a pleasure to hear this interview. He and his comrades met their Rendezvous with Destiny with heads held high.
I have the ut most respect for soldiers like this gentleman , I was also a paratrooper as was my retired late Father who was a Sargent Majour in the Special Forces , and my son was also a paratrooper , "I salute you sir "
@@dring83 Not here matey, even though he doesnt belong to us his values as well as those of many of your veterans are still held strong here in Oz!! We may be your annoying little brother but were still here punching above our weight in the way we always have and always will do. We remember our ex-servicemen as well as your veterans and live by their values and enjoy knowing that we are honouring them. Our biggest day of memory "Anzac Day" is growing in numbers every year. You should make an Anzac holiday one year and share the love
Mr. Martin, is a symbol of the front line soldier/marine/sailor in WWII. An amazing man. My Dad was lucky enough to be one of the few fighting survivors of the 28th Inf. Div., 110 Inf. Regiment-A Company who became attached with 101st in the defense of Bastogne. Bless all these Veterans .
Those Pennsylvania's of the 28th Bloody Bucket Division were one tough bunch. What did the Germans expect would happen from a bunch of pissed off coal miners and lumberjacks?
@@johnwad7468 🤣 Love the way you said that! And yeah, the Germans probably expected a whole lot less than what said miners & lumberjacks gave, that's for sure!
I was privileged to spend a lot of time with a 101st Airborne Division veteran. Those guys know how to survive and after their training and experience they can handle nearly anything in life. True grit says it.
This guy is sharp as a tack, he should have been an officer, what a wonderful account of this period in U. S. Military history. Thank you so much PFC Martin.
No, he has a lot of opinions and is assertive. But he is not officer stuff. He is wrong a lot on matters of known fact. I like the guy but he doesn't know the whole picture. For example, recruiting offices all over the country were mobbed with men wanting to volunteer in the week following Pearl Harbor. No one was thinking isolation as this guy claims. The writing was on the wall and Americans wanted to go to war, plain and simple. It was time.
Thank you. My dad was a young boy in Eindhoven when the americans liberated them in 1945. He immigrated to canada where we were all born. Once again THANK YOU
@Norberto Fontanez What you said, with your passive aggressive salutation at the end as if it makes your belligerent statement polite, reveals the stereotype of Baby Boomers that so many of you you're lazy, ignorant, arrogant, and have the nerve to put blame that belongs to you on the shoulders of your children. I don't know a greater shame for a generation, but I feel pretty safe that the younger generations living now won't make at least many of these same mistakes that your generation makes. How old were the people who caught Bin Laden, and how old were the people who shrugged him off for a decade while focusing on a war that was sold to capture Bin Laden, but had nothing to do with Bin Laden? I think the President of the Baby Boomers, George W. Bush, said that he wasn't concerned with catching Bin Laden at one point, and Bin Laden attacked America on his watch! Proof: th-cam.com/video/jJmFkbBjbO0/w-d-xo.html So tell me, which generation knows what they're doing, and which generation is all too happy to put problems (sometimes create problems, terrorism, sleeping on a mass shooting epidemic, unaccounted murders by police, senseless military action, etc.) that they're tasked to solve, on the next generation? Let me simplify that question, because I know your generation doesn't like to read past a headline. IS THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION RESPONSIBLE OR IRRESPONSIBLE? Please say "responsible". I'm not finished listing reasons that Baby Boomers don't have any place to be proud of themselves. CLIMATE CHANGE. Yeah, I know your brain just breezed past those words, as if they don't exist. CLIMATE CHANGE. Boomers get confused when they see those words. CLIMATE CHANGE! Oh, here let me make this polite. 🍺👈😎 "Go get drunk!"
I'd have to say - the best interview I've seen with a WW2 Veteran. Mr Martin certainly didn't hold back nor did he allow ANY distortion of his service record or what he did to gain extra kudos or adulation. He told it straight as he experienced it or saw it himself. It's a pity the interviewer didn't get onto the subject of Band of Brothers and his take on it. Based on the rest of what he said I reckon it would have been a real eye opener and very different from Ambrose' book and the TV Series. I also confused him with the StSgt Johnny Martin from Easy Company that is in the TV Series. Two different guys.
We need more uncut interviews like this; it's great to feel like you're sitting in the same room as them and listening to the conversation. Thanks to the people that produced this!
It’s like when sometime tells you about a place and you see it for yourself you literally have no idea what these people went through. Much respect thank you for your service
Absolutely amazing interview. I'm so very thankful to all the men and women who have served and are still serving. My grandfather's fought with Canada in WW2 and many Great uncles along with my grandmother in the women's auxiliary unit. God bless anyone who has been or is currently in the services. Much love
Thank you sir! It was an absolute pleasure to hear you speak. Your patriotism is awesome. Your love of this country and pride in having served so honorably is breathtaking! It comes from a time when you were proud to be American! Something people don't feel nowadays. I will be 70 this year and remember when being an American was cool. I still feel that way. This country, warts and all, is still the greatest country on the planet. I am moved to tears when I see our flag waving proudly in the wind. Thank you again sir for warming my heart with the pride and the love. God Bless America! Now and Always!
Definitely one of the better Ww2 veterans interviews .I think you would love to hear the one from Ed Manley, he was 99 years old at the time of the video, and he is unbelievably sharp.
Saved the world from what? Millions of people died from WW2 unnecessarily. Diplomacy should have been tried first. Warring countries like US, Britain, and France were too quick to fight and not try negotiating first.
With all due respect, this man is indeed a hero. Thank God America has such humble men in her ranks. I used to live in Arnhem, Holland years ago and was well aware of the sacrifices made on both sides of the river (Rijn, btw). Used to cross that bridge every day. The so called "bridge too far". Thank you for your service!
I would like to honor this man with great words. But I don’t have words that measure up to him. I will settle for THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE
It is wonderful how Americans say thank you for your service loudly and often however, I fear that an essential element of that thanks should be remembering which seems to be absent. Sure those service men appreciate the thanks but I'm certain they would prefer actions that demonstrate remembrance rather than the glib
You can literally honor him by punching a Nahtzee!!! If this man can die to stop white people from having safe and homogeneous societies, than you can too comrade.
Had an uncle that was with Patton's army that headed north during the battle of The Bulge to help relieve Bastogne the only story he ever told was while in patrol they came up on a cellar of a house that had a large quantity of potatoes they went back to get a truck to liberate those potatoes and when they came back they encountered a German patrol that wanted those potatoes well my uncle's group won the shootout. My uncle died in an auto accident in 1959 when a woman ran a stop sign amongst some corn fields in Northwest Ohio rest in peace Uncle Howard!
Bill- had a neighbour with 12,000 arce farm his family had since 1854 and he won suprme Gallanrty medal in france- w.w.1. and when he got back in 1919 A.D. too new zealand he killed by car near his farm upp in hills. Wonder what type off car it was in 1919 in the Wop's.''
What an amazing man. The tasks he so unselfishly performed, and to honor us with his stories, sides of which may have never been told is incredible. Thank you Mr Martin.
It amazes me with the tactical and strategic knowledge this man has as a PFC. With his knowledge and especially his guts, I wonder why he never promoted?
@ Military promotions, at least for enlisted men, are classified as temporary until you've served at that rank for a specified period of time. Only then is your rank classification upgraded to permanent. His permanent rank at that time was PFC. Apparently the war ended and he left the army before his rank of sergeant was upgraded to permanent and he's chosen to identify himself with his permanent rank of PFC.
I was in the 101 in the 60es Pee Wee walked my wife down the isle when we got married.Her father is the youngest buried on the beach.Roy U .Talhelm.Am honored to be in the company of my heros.Go Gus ,Ed,&the rest of the men who made my life complete
Really glad to have listened to this interview. I was struck by this man's humility and unwillingness to be seen as a 'hero' for doing the job that he volunteered to do.
The last 10 minutes he speaks such heavy and powerful words... thank you to all involved in getting this man out to the world. History should never be forgotten and its an honor to hear history first hand from someone who lived it.
My Dad was with A Company, 502nd PIR, 101ST ABN and was there. He did not talk much about the war. What I learned was from my Mother. He died very young at 49. I am now 77 and to this day he is my hero. After he died I was able to do enough research to know what he went through.
This interviews are so so important! It will be available for millions to learn something real valuable into eternity! Big thanks for all the work to make this possible and a special thanks to all the MEN that fought the nazis making this a better world to live on! I'm from Portugal (one of the oldest country's in the world that was neutral in this bloody war) and my grandfather was guarding the American base (Lajes) in Açores in middle Atlantic. Maybe he saw some of this fellows on their way to Europe...God Save the Good America!
He said when you live in a country like this, it’s an obligation to go when your called. And we didn’t go alone. It was an honor to be part of history… That’s a real man right there. Thanks for the knowledge old timer. My grandpa died before I became a man, so I want able to have these conversations with him about the WW2. He served on the USSR side. I thought he had left with his brother, but my dad corrected me and said grampa went with his dad, my great grandpa, who didn’t make it back. They rarely talk about these things, so it gets confusing sometimes. That’s why it’s an honor to hear these great men tell their story.
@@babynautilus I honestly believe that behind closed doors, we actually are, probably the best allies of each other. Just secretly. I have reasons for believing that, it’s just my opinion. But I really think it’s all propaganda for the masses. They probably laugh at the game they’re playing
Mate!!!! What a damn story you have!!!! I love you!!! You are the essence of all that is good!!! I don't know if you are still alive but mate you are just inspirational!!! The world is indeed a better place because of you Sir!!!
Ive watched the "Band of Brothers" series a few times, listening to the men that took part really shows how accurate the series was. However only the real accounts make the hairs stand up and the tears roll, terrible times back then, those who fought for their fellow men will always be in my thoughts, I am lucky enough to have been over to visit many a European battle field and able to pay respects to the fallen. I just pray those who propagate war today would do the same and hopefully find a path that is not aimed at MONEY making. Amazing account from a man who did what he had too
"Follow Me!" is ALWAYS far better leadership than "go there!" Much respect for PFC Martin and his fellow paratroopers from this old Marine Sergeant. (Vietnam 1969-1970). Airborne!
The Greatest Generation that have ever lived is almost no more. I'm glad your Recording all their stories. They need to be told to this new generation. Maybe it'll smarten them up.
Its hard to imagine what these men went through. This generation right now isn’t grateful for all the bloodshed and sacrifice that was spilled and spent for these beautiful rights and great living conditions. What these men did is heroic and should be remembered and respected forever.
I aspire to be like this man. Not only was he a hero, certified badass, and a true patriot, but he's also full of life and inspirational. I especially loved the part where he said "Just because you get old doesn't mean you have to sit around and die" Loved it. You keep inspiring us Sir, thank you for your words. I promise I will live by that phrase and remember you every time that I get a chance to pass it on to my children and their children
We certainly appreciate your incredible sacrifice. "No, I have to correct you on that. None of us have ever considered this a sacrifice and I tell people and I really mean this I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been part of history." How humble this man is.
And two remarkable statements more: "It's more satisfaction for me, than I ' ve got rich." "The world would have been a differrent place, had this not happened." This is why I am so thankfull to him and his comrades. They suffered and died for a better world, even for me born nine years after WW 2 in Federal Republic of Germany.
This man gave a seriously interesting interview. What a shame the sound was out of balance. Nevertheless all my respect and praise go to this brave and honest man.
The title of the video and the subject and soldier caught me, because the neighbor next door when I was 9-13 years old was a 101st veteran (around 99-03, he passed around that time). I didnt even know he was in the 101st when he was alive, he never mentioned it. The man wasnt much for words, but he did walk over one day and taught me how to split wood rounds with a sledgehammer and wedges when I was about 13, and I always remember him when I split wood to this day. He walked over to me struggling in the driveway and said "you don't really know what you're doing, do you? Here, grab a wedge and I'll show you..." His name was Griffith ("Griff"). He named his son Jeep, which I imagine there had to have been a story from the war about, though I never thought to ask.
After he passed I would go next door and help his wife with problems she had from time to time and watch the house when she was away. Once, after helping her, she took me into a room of the house which had some framed mementos from his service, insignia of the 101st, uniform, pictures, and so on. She explained to me that he was in the battle of the bulge and was seriously wounded in combat. Since things were so dire, they were doing triage for wounded, and he was put in the 'do not save' tent where they were just making them comfortable as they could but had little prospect of survival. A nurse making rounds talked to him and they realized that he was close to someone she knew back home, so she grabbed a doctor and got him to agree to try to save him. Luckily he was able to do so so he could make it back home to meet and marry Helen, and eventually teach me how to split wood one summer.
I wish some of today's politicians could hear this man's story. He teaches us all so much about what life is all about. So modest & humble. A real life history book. What a man. So proud of men like him.
That’s an amazing story, so sad so a few of these people are left
These are the type of men who should run out country. Not the ones with money that hide behind closed doors. I say this because these men know first hand depending on the decision you make will determine the outcome of your decision.
I had the same experience with my neighbor who lived across the street from me. I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was hiding by his porch playing and he came out and asked me if I ever heard of Bastogne. I said I hadn't. He went on to tell me he was with the 101st in Bastogne. That got me to finding books and reading about it. God bless our Vets!
That was a fantastic story. Makes me tear up and thank you for sharing.💖
Crazy how sharp this man's mind is at his age. Very fortunate that you were able to get an interview with him before he passed away. 9/11/22 RIP to an amazing human being and an American Hero!
I didn't know he had died. RIP Mr. Martin.
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
RIP soldier
Absolute privilege to have heard this man’s story.
P
@@ronan8834 shut up u Nazi
Absolutely!!
Compare this gentleman to the woke cretins we have today.
All of these men's stories, a honor to hear them
As a member of the hundred first airborne in Vietnam I am so humbled buy these gentlemen that served in WWII. Everything he said about the training was exactly the same for us. They had a different War they had to stand up and fight face-to-face with their enemy. We had a jungle that we had to worry about. At least we could hear the enemy coming and prepare for them. I am so proud to wear the Screamin Eagle and paratrooper on my hat and I'm surprised at how many normal people that I come in contact with know what the Screamin Eagle patch is and what it stands for. Also I want to thank you and your organization for bringing the stories to light for the General Public. I finally got the welcome-home, that we all missed when we got home, at the recent Heroes honor Festival in Daytona Beach on Memorial Day weekend. I took my oldest son with me so that he could see some of the stories that were being told by the people that were there and people that had come to entertain us. Again thank you for all that you do for us veterans.
PFC. Jim Renderer (Doc Sleepy) combat medic.
1/327th inf.
101st Airborne
Tiger Force
Jim- had a uncle in new zealand born 4 months premature. in bush in 1915 a.d. - he was a runt with a bad inferority complex. when w.w.2 started he kept well away from it in the bush but someone kept posting him white feathers, which inplied that he was a guttless coward. it pissed him off so much he went to nearest rectritin post in- Waipawa town thinki they would refuse him. But he got a shock when they said he had the perfect snipers body and he ended upp as a trained sniper in north africa and italy. in new zealand army. he made it back too the bush in new zealand in 1946.- 17 men out off 120 men in his company committed suicide in Italy as it got mosr nasty on road too Berlin city.
Doc- I'm a Veteran of OIF '03-'04. I spoke to a Korean war vet who'd been through the ringer. I told him despite my hardships I'd never seen anything like what he'd seen. He told me, the Vietnam guys said the same thing about Korean War vets, he said the same about WW2 vets, and the WW2 vets said the same about the fellas in WW1. In the end we all agree, war is hell. And nobody feels worthy of this statement since time immemorial but Thank You for your service.
Read my comment. Their training was tough!
Thanks for your sacrifice.
Jim, you boys didn’t fail America, America failed you. I was born in ‘66 so barely remember much about the war, but I’ve read a LOT about it. EFF the hippies who have no idea what you guys were faced with, the decisions that were made and the reasons why. Our war fighters are the absolute best in the world when tasked with a clear mission, and support to accomplish the objective. Y’all were not. This grateful American appreciates your service, so thank you and welcome home.
My great grandfather served with this amazing man and I’m proud to say so.
Read my comment.
I met him today, September 22, 2019, in Uden/Netherlands. He was here for the 75th anniversary of operation Market Garden. He told me that he jumped...again ! He is 98 ! What a great man !
@Robert Bonneau Why would you have to ask?
@Robert Bonneau Just being an airborne soldier makes him great in my opinion. US paratroopers, during WW2 were elite troops. Most washed out during training. Anyone who managed to make it through all that demanding training is a badass. He and all the paratroopers of that war deserve much respect. And I do have that respect for them. I'm 7 years prior service. Army Field Artillery. What I did and went through and endured is not even close to what these guys did.
@Robert Bonneau what have you done that was so great?
Im a former 11 bravo it's not an easy job the infantry no matter what side your on
@Robert Bonneau Who are you accusing of stolen valor? I served 7 years in a Army Field Artillery unit. It wasn't easy. But I really respect the infantry and especially the airborne infantry. I'm really trying to understand who you are accusing of what.
My father also fought in the Ardennes. Mom told us he had to be hospitalized for months in hospital in Belgium due to frostbite. Doctors warned of amputating a leg. He kept it & went back to the war.
His discharge papers show five Bronze Stars. Normandy, Ardennes, Northern France, Central Europe, Rhineland.
His hands were also affected & he often wore cotton gloves w Vaseline on them for skin problems.
Imagine sleeping in a truck, or hole in the ground, with no fires in the coldest winter of your life. He never talked about the war. As a boy, I'd ask him what he did there.
"Played a lot of poker." Didn't keep his medals. I never saw them.
His mind, mannerisms and everything else was like he was much younger than he really was. Another hero lost. RIP sir.
The spirit will keep the body alive much longer than the mind.
He hit home when he mentioned the ". . . honor it was to be part history and a part of his unit." Much respect and may he rest in peace.
Thanks
You sir, are a total bad ass!!!! Even at 98!!!! Thank you for my freedom. I know it isn’t free. Because of you men, I was able to serve. OIF Vet here. Honestly I don’t feel worthy of stepping into your boots. Because of you we have what we have today.
Iraq was no picnic. Thank you for your service.
Hand on my heart right at the end. Such humility. God Bless him, his fellow soldiers, and those who didn't come home. They gave us a gift that's mind-boggling in scale and value. May they never be forgotten.
My grandfather served in the pacific theater of ww2. I will never forget our heroes from that godless war.
Scale of such a thing is truly unknowable.
French here, thanking the man and his fellow comrades for what they did. Still appreciate it today - more than ever perhaps…
31:48 it’s so great to hear someone say this, truly the greatest generation
The humility of this man is incredible. What an truly amazing American.
Thank you for bringing us these men’s stories. It’s important for our future generations to hear directly from these heroes.
We barely have any WW2 vets left if any. These men are the true definition of hardmen mixed in with hard kids Heros!! These men made hard time into soft times well you know the saying! I really hope that we talked to every last one of them and got their stories down like this. Love these guys!
Some Hitler Youth still going 🤣
Hard Times, make Hard Men, Hard Men, make Good Times, Good Times Make WEAK MEN
@@badxradxandy Pope Benedict was the last of the Hitler Youth. RIP
God bless this man it's a privilege to be able to hear this man's story Salute
RIP Sir. Men like you inspired me to become a paratrooper. AATW!
This man is a legend! From England with gratitude!
Your Churchill was an evil man.
I’m so thankful for this man. He is a treasure.
Good video. I would like to hear this man speak for another couple hours. It would be great to hear more of his stories.
This man makes my feel insignificant in so many ways. respect off the charts
Cause you are insignificant. And a loser.
You would be hard pressed to find a modern day Private First Class who has such a clear understanding of the overall battle space. That he so clearly remembered the finite details of the operations he was involved in is amazing and it was a pleasure to hear this interview. He and his comrades met their Rendezvous with Destiny with heads held high.
I have the ut most respect for soldiers like this gentleman , I was also a paratrooper as was my retired late Father who was a Sargent Majour in the Special Forces , and my son was also a paratrooper , "I salute you sir "
Sergeant. You were a paratrooper and can't spell that? Find that hard to believe. Is your father retired or late? He can't be both can he?
He recalls everything in such detail , Great story
God Bless you Mr Martin you are a top bloke. From South Australia.
This man makes me so proud to be an American. His legacy will never be forgotten, Thank you Pee Wee,for everything.
100 %
sadly i disagree with you it is already forgotten look at the usa today and tell me i am wrong
@@dring83
Not here matey, even though he doesnt belong to us his values as well as those of many of your veterans are still held strong here in Oz!!
We may be your annoying little brother but were still here punching above our weight in the way we always have and always will do.
We remember our ex-servicemen as well as your veterans and live by their values and enjoy knowing that we are honouring them.
Our biggest day of memory "Anzac Day" is growing in numbers every year.
You should make an Anzac holiday one year and share the love
How do you like the U.S. right now ?
It's forgotten.
the sound does not do this interview justice. God bless this man
Mr. Martin, is a symbol of the front line soldier/marine/sailor in WWII. An amazing man. My Dad was lucky enough to be one of the few fighting survivors of the 28th Inf. Div., 110 Inf. Regiment-A Company who became attached with 101st in the defense of Bastogne. Bless all these Veterans .
Those Pennsylvania's of the 28th Bloody Bucket Division were one tough bunch. What did the Germans expect would happen from a bunch of pissed off coal miners and lumberjacks?
@@johnwad7468 🤣 Love the way you said that!
And yeah, the Germans probably expected a whole lot less than what said miners & lumberjacks gave, that's for sure!
I was privileged to spend a lot of time with a 101st Airborne Division veteran. Those guys know how to survive and after their training and experience they can handle nearly anything in life. True grit says it.
What a humble man. God bless you sir.
A very honest, and intelligent individual.
Great man, speaks pure of heart, kids should listen to this instead of watching tv...especially the last part.
This guy is sharp as a tack, he should have been an officer, what a wonderful account of this period in U. S. Military history. Thank you so much PFC Martin.
No, he has a lot of opinions and is assertive. But he is not officer stuff. He is wrong a lot on matters of known fact. I like the guy but he doesn't know the whole picture. For example, recruiting offices all over the country were mobbed with men wanting to volunteer in the week following Pearl Harbor. No one was thinking isolation as this guy claims. The writing was on the wall and Americans wanted to go to war, plain and simple. It was time.
Haha, he personally would never become an officer, because he was busy doing work as a non commotion soldier.
enlisted lead the way
Smart enough not to be an officer. That is pretty smart.
He is sharp as a tack and therefore did not become an officer. There I fixed the statement for you....
Thank you. My dad was a young boy in Eindhoven when the americans liberated them in 1945. He immigrated to canada where we were all born. Once again THANK YOU
This man did more by the time he hit 25 then most people in their life.
God bless you Sir.
I wanna be like Jim "Pee Wee" Martin when I grow old. Completely serious. This is a great man.
Killing people is NOT a good thing. Wasn't necessary.
@Norberto Fontanez Exactly! Yet people like this guy are so quick to fight and kill. Shame!
@Norberto Fontanez Not sure what that even means. That old man was a brainwashed fool.
@Norberto Fontanez What you said, with your passive aggressive salutation at the end as if it makes your belligerent statement polite, reveals the stereotype of Baby Boomers that so many of you you're lazy, ignorant, arrogant, and have the nerve to put blame that belongs to you on the shoulders of your children. I don't know a greater shame for a generation, but I feel pretty safe that the younger generations living now won't make at least many of these same mistakes that your generation makes.
How old were the people who caught Bin Laden, and how old were the people who shrugged him off for a decade while focusing on a war that was sold to capture Bin Laden, but had nothing to do with Bin Laden?
I think the President of the Baby Boomers, George W. Bush, said that he wasn't concerned with catching Bin Laden at one point, and Bin Laden attacked America on his watch!
Proof:
th-cam.com/video/jJmFkbBjbO0/w-d-xo.html
So tell me, which generation knows what they're doing, and which generation is all too happy to put problems (sometimes create problems, terrorism, sleeping on a mass shooting epidemic, unaccounted murders by police, senseless military action, etc.) that they're tasked to solve, on the next generation?
Let me simplify that question, because I know your generation doesn't like to read past a headline. IS THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION RESPONSIBLE OR IRRESPONSIBLE?
Please say "responsible". I'm not finished listing reasons that Baby Boomers don't have any place to be proud of themselves. CLIMATE CHANGE. Yeah, I know your brain just breezed past those words, as if they don't exist. CLIMATE CHANGE. Boomers get confused when they see those words. CLIMATE CHANGE!
Oh, here let me make this polite. 🍺👈😎 "Go get drunk!"
@Norberto Fontanez Stop typing while drunk. Or maybe Boomers just always behave like you're drunk. I guess that's how you were raised.
🍺👈😎🤮
"No, I have to correct you..." every time he says that get ready for the truth from an honorable man
I'd like to hear what some vets think of the show band of brothers
unless his names fraudchi.;-}
He’s a hero to me. Thanks for your service!
Cause you're an idiot.
"we volunteered for this, we trained for this, we got paid for it. that does not make you a hero" maybe not sir, but it certainly makes you a bad ass
And most definitely a hero.
A true hero will not insest...but we honor and thank you for fighting for our freedom. True combat veteran.
He is a badass and to me a real American hero
yes American bad ass.
thanks for your service old timer.
much respect.
The greatest generation.
I'd have to say - the best interview I've seen with a WW2 Veteran. Mr Martin certainly didn't hold back nor did he allow ANY distortion of his service record or what he did to gain extra kudos or adulation. He told it straight as he experienced it or saw it himself. It's a pity the interviewer didn't get onto the subject of Band of Brothers and his take on it. Based on the rest of what he said I reckon it would have been a real eye opener and very different from Ambrose' book and the TV Series.
I also confused him with the StSgt Johnny Martin from Easy Company that is in the TV Series. Two different guys.
Remember, Band Of Brothers was just one Company's story within a whole Division.
A privilege to hear his story!
Sending love from a history nerd in Australia ❤️
This is so wonderful. What a well spoken man right here. Every word he said had my full attention and he painted a picture. Thank you hero
😂😂😂😂😂
@@josephfleer6989 🤡
We need more uncut interviews like this; it's great to feel like you're sitting in the same room as them and listening to the conversation. Thanks to the people that produced this!
True American and Outstanding Solder!!!!
Thomas G O'Neill Jr what’s a solder?
It’s like when sometime tells you about a place and you see it for yourself you literally have no idea what these people went through. Much respect thank you for your service
Absolutely amazing interview. I'm so very thankful to all the men and women who have served and are still serving. My grandfather's fought with Canada in WW2 and many Great uncles along with my grandmother in the women's auxiliary unit. God bless anyone who has been or is currently in the services.
Much love
Thank you for those words about general sink. he was my great grandfather and getting any perspective on him is greatly appreciated.
What a very fine gentleman. I could listen to his stories endlessly. He makes me so proud to be an American. Thank you Sir 🇺🇸
Thank you sir! It was an absolute pleasure to hear you speak. Your patriotism is awesome. Your love of this country and pride in having served so honorably is breathtaking! It comes from a time when you were proud to be American! Something people don't feel nowadays. I will be 70 this year and remember when being an American was cool. I still feel that way. This country, warts and all, is still the greatest country on the planet. I am moved to tears when I see our flag waving proudly in the wind. Thank you again sir for warming my heart with the pride and the love. God Bless America! Now and Always!
Listening to these stories and recollections is truly intense. Puts things in brutal perspective. Respect!
An inspirational man , so much to learn from great men like this , bless you sir .
I have great respect for what this man has done.
@Robert Bonneau he is worthy of respect, something you will never experience
@Robert Bonneau what's wrong with you
Best WW 2 veteran interview I have ever seen, truly a great person!
Definitely one of the better Ww2 veterans interviews .I think you would love to hear the one from Ed Manley, he was 99 years old at the time of the video, and he is unbelievably sharp.
You guys did more than save a single person from a car... you and your generation saved the WORLD! Hero is an understatement
Save the world? It made the world worse than if his generation saved the world why did Vietnam happen
Saved the world from what? Millions of people died from WW2 unnecessarily. Diplomacy should have been tried first. Warring countries like US, Britain, and France were too quick to fight and not try negotiating first.
xDDDDD SURE NOT LIKE THEY FOUGHT FOR WALLSTREET
Wow. We need more of these kinds of men in today’s society. Forever grateful for this man and his service.
One hell of a man !
I agree to have served was my honor. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I salute you. SemperFi
With all due respect, this man is indeed a hero. Thank God America has such humble men in her ranks. I used to live in Arnhem, Holland years ago and was well aware of the sacrifices made on both sides of the river (Rijn, btw). Used to cross that bridge every day. The so called "bridge too far". Thank you for your service!
I would like to honor this man with great words. But I don’t have words that measure up to him. I will settle for THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE
Well said.
They truly did save the world.
It is wonderful how Americans say thank you for your service loudly and often however, I fear that an essential element of that thanks should be remembering which seems to be absent.
Sure those service men appreciate the thanks but I'm certain they would prefer actions that demonstrate remembrance rather than the glib
Remember what he said he didn't sacrifice anything.
You can literally honor him by punching a Nahtzee!!! If this man can die to stop white people from having safe and homogeneous societies, than you can too comrade.
Had an uncle that was with Patton's army that headed north during the battle of The Bulge to help relieve Bastogne the only story he ever told was while in patrol they came up on a cellar of a house that had a large quantity of potatoes they went back to get a truck to liberate those potatoes and when they came back they encountered a German patrol that wanted those potatoes well my uncle's group won the shootout. My uncle died in an auto accident in 1959 when a woman ran a stop sign amongst some corn fields in Northwest Ohio rest in peace Uncle Howard!
Bill- had a neighbour with 12,000 arce farm his family had since 1854 and he won suprme Gallanrty medal in france- w.w.1. and when he got back in 1919 A.D. too new zealand he killed by car near his farm upp in hills. Wonder what type off car it was in 1919 in the Wop's.''
What an amazing man. The tasks he so unselfishly performed, and to honor us with his stories, sides of which may have never been told is incredible. Thank you Mr Martin.
It amazes me with the tactical and strategic knowledge this man has as a PFC. With his knowledge and especially his guts, I wonder why he never promoted?
@ Military promotions, at least for enlisted men, are classified as temporary until you've served at that rank for a specified period of time. Only then is your rank classification upgraded to permanent. His permanent rank at that time was PFC. Apparently the war ended and he left the army before his rank of sergeant was upgraded to permanent and he's chosen to identify himself with his permanent rank of PFC.
I was in the 101 in the 60es Pee Wee walked my wife down the isle when we got married.Her father is the youngest buried on the beach.Roy U
.Talhelm.Am honored to be in the company of my heros.Go Gus ,Ed,&the rest of the men who made my life complete
He is a typical combat vet, humble and self effacing, his last words had me in tears!
This man as old as he is makes more sense and is more punctual then most people. I loved hearing this man’s story.
yes sir. he died age 101 in september
The end of the interview is the most humbling When he says I'm not much! They don't make them like that anymore!
I like this guy. He tells it how it is without a filter. We need more men like him.
Really glad to have listened to this interview. I was struck by this man's humility and unwillingness to be seen as a 'hero' for doing the job that he volunteered to do.
what a great mind for a man of his age ! I am in awe of this gentleman's memories
The last 10 minutes he speaks such heavy and powerful words... thank you to all involved in getting this man out to the world. History should never be forgotten and its an honor to hear history first hand from someone who lived it.
My Dad was with A Company, 502nd PIR, 101ST ABN and was there. He did not talk much about the war. What I learned was from my Mother. He died very young at 49. I am now 77 and to this day he is my hero. After he died I was able to do enough research to know what he went through.
This interviews are so so important! It will be available for millions to learn something real valuable into eternity! Big thanks for all the work to make this possible and a special thanks to all the MEN that fought the nazis making this a better world to live on! I'm from Portugal (one of the oldest country's in the world that was neutral in this bloody war) and my grandfather was guarding the American base (Lajes) in Açores in middle Atlantic. Maybe he saw some of this fellows on their way to Europe...God Save the Good America!
Imagine! A man that demoted himself to a PFC when they called him a sarg! A truely honest man! God Bless You Sir!
Not unusual for a PFC to be running a squad or even a platoon, considering the attrition. Acting promotions were SOP due to experience.
What a loser.
I met Mr. martin several years ago. What a wonderful man. R.I.P. Mr. Martin .
What a humble Man! Much respect, and Thank You for protecting our Country! No disrespect, but you are a HERO!
Wow, this guy, what a legend......his closing comments, I have a tear in my eye..
This may be the most inspiring video I’ve ever seen.
Awesome interview,as all of them are. Thank you Mr. Martin for your service to our country.
He said when you live in a country like this, it’s an obligation to go when your called. And we didn’t go alone. It was an honor to be part of history…
That’s a real man right there. Thanks for the knowledge old timer. My grandpa died before I became a man, so I want able to have these conversations with him about the WW2. He served on the USSR side. I thought he had left with his brother, but my dad corrected me and said grampa went with his dad, my great grandpa, who didn’t make it back. They rarely talk about these things, so it gets confusing sometimes. That’s why it’s an honor to hear these great men tell their story.
it makes me so sad how the cold war followed ww2.. in another world i think the usa and ussr could have been great friends 🥹
@@babynautilus I honestly believe that behind closed doors, we actually are, probably the best allies of each other. Just secretly. I have reasons for believing that, it’s just my opinion. But I really think it’s all propaganda for the masses. They probably laugh at the game they’re playing
Salute to you kind Sir. There are few like him, Damn few.
Mate!!!! What a damn story you have!!!! I love you!!! You are the essence of all that is good!!! I don't know if you are still alive but mate you are just inspirational!!! The world is indeed a better place because of you Sir!!!
Ive watched the "Band of Brothers" series a few times, listening to the men that took part really shows how accurate the series was. However only the real accounts make the hairs stand up and the tears roll, terrible times back then, those who fought for their fellow men will always be in my thoughts, I am lucky enough to have been over to visit many a European battle field and able to pay respects to the fallen. I just pray those who propagate war today would do the same and hopefully find a path that is not aimed at MONEY making. Amazing account from a man who did what he had too
This is my favorite interview I've seen. Just wow.
"Follow Me!" is ALWAYS far better leadership than "go there!" Much respect for PFC Martin and his fellow paratroopers from this old Marine Sergeant. (Vietnam 1969-1970). Airborne!
The Greatest Generation that have ever lived is almost no more. I'm glad your Recording all their stories. They need to be told to this new generation. Maybe it'll smarten them up.
Its hard to imagine what these men went through. This generation right now isn’t grateful for all the bloodshed and sacrifice that was spilled and spent for these beautiful rights and great living conditions. What these men did is heroic and should be remembered and respected forever.
I am very much so. Those guys are real-life heroes big bruh
USA has its flaws. Still the best country innthe world!
@@hugbug4408 every country has flaws
Stop assuming a whole generation
Nobody does. Schools are literally trying to take WW2 out the class room ect. It's bullshit
I aspire to be like this man. Not only was he a hero, certified badass, and a true patriot, but he's also full of life and inspirational.
I especially loved the part where he said "Just because you get old doesn't mean you have to sit around and die"
Loved it. You keep inspiring us Sir, thank you for your words. I promise I will live by that phrase and remember you every time that I get a chance to pass it on to my children and their children
We need more humble hero’s like this man in our country. Thank you for your service!
So glad you recorded these stories. They deserved this, at the least.
Pee Wee, you are surely a great man amongst other great men!
Thank you for bringing an end to WW2.
this guy is a fine specimen of a human being.
Humble, appreciative... Bless his progeny
Condolences to all affected!
Fly High Sir!
Did he kill any innocent people? Asking for a friend.
Well spoken, front line report of history. What a privilege for us!
Mr Martin your an amazing man thank you for your service
We certainly appreciate your incredible sacrifice. "No, I have to correct you on that. None of us have ever considered this a sacrifice and I tell people and I really mean this I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been part of history." How humble this man is.
And two remarkable statements more: "It's more satisfaction for me, than I ' ve got rich." "The world would have been a differrent place, had this not happened." This is why I am so thankfull to him and his comrades. They suffered and died for a better world, even for me born nine years after WW 2 in Federal Republic of Germany.
What a great man!!!! Big lesson to learn from him.
What a f*cking LEGEND! Thx for your service sir.
The wood-splitter story is awesome-like the Vet in the video.
Mr. Martin's other interviews are also very interesting, informative.
An awesome Man.
The Allies achieved Victory due to Men like Him.
This man gave a seriously interesting interview. What a shame the sound was out of balance. Nevertheless all my respect and praise go to this brave and honest man.