WW2 Veteran Describes His Closest Calls Fighting In The Pacific | Remember WW2
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ธ.ค. 2022
- Please help me interview more WWII Veterans www.patreon.com/rememberww2
This is the story of WWII veteran Paul Wohjan who served in the 1t Marine Division.This is an episode in a World War Two Documentary Series called Remember WWII. This episode covers the role of the 1st Marine Division fighting against the Japanese fanatical resistance on islands like NEW BRITAIN, PELELIU, and OKINAWA . This episode feature WWII veteran Paul Wojhan who was in the 1st Pioneer Battalion and had many close encounters with the enemy. In this episode he describes the frontline combat he endured as a young man. We thank him for his service.
In this video, we interview a U.S. Combat Vet who describes his savage fighting against fanatical Japanese soldiers during the Battle of PELELIU!
This courageous veteran shares his story of survival against all odds, as he recounts his experiences.. Armed only with his fighting spirit , determination, and GOD he fought tooth and nail against the odds. This inspiring video gives you a unique perspective on one of the most brutal battles of World War II, and the heroic efforts of the American troops who fought in it.
GOD BLESS THE WWII HEROES!!
My name is Rishi Sharma, I am 24 years old and I am on a mission to meet and film interview ALL the WWII veterans of the Allied Countries. I run a non-profit organization called Remember WWII and this is the channel where we showcase these heroes! I do not take a salary and all the travel is paid through donations so please please consider becoming a Patron on Patreon where you will get access to full length interviews, opportunities to talk with the veterans, bonus clips, and your name in the credits...the website is www.patreon.com/rememberww2 or you can go to our website www.rememberww2.org and donate there...GOD BLESS THE WWII HEROES!
Here are some news stories about my mission to interview the WWII veterans of the Allied Countries.
BBC Breakfast: / 1214235680324362242
CNN: www.cnn.com/2018/04/09/us/ris...
CBS News With Scott Pelley: www.cbsnews.com/news/young-ma...
Associated Press: apnews.com/9707913c5e824b5c87...
CBS Update Story: www.cbsnews.com/news/why-one-...
Fox and Friends: video.foxnews.com/v/5452173544...
History Channel: www.history.com/shows/history-...
Thank you and GOD BLESS!
OUR MISSION:
Remember WWII a mission to interview WWII heroes daily, to raise awareness of their enormous sacrifices, and to provide a proper in-depth filmed interview of their experiences in WWII.
Go to our website for more info : www.rememberww2.org/
Founded in 2016, Remember WWII is a nonprofit 501©(3) organization. (EIN/tax ID number: 81-3064351). 100% of Remember WWII's expended resources are devoted entirely to interviewing interview with the vast majority of money going to travel costs. - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
![[Full Episode] MasterChef Junior Thailand มาสเตอร์เชฟ จูเนียร์ ประเทศไทย Season 3 Episode 4](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/e7Oqqo90x_w/mqdefault.jpg)
This is what a true hero looks like. Not politicians, actors, and pro athletes.
You are talking truth !
I can't imagine....Every high school kid should be forced to watch and listen to this....
@@to8860 when I was a high school kid I had the privilege of talking to many WW2 vets. I looked up to them then as I do now.
"Hero" is an Ancient Greek word from pre-history (before writing was invented). It was for men who performed great acts of courage in the face of danger and death. It was still used that way thousands of years later, until the late 20th century when musicians and athletes started to be called "heroes". Achilles and Alexander the Great were heroes.
"Warriors" is another misused word. A warrior is a very aggressive soldier, the men who jump into trenches with spears or sneak behind enemy lines to abduct an officer and drag him back across the line of battle for latter interrogation. Anyone can be a good "soldier" guarding a missile silo in Iowa or managing a military computer network, but it takes "warriors" on the front lines to make the breakthroughs that change campaigns, kill enemies, and win battles.
Your absolutely correct a true hero
We are told to forgive & forget and move forward after conflicts/wars by the very same political bodies that sent so many young men to their deaths in the first place. I personally will never forget my mothers oldest brother who had a funny walk for a 6ft + man and rarely sad a word to anyone apart from the thrilling stories he told us about his life in Rhodesia. It was not until after he died I learned he had been a POW in the far east under the Japanese and tortured and one of his legs crushed. I remember as a young man blubbing like a little child when I first read what happened to him & knowing the pain he kept inside , yet this gentle giant never complained once that I ever know of. The sacrifice these men gave is beyond anything we can comprehend, and must always be honoured.
I agree. My uncle served in France and never spoke about the war. The Luftwaffe helmet he sent home as a war souvenir and his Vmail and some wartime photos are all I have left of him which tell a little about his experience but he took all his stories with him to the grave.
I had the honor of having 2 grandfather's who served. One was in the 101st he spoke about the war sometimes. He was wounded in the battle of the bulge with shrapnel to his head. He carried pieces in his head till his death. My other grandfather served with the marines on Okinawa as a seabed he had a silver star for repeling a counter attack on a air field. Never knew any of this till his death. He never spoke of the war.
That generation was a different breed.
God bless your uncle.
They were tough men. My Dad was a Navy corpsman and never said word one about it. I saw him get third degree burns on his chest to the point I could see his sternum. Never complained or whined ever. Took ONE pain pill the night it happened then flushed the rest of a HUGE bottle of morphine. Tough as nails.
1000% agreed!
From one veteran to another I salute you sir. My dad fought in the Pacific and told me that Okinawa was the worst. I fought in Vietnam. Take care Sir and bless you.
Glad you got home.
And God bless you sir!
Welcome home! ❤️🙏
My father never talked about the war,except the bond you form with your brothers in arms,when he passed away in 97,two elderly men showed up at my fathers funeral,they stood up and spoke how my father saved his fellow soldiers in the battle of Luzon,Philippines they said he was fearless,my father was only 5’7” 150lbs.with all his clothes on,he was awarded the Silver Star for valor and numerous other medals,we only found this out after he passed away,going through the VA,my father left home at 12 yrs old to escape his sadistic,abusive father,he rode the rails all over the country as just a kid,when he got ,he joined the military in while 1936,he always said about the military,all the food you could eat,a real bed,I had to pay them back by being the best soldier he could be,that’s all he ever said about the military,my uncle told us he threw all his medals away after his best friend was killed in combat,after the war my father married ,raised a family, he had no childhood,he was a loving,compassionate father the best you could ask for,he was a very quiet humble man,who cast a huge shadow.rest in peace 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Hi Scrap Iron, my dad was in the Philippines, Luzon, New Guinea, several other locations. He would not talk about action he saw, I only found out once I contacted records dept. to get repl. medals. I asked the lady, " What do these bronze stars mean"? She said each one represented a major battle he was in, saying, " he saw a lot of action". I had no idea. If I asked, he would just say, "I didn't do any more than anyone else." Thats how those WWll vets were. Kids today have no idea what their fathers and grandfathers went through, and sadly, most don't care. Take care, Jill.
@@jilljohnson6982 your father and my father and that generation were cut from a different cloth.who knows they may have been in the same battles,my dad told the story during a beach landing,my dad being very short ,heard someone yell,now there enlisting midgets,it was his brother Billy,his brother went on to become some of the first American soldiers in Hiroshima after the bomb,the things he saw haunted him for years.
Your fathers story is amazing! I wish I would have known him.
❤
Your Dad is amazing!
That tear he sheds after telling the story of the drowned baby. Tells you all you need to know about how a moment 70 plus years ago affected him. Lost buddies, killing of the enemy but seeing an innocent baby that drowned during a family's desperate attempt to stay alive.
My father was in the 18th Combat Engineer 2nd Marine Division. He was at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. The 18th were flamethrowers and demolition men. He did not speak of the war until near the end of his life. A few 12:09 years before he died I found an envelope in a drawer with a medal and letter of commendation. When I asked him about it he said he was doing what he was trained to do. When I searched his records from the Marine Corp I found out it is a Bronze Star. His record contained the letter the colonel of the 18th wrote recommending him for this medal for his actions on Saipan. He never told anyone that he was awarded this or the Purple Heart. He told me the only hero’s are guys who don’t make it home.
A few years before he died we were talking, not about the war, he suddenly said “ you don’t know how terrible it was to have to set human beings on fire. I hated them and they were trying to kill me but they were still human beings”.
He had nightmares almost every night.
Ordinary men did extraordinary things
My father fought on Saipan… never talked about the war at all.. not once…
@@Militarycollector
I had to ask and it was not until near the end of his life that he spoke of it. If you don’t ask they don’t talk about it. My mother told me he just wanted to forget about it. Easier said than done.
My dad said the same things about the kids in nam, he had nightmares all though my childhood in the 70s, 80s, and adopted a few kids overseas, I always wondered why he cared more for them than us, but after I heard his stories at a VA psych reverse roll play that he didn't want to do, is when I learned how many kids tried to kill him that he had to kill, it's just crazy. War is so evil, and we are just pawns in a global conflict that when kids we have no idea why we are fighting for, and to trust our government that it's for freedom.
Your father is part of the Greatest Generation! Men like him saved us.
Everybody talks about the Nazis but I believe the Japanese were clearly the most brutal combatants of WW2
The single tear that runs down his cheek as he remembered the woman who could not keep her baby from drowning. There are many different kinds of horror in war.
Thank you sir for my freedom. You are truly a hero from the greatest generation.
My dad fought in Peleiu and Okinawa, sadly I never could get him to talk much about it. He was 16 or 17 at the time, l
Passed in 08! Brave men!!!
My late father was just a boy fighting with the 2nd Marines island hopping. It's always important to remember that most of these guys were barely past puberty.
He probably carried .50 cal ammo to my father, my dad was in a .50 cal anti aircraft company on Okinawa. I love to hear these guys talk. I grew up listening to my dad and his brothers tell their stories.
This is a fine man
My Dad served in WWII Navy and was captured by the Japanese forces and was a prisoner of was in the Philippines and survived the Batton Death March after 3yrs. He never talked about it much and I didn't know what he went thru until I enlisted in my Beloved Marine Corps in 69'. My Salute to All Service Members. Love and miss you Dad God bless and RIP!😇🙏👍
🙏🇺🇸🙏
Thank you for your service. Did you serve in Vietnam and if so, where?
@@goutvols103 I was in country and at Su Long province and Danang 1 tour. Marine Assault Group CRG/ 1st /5th EDF Camp Pendleton. 69-71'. Thank you for your support God bless.😇🇺🇲👍💯
My dad, was in the Navy during WW2. Served in the pacific on the destroyer USS Grayson DD 435. Then served on troop ship and operated a small boat when landing troops and equip. He would fix boats that had broke while doing there thing. Off Okinawa! He made it home unscathed only to be murdered by a foreign scumbag when he was working his second job (gas station attendant)to help pay for Xmas for his wife and 4 kids. December 26, 1959. RIP
This man fought in PELELIU???? OKINAWA was a nasty fight too, but PELELIU was a different beast all together... I have all the respect for this man...
THE GREATEST GENERATION LADIES AND GENT'S
Read "With the Old Breed"
@@hededcdn I have lol
@@hededcdn when Sledge talks about extracting teeth from the dead japs it literally made me cringe 😬 and he said if anyone brought back big souvenirs like rifles and stuff like that they most likely weren't in combat lol
My father was at Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen, and Okinawa. Never said a word.
My dad was one of the guys who went up and welded the cave shut, It was his idea, he got all the parts together.
You serious? How'd they power it?
This is something that this gentleman share his story of warfare. Most average people have no clue to the horror That goes on and these poor souls have to live with that shit!
God Bless that man. We are at a loss for men like this and especially our youth
Salute!
(My father is a two-time combat veteran. Korea and Vietnam. He's related some horrible sites. I asked him if his hard scrabble life in the deep south, in the shadow of The Great Depression, had helped prepare him for the horror of combat. He thought for a moment and said: "probably so.")
Farm life is real life
Farm life is work ethic!
The greatest generation. My dad, and uncle, were with the 11th airborne division, in the Philippines campaign. My uncle was killed, and my dad badly wounded. Heard some pretty grim stories.
My father was in the 11th ,in the Philippines ,battle of Luzon👍🇺🇸
My father was a Navy CB on Okinawa that was right behind the Marines to build landing strips and buildings to invade mainland Japan there were also 2 typhoons that raged these men had to survive God bless all of them We WILL NEVER FORGET!
Good man right here
He's a humble man and I have my freedom today because of him and hundreds of thousands of other soldiers like him.
Indeed man... The absolute BEST! 😎💪✊️⚔️
The first Marine division started out in New Britain and cape Gloucester then to Peleliu and finally ending up in Okinawa.. Everyone of those battles was nothing short of a bloodbath… The press said that Tarawa was the worst battle in the Pacific.. The first Marine division lost more men in the first three days on Peleliu then total on Tarawa and The battle of Peleliu was just starting,, It ended up going hard-core nonstop for six weeks… and then from there to Okinawa,,the absolute worst battle in the entire pacific war…
This guy here has been through the absolute worst of the worst…
God bless him.
Reminds me of my Dad, who was a B-24 Navigator stationed in England. After his 36+ missions, he had a 30 day leave back home in US. He then returned to Service in preparation to go to the Pacific. Thankfully that never had to happen.
Both my father in law (USN WWII) and my brothers father in law (USMC WWII) served. I feel truly fortunate to have heard both of their stories first hand. I never asked them but just waited until they were ready to talk. The stories were incredible and I will never forget them or those men. Absolutely amazing stories of brutality that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. We miss you Brownie & Norm! Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!
Thank you Jack. Your Generation literally saved our world as we know it. God bless you ALL....
Greatest generation. Bad times create tough men, tough men create good times, good times create lazy weak men, lazy weak men create bad times. Much respect soldier.
It is amazing how young Paul looks and how well he speaks , I enjoyed listening to this interview I look forward to hearing the full interview.
Thank you Paul and Rishi
And God Bless the parents and families who fully supported their Marine sons and daughters.
Family support is critically important to a Marine.
I know all of my fellow service members understand this point very well.
May God continue to bless this noble Marine. Semper Fi
I don’t know how to speak Japanese. Thank You. ❤️🇺🇸
God Bless you Sir for your sacrifice, courage and service for freedom ❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
God bless! you're still around to tell the story. My Father fought in the first Marine division he was a forward observer mortar crew on palalu ,He went up bloody nose ridge and came back down, most of his buddies didn't Guadalcanal was brutal !
You said Guadalcanal last but talked only about peleliu before that!
Thank you for your story. I’m glad the accounts of Peleliu are finally coming out. I had a client who was there: Bill Lakeland was a marine lieutenant. He lost an eye to grenade shrapnel there. Bill went on to serve in the State Department including posts in the Middle East & Europe. He & his wife missed being involved in a ETA bombing in Spain due to missing a connection.
Once again - much appreciation for this work & these chronicles!
Thank you for your service!🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷
1st of the 1st. My dad was 1st Marines 1st Battalion 1966-1967
Please help me interview WWII Veterans everyday! Go to rememberww2.org to donate or www.patreon.com/rememberww2
Don't forget to write Mr. Wojhan a thank you for your service letter in the comments! He will see them!!
GOD BLESS the WWII HEROES!!!!
You are a hero, dont forget that you marine
The director who is making these videos, salute to you. Your doing God's work
God bless you
Thank you for sharing and your dedication and brave service 🎖️⭐🇺🇲🛐
We owe it all to men such as this
People dont release how real that is . My grandfather spoke of the bloated dead Japanese. He ended up with a half Japanese granddaughter that he loved as much as any of us.
My father fought in new guinea..the solaman islands and moratai..with the australians
My grandfather stormed the beaches of normandy and survived. Didn't talk about it very much. It takes guts to talk about this kind of stuff. I appreciate your service sir!
One serious badass. Still sharp as a tack. Not sure today’s youth would respond in the same way as this hero and the rest of his generation did. Legend.
It is too bad that you don't know any current and recent members of our military forces - I do and I can tell you the vast majority are just as outstanding as this Marine. Sure there are a few losers and slackers but there have always been a few in the military in any generation.
I concur the gesture Mike. From the way things look.
Thank you so much for sharing this. Those men are heroes. Semper fi marine.
Thank you Paul for the freedom my family embraces. Without men like you this would not be the world we enjoy. I'll repeat your story to others.
Kids today have no idea. The sacrifice. Growing up in depression and then fighting ww2 . Truly greatest generation
Thank you for your service and for sharing your experiences!
If anyone could ask this guy if he knew Albert Horton, I would appreciate it. My Great Grandfather was there and a Marine in the 3rd division. I have a lot of his stuff from that time but he didn't like talking about it. I know he was a kid and lied about his age. I know at one point he used a flame thrower. He died when I was a teenager and still occasionally had screaming nightmares of what happened back then. He used to use his Bolo knife as a gardening tool xD I still have it.
My dad was a WW2 Marine 3rd Marine Division. He would never talk about his experiences though I'd asked him several times. Watching old breed Marines such as these men helps me understand why
It’s such a privilege and honor to hear these interviews. I’m in awe of this combat veteran and hero. God bless you and all those you served with sir. I’ll always be indebted to this generation of veterans.
A clear picture of hell for Marines in WW 2. My dad was on Guam U.S. Ar
my1945 - 46.
The US Army fought on Peleliu also, the 81st Infantry Div, the Army also fought in the battle for Saipan.
I don't know if it's because the Army was getting all the press for what was happening in Europe that when it comes to their participation in battles in the Pacific that people only think the Marine's were involved in they didn't get any kind of press for it nor do they even to this day, but the fact is after the majority of the Marine's forces were wiped out on Peleliu and they still hadn't secured the island the 81st Infantry Div was brought in to finish the job, but hardly any even knows the Army was there.
An Honest and interesting Account of his Experiences in the Pacific, and Solid Advice for Youngsters 👍
High Kudos Sir
Anyone of those battles would earn you bragging rights in any bar in America. All three is incredible. WW2 will be studied and talked about until we as a species are cease to exist. Whether that's next week or in a thousand years or more. To be able to talk to many veterans (not just ours but Germans as well) of the biggest event, war or otherwise, in our Earths history to date is hard for me wrap my mind around. Good for you Mr. Wohjan! You're one of a very few Marines I wouldn't dare poke fun of.
I agree with you. In the final analysis, he is beyond bragging rights, like many with his experiences. Honor and thanks.
Thank you for your service to a FREE and grateful nation,sir.
Sir, thank you endlessly for your service and may God bless you always!!!! ✝️🇺🇲✝️
Good night Chesty Puller, wherever you are!!!!
Great interview. Highly enjoyed it. Thank you sir for your service.
Mr Wojhan, I’m grateful I was able to hear your story. Thanks for everything!
Thank you for another amazing interview with another great American. The wisdom, strongest life guidance, comes at end 🙏🏼
Great American!!!!! Thanks for everything you have given
Love how the Advertisement for this video was advocating for Veterans
Semper Fi. God Bless
God was with you. You’re history is incredibly interesting. Thank you for your service Sir.
Thank you so much for your service
What simple advice. Keep your nose clean. Actually it's a very big undertaking for many. " I get up everyday and try to do the right thing." My father taught me not by his words. Rather by his daily example .
I'm amazed that so many men today can't even keep a driving license in their pocket. They're a damn disgrace and many having parents whom enable this behavior.
I'm very proud of these men. Not only for serving , but the way they chose to live their lives. God Bless .
Robert L. Burch
Respect
Hero - thanks for your service 🇺🇸
Great memory, great storyteller.
Thank you for the testimony
Thank you for your service Sir.
GOD BLESS THE WWII VETERANS
Thank you for your service Sir👍🏻
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for sharing
GOD BLESS THE WWII HEROES
Thank you
Thank you for your service
I salute you Sir.
Damn, Sir thank you for my family's freedom. The greatest generation. Thank you sir.
The song "War Pigs" always comes to my mind when I hear about soldiers... 😢
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES .
Thanks!
Great Work, Rishi!!.... It's very encouraging to see you taking such a personal, and thorough interest in the stories of these Heroes, I am overjoyed to see that you completely understand how important it is to get these stories, they need to be told, and put on video for their sake, and for the sake of History, Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your stories and thank you for getting these stories out there.
Some great memories. His mother's song.
Excellent interview and good life advice at the end.
Hey thanks for interviewing these soldiers.this is very interesting.
Thank you for your service Mr. Wohjan.
What an amazing man, I appreciate his advice. Thankyou for the freedom I enjoy.
Brought tears to my eyes. God bless this wonderful man.
I salute you sir my grandfather Newman Phillips served in the 32nd Infantry Division the red arrow in New Guinea. They called you all the greatest Generation for a reason survive the Great Depression the Second Great War you all came together and did what needed to be done that was back when men were man thank you and all of our veterans for their service and sacrifice for this country they don't make them like you guys no more and God do we need my like that now what's coming in our future makes me real nervous I don't think this generation is ready for it
The Admiral Nimitz museum in Fredericksburg, Texas is a real eye opener. I'm an old brat true, but that place is worth the time to understand.
Thank you for your service sir. I think you men are truly the great generation.
Been through the absolute worst of it….Semper Fi, legend.
Respect 🫡
Thank you so much for doing these interviews rishi my grandfather just passed away 6 months ago he was in the Pacific on the infamous uss hornet aircraft carrier that got throttled multiple times i always loved talking to him about his experiences and watching ww2 documentaries with him. Nobody ever really talked to him about the war until i took interest in it and it seemed to really get a big burden off his chest to let it all out i think it really helped him in the end. Keep up the great work this generation of giants shall never be forgotten for what they did we literally owe them the world thanks again!
Godbless you Paul Wojan 🙏🏼
Kudos to you and your channel 😢and to all war veterans.
I wish I could do what you are doing.
God bless you and yours
Respect.
God bless you marine...
31:55 Yes, my grandfather was in the Battle of the Bulge in Europe and then was shipped to the Philippines where he participated in the second Battle of Bataan.