{"id":77347,"date":"2024-11-11T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/11\/11\/document-the-stories-of-the-greatest-generation-before-its-too-late\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:02:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:02:30","slug":"document-the-stories-of-the-greatest-generation-before-its-too-late","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/opinion\/2024\/11\/11\/document-the-stories-of-the-greatest-generation-before-its-too-late\/","title":{"rendered":"Document the stories of the \u2018Greatest Generation\u2019 before it\u2019s too late"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During World War II, millions of Americans fought not only for their own country but for the freedom of the world. Some teenagers even lied about their age<\/a> to join the military to fight enemy forces thousands of miles away. It took nearly four years of American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen fighting alongside their allies to defeat the Axis Powers. Tragically, hundreds of thousands made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in service. Those who served during these dark years are now known as the \u201cGreatest Generation<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we continue to honor the heroes of World War II. However, we are losing hundreds of WWII veterans every day<\/a> across the country. The youngest WWII veterans, who joined at 18, are now at least 97 years old, while the oldest are over 100. An estimated 100,000 WWII veterans were still alive in 2023, according to data.va.gov<\/a>. Just one year later, the National WWII Museum estimates<\/a> only 66,000 remain. Their numbers are in steep decline: Within a decade, only a few will remain across the world, let alone in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\t