Passing of the 'Greatest Generation' brings great sadness

Every day, memories of World War II—its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs—disappear.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of the great sacrifices made by millions of Americans during World War II.

240,329 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2021, according to U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) statistics. The VA estimates that 234 World War II veterans die every day.

Estimated number of surviving World War II veterans through the next ten years.

My grandfather—Charles Barber—landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 7, 1944 (D-Day +1) and played a part in many major battles with the 5th Armored Division, including the Battle of the Bulge.

For most of his life, my grandfather would not speak to anyone about his service during World War II and suffered for years from what everyone knows now as post-traumatic stress disorder.

It wasn’t until I took an interest in the history of World War II, in the late 1990s, that my grandfather opened up and told some—not all—of his story.

Charles Barber stands in front of a portion of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the Atlantic Theater of Operations.

One thing I learned from my grandfather is that prior to departing for England from New York City, the 5th Armored Division transitioned through Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in Pennsylvania. This is important to my own history because some 60 years later, I served full-time in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap, and prior to my service at “The Gap,” my father—Dwight Barber —spent even more time there in the full-time Air National Guard.

Sadly, on Sept. 22, 2014, Charles Barber passed away at the age of 90. I am forever grateful that he opened up about his military experiences before his passing.

If you are interested in regaining some perspective on what is difficult or seemingly impossible to overcome, I highly recommend you read up on World War II history and our ‘Greatest Generation.’

When all the World War II veterans pass away, it may be up to you to tell their stories to your children and grandchildren as it is unclear how stories of American heroism during World War II will be taught in schools.