It’s estimated that 56.4 million people around the world lost their lives during the Second World War.
Thousands of heroes died in the span of a few short years, but many also survived, receiving medals for their heroic actions.
That being said, not everyone received a special honor for their service until decades later.
Mark Paradise, a World War II veteran from central Pennsylvania, was formally given a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge, 60 years after his heroic service.
«Mark Paradise, World War II veteran, poses for a photo with Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin, Army War College commandant, and Col. Karl Ginter, Army war College faculty.»
Another American hero is getting the recognition he deserved 76 years ago for saving several lives aboard a burning Pearl Harbor ship.
The story of what he did is definitely one for the books.
The USS Arizona was on fire and just minutes away from being submerged in water, leaving six sailors struggling to rescue themselves.
Donald Stratton was burned on his back, face, and leg. Also, part of his ear was missing. Lauren Bruner was alongside Stratton and was bleeding badly from a bullet wound in his leg.
The USS Arizona burns after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
As the battleship was sinking, Joe George, who was aboard a repair ship, was ordered to cut the ropes between his and the six men.
George followed orders, but as Bruner and Stratton pleaded with him to throw them a rope, he defied further orders and and sent that lifeline to the sailors.
“As we got closer, he was standing there nodding his head yelling, ‘You can make it! You can make it! You can make it!” Stratton said in a phone interview Monday from Hawaii.
Stratton, the only living survivor of the USS Arizona, urged the Navy a few months ago to recognize George for saving the lives of six men.
Stratton’s granddaughter, Nikki, says she and the rest of her family owes their lives to the young sailor.
“We have four generations here because of that man. We have 14 people in our family who wouldn’t necessarily be here without Joe George,” said Nikki. “We just kept asking, asking and asking and finally someone was able to dig through some of the archives and some of the interviews of the sailors about what happened that day and we found the name Joe George.»
That’s when Stratton worked hard to make sure George’s heroic efforts would not go unnoticed in history.
“He saved six people’s lives and he didn’t get anything,” said Stratton in July. “Somebody in Washington should have the guts and honor to take care of that.”
Donald Stratton visiting the USS Arizona memorial last Thursday.
The secretary of the U.S. Navy awarded the Bronze Star with valor to Chief Petty Officer Joe George, who unfortunately passed in 1996, but his family could not have been any prouder.
«It was kind of surreal. You grow up with your dad thinking of him as dad; you’re not used to thinking of him as a hero,» said George’s daughter, Joe Ann Taylor, in a statement. «But it’s a wonderful story and I’m quite proud of him. Plus I’ve gotten to know the men he saved and have developed a real bond with the Stratton and Bruner families.»
