Screw Hollywood actors and professional athletes, I would much rather meet veterans like this guy any day over some A list celebrity.

I love his ability to recall small details, “In fact I even remember the name of the ship.” Nice. Ty for your service sir!

@ex-navyspook

2 жыл бұрын

No joke! Great recall of detail.

@matthewtanner7511

2 жыл бұрын

When your adrenaline is high you remember things better it’s been proven. So you can imagine

@daviswall3319

2 жыл бұрын

Yep. I like this guy.

@xxjoeyt07xx

2 жыл бұрын

Nice

@donaldstanley8019

2 жыл бұрын

@@ex-navyspook is ydoing i

This man is still as sharp as a tack! Amazing! I wish we could have the pride in this generation as we do in this old veterans generation!

His ability to recall the events is remarkable

As a navy veteran myself, it’s imperative for me to pay my respects and gratitude for the generations before me. Thank you for everything, sir.

@jedi4049

Жыл бұрын

Thank you too!

What a brilliant, heroic gentleman. Thank God for the Greatest Generation 🙏

@vivians9392

2 жыл бұрын

Hearing these stories from the men of his time make me believe that they were strengthed by God especially for what they endured in the war!

The way this man tells a story is amazing! He recollects events from 80 years ago with ease. I would have loved a longer version of his experiences though.

Did Louis say “snoopin and poopin “?! 🤣 Thank you for your service!

@w.p8960

2 жыл бұрын

Sure did. Still a common statement in Nam.

Man, this guy can talk! I love his recall

Great Uncle WWII veteran passed away in 2010 Uncle Vietnam veteran in his 70s

he has a better memory than i do and im 40!

great guy, had the honor of spending time with him at a recent Iwo Jima reunion

Thank you for your service Louis

Thank you and all of service members of WW2. My dad was radioman for 3rd Marine Division. He was in Solomon Islands, Bougainville, and Guam invasions. His name was Robert Bruce Johnston from Paducah, Ky. He died at 85 in 2006. I was so very proud of him.

Don’t make em as tough as they did in “The Greatest Generation” anymore. I could listen to this man talk all day long

OMG he barely took a breath!😁 Fantastic Recall

Tough as nails. Greatest generation without a doubt

My Grandfather was in this same unit, Carter Bradshaw. I never got to talk to him about WW2. He died when i was little in 1978.

Another Hero of mine, he knew everything that he saw and what he did. Reminds me of my Father who was in the 1st Marine Division and fought on Cape Goulester New Britain and Pelielu and Okinawa and other minor invasions. He was so sharp and plain, God Bless you and your family.

@dennisplatte7506

2 жыл бұрын

You know he did remember every movement and told us when he moved on many of them. But this was but an outline-----and a very good one. My dad was in his Regiment-----and told of the battles on Bougainville and on Guam. My dad was also hit going across the airfield on Iwo Jima----and spent a couple of days on a hospital type ship. He then rejoined his Company B. 1st Battalion, 21 Marine Regiment. He talked about the 3 battles on Bougainville----in the Coconut Grove, at the Forks and the famous Battle of Hellzapoppin' Ridge. I am sure this guy could have filled in the details if he was interviewed. Like how did he do in the huge Bonzai attack on Guam? The Bonzai attack on Guam pretty much eliminated the rest of my dad's Company------so they split the remaining 19 men into Company A and Company C-----until Company B could be reformed about 4 days later. Sadly pretty much all these guys have passed------but this guy was super sharp. Just wish he mentioned the battles he was in.

@kennethcaine3402

2 жыл бұрын

@@dennisplatte7506 your Father went through a lot, it was so Great we had men like him to Preserve this Great Country and the freedom we have. Thanks for sharing this. SEMPER FI

@danielhughes5517

2 жыл бұрын

Man your father faught in 3 of the 4 major campaigns of the old breed. That's very cool!

@dennisplatte7506

2 жыл бұрын

@@kennethcaine3402 My dad's battalion on Iwo Jima had Hershel Woody Williams in it. He is the only Marine Medal of Honor Winner from the Marines in WWII still alive. And he is active. I met him at a 3rd Marine Division Reunion about 30 years back. He must be 96 or so----and still does interviews. You can check out: Last Surviving WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel Walker and you see a KZread video on him. My dad' Company commander sent him on the mission where he got the Medal of Honor. My dad was shot near the end of the Battle of Iwo by a sniper hiding under a log. His buddies shot the Japanese soldier then put the guys rifle under a blanket on my dad's stretcher. My dad flew off Iwo on a medic plane and got the rifle to Guam----and then back to the US. I still have it. Dad was shot thru both thighs-----but was back on duty in about 6 months at the Philidelphia Navy Yard. When my dad retired at 60 he went to about every 3rd Marine Division for 20 plus years. Then he only attended the Florida Chapter of the 3rd Marine Division.

@roderickstockdale1678

2 жыл бұрын

@@dennisplatte7506 he’s 99 now. When did your dad go?

Semper Fi Sir. My Dad and men like you are why I became a Marine.

This man is a freaking spitfire at this age. Imagine he was a beast back in his prime. Bless you Marine

Semper Fi Mr. Bourgault. You are a credit to our beloved Corps.

Old Salt has an amazing memory! "Semper fi, Mac"! As for you young boots reading this: Welcome to The Suck! SFMFs 🇺🇲🦅🌎⚓

I could sit around this veteran and listen to him talk for hours!!

Semper Fi sir! Memory is great. Afghanistan seemed like a blur to me. He can remember exact dates! Great to see this interview.

This man is still sharp as a tack. Love these guys who grew up in the depression and became war fighters.

This man's career took him to all the most famous navy and marine corps in the country. Every stop he mentioned is still a super important military installation to this day. Except like that first camp he mentioned where he did his boot camp

@roderickstockdale1678

2 жыл бұрын

What famous navy and marine corps? What else?

@eamonhunt8781

2 жыл бұрын

And authentic, because he's not the hero in every episode. Talking about working, grunt a lot of the time. "Kinda fun," to shoot his M1 at a strafing aircraft until the wood turned black.

This guy has a hour by hour detailed recall of events nearly 80 years ago. Astounding!

This guy is an incredible story teller and an incredible gift to our Country. He must have 10’s of thousands of drinks bought for him at the Amvet or VFW. 👏👏👏 God Bless you 🙏 What an Extraordinary Marine.

19:00 hahaha that reminds me of my great grandfather when he got home to Australia after WW1 where he did the Somme and paeschendale. He got unloaded at Sydney harbour was told he had to wait for deregistration before leaving. Well he got off the boat. Walked out the front gate full kit including his Enfield rifle boarded a train to Brisbane 600 miles away in freedom units. Caught another train from Brisbane to Toowoomba where his mother picked him up took him home he put his rifle in storage his fatigues in storage and, went across the street and got a job as a mechanic the next day. Only took his rifle out of storage once in his life when my grandmother was a little girl she went down the street to get some food came back screaming the Japanese were in Gatton Australia and the country was gone. To which my great grandfather retrieved his rifle went off to see what was happening only to be told by the Americans based in Gatton that my grandmother had evidently past by a holding paddock full of Japanese, that there was no invasion and everything was fine. On a side note my grandmother always talks of the war in terms of how nice the Americans were to her and her sister oddly enough always makes sure to point out all of them were very kind and gentle with her and never inappropriate in any way. I don’t understand why she always adds it but she never wants anyone to believe the American GI’s were anything less than perfect around a 10-15 year old girl.

I love these ''old'' guys. Such a treasure..

One of the best ones. What a Man.

What a cool dude, I'd love to be able to shake his hand and give him a hug!

This man is very sharp for his age. Thank you for your service sir

I thank this gentleman for sharing his story. it's a travesty that this generation is pretty much all gone and our history with them. we should get as many of their recollections as possible for history. I also thank those people going around documenting.

Thank you guys so much for keeping these stories alive.

My mom knew a kid age 17 in the United States Marine Corps killed on Bougainville his nickname as I recall was CHICK. He was just 18 when he was killed.

Thank you Sir for sharing your story, courage, service and sacrifice for freedom to our wonderful country 🇺🇸 God Bless you, family and friends 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Still very sharp for his age. Thank you sir.

Thank you for doing your duty sir and giving us 70+ of the most prosperous years the world has ever known. My sincerest apologies its ll been pissed away!

This is an extremely important documentary series to record the input of these brave souls who were ripped out of their lives & put in harms way for the good of the rest of us.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice Mr.Bourgault!

Thanks for sharing your story. Dad passed away about 10 years ago. He was also in 3rd Marines, shipped on the Lurline and was in first wave at Bouganville. Help fill in dad's story.

Thank you for everything you did out there sir

This guy was really sharp. My dad was on Guadalcanal with this gent. My dad talked about "washing machine Charlie". He harassed the Marines almost daily. His plane had an engine that sounded like a giant washing machine, so the Marines always knew when "washing machine Charlie" was on his way. Guadalcanal (clean up) then Bougainville, Guam, then Iwo Jima. My dad was in the 9th Regiment K Company. Of the 230 men in my dad's company all but "11" men were killed or wounded. My dad was a machine-gunner. My dad told me that when he landed on Iwo he looked down to his left and saw his Lt. laying there dead. Semper Fi!❤

Good memory great story God bless you and yours thanks for your service

What a legends - huge respect ❤

They absolutely earned the title of the greatest generation.

What an excellent interview! Amazing Events these guys lived through. So much gratitude is due Louis and all of his brothers in arms!

His gun is so hot its beginning to self destruct from continuous fireing, "He says that was kinda Fun" A true American Badass. God bless you Sir, thank you for everything 🙏

The greatest generation! This man is sharp as a tack!

@spudtaterson6281

2 жыл бұрын

@Mike Raffphone yea but there's hasn't been a generation since with a over whelming amount of people that would sacrifice everything.

Thank you for your service sir

Ol dude is pretty sharp

Absolutely the best interview so far!

Thank you for your service, Louis

Love these videos from another veteran!🥲

The way he told his story I could imagine every step of his journey. Thank you so very much for sharing and my freedom.

I could listen to you talk for days sir, thanks for sharing your history and the service you rendered, I admire you men, God bless

TY for your service

Thank you sir.

This ole timer is sharp could listen to him for hours...Thank you for your service!!!

Wonderful production.

Thank you Sir, God bless you ALL.

God bless you and all real hero's, i cant thank you more

Thank you endlessly for your service Sir and may God bless you always!!!! ✝️🇺🇸✝️

Loved it when he said snoopin' and poopin'. Loved his interview..

You must have to buy amazing mics to get this quality audio from our old heros ! Really love what this channel does and watch every episode ! If you're reading this you should to.

@americanveteranscenter

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! We're determined to capture these stories at the highest quality possible, so they can live on in future documentaries, films, and museum exhibits for decades to come.

@emmanuelawosusi2365

2 жыл бұрын

@@americanveteranscenter greatest generation ever in the United States?

Trauma instills memories very deep.

Thank you or your sevice. God bless you sir

Thank you sir for your service 🇱🇷

My dad was part of the 21st Regiment, 3rd Marine Division and served on these same exact islands. He was in communications, I assume in the rear area, which is probably why he survived without a scratch. He talked to me _(his only son)_ *VERY LITTLE* about the experience, and it was only because I ended up with his discharge papers when he passed that I was able to piece what I have together. Looking back? I wish I would have joined the Marines, because there wasn't a Marine (young or old) that he wouldn't talk to. I _'came of age'_ as we were pulling out of Vietnam, so I'm sure I would have survived the war, probably not even going overseas.

Thanks for your patriotic service Sir

I salute you Sir!

God Bless him!

My father once told me under morphine that he had a bayonet stuck in a man's chest. He didn't have time to reload and they had to go to hand-to-hand combat...

@dirkmoos6802

2 жыл бұрын

I went to school with 2 brothers. 1 was in my grade little Jerry 2graded ahead. A few times we'd be around when Big Jerry their dad. A bar owner would have his friends over. Telling stories 1 Big Jerry told surprised me. He said after they'd take control or mostly. They would go in search of where the Japanese had their still and stash of beer, booze. Also find their garden where they grew marijuana. What??? Strict, bad ass and at times scary Big Jerry got HIGH along with his fellow grunts.... Dirty, blood soakedannd K-Bars

@dirkmoos6802

2 жыл бұрын

K-Bars in hand stoned tough as Hell Marines. Imagine that for a moment American fighting forces are more then heroes. They are citizens of the greatest country on earth. Representing and Protecting all of us. Semper Fi and Thank you

@roderickstockdale1678

2 жыл бұрын

@@dirkmoos6802 they weren’t found out as being high?

Thanks!

@americanveteranscenter

Жыл бұрын

No, thank you!

Thank you sir god bless

I had a captain whose grandfather was in WW2 and served in Saipan. The way it went was his father was recently born and they took the Sears catalogue and put it in front of the baby in the baby uniform section (navy, army, Marine) and whatever his hands landed on he would go in to. Well his hand landed on Marine and the grandfather signed up, and eventually went off to Saipan. In one of the letters he wrote to his wife (the grandmother) was that when he gets back home, he is going to kick that little shits ass for sending him to that hellhole. True story.

@roderickstockdale1678

Жыл бұрын

Were you in the service?

@cwad737

Жыл бұрын

@@roderickstockdale1678 arty.

@roderickstockdale1678

Жыл бұрын

@@cwad737 army, marines or air force?

@cwad737

Жыл бұрын

@@roderickstockdale1678 what're you a cop glowboy?

My wife works on board Quantico and she came home crying one day. She had realized that the greatest generation was the same age as our youngest son when they were storming beaches and flying off carriers into the jaws of death. What were you doing at nineteen?

One badass dude

Much kudos 👍

I want my mind to be just as sharp as his at that age wow! Awesome story 😁😁

Man, this is uncanny. This gent's Marine Corps experiences mirrors those of my late father's accounts of his experiences, down to the tee! My dad also named going to Camp Eliot then to the brand new MCB at Camp Pendleton and the very transport ship enroute to NZ? I wonder if this fellow and my dad crossed paths as they were in the 3rd Marine Corps Division in Bougainville at the same time?

Amazing. God bless this amazing man.

Damn good story teller, Semper Fi

Oorah grand old man of the Marine Corps

There's tough and then there's this gentleman.

this Legend said Customs....lolol To The Duffle Cut 💪

"Use it up, wear it out. Make it do, or do without." Shows how differently people thought back then. A farcry from the throw away culture of today.

God bless u sir

Did this gentleman ever say where he grew up because I kind of hear a trace of southern New England ? His last name sounds French Canadian; a lot of them came down to work in the mills.

@roderickstockdale1678

2 жыл бұрын

Rene Gagnon was from up there and his parents were migrants too!

Camp Elliot was in my literal backyard. We would play in the same canyons he was training in. Many many mortar shells and unexplored ordinance there

GREATEST GENERATION EVER!!!!!!!

Semper Fi

louis 🥰🥰🥰🥰

God Bless

@justmusic8166

2 жыл бұрын

Make it do or do without, l am old enough to remember push button radio .God Bless. I tried to enlist during Vietnam, they said l was a bad influence.

@justmusic8166

2 жыл бұрын

You are a hero

Can’t imagine the stories that we will get from the current war

@jordancox559

2 жыл бұрын

War isn't like this anymore. We won't ever get heroic stories like this from about every soldier like before Vietnam. It'll all be drone footage, social media, and mass media articles.

@josephaulisio9281

2 жыл бұрын

Nothing close. More Americans died on Iwo in 36 days than ALL US dead in 20 years in Iraq & Afghanistan.

SF brother !

So the Navy got to keep all that swag they left behind on the ship , lol.

Praise God,. God is good.