A final message from the last veterans of World War II
The article reflects on the experiences and final messages of the last surviving World War II veterans. Through interviews, veterans like Les Anderson and Kenneth Brown share their haunting memories of battles such as Iwo Jima and the heavy toll of war. Their stories serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom and the importance of remembering history.
- ▪Over 16 million Americans served in the Armed Forces during World War II, but today less than 45,000 are still alive.
- ▪Les Anderson, who fought in the battle of Iwo Jima, expressed his hope that Americans remember that freedom is not free.
- ▪Kenneth Brown, a chaplain's assistant during the war, shared his traumatic experiences of witnessing the suffering of wounded soldiers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Opinion A final message from the last veterans of World War II By Scott Davis Published May 24, 2026, 12:00 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google During World War II, over 16 million Americans served in the Armed Forces. Today, less than 45,000 are still alive. I spent the past ten years interviewing Marine Corps veterans who fought in the Pacific Theater for my forthcoming book, “The Last of the Old Breed: An Oral History of the Final Marines from World War II” (St. Martin’s Press). Of the 130 survivors I spoke with, the youngest was 90 and the oldest was 103. And they have a final message for America. Les Anderson was 95 years old when he sat down for an interview in 2021. He had never discussed the war before our meeting.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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