William Pekrul likely never imagined he would one day be standing at a Republican National Convention.
But the 98-year-old World War II veteran captivated hearts on Wednesday as he spoke before the GOP crowd in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, declaring that if his country needs him and former President Donald Trump is once again the commander-in-chief, he will gladly put his uniform back on to serve.
Sgt. William “Bill” Pekrul, a proud Wisconsinite and father of 11 children, told how in June 1944, he stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.
(Video Credit: Fox News)
“I will never forget and witness the horror of the Nazi war camps and the Battle of the Bulge,” the decorated WWII vet recalled. “My friends and I fought to stop the Nazis, the last major push in the Western Front.”
“We worked, and we gave thanks to Almighty God for deliverance from evil,” Pekrul continued. “But not many of us came home. I still miss a lot of my friends on that beach.”
In thinking back to his fellow service members, Pekrul said there “aren’t many of us left today, but for those of us who are here, America is still worth fighting for.”
Calling “America the greatest nation in the history of the world,” he recounted that when he came home after the war, he “kissed the ground” and thanked God.
Pekrul, who served as Grand Marshal of Milwaukee’s Veterans Day Parade in 2019, is the recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Silver Star for his heroic service.
Living legend pic.twitter.com/ePpQ38oMj3
— Parker Thayer (@ParkerThayer) July 18, 2024
“It hurts my heart to see what our current president and vice president have done to the country I love so well,” he said of President Joe Biden. “As we [get] pushed around by China, terrorists run wild in the Middle East, and they let our own southern border get overrun.”
But of Trump, Pekrul was totally supportive, saying, with “President Trump back as commander in chief, I would go back to re-enlist today.”
That earned him cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd, including Trump himself,
“And I would storm whatever beach my country needs me to,” Pekrul ended his speech. “God bless you, God bless our home and the United States of America.”
Online, social media users had the same emotional reactions.
It’s hard not to get emotional watching a WW2 veteran speak.
We have fallen so far. We need to honor them and their sacrifice.
— Matthew Marsden (@matthewdmarsden) July 18, 2024
The 98 year old WW2 veteran on stage looks younger and sounds sharper than Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/vhxwjR10vf
— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) July 18, 2024
This made me cry. What a honor to have him speak. Bless him.
— Creature of Habit2 (@CreatureHabit2) July 18, 2024
The greatest generation ❤️
— Sue Ellen (@EstergrenSue) July 18, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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