‘We’re here until the last man is standing’: families of WWII heroes reunite in Savannah
By Lydia Blackstone
Click here for updates on this story
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WJCL) — They may have looked like tourists taking in Savannah’s sights from a trolley, but the people aboard shared a connection forged on a battlefield more than 80 years ago.
They are the children, grandchildren and loved ones of soldiers who served in the 106th Infantry Division during World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge.
“My grandfather was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, Dec. 16, 1944,” said Kathy Spinella, president of the 106th Infantry Division Association.
Randy Wood, the son of a 106th veteran, said his father spent six months in a German prison camp.
The division’s veterans formed the association before leaving Europe in 1945, according to Brian Welke, author of “Boys, Just Boys.” Members and their families have gathered every year since.
For Spinella, the association also helped answer questions her family had carried for decades about her grandfather.
At the first reunion she attended with her mother, Brian Welke had her grandfather’s complete military file and shared information they had spent years trying to find.
That discovery eventually took Spinella to Belgium, where she visited her grandfather’s grave.
This year’s Savannah gathering marked a difficult milestone: It was the first reunion held without a 106th Infantry Division veteran in attendance.
“We’ll be figuring out how we continue from here,” Wood said. “But we’re here until the last man stands, and that’s what our purpose is.”
As the number of living World War II veterans continues to decline, their families are working to preserve their stories and maintain the bonds created through the association.
Spinella said the reunions honor the veterans while giving their families a chance to spend time together and share in the camaraderie.
The group met in Columbus last year and plans to gather in Gettysburg next year. While the location changes, its mission remains the same: honoring the veterans of the 106th Infantry Division and keeping their stories alive.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.