Man travels across the country to interview every remaining World War II veteran

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – It is important to keep the legacy of our veterans alive. One California man has been on a seven-year journey to tell the stories of every remaining World War II veteran. On Sunday, July 7, he headed to Merrill to talk to a man who served in the 34th infantry.

Rishi Sharma has interviewed over 2,500 World War II veterans since 2016. The 26-year-old has been staying in rental cars and Airbnb’s throughout his journey. It is all for one goal: to keep the stories of veterans thriving.

It is more than just sharing the memories for Sharma. It also continues to make veteran’s names known and educate the younger generation on their powerful stories.

“It’s not fair to ask that entire group, that entire generation, to go overseas to fight and die and to come home with the traumas of war and then forget about them. That’s not fair,” Sharma, founder of RememberWW2, said.

Making sure no veteran is forgotten takes a lot of effort and time. Sharma says he has hardly seen his bedroom in the past seven years but it is all worth it. The veterans are always honored and excited to share their stories.

“It’s cool to see how enthusiastic they are that a young person cares. They feed off of my energy,” Sharma said.

That energy is something he wants to keep going for a long time. Sharma says he will not stop doing what he loves and hopes other young people won’t either.

“You guys have done your part. It’s up to the younger generation to make sure that the sacrifices that the World War II veterans made were worth it,” Sharma said.

Sharma says his journey is far from over. He is always looking for more veterans to share their stories.

To share a story with him, call 202-315-8743. Click here to follow Sharma’s journey and hear all the stories of the World War II veterans.

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