Our WWII Dad

We Think We Found Our Uncle in an 81-Year-Old Film

We always knew our Uncle Marcy helped load the atomic bomb known as Fat Man onto the B-29 Bockscar during World War II.

Then my brother Ken discovered an old Navy film of the loading operation.

We can't prove it...
but we believe Uncle Marcy may actually appear in the footage.

That's what Our WWII Dad is all about—rediscovering and preserving World War II family stories before they're lost forever.

We hope you'll take a few minutes to watch.

The Fire That Left Millions of WWII Families Without Answers

Fifty-three years ago today, a devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center destroyed millions of U.S. military personnel records—including most of our dad's Army records.

Fortunately, he had saved one important document before the fire.

That document helped us uncover remarkable details about his World War II service.

But this story isn't really about military records.

It's about preserving family history before it's lost.

Because every veteran leaves behind a lifetime of stories.

That's why we created Our WWII Dad.

If someone in your family served during World War II, ask questions, preserve their photographs and documents, and record their stories while you still can.

One conversation changed everything.
A conversation about two fathers who served in World War II led to a friendship, a television collaboration, an Emmy® nomination, and ultimately even more stories being preserved through Our WWII Dad.
Looking back, I'm grateful—not because of the recognition, but because it affirmed something we've believed from the very beginning:
These stories still matter.
Thank you to my friend Pat Pattison, everyone at Best of California, the Los Angeles Times, and all of you who continue to support Our WWII Dad.
Because every family has a story worth preserving.

Near the end of World War II, our dad was sent on one final mission—and it led to a story our family still treasures today.

He was assigned to assist Crown Prince Joseph of Austria. To show his appreciation, the Prince gave an Italian Beretta to Dad's small group of American soldiers. After drawing lots, our dad was the one who took it home.

But the Beretta isn't what makes this story special.

This conversation was recorded about a year before our dad passed away. Today, it's one of the few opportunities we still have to hear him tell his own World War II story in his own words.

That's why we created "Our WWII Dad".

Every family has stories worth preserving.

Watch this excerpt—and if you'd like to see the complete story, you'll find the full episode on our YouTube channel. The link is in the first comment.

Who was your dad before he became Dad?

For many of us, the answer is more complicated—and more interesting—than we realize.

This Father's Day, we're reflecting on the experiences that shaped our fathers long before we knew them as parents.

Sometimes understanding the man behind the title helps us better understand the dad we knew.

Happy Father's Day.

Five brothers served in World War II.

What makes their story remarkable is that they unexpectedly reunited three separate times during the war—across two continents and thousands of miles apart.

One of those brothers was our dad, Louis.

On June 16, 1944, a Pittsburgh newspaper shared their story with readers back home. What no one could know at the time was that all five brothers would survive the war and eventually return home.

Eighty-two years later, we remember their story.

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They climbed this.

On June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Rangers scaled the cliffs of Point du Hoc under enemy fire as part of the Normandy invasion.

Their mission was one of the most dangerous of D-Day.

Today, standing at Point du Hoc, the cliffs remain a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and determination of the men who fought there.

Eighty-one years later, we remember.

The Battle of Midway was one of the most important turning points of World War II.

In just a few days, the balance of power in the Pacific shifted, altering the course of the war and the future of millions who would be affected by its outcome.

More than eighty years later, Midway remains a reminder that certain moments in history can change everything.

This is one of those moments.