A school pupil with a ardour for historical past and storytelling not too long ago helped a World Conflict II veteran return to the positioning the place he misplaced his hand in fight greater than 80 years in the past.
Tyler Boland, 22, from Studying, Pennsylvania, interviews veterans and uploads their tales to his YouTube channel, Retaining Historical past Alive. He particularly seeks out WWII veterans, with most being over 100 years outdated or near reaching the century mark.
“Given this time that now we have with them, this small pocket of time, I feel it’s essential that we inform their tales,” Boland instructed WPVI in Philadelphia.
Calling it his ardour challenge, Boland began interviewing WWII veterans greater than 5 years in the past when he was nonetheless in highschool, even touring all through the U.S. to movie his interviews. He’s been featured on native information segments and podcasts, in addition to nationally, on ABC Nightly News. In 2024, Boland organized a Memorial Day Parade that includes 31 WWII veterans.
Boland, a senior at Albright School in Studying, not too long ago documented the story of Russell Sattazahn, a 99-year-old Army veteran who misplaced a hand preventing in Germany.
One wouldn’t suspect two males with an virtually 80-year age distinction to have a lot in widespread, however after they met, Boland and Sattazahn developed a bond and a “actually good friendship,” in response to the school pupil.
“He instructed me the story of how he misplaced his hand in fight in a small city referred to as Uckerath, Germany, and after I interviewed him, I stated, ‘Would you ever wish to return?’” Boland stated. “I used to be like, I promise I’ll discover a option to get you again there.’”
Serving to Him Get There
Missing the monetary means to journey to Europe, Boland helped Sattazahn by sharing his story, together with organising native donations and a GoFundMe account. The outcome – a particular journey 80 years within the making and peace of thoughts for a World Conflict II veteran.
“We received the funds in like 4 hours,” Boland stated. “It most likely introduced him closure as a result of he by no means went again to Europe after 80 years.”
Drafted out of highschool in 1944, Sattazahn, from Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, went into the Army. He was not spared from a few of the fiercest preventing close to the tip of the struggle. Recollections of the day he misplaced his hand stay painfully recent.
“They zeroed in on us with heavy artillery. The second hit and hit direct, and it blew my hand off,” Sattazahn stated.
Immediately, an 18-year-old’s life was altered. Sattazahn feared easy joys, like enjoying sports activities, have been gone.
“And the very first thing, I appeared down, and I stated, ‘I’ll by no means play baseball once more,’” he stated. “Lastly, I stated, ‘Russell, come up with your self. This isn’t going to vary; it could’t get higher. Do issues that you are able to do, don’t fret about issues you possibly can’t do anymore.’ That was an enormous assist to me.”
Whereas some troopers most likely wouldn’t wish to return to the place the place they have been wounded, Sattazahn stated he had expertise returning to the small German city the place he misplaced his hand, saying it introduced again plenty of reminiscences. He is aware of the journey wouldn’t have been attainable with out Boland.
“Tyler was one nice man. I thank him for every little thing. He received me going again to Germany,” Sattazahn stated. “There’s no person higher than him. You’ve received plenty of issues achieved that I by no means would have gotten achieved.”
Ardour for Storytelling Continues
Boland has navy ties in his household. Whereas he by no means received to fulfill his great-grandfather, a WWII Marine, his service impressed Boland to seize veterans’ tales, inspiring future generations.
“He died earlier than I used to be born, so in honor of him, I stated I’m going to interview as many World Conflict II vets as I can,” Boland stated. “I’m simply impressed as a result of they’re residing, strolling heroes, and I get to fulfill them every single day.”
Regardless of the place life takes him after school, Boland has no plans to cease interviewing veterans.
“So long as there’s World Conflict II vets on the market, I’m going to maintain doing what I’m doing,” he stated. “If somebody, thank them for his or her service. They’ve achieved quite a bit for us, and with out Russell and these different guys, I might not be right here, they usually actually imply quite a bit to me.”
Veterans and their households can get in contact with Boland by his web site.
