Welcome to T.G.G.F Online Blog

Welcome to the Greatest Generations Foundation Online Blog. The Greatest Generations Foundation (T.G.G.F) is a Denver based 501(c)(3) International non-profit educational organization that is committed to offering our country’s combat Veterans the opportunity to revisit the sites of their battlefield campaigns FREE of charge to the Veterans.

These courageous groups include generations of men and women who fought in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Their dedication and bravery must never be forgotten, nor should the value of their deeds be allowed to disappear into the annals of history.

At this time, our primary focus at the time is with World War II veterans as we are losing these great national treasures at an alarming rate of nearly 1800 per day. This web log serves as place for us to update the public on our plans, our trips, upcoming events-trips and any associated events with the foundation.

US veterans return to our haven from hell

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA – As Melbourne’s CBD was plunged back into wartime with the filming at the weekend of the new Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg WWII film The Pacific, a service was held yesterday to honour the US servicemen who fought in the South Pacific.

A small group of US veterans, many of whom spent time in Australia during World War II, laid a wreath for their comrades at the Shrine of Remembrance yesterday.

Capt Dale Dye, who served in Vietnam, stood alongside the men yesterday.

Capt Dye is the senior military adviser for The Pacific. He said yesterday’s service was an emotional reminder of the close bond US and Australian servicemen and women shared during the Allies’ Pacific campaign.

“Everybody who lives in the free world owes these chaps a huge debt of gratitude,” he said.

Capt Dye said a visit to the the set of The Pacific at the weekend brought back strong memories for the veterans of Australia in 1943.

“The memories the scene invoked were enormous,” he said.

The US 1st Marine Division was one of the most famous to land in Melbourne during World War II.

Capt Dye said the men had been fighting in the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and were suffering from tropical diseases and malnutrition when they arrived.

“It was heaven for them because they had just come from hell,” he said.

“They were sent to Melbourne to rest and recuperate. But the minute they got a look at the Australian pubs and the Australian women walking around out they went.”

The US veterans were brought to Australia by the Greatest Generations Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping veterans revisit the places they served.

Pearl Harbor survivor returns to Hawaii for the first time

DENVER COLORADO – Former Marine Lucian Weltzer never thought he’d set foot on Pearl Harbor, again.

“He never wanted to go back,” said colleague Jim Blane. 

Weltzer witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941.”There was so many guys wounded,” said Weltzer. “We were only a block from the harbor and there was so much smoke.”

The 89-year-old served with the U.S.S Pennsylvania. He says that was the first ship to fire at Japanese bomber planes after the attack.

After six years of service, he left the military, and Pearl Harbor, behind.

Then, Weltzer’s wife found out about The Greatest Generations Foundation. The non-profit group organizes trips for veterans to go back to the battlefields where they fought. The trips are free.

“We feel very strongly about allowing these men to go back,” said Foundation President Timothy Davis. “It’s at least my way to say ‘thank you’ to the veterans who helped create the freedom we enjoy today.”

Lucian Weltzer, along with seven other veterans, left for Hawaii Tuesday afternoon.

Every December, hundreds of Pearl Harbor survivors reunite in Hawaii. Weltzer says he’s looking forward to the trip. However, he also knows it could bring about an emotional moment when he pays tribute to a friend who died onboard the sunken U.S.S. Arizona.

“That’s the only thing I hate about going there,” he said. “Because his body’s still down there.”

Experts estimate there are about 5,000 Pearl Harbor survivors still living.

Retired Marine Corporal Jim Blane says the trip is important, and more young people need to know more about what happened at Pearl Harbor.

“Our stories will be told,” he said. “But we’d like to tell them now, while we’re still living.”

Pearl Harbor Survivor Returns For First Time

DENVER — A Pearl Harbor survivor from Colorado is making his first journey back since that fateful day in 1941 that thrust America into World War II. Lew Weltzer, 89, left DIA Tuesday, bound for Hawaii with his wife and several other veterans who served throughout the Pacific theater.

Joe Weinmeier was a flame thrower at Iwo Jima. “It was a terrible, terrible experience,” said Weinmeier. Weltzer was aboard the first ship to fire back at Japanese dive bombers during the attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

He is looking forward to walking aboard the USS Arizona this year on the 66th anniversary. His best friend, Michael Givazzo, died on the Arizona during the attack. “In the safe of the Arizona, Michael had an engagement ring. And after he got back, he told me he was going to propose to this gal from California,” said Weltzer.

Weltzer’s wife is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran herself. The group will attend commemorations this Friday. They plan to return to Colorado on Sunday.