28-02-2025
WWII veterans share memories at Rockhurst University panel discussion
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Five World War II veterans took the stage together Thursday for a historic night at Rockhurst University. The event was titled '80 Years – D-Day Through the Eyes of the Greatest Generation.'
There are thought to be less than one percent of World War II Veterans still living. On Thursday, crowds lined up on the college campus to get autographs with celebrated heroes ranging in age from 99-101.
'I think it was amazing just getting to hear their story and what they did,' Declan Landry, 11, said.
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One of the first to join the war is actually the youngest in the group. Sally Keithley McCulley, 99, lied about her age so she could join the British Royal Army at age 16.
'I just felt like I wasn't doing anything for my country, we were all raised very patriotic,' she explained.
They shared stories of their time in the war, from John Roberts ending up on different floors of the same hospital as his twin brother but never getting to speak, to how Charles Staubus, liberated Hitler's stationery from his office after he fled. They were asked where they were on D-Day more than 80 years ago.
'I was writing messages down and they would deliver it to the plotters who were plotting the planes that were coming over to bomb,' McCulley said of her time in the British Royal Army's Signal Corps.
'This is like seeing living history. In 50 years when people our age are grandparents, we'll be able to tell our grandchildren that we shook the hand of a World War II veteran,' Valor Partners Ambassador Emma Sammons said.
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Asked if indeed they were 'The Greatest Generation', Bob South, 101, replied, maybe not the greatest, but a necessary one and pretty good one for its time.
Thursday's event was presented by the Valor Partners Foundation. They raise money for scholarships for dependents of deceased and 100 percent disabled veterans. Last year the organization awarded $1.5 million in scholarships to students at colleges in 13 states.
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