Latest news with #OperationBenjamin
CNN
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Video: Jewish soldiers killed in WWII get proper funerals decades later
Jewish soldiers killed in WWII get proper funerals decades later The non-profit Operation Benjamin, which works with the American Battle Monuments Commission, helped organize the replacement of Latin crosses with Stars of David for two Jewish soldiers buried in Italy. CNN's Dana Bash meets with the families who traveled from the US to witness the ceremony. 01:53 - Source: CNN 5 years since George Floyd's death CNN's Sara Sidner reports from the annual Rise & Remember Festival, which is held in remembrance of George Floyd, whose death five years ago at the hands of a White police officer in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reform. Sidner also speaks to a Minneapolis resident, who reacts to the Trump administration's dismissal of federal oversight agreements in Louisville and Minneapolis, and dropping investigations into several major police departments. 00:54 - Source: CNN How George Floyd's family is keeping his story alive George Floyd's first cousin, Dr. Shareeduh McGee reflects on the state of police reform five years after Floyd's murder and says that fear Floyd could be forgotten keeps her fighting for change. As the president of the 929 Foundation, named after the 9 minutes and 29 seconds a police officer knelt on Floyd's neck, McGee says she mentors young people, speaks at schools, and engages in city council meetings to make sure Floyd is remembered. 01:23 - Source: CNN Hot air balloon crash in Mexico injures at least twelve people A hot air balloon crashed near a popular archaeological site near Mexico City, injuring at least twelve people. A representative from the hot air ballon tour company would not comment on the incident. The Attorney General's Office for the state of Mexico reported that they are investigating a 29-year-old man whom police detained. 00:52 - Source: CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains Billy Joel's rare condition Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), the condition Billy Joel was diagnosed with, and explains its effects on the brain. 01:45 - Source: CNN This Indian YouTuber is accused of spying An Indian travel vlogger has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Pakistan just days after tensions soared between the two longtime rival nations following an attack last month that left 26 tourists dead in India-administered Kashmir. Police say that 'in the pursuit of views, followers, and viral content, she fell into a trap.' 01:46 - Source: CNN Satellite images show aftermath of North Korean launch failure North Korea's newest warship was severely damaged during a recent launch ceremony. Leader Kim Jong Un said the incident brought shame to the nation's prestige and vowed to punish those found responsible, state media reported. 01:33 - Source: CNN Body language expert offers her advice on how to approach Trump In the wake of the White House's Oval Office ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, body language expert Susan Constantine tells CNN's Max Foster that being an active listener is key for any future leader's meeting with President Donald Trump. 01:36 - Source: CNN New government report echoes RFK Jr beliefs around chronic disease First MAHA health report under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sheds light on the Trump Administration's plans to overhaul government policy to "Make America Healthy Again." CNN's Meg Tirrell explains. 01:11 - Source: CNN Inside the GOP negotiations to pass Trump's agenda bill CNN's Manu Raju breaks down how President Trump and House Republican leadership managed to win the support of a key bloc of conservative hardliners to pass Trump's agenda bill, and looks ahead to the obstacles the bill may face in the Senate. 02:26 - Source: CNN Republican warns of increasing debt hours before Trump's bill passes House Republicans passed President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts package early this morning. During a House floor debate in the early hours of Thursday morning, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) strongly criticized the bill. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that Trump's bill will add $3.8 trillion to US debt. 00:49 - Source: CNN See moment House Republicans passed a major part of Trump's agenda House Republicans passed President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts package, marking a stunning victory for both Johnson and Trump after the bill appeared doomed just days earlier 00:52 - Source: CNN Dem says Trump admin cuts in blue states are 'distasteful' The Trump administration has made cuts to funding for flood prevention projects in blue states, whereas new water construction opportunities have taken course in red states, according to a data analysis. CNN's Annie Grayer reports. 02:33 - Source: CNN Dior to pay $2M to help labor abuse victims Dior has agreed a number of remedies to settle an Italian competition authority investigation into whether the luxury brand and two of its units misled consumers with their statements about working conditions at its suppliers. CNN's Max Foster reports. 01:36 - Source: CNN See "Cheers" star George Wendt's most memorable moments Actor and comedian George Wendt, beloved for his performance as Norm Peterson on the long-running comedy series "Cheers" has died aged 76. Wendt's career spanned more than four decades, and included six consecutive Emmy nominations. CNN looks back at some of his best moments. 00:57 - Source: CNN Kermit the Frog's advice for 2025 graduates and what he learned from 'the school of life' The University of Maryland's 2025 commencement speaker Kermit the Frog shares his advice for graduates with CNN's Sara Sidner. 01:14 - Source: CNN Have federal cuts left U.S. unprepared for natural disasters? Sometime between tomorrow and 200 years from now, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake will rock the United States. Scientists say we're not ready for it. And with the federal employees who have left or been fired under the Trump administration, that's only getting worse. CNN's Ella Nilsen spoke to scientists and former federal workers about how these cuts leave the US unprepared for natural disasters. 02:03 - Source: CNN Climber rescued by helicopter after 30-foot fall in California A helicopter rescue crew hoisted a climber to safety after they fell roughly 30 feet while scaling Lily Rock in Idyllwild, California. The climber was left clinging to the cliffside with a limb injury. 00:49 - Source: CNN Columbia students chant, 'Free Mahmoud' at commencement Videos show Columbia University students booing the acting university president, Claire Shipman, during her commencement speech. Some students at the school have been on edge since Mahmoud Khalil was detained by ICE for participating in campus protests. 01:07 - Source: CNN Cassie Ventura's mom feared for daughter's safety with 'Diddy' Cassie Ventura's mother Regina Ventura took the stand at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial in New York, where Ventura testified about incidents she witnessed during her daughter's relationship with Combs that left her 'scared for my daughter's safety.' 02:57 - Source: CNN FDA tightens requirements for Covid-19 vaccine The FDA is changing how it approves Covid-19 vaccines, which may restrict updated shots to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions who are at higher risk for severe disease. 01:10 - Source: CNN
CNN
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Video: Jewish soldiers killed in WWII get proper funerals decades later
Jewish soldiers killed in WWII get proper funerals decades later The non-profit Operation Benjamin, which works with the American Battle Monuments Commission, helped organize the replacement of Latin crosses with Stars of David for two Jewish soldiers buried in Italy. CNN's Dana Bash meets with the families who traveled from the US to witness the ceremony. 01:53 - Source: CNN 5 years since George Floyd's death CNN's Sara Sidner reports from the annual Rise & Remember Festival, which is held in remembrance of George Floyd, whose death five years ago at the hands of a White police officer in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reform. Sidner also speaks to a Minneapolis resident, who reacts to the Trump administration's dismissal of federal oversight agreements in Louisville and Minneapolis, and dropping investigations into several major police departments. 00:54 - Source: CNN How George Floyd's family is keeping his story alive George Floyd's first cousin, Dr. Shareeduh McGee reflects on the state of police reform five years after Floyd's murder and says that fear Floyd could be forgotten keeps her fighting for change. As the president of the 929 Foundation, named after the 9 minutes and 29 seconds a police officer knelt on Floyd's neck, McGee says she mentors young people, speaks at schools, and engages in city council meetings to make sure Floyd is remembered. 01:23 - Source: CNN Hot air balloon crash in Mexico injures at least twelve people A hot air balloon crashed near a popular archaeological site near Mexico City, injuring at least twelve people. A representative from the hot air ballon tour company would not comment on the incident. The Attorney General's Office for the state of Mexico reported that they are investigating a 29-year-old man whom police detained. 00:52 - Source: CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains Billy Joel's rare condition Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), the condition Billy Joel was diagnosed with, and explains its effects on the brain. 01:45 - Source: CNN This Indian YouTuber is accused of spying An Indian travel vlogger has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Pakistan just days after tensions soared between the two longtime rival nations following an attack last month that left 26 tourists dead in India-administered Kashmir. Police say that 'in the pursuit of views, followers, and viral content, she fell into a trap.' 01:46 - Source: CNN Satellite images show aftermath of North Korean launch failure North Korea's newest warship was severely damaged during a recent launch ceremony. Leader Kim Jong Un said the incident brought shame to the nation's prestige and vowed to punish those found responsible, state media reported. 01:33 - Source: CNN Body language expert offers her advice on how to approach Trump In the wake of the White House's Oval Office ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, body language expert Susan Constantine tells CNN's Max Foster that being an active listener is key for any future leader's meeting with President Donald Trump. 01:36 - Source: CNN New government report echoes RFK Jr beliefs around chronic disease First MAHA health report under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sheds light on the Trump Administration's plans to overhaul government policy to "Make America Healthy Again." CNN's Meg Tirrell explains. 01:11 - Source: CNN Inside the GOP negotiations to pass Trump's agenda bill CNN's Manu Raju breaks down how President Trump and House Republican leadership managed to win the support of a key bloc of conservative hardliners to pass Trump's agenda bill, and looks ahead to the obstacles the bill may face in the Senate. 02:26 - Source: CNN Republican warns of increasing debt hours before Trump's bill passes House Republicans passed President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts package early this morning. During a House floor debate in the early hours of Thursday morning, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) strongly criticized the bill. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that Trump's bill will add $3.8 trillion to US debt. 00:49 - Source: CNN See moment House Republicans passed a major part of Trump's agenda House Republicans passed President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts package, marking a stunning victory for both Johnson and Trump after the bill appeared doomed just days earlier 00:52 - Source: CNN Dem says Trump admin cuts in blue states are 'distasteful' The Trump administration has made cuts to funding for flood prevention projects in blue states, whereas new water construction opportunities have taken course in red states, according to a data analysis. CNN's Annie Grayer reports. 02:33 - Source: CNN Dior to pay $2M to help labor abuse victims Dior has agreed a number of remedies to settle an Italian competition authority investigation into whether the luxury brand and two of its units misled consumers with their statements about working conditions at its suppliers. CNN's Max Foster reports. 01:36 - Source: CNN See "Cheers" star George Wendt's most memorable moments Actor and comedian George Wendt, beloved for his performance as Norm Peterson on the long-running comedy series "Cheers" has died aged 76. Wendt's career spanned more than four decades, and included six consecutive Emmy nominations. CNN looks back at some of his best moments. 00:57 - Source: CNN Kermit the Frog's advice for 2025 graduates and what he learned from 'the school of life' The University of Maryland's 2025 commencement speaker Kermit the Frog shares his advice for graduates with CNN's Sara Sidner. 01:14 - Source: CNN Have federal cuts left U.S. unprepared for natural disasters? Sometime between tomorrow and 200 years from now, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake will rock the United States. Scientists say we're not ready for it. And with the federal employees who have left or been fired under the Trump administration, that's only getting worse. CNN's Ella Nilsen spoke to scientists and former federal workers about how these cuts leave the US unprepared for natural disasters. 02:03 - Source: CNN Climber rescued by helicopter after 30-foot fall in California A helicopter rescue crew hoisted a climber to safety after they fell roughly 30 feet while scaling Lily Rock in Idyllwild, California. The climber was left clinging to the cliffside with a limb injury. 00:49 - Source: CNN Columbia students chant, 'Free Mahmoud' at commencement Videos show Columbia University students booing the acting university president, Claire Shipman, during her commencement speech. Some students at the school have been on edge since Mahmoud Khalil was detained by ICE for participating in campus protests. 01:07 - Source: CNN Cassie Ventura's mom feared for daughter's safety with 'Diddy' Cassie Ventura's mother Regina Ventura took the stand at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial in New York, where Ventura testified about incidents she witnessed during her daughter's relationship with Combs that left her 'scared for my daughter's safety.' 02:57 - Source: CNN FDA tightens requirements for Covid-19 vaccine The FDA is changing how it approves Covid-19 vaccines, which may restrict updated shots to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions who are at higher risk for severe disease. 01:10 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Operation Benjamin works to replace erroneous grave markers for Jewish American service members who died in battle
Ben Zion Bernstein served in one of the most elite fighting units in the US military during World War II – the First Special Service Force – a select group picked and put through rigorous training for among the most perilous missions. His first combat mission turned out to be his last. Bernstein, a technician fourth grade, was killed in the famous battle of Monte La Difensa on December 3, 1943, while storming a steep Italian mountain trying to overtake a Nazi stronghold. Bernstein's siblings and their descendants knew he was a war hero, but none of the details of his sacrifice. They also didn't know that despite being a proud Jew, he'd been buried under a Latin cross for more than 80 years at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, until a historian named Shalom Lamm contacted them. Lamm is with a non-profit organization called Operation Benjamin, which works with the American Battle Monuments Commission to help find Jewish soldiers who were buried in American military cemeteries around the world under Latin crosses and correct those inadvertent errors by replacing their headstones with a Star of David. Several of Bernstein's nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews traveled to Italy this month to participate in a ceremony to honor him and replace the cross with a Star of David to represent his Jewish faith. 'It was a big part of his life. He went to a Jewish school. He was part of the Jewish organizations. He went to Palestine,' said nephew Ben Sheridan, who is named for his uncle. 'The best part is, you know, what Shalom Lamm and his organization has done to teach us so much about his legacy,' he added. The afternoon before the ceremony, the Bernstein family climbed what they called the 'easy part' of the mountain where their uncle died and saw the bunker where the Nazis threw a grenade that killed him. And a surprise guest came to meet them. Lamm invited Brad Hicks, the grandson of Major General Robert T. Frederick, a storied World War II military leader who organized, trained and led the First Special Service Force, which later became US Army Special Forces. 'When Shalom asked me if I would do this, I didn't hesitate for a moment because I knew that my grandfather would not hesitate for a moment to do this for one of his men who fell on the battlefield,' said Hicks, who traveled from Washington state to Italy for the ceremony. 'I've had the privilege of meeting many members of our special forces. They know about the Battle of Mount La Difensa. They still study it as part of their training, and they know about the greatness of the men who undertook that mission. Today's special forces embody the legacy of Ben Bernstein,' said Hicks. Lamm, whose organization has replaced more than 30 military headstones, said that many times the US military erroneously buried a Jewish service member beneath a cross because the service member intentionally left their religion off their dog tag. 'These were true errors,' Lamm explained. 'America really tried to get it right, but when you had someone who put a 'P' or a 'C' for Protestant and Catholic on their dog tag and they did that to protect themselves in case of capture.' 'If you were captured by the Germans, in particular, that was really terrifying,' Lamm added. 'I think we need to look back and think America did a great job getting this right, but they naturally missed some, and our job is to come back after all these decades and find those guys and bring this home and do the right thing,' Lamm said. Once Lamm has identified a service member who has been buried under the wrong religious symbol, he sets out doing the research to find proof of the error and the service member's closest living relatives since the only way to change a headstone in a military cemetery is with the approval of the service member's family. 'The amount of proof we're required to deliver to the American Battle Monuments Commission is really huge. It's really tough and it should be tough. We're changing something for eternity,' said Lamm. Lamm's research often gives families new information about their loved ones, like in the case of Bernstein. 'It has happened again and again and again that I introduce people to someone who's just a shadowy figure in their memory, you know. When someone is a kid and he says, 'Hey Mom, there's a black and white photo above the hearth of a guy in a uniform, was that your brother?' and Mom starts to cry and little Johnny says 'I don't want Mom to cry,' and he never asks her again,' Lamm explained. 'Then I come along, and I say, wow, because of the American Battle Monuments Commission, we know everything about this guy. We went through his high school yearbook. We knew who his girlfriend was. We know what sports he played. We know what career choices [he made]. We know everything about him. And we're introducing families to the shadowy figure and bringing them to life. They were real flesh and blood human beings, and we know that story and it's great to share,' he said. Second Lieutenant Paul Singer was a navigator alongside Second Lieutenant Sheldon Finder, a bombardier on the B-24 Liberator 'Southern Comfort.' On August 16, 1943, during a bombing raid on a German airfield near Foggia, Italy, the aircraft was attacked and caught fire. The crew bailed out, but neither Singer nor Finder's parachutes worked. They were the only two in the unit to die in that attack, and the only two Jewish soldiers on that plane. By happenstance, they are buried right next to each other at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Finder's tombstone was a Star of David to reflect his faith, but, for decades, Singer's grave was inadvertently marked with a Latin cross. That mistake was rectified on the same day as that of Bernstein. Finding Singer's family was a bit more challenging, since he was an only child who was orphaned at age 16. Lamm did find second cousins, who traveled to Italy to honor Singer's service and sacrifice. Cousin Jodi Reff, one of Singer's cousins, spoke at the ceremony. 'We, his living relatives, have met Paul through Operation Benjamin, where we are able to stand here 81 years after his tragic death and feel the connection as his descendants.' She calls herself a 'committed Jew' but more importantly, she said, she now knows that her cousin was too. 'Paul lived as a Jew, fought for America and the free world as a Jew, and died as a Jew,' she said, noting that now, more than 80 years later, he is finally buried as a Jew as well. Through the process of learning about Singer, Reff met other cousins whom she never knew, like Claudia Lewis. 'It puts all the pieces together,' said Lewis, standing arm in arm with Reff next to their cousin's grave. They also got to know the family of Finder, whose niece and nephew also made the trip. Even though Finder had long been buried properly, beneath a Jewish Star, no one from his family had visited, or even knew where he was buried. Jonathan Finder, Sheldon Finder's nephew, knew that his own father suffered deep grief from the death of his older brother, but didn't talk much about it with his children. 'I know that in retrospect it was probably too painful for him. He was grieving, and I feel like by being here today, I honor his quiet grieving for his entire life,'he said somberly.
CNN
24-05-2025
- General
- CNN
Video: A mistake finally corrected after more than 80 years for two WWII Jewish American soldiers
The non-profit Operation Benjamin, which works with the American Battle Monuments Commission, helped organize the replacement of Latin crosses with Stars of David for two Jewish soldiers buried in Italy. CNN's Dana Bash meets with the families who traveled from the US to witness the ceremony.
CNN
24-05-2025
- General
- CNN
Operation Benjamin works to replace erroneous grave markers for Jewish American service members who died in battle
Ben Zion Bernstein served in one of the most elite fighting units in the US military during World War II – the First Special Service Force – a select group picked and put through rigorous training for among the most perilous missions. His first combat mission turned out to be his last. Bernstein, a technician fourth grade, was killed in the famous battle of Monte La Difensa on December 3, 1943, while storming a steep Italian mountain trying to overtake a Nazi stronghold. Bernstein's siblings and their descendants knew he was a war hero, but none of the details of his sacrifice. They also didn't know that despite being a proud Jew, he'd been buried under a Latin cross for more than 80 years at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, until a historian named Shalom Lamm contacted them. Lamm is with a non-profit organization called Operation Benjamin, which works with the American Battle Monuments Commission to help find Jewish soldiers who were buried in American military cemeteries around the world under Latin crosses and correct those inadvertent errors by replacing their headstones with a Star of David. Several of Bernstein's nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews traveled to Italy this month to participate in a ceremony to honor him and replace the cross with a Star of David to represent his Jewish faith. 'It was a big part of his life. He went to a Jewish school. He was part of the Jewish organizations. He went to Palestine,' said nephew Ben Sheridan, who is named for his uncle. 'The best part is, you know, what Shalom Lamm and his organization has done to teach us so much about his legacy,' he added. The afternoon before the ceremony, the Bernstein family climbed what they called the 'easy part' of the mountain where their uncle died and saw the bunker where the Nazis threw a grenade that killed him. And a surprise guest came to meet them. Lamm invited Brad Hicks, the grandson of Major General Robert T. Frederick, a storied World War II military leader who organized, trained and led the First Special Service Force, which later became US Army Special Forces. 'When Shalom asked me if I would do this, I didn't hesitate for a moment because I knew that my grandfather would not hesitate for a moment to do this for one of his men who fell on the battlefield,' said Hicks, who traveled from Washington state to Italy for the ceremony. 'I've had the privilege of meeting many members of our special forces. They know about the Battle of Mount La Difensa. They still study it as part of their training, and they know about the greatness of the men who undertook that mission. Today's special forces embody the legacy of Ben Bernstein,' said Hicks. Lamm, whose organization has replaced more than 30 military headstones, said that many times the US military erroneously buried a Jewish service member beneath a cross because the service member intentionally left their religion off their dog tag. 'These were true errors,' Lamm explained. 'America really tried to get it right, but when you had someone who put a 'P' or a 'C' for Protestant and Catholic on their dog tag and they did that to protect themselves in case of capture.' 'If you were captured by the Germans, in particular, that was really terrifying,' Lamm added. 'I think we need to look back and think America did a great job getting this right, but they naturally missed some, and our job is to come back after all these decades and find those guys and bring this home and do the right thing,' Lamm said. Once Lamm has identified a service member who has been buried under the wrong religious symbol, he sets out doing the research to find proof of the error and the service member's closest living relatives since the only way to change a headstone in a military cemetery is with the approval of the service member's family. 'The amount of proof we're required to deliver to the American Battle Monuments Commission is really huge. It's really tough and it should be tough. We're changing something for eternity,' said Lamm. Lamm's research often gives families new information about their loved ones, like in the case of Bernstein. 'It has happened again and again and again that I introduce people to someone who's just a shadowy figure in their memory, you know. When someone is a kid and he says, 'Hey Mom, there's a black and white photo above the hearth of a guy in a uniform, was that your brother?' and Mom starts to cry and little Johnny says 'I don't want Mom to cry,' and he never asks her again,' Lamm explained. 'Then I come along, and I say, wow, because of the American Battle Monuments Commission, we know everything about this guy. We went through his high school yearbook. We knew who his girlfriend was. We know what sports he played. We know what career choices [he made]. We know everything about him. And we're introducing families to the shadowy figure and bringing them to life. They were real flesh and blood human beings, and we know that story and it's great to share,' he said. Second Lieutenant Paul Singer was a navigator alongside Second Lieutenant Sheldon Finder, a bombardier on the B-24 Liberator 'Southern Comfort.' On August 16, 1943, during a bombing raid on a German airfield near Foggia, Italy, the aircraft was attacked and caught fire. The crew bailed out, but neither Singer nor Finder's parachutes worked. They were the only two in the unit to die in that attack, and the only two Jewish soldiers on that plane. By happenstance, they are buried right next to each other at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Finder's tombstone was a Star of David to reflect his faith, but, for decades, Singer's grave was inadvertently marked with a Latin cross. That mistake was rectified on the same day as that of Bernstein. Finding Singer's family was a bit more challenging, since he was an only child who was orphaned at age 16. Lamm did find second cousins, who traveled to Italy to honor Singer's service and sacrifice. Cousin Jodi Reff, one of Singer's cousins, spoke at the ceremony. 'We, his living relatives, have met Paul through Operation Benjamin, where we are able to stand here 81 years after his tragic death and feel the connection as his descendants.' She calls herself a 'committed Jew' but more importantly, she said, she now knows that her cousin was too. 'Paul lived as a Jew, fought for America and the free world as a Jew, and died as a Jew,' she said, noting that now, more than 80 years later, he is finally buried as a Jew as well. Through the process of learning about Singer, Reff met other cousins whom she never knew, like Claudia Lewis. 'It puts all the pieces together,' said Lewis, standing arm in arm with Reff next to their cousin's grave. They also got to know the family of Finder, whose niece and nephew also made the trip. Even though Finder had long been buried properly, beneath a Jewish Star, no one from his family had visited, or even knew where he was buried. Jonathan Finder, Sheldon Finder's nephew, knew that his own father suffered deep grief from the death of his older brother, but didn't talk much about it with his children. 'I know that in retrospect it was probably too painful for him. He was grieving, and I feel like by being here today, I honor his quiet grieving for his entire life,'he said somberly.
