Wall Street Wizardry
  • Business
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Investing
  • Business
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Investing

Wall Street Wizardry

World News

This American soldier witnessed the Nazi surrender. 80 years later, he’s still happy to be home

by admin May 8, 2025
May 8, 2025
This American soldier witnessed the Nazi surrender. 80 years later, he’s still happy to be home

Anderson cooper 360

  • Watch Louis Graziano’s story on “Anderson Cooper 360,” tonight on CNN at 8 p.m. ET.

    He’s believed to be the last surviving person from inside the room of the little red schoolhouse in Reims, France, where German officers agreed to end World War II in Europe.

    Eighty years ago, Luciano “Louis” Graziano witnessed history when the Nazis surrendered.

    But this former American soldier has no special plans for Thursday, when Victory in Europe, or VE Day, is commemorated, saying every day is special to him now.

    At 102, Graziano vividly remembers what he saw that day, when it was unclear whether the Germans would sign the surrender document.

    One man not there was Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was using the schoolhouse as the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force.

    “He wasn’t in the room, he didn’t want to be in the room in case they decided not to sign the surrender,” Graziano said, wearing a World War II veteran baseball cap.

    But Eisenhower did want to see the defeated officers, so the young American soldier took them to him.

    “He wouldn’t shake hands with them. They clicked their heels together and he dismissed them,” Graziano said of the meeting.

    Born in East Aurora, New York to Italian immigrants, Graziano was the youngest of five children. He left school after the eighth grade to work as a mason to help support his family. His mother, sister and brother worked as hairstylists, and he decided to follow in their footsteps. But in 1943, weeks before his 20th birthday, he was drafted into the Army.

    Graziano completed his military training at various bases across the United States, including Fort Dix, before being shipped to England on the Queen Mary.
    On the ocean liner, he slept one night in a bunk but he chose to sleep on deck in a life vest because the quarters were so tight — he felt like he had a better chance of surviving an attack on deck.

    After spending months in England working in facility operations, Graziano was in the third wave of the D-Day attack on Omaha Beach. “I drove the gasoline truck onto the beach and got up under the cliff,” he said. “The Germans were shooting down at us. I got my flamethrower out and shot up underneath … and got rid of that machine gun.”

    Once in France, Graziano became the utilities foreman in the 102nd Infantry Field Artillery Battalion, meaning he oversaw American-occupied buildings, including the little red schoolhouse.

    While in Reims, he met his future wife, Eula “Bobbie” Shaneyfelt, then a Staff Sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps. They married in Reims, honeymooned in Paris after the surrender, and eventually moved to Thomson, Georgia, where they raised their family.

    In the decades since the end of World War II, Graziano has never gone back to France, “I’ve been asked to go many times and have my way paid,” he said. “But I don’t care to go on that ocean again.”

    Graziano isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary to celebrate VE Day, though he has interviews lined up with news outlets around the world to share his story.

    He plans to spend the day at home — fitting for a man whose thoughts were of the US even as he watched the European conflict end.

    “I was happy to be in that room,” he said of the surrender. “I knew I was going to get to go home soon after that.”

    This post appeared first on cnn.com

    previous post
    India and Pakistan are both claiming victory after this week’s clashes. Will cooler heads prevail?
    next post
    Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout, pulls outlook

    Related Posts

    Ecuador’s president invites foreign armies to fight gangs...

    March 20, 2025

    Man who lost $800 million bitcoin in landfill...

    February 15, 2025

    Oscar-winning Palestinian director of ‘No Other Land’ assaulted...

    March 25, 2025

    At least 15 dead, more than 100 injured...

    April 9, 2025

    The Pope Francis I knew: Reflections from CNN’s...

    April 27, 2025

    ‘Mushroom murder’ trial begins for woman accused of...

    April 29, 2025

    The IMF reaches a deal with troubled Argentina...

    April 9, 2025

    Japan’s 18-year-old prince, second in line to the...

    March 4, 2025

    Hegseth spurs fiery response from Beijing over Panama...

    April 9, 2025

    Former police officer spared jail over death of...

    March 28, 2025

      Join our mailing list to get access to special deals, promotions, and insider information. Your exclusive benefits await! Enjoy personalized recommendations, first dibs on sales, and members-only content that makes you feel like a true VIP. Sign up now and start saving!


      By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

      Editors’ Picks

      • 1

        Financial Agreement signed releasing $2M grant

        January 23, 2025
      • 2

        US security contractor will take charge of key checkpoint in Gaza as Israeli forces withdraw

        January 25, 2025
      • 3

        Trump re-designates Iranian-backed Houthis as terrorists: ‘Threaten[s] security of American civilians’

        January 23, 2025
      • 4

        Cyclopharm Signs US Agreement with HCA Healthcare for Technegas®

        January 23, 2025
      • 5

        Netflix shares soar as company reports surging revenue, tops 300 million subscribers

        January 23, 2025
      • 6

        FDA officially authorizes Zyn nicotine pouches for sale following health review

        January 23, 2025
      • 7

        Universal’s ‘Wicked: For Good’ creates a unique marketing challenge

        January 26, 2025
      • About us
      • Contacts
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Email Whitelisting

      Disclaimer: wallstreetwizardry.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.


      Copyright © 2025 wallstreetwizardry.com | All Rights Reserved