Berks County, Pa — When a 99-year-old World War 2 veteran befriended a college student, they would both go on a trip that they would never forget.
Together with Tyler Boland, Russell Sattazahn visited the site in Germany where he lost his hand decades ago.
Boland connected with Sattazahn through his passion project: “Keeping History Alive.”
“My great grandfather was a marine in World War 2. He died before I was born. So in honor of him, I said, ‘I’m going to interview as many World War 2 vets as I can.’ I’m just inspired because they are living walking heroes,” said Boland.
These interviews are posted online, including Boland’s Youtube Channel.
After Boland discovered Sattazahn, he decided to find a way to visit the site where Sattazahn lost his right hand.
“The second one hit … and it blew my hand off. And the first thing I looked down and I said, ‘I’ll never play baseball again,’ that was my first thought,” Sattazahn recalls about his injury.
With help from community members, Boland and Sattazahn visited Uckerath, Germany together.
“Tyler was one great man. I thank him for everything. He helped me get back to Germany. There’s nobody better than him,” said Sattazahn.
“If you know someone, thank them for their service. They’ve done a lot for us. And without Russell and these other guys, I would not be here,” said Boland.
For any World War 2 veterans or their families, you can inquire about working with Boland through his online platforms.
