Justin K. interviewed his great-grandfather, Denver, who served as a U.S. Army captain during World War II (1939–1945).
By Justin K., Grade 4

Justin Kelley interviewed his great-grandfather, Denver Bragg, about serving as a U.S. Army captain during World War II. In that war, the United States and its allies, or partners, fought Germany, Japan, Italy, and their allies.


Imagine being a young man from the state of West Virginia who has just been called to fight in a war thousands of miles away. Your journey will take you to foreign lands and unknown waters, but you are dedicated to defend the country you love so much. The bangs and booms of war will soon be ringing in your ears and there is no guarantee that you will ever see your loved ones again. This is the true description of the unknown circumstances faced by my great-grandfather, Denver Bragg, a World War II veteran.

Justin K.: Who inspired you to join the U.S. Army?
Denver Bragg: I was called to join the army by the memory of those people who were killed or injured in the attack on Pearl Harbor. I loved my country and wanted to be sure to protect all that had been accomplished by those who were before me.

JK: What was your role in the war?
DB: I was a captain in the army and my assignment was to deliver ammunition to soldiers fighting on the front line. Once the artillery was delivered, I would collect wounded soldiers and carry them to the nearest field hospital. The hardest task of all for me was having to carry deceased soldiers to the nearest Allied unit to be identified. Even at my age, I can still recall the sick feeling I would get thinking of the families that would be left without a son or father. At any moment, it could be me or someone I knew.

JK: Were there any famous generals you met?
DB: Unexpectedly one day, all the captains in my company were called to our headquarters for an unannounced meeting. We were all curious as to what was going on. As we were gathered around talking to one another, General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Leader of the Allied Forces, walked through the tent entrance. He had come to make sure we were getting the reinforcement and supplies necessary to support our soldiers on the front line.

JK: What was the greatest lesson you learned from fighting in one of the most important wars in our country’s history?
DB: I learned that we live in the greatest country in the world. Our people have freedoms and opportunities that few others ever have a chance to acquire. In order to reach our goals, we must work together, make sacrifices, and never take anything for granted.


As I ended this interview with my great-grandfather, I looked into the eyes of a 94-year-old man who sometimes cannot even remember my name, yet the memories of the war live on vividly in his mind. The 84 years that separate us are brought together by the sacrifices and dedication he showed our country so many years ago. It is through the choices in my life that I can honor those unforgotten heroes of so long ago.