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SALT LAKE CITY — In honor of Veterans Day, Utah Honor Flight participants who "fought through every obstacle to victory" recount their experiences in Word War II.
Drafted or enlisted, many of Utah's World War II veterans didn't just fight to save America; they fought to save the entire world.
"We didn't want to go to war," said Arthur Hopkinson, U.S. Navy vet from North Salt Lake.
But as the war moved forward and made it's way to U.S. soil, American soldiers volunteered in droves to defend and protect their loved ones back home.
Mark Berrett from North Ogden served on a Navy destroyer in the Pacific, tasked with keeping kamikazes away from the main fleet.
Jack Hansen from Ephraim was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne of the Army, fighting Nazis all across Europe. They were often dropped in behind enemy lines.
Don Pickett from Salt Lake was a Lieutenant in the Army's 8th Armored Division. He and his men drove and walked across Europe. He said their orders were often to "go down this road until someone shoots at you."
The hear their stories in their own words, watch the video above.
Contributing: Ray Boone
