“Before I moved to the US, I grew up in Russia during the days of the Soviet Regime. I noticed one thing being a young man in the 80’s. There were few old men on the streets.

You were hard pressed to find a male over the age of 60. Almost everyone I knew had a father or uncle in the war, and almost just as many had a father or uncle killed in the war. One thing I remember being an issue was depression among that generation of survivors.

I asked my own father, who was a veteran and survivor of the war, “Why does everyone your age seem so sad?” He told me, “All their friends and brothers are dead.” Now I am proud to be an American citizen. I love America.

But I will always be immensely proud of the gargantuan sacrifices my countrymen made during that war. I don’t remember who said it, but I always think of the quote, “We are not descendants of fearful men.” An entire generation was fearless. And an entire generation gave their lives.”

– Anonymous Former Russian Citizen.

This story was documented by Battles and Beers. Every soldier has a story, and every story deserves to be told.

If you’d like to read more stories like this, check out my book “What War Did To Us” now available on Amazon!