Students Honor WWII Veterans for National Project

Chuck Taft, 8th grade American history teacher at University School of Milwaukee, and five USM sophomores—Simran Ahuja ’28, Ian Hostetler ’28, Luke Gilpin ’28, Jayin Lazzaro ’28, and Nathan Silber ’28—were selected to contribute to a special National History Day project called the Silent Heroes Project. The nationwide initiative tells the untold stories of U.S. Marine Corps veterans from World War II who served their country in war and their community after service.

Taft and the students extensively researched and wrote detailed profiles on two local, deceased veterans: Lloyd Charles Schneider of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and Roman Dolata of Milwaukee, who are both buried at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee. While serving in the Pacific theater, Schneider was shot in the elbow during brutal fighting at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, while Dolata suffered severe hearing loss while landing at Tinian, near Saipan, on July 28, 1944. Both men recovered from their injuries and returned to Wisconsin, where they raised families and had long careers.

“While the research was challenging, the story of Corporal Dolata was definitely worth sharing,” said Gilpin. “My biggest takeaway was that, as World War II veterans pass away, the responsibility of telling their stories is left to us. We must not neglect this responsibility.”

To honor the veterans and their contributions to their families and communities, the students read memorials they wrote based on their research. The ceremonies were held at the veterans’ gravesites at Wood National Cemetery on Saturday, April 18. Families of the veterans, including their adult children and many grandchildren, were invited to join and participate. View a recording of Roman Dolata’s memorial, delivered by Gilpin and Lazzaro, and Lloyd Schneider’s memorial, delivered by Silber, Hostetler, and Ahuja. 

“Lloyd Schneider's son enthusiastically showed me the license plate that his dad had used, and I received a hug from his daughter-in-law, who was super happy to be there and see Lloyd be recognized for everything he did,” said Silber. “I felt a connection to the family, and at the gravesite, reading what we had worked so hard for months on, it was very meaningful knowing we were sharing great stories that deserve to be heard.”

“It was really impactful to read the eulogies to the families, as it felt like we were giving them important memories to look back on when thinking about their relatives,” said Hostetler. Lazzaro also appreciated the connections they made with the veterans’ families. “When I spoke with the family members, they not only expressed their thanks to us for doing this project, but also shared some of their memories with us,” he said.  

Taft invited the students to join him on the research project after having previously taught them when they were 8th grade students. “Each one of their 8th grade National History Day projects was related to either World War II or the Cold War after WWII,” said Taft. “They were also active participants in our annual March to the Memorial fundraiser, and two of them spoke to Lower School students about the power of the flag.”

While at the cemetery, Taft presented a $2,000 check to David Barnes, assistant director of Wood National Cemetery, to use towards the purchase of flags used to adorn gravesites for Memorial Day. The money was raised in 2025 by students in all divisions as part of USM’s annual March to Memorials, organized each year by students in 8th grade.  

Thanks to the work of Taft and the five sophomores at USM, the lives and stories of these brave men have been uncovered and digitally archived for all to honor and remember.