Students Honor WWII Veterans

After researching the lives of local WWII veterans, USM students wrote profiles of them and read memorials at the men’s grave sites. They were joined by the veterans’ children and grandchildren.

Chuck Taft, 8th grade American studies history teacher at USM, and five USM sophomores—Simran Ahuja ’28, Ian Hostetler ’28, Luke Gilpin ’28, Jayin Lazzaro ’28, and Nathan Silber ’28—were chosen for the nationwide National History Day “Silent Heroes Project.” The initiative uncovers the untold stories of World War II U.S. Marine Corps veterans who served their country in war and their communities afterward, and publishes the stories digitally.

The team researched and wrote detailed profiles on two deceased local veterans buried at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee: Lloyd Charles Schneider and Roman Dolata. Both men were injured in WWII and, after recovering, returned to Wisconsin to raise families and build long careers.

To honor them, the students researched the men, wrote memorials, and read them at the veterans’ grave sites on April 18. The ceremonies were attended by the veterans’ children and grandchildren. The experience deeply impacted the students, who connected with the families and received firsthand memories and gratitude. “My biggest takeaway was that, as World War II veterans pass away, the responsibility of telling their stories is left to us,” said Gilpin. Silber added that reading their months of hard work at the grave site was “very meaningful knowing we were sharing great stories that deserve to be heard.”

Thanks to Taft and the sophomores, the lives of these brave men are now digitally archived for all to remember. Visit www.usm.org/ww2veterans to read the veterans’ profiles and watch recordings of the memorials.