June 6, 2024

>>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO "AMANPOUR & COMPANY."

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

80 YEARS SINCE D-DAY, WE REFLECT ON THE LEGACY OF THAT TURNING POINT AND ON THE BRAVE YOUNG SOLDIERS WHO SAVED THE WORLD.

FIRST, WITH NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER FOR EUROPE, GENERAL CHRISTOPHER CAVOLI, LOOKING BACK ON THAT DAY AS WAR RAGES IN EUROPE ONCE AGAIN.

>>> THEN -- >> I DON'T THINK I WAS A HERO.

I WAS JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

WE WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS FROM A MEMBER OF THAT GREATEST GENERATION.

101-YEAR-OLD D-DAY VETERAN JAKE LARSON JOINS THE PROGRAM.

>>> AND -- >> IF YOU EVER WONDER WHAT IT'S LIKE, THAT'S AS CLOSE AS SOMEBODY IN DAVENPORT, IOWA, OR OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, OR MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA IS GOING THE GET.

>> CAPTURING THE PAST, ACTOR TOM HANKS TELLS ME HOW CINEMA CAPTURES A CRUCIAL BRIDGE BETWEEN TODAY AND YESTERDAY.

>>> ALSO AHEAD, WHERE THE ALLIES PLANNED TO TURN THE TIDE.

MY REPORT FROM CHURCHILL'S WAR ROOM.

>>> PLUS, "LES BRAVES," HOW SCULPTURE "ANILORE BANON IMMORTALIZES THE ANNIVERSARY IN ART.

>>> "AMANPOUR & COMPANY" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- THE ANDERSON FAMILY ENDOWMENT JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS CANDACE KING WEIR THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF LEILA AND MICKEY STRAUS MARK J. BLECHNER THE FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION SETON J. MELVIN CHARLES ROSENBLUM KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE.

I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN NORMANDY, FRANCE, WHERE 80 YEARS AGO TODAY, ON JUNE 6th, 1944, JUST AFTER SUNRISE, ALLIED FORCES LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH AND SEVERAL OTHER BEACHES BEHIND, BREAKING THROUGH THE NAZIS' ATLANTIC WALL.

AT HUGE COST, THEY TURNED THE TIDE OF WORLD WAR II AND BEGAN THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE.

A MOMENT IN TIME FOREVER IMMORTALIZED AS D-DAY.

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ >> AMERICANS, BRITISH, CANADIANS LANDED ON A TOTAL OF FIVE BEACHES.

TODAY U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND THE FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON LED THE 80th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS AND TODAY BESIDE THOSE WORLD LEADERS WERE THE SOLDIERS PAST AND PRESENT, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THAT GREATEST GENERATION, WHO FOUGHT ON THE BEACHES HERE ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

PRESIDENT BIDEN PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE HEROES, AND IN A POWERFUL SPEECH, POINTED TO RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE, SAYING TODAY'S LEADERS MUST PICK UP THE BATON FROM VETERANS OF THE PAST BY STANDING WITH KYIV.

>> THE ALLIED FORCES OF D-DAY DID THEIR DUTY.

NOW THE QUESTION FOR US IS IN OUR HOUR OF TRIAL, WILL WE DO OURS.

WE'RE LIVING AT A TIME WHEN DEMOCRACY IS MORE AT RISK ACROSS THE WORLD THAN ANY POINT SINCE THE END OF THE WORLD WAR II, SINCE THESE BEACHES WERE STORMED IN 1944.

NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, WILL WE STAND AGAINST TYRANNY, AGAINST EVIL, AGAINST CRUSHING BRUTALITY, OF THE IRON FIST?

OR WILL WE STAND FOR FREEDOM?

WILL WE DEFEND DEMOCRACY, WE STAND TOGETHER?

MY ANSWER IS YES, AND IT ONLY CAN BE YES.

>> AND THIS COMMEMORATION COMES AT A PAINFUL MOMENT FOR MANY AS WAR IN EUROPE RAGES ONCE AGAIN AFTER RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

AND IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, I SPOKE ABOUT THIS ECHO WITH NATO'S SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, GENERAL CHRISTOPHER CAVOLI.

HERE IS OUR CONVERSATION.

GENERAL CHRISTOPHER CAVOLI, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> HI.

THANKS.

>> 80 YEARS SINCE D-DAY, DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD BE THE TOP GENERAL IN EUROPE AT A TIME OF SUCH PERIL?

MAYBE IS IT THE WORST PERIL WE'VE BEEN IN FOR 80 YEARS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO BE IN PERIL.

THE WORLD BRINGS US PERILS ON OCCASION, AND THEY HAPPEN THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, OF COURSE.

I THINK THE SURPRISING THING IS TO HAVE ENDED UP IN THE TOP SPOT IN EUROPE, YEAH.

>> HOW DO YOU EVALUATE, THOUGH, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

YOU'RE OVERSEEING AND BASICALLY FIGHTING IN CERTAIN WAYS THE FIRST RAGING WAR IN EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR II.

>> SO IT'S A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION, OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT.

WE'VE SEEN LARGE-SCALE AGGRESSION, STATE-ON-STATE RETURN TO THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT.

IT HASN'T BEEN HERE FOR DECADES, FOR 80 YEARS IT HASN'T BEEN HERE, REALLY BECAUSE OF THE NATO ALLIANCE.

AND SO IT'S A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NATO ALLIANCE HAS SPRUNG TO THE CASE AND HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND MORE UNIFIED THAN I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IT INSIDE NATO, STRONGER, BIGGER, OF COURSE, WITH FINLAND AND SWEDEN'S ACCESSION.

SO IT'S A MIXED BAG.

IT'S CHALLENGING TIMES, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DESIGNED AND INTENDED FOR THOSE CHALLENGING TIMES.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THE AMOUNT OF STRESS THAT NATO IS GETTING?

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> UKRAINE IS GETTING A LOT OF STRAIN, AND UKRAINIANS ARE DYING, AND UKRAINIANS ARE FIGHTING.

BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE THE WEAPONS AND AS MUCH HELP AS YOU CAN.

AND YET WE SEE THAT EUROPE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE IN ENOUGH QUANTITY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE UKRAINE WHAT IT NEEDS, OR EVEN THEY SAY THE DEFENSE SECRETARIES TO ACTUALLY DEFEND EUROPE AT THE MOMENT.

YOU SURPRISED BY THAT SHORTFALL?

>> WELL, IF I CAN START WITH YOUR FIRST QUESTION, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT OF STRESS THAT NATO IS GETTING.

NOT AT ALL.

NATO HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME.

>> BUT FACING OFF AGAINST RUSSIA 80 YEARS LATER?

>> NO WE DIDN'T EXPECT THAT.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE IN A BETTER PLACE OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS.

WE HOPED FOR THE BEST.

BUT THE ALLIANCE HAS ALREADY BEEN READY FOR THIS.

AND THE ALLIANCE IS RETURNING TO ITS ROOTS OF COLLECTIVE DEFENSE, TERRITORIAL DEFENSE, VERY FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE EASTERN FLANK OF NATO RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE FORCES IN PLACE TURNED OVER TO MY COMMAND.

WE HAVE AIR MISSIONS.

WE HAVE GROUND TROOPS.

WE HAVE MARITIME GROUPS CONSTANTLY PATROLLING.

WE HAVE MORE FORCES UNDER A COMMAND THAN WE'VE HAD IN DECADES, AND WE HAVE BRAND-NEW PLANS, AND WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE ALLIANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTIVE DEFENSE.

>> SO THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE 90,000 FORCES, RIGHT, THAT ARE UNDERTAKING EXERCISES RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH.

WE JUST FINISHED AN EXERCISE CALLED STEADFAST DEFENDER IN WHICH WE PRACTICED A LARGE SCALE REINFORCEMENT OF THE EASTERN FLANK.

ABOUT 90,000 TROOPS IN TOTAL, YEAH.

>> AND WHAT SHOULD AN ADVERSARY, THE CURRENT ONE, TAKE AWAY FROM THAT?

ARE THEY STAYING, THOSE 90,000?

>> NO.

THE TROOPS THAT DID THE EXERCISE COME BACK, AND THEY'LL RETURN TO THEIR NATIONS, AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE EXERCISES AND PREPARE FOR CONFLICT IF NECESSARY.

THAT'S THE WAY WE DETER.

WHAT DO WE PRACTICE?

WHAT WOULD THE ADVERSARY SEE IN THE ADVERSARY WOULD SEE A LARGE MILITARY FORCE THAT'S UNDER A COHESIVE, UNIFIED COMMAND THAT'S ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY ACROSS THE CONTINENT TO THE POINT OF NEED.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE MANY DO WHO I TALK TO THAT EUROPE, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR A GREAT POWER WAR?

>> WELL, THE MILITARY SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARING FOR WAR.

THAT'S THE WAY WE EVEN THE PEACE.

>> IT'S MORE IMMINENT THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

>> WELL, I THINK SERIOUS TIMES, AS WE SAID A MINUTE AGO.

BUT THE ALLIANCE IS REACTING EXACTLY AS THE ALLIANCE SHOULD, BY FOCUSING ON ITS READINESS, BY FOCUSING ON ITS PLANS AND BEING ABLE TO DETER ANY CONFLICT.

I MEAN, THE QUESTION OF GREAT POWER CONFLICT IN EUROPE IS A CRUCIAL ONE.

AND IT'S REALLY OUR JOB, MY JOB TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> AND YOU'VE ALSO -- I MEAN NATO ALSO TALKS ABOUT CHINA.

I KNOW IT'S SORT OF OUTSIDE THE THEATER OF ENGAGEMENT.

BUT IT IS ON YOUR RADAR, RIGHT?

IT IS A NATO ISSUE AS WELL?

>> SURE, SURE.

CHINA IS A GLOBAL ISSUE.

WE DO WORRY ABOUT CHINA.

WE WATCH VERY CLOSELY WHERE CHINA MAKES THEIR INVESTMENTS AND WHERE THEY TRY TO GAIN INFLUENCE INSIDE THE EUROPEAN THEATER.

SO WE WATCH THAT VERY CLOSELY.

ALL THE ALLIES KEEP A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THAT, SURE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE SEVEN-MONTH DELAY OF AMERICAN WEAPONS TO THE FRONT IN UKRAINE -- WELL, DO YOU THINK UKRAINIANS CAN RECOVER FROM THAT?

>> YES, YES.

>> HOW?

>> THEY'RE RECOVERING RIGHT NOW.

FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD THINGS STACKED UP, READY TO SHIP.

AS SOON AS WE GOT THE AUTHORITY TO SHIP THINGS INTO UKRAINE, WE BEGAN, WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS LITERALLY.

SO A VAST QUANTITY OF STUFF HAS BEEN MOVED IN IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, AS YOU CAN SEE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE UKRAINIANS UNDERSTOOD.

THEY'RE KEEN OBSERVERS OF U.S.

POLITICS AND WESTERN POLITICS IN GENERAL.

THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND THEY CLEVERLY AND STRATEGICALLY HUSBANDED THEIR RESOURCES AND MANAGED THEIR OPERATIONS ACCORDINGLY.

SO IT WAS A TOUGH TIME FOR THEM, BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN A VERY GOOD POSITION AS WE COME THROUGH THE SUMMER.

>> THEY DEFINITELY LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WOUNDED, AND THEY HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE CONSCRIPTION AND WITH RECRUITING, UNLIKE RUSSIA, WHICH DOESN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE.

AND PATIENTLY NO TROUBLE PRODUCING WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION EITHER.

BECAUSE IT'S TURNED ITS ENTIRE ECONOMY ON TO A MILITARY FOOTING.

DO YOU THINK THAT -- ARE YOU NOT CONCERNED ABOUT KHARKIV AND THE RUSSIANS COMING OVER AND MAKING SUCH INROADS IN THE EAST THERE AND IN THE NORTH?

>> SURE.

FIRST, I HAVE TO POINT OUT I DO THINK THE RUSSIANS HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH RECRUITING.

AND THEY'RE COPING WITH THEM, BUT THERE IS A FINITE AMOUNT OF ACCESS THEY HAVE TO THEIR POPULATION OF POTENTIAL SOLDIERS.

AND THEY'VE GOT SOME BIG DECISIONS COMING UP ABOUT MOBILIZATION AS WELL.

SO KHARKIV, SURE, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT KHARKIV.

WE'VE HELPED THE UKRAINIANS AN AWFUL LOT TO ANALYZE THE SITUATION AND TO ORGANIZE THEMSELVES IN THAT AREA.

WHEN I TALK TO ALEX SYRSKYI, WHO IS THE COMMANDER OF THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY, HE'S CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL HOLD AND WHERE THEY ARE.

AND THEY'VE GOT A GOOD STRONG DEFENSE.

WE'VE TAKEN A GOOD LOOK AT THAT DEFENSE, AND WE AGREE.

>> SO WHAT IS 2024 GOING TO BE FOR THEM?

HOLDING?

>> I THINK 2024 IS A FORCE GENERATING YEAR.

GENERATE FORCES IN UKRAINE AND BE PREPARED FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS.

BOTH ARMIES HAVE BEEN FIGHTING QUITE A WHILE AND BOTH ARMIES HAVE SUFFERED THE BRUISES AND THE BUMPS THAT YOU GET FROM FIGHTING.

AND OUR UKRAINIAN COLLEAGUES, AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL THE COUNTRIES, NOT JUST IN THE ALLIANCE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE CONTACT GROUP THAT SECRETARY AUSTIN RUNS, WE'RE WORKING TO GENERATE FORCE WITH THEM.

>> AND HERE WE ARE SITTING HERE, SO MANY FALLEN, SO MUCH REMEMBRANCE.

80 YEARS.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND, YOUR HEART WHEN YOU SEE THIS AND WHEN YOU COME HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THESE CEMETERIES AT NORMANDY ARE SOME OF THE MOST TOUCHING THINGS A SOLDIER CAN VISIT.

SO I VISITED SOME OF THESE CEMETERIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THEY'RE IMMACULATELY KEPT, RIGHT.

WE HAVE RETIRED OFFICERS AND NCOs WHO DEVOTE THEIR LIVES, THEIR SECOND CAREERS TO KEEPING THESE PLACES LIKE THIS.

THEY'RE A SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE TO ME BECAUSE AMERICA SPENDS THE TIME AND EFFORT TO REMEMBER ITS OWN EVEN WHEN THEY'RE BURIED ON FOREIGN SOIL.

AND THE HOST NATIONS, FRANCE, THE FRENCH PEOPLE ADORE THIS PLACE.

THEY LOVE IT.

THEY CARE FOR IT AS IF IT'S THEIR VERY OWN.

AND MANY WAYS IT REPRESENTS REALLY THE BEST OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE IN PARTICULAR HERE.

I CAN SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT BELGIUM, THE NETHERLANDS, AND ON AND ON.

SO IT'S TRULY TOUCHING FOR ME TO VISIT HERE.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PARAPHRASE, BUT GENERAL EISENHOWER SAID IN HIS BROADCAST ON JUNE 6th, 1944, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING TO LIBERATE YOU, AND ALSO TO PREPARE FOR THE LIBERATION OF ALL OCCUPIED TERRITORIES.

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN POLLS AND SURVEYS THAT SUGGEST THAT EUROPEANS ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHETHER THEY CAN DEPEND ON AMERICA LIKE THEY DID 80 YEARS AGO, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN UKRAINE AND THE TROUBLES AND THE STRESSES ON THE MILITARY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF ISOLATIONIST POLICIES, BECAUSE OF AMERICA FIRST, HARKING BACK.

AND TRUMP IS MERELY A REINCARNATION OF STUFF THAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

DO YOU -- HOW SHOULD PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT AMERICA'S COMMITMENT AND ABILITY AND DESIRE TO KEEP DEFENDING THEM?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FACT THAT I'M SITTING HERE IN EISENHOWER'S SEAT -- BY THE WAY, NO PRESSURE.

>> NO PRESSURE.

>> -- YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY, TRY NOT TO FOLLOW DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER.

YEAH, THE FACT THAT THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER FOR EUROPE IS ALWAYS AN AMERICAN, IS JUST ONE SMALL REPRESENTATION OF HOW COMMITTED WE ARE TO THIS, TO THIS CAUSE.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A MEMBER OF NATO.

IT ALWAYS WILL BE A MEMBER, AND WE'RE RIGHT HERE.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS THAT WE DEPLOYED OVER HERE AT THE INITIATION OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE SO THAT WE COULD HELP OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES TO DETER ANY FURTHER AGGRESSION.

AND AS OUR ALLIES HAVE GENERATED FORCE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PULL SOME OF THOSE GUYS BACK.

BUT THE FACT IS WHEN THE U.S. IS NEEDED, THE U.S. IS THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GENERAL CAVOLI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FIGHTING WORDS AND A CLEAR CHALLENGE AHEAD.

AS WE MENTIONED, IT WAS 80 YEARS AGO TODAY IN 1944 THAT ALLIED FORCES STORMED THE BEACHES HERE IN NORMANDY TO LIBERATE EUROPE.

NOW IN 2024, VETERANS ARE RETURNING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEIR FALLEN COMRADES, AND TO ENSURE THE WORLD NEVER FORGETS THAT SACRIFICE.

AS TIME MARCHES ON, THE NUMBER OF THOSE FROM THAT GREATEST GENERATION RETURNING HERE GROWS FEWER AND FEWER.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE, THEIR VOICES RING LOUDER THAN EVER.

AMONG THEM, D-DAY VETERAN JAKE LARSON, WHO HAS TAKEN HIS MESSAGE TO SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT TIKTOK, AMASSING ALMOST A MILLION FOLLOWERS.

I LAST SPOKE WITH JAKE HERE AT THE 75th ANNIVERSARY.

THAT WAS 2019.

AND TODAY IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, WE MET AGAIN.

JAKE LARSON, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO WE FIRST MET HERE.

AND NOW HOW OLD YOU?

>> I'M GOING TO BE 102 IN DECEMBER.

>> WOW.

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF YOUR HEALTH AND LONGEVITY?

>> I'LL HAVE TO SAY DON'T DIE!

>> IT'S A GOOD ONE, DON'T DIE.

YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WOULD SURVIVE 80 YEARS AGO TODAY, DID YOU, WHEN YOU LANDED ON OMAHA?

>> GOD NO.

I WAS AFRAID OF THOSE LAND MINES THEY PUT IN THE BEACH THERE.

WE WERE GETTING SMALL ARMS FIRE, BUT I WAS AFRAID TO STEP ON ONE OF THOSE MINES.

GERMANS HAD -- THAT TIME, IT WAS A MILLION MINES.

AND WHEN THEY STARTED TAKING THEM OUT, THEY FOUND 1.5 MILLION.

>> WOW.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

>> I WAS.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU FIND YOURSELF GETTING OUT OF ONE OF THOSE LANDING CRAFT.

YOU'RE ON THAT BEACH.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE?

>> OH, DO I.

LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

I GOT ON A LANDING CRAFT, AND I HAD WATER RIGHT UP TO MY CHIN.

THEY LET US OUT A LITTLE TOO FAR.

BUT HE WAS JUST A 17-YEAR-OLD PILOT FOR THAT BOAT.

>> WELL, YOU WERE ALL KIDS?

>> WE WERE ALL KIDS, YES.

>> AND DID YOU KNOW THEN WHAT YOU WERE FIGHTING FOR?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

THAT WE KNEW, EVERY ONE OF US.

>> TELL US.

>> EVERY ONE OF US WAS PREPARING TO GIVE OUR LIFE TO KICK HITLER'S ASS OUT OF EUROPE.

>> AND YOU DID.

>> AND WE DID.

WE LOST QUITE A FEW OF -- I LOST FRIENDS.

EVERYBODY LOST FRIENDS.

BUT WE -- WE WERE SOLDIERS.

WE WERE PREPARED TO GIVE OUR LIFE.

>> AND NOW YOU OBVIOUSLY A FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, A GREAT GRANDFATHER, AND YOUR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE MAKING YOU INTO A SOCIAL MEDIA STAR.

YOU'RE ON TIKTOK, JAKE, SINCE WE LAST MET.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.

>> HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

>> IT'S CRAZY.

>> AND YOU GO BY PAPA JAKE.

YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL NAME.

>> YES.

>> AND WHY DO YOU DO IT?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ME.

IT'S MY GRANDDAUGHTER.

SHE SAID OH, IT'S JUST A LITTLE STORYTELLING THING, SHE SAYS.

AND I PUT A COUPLE OF YOUR STORIES ON MY TIKTOK.

SHE CAME BACK WITHIN A WEEK AND SAID PAPA, I'M TAKING YOU OFF OF MY TIKTOK.

I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON YOUR OWN.

I SAID YOU'RE OPENING A CAN OF WORMS HERE.

WHY ARE YOU PUTTING ME ON BY MYSELF?

SHE SAYS BECAUSE YOU SHOWED ME UP ON MINE.

IT TOOK ME TEN MONTHS TO GET 10,000 VIEWERS.

YOU GOT THAT IN A WEEK.

>> AND HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE NOW?

>> WELL, THE LAST TIME I TALKED, 800,000.

IT'S JUST ON THE VERGE OF A MILLION.

>> YEP, IT IS JUST ON THE VERGE OF A MILLION.

AND JAKE, WHAT STORIES YOU TELLING?

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW?

>> I'M TELLING THE STORIES OF MY LIFE AND I'M A UNIQUE PERSON.

WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND MY COUSIN CHICK WAS 15 YEARS OLD, HE SAID WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

WE'RE GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH NO MONEY.

SO HE SAID LET'S JOIN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

I SAID WE GOT TO BE 15.

OR 18.

HE SAYS WE'RE JUST 15.

HE SAYS LET'S GO TO THE ARMORY ANY WAY AND TELL THEM WE WANT TO JOIN.

AND WE'LL LOOK THEM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND SAY -- WHEN THEY SAY HOW OLD ARE YOU, WE'LL SAY 18, 18.

SO WE WENT TO THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND THERE WAS A HUGE CAPTAIN SITTING THERE.

HE LOOKED UP AND SAID "WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU, YOUNG MEN?"

YOUNG MEN, SEE?

WOW!

AND I'M THINKING, 18, 18.

AND HE SAYS WHAT YEAR WERE YOU BORN?

WOW.

SO I SAID 1919, SIR.

SAME RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING HE ASKED.

WE BOTH GOT INTO THE NATIONAL GUARD AT 15.

>> YOU WROTE A BOOK, AND YOU TOLD ME THAT IT'S BEING USED IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

TO TEACH KIDS.

>> GRADE SCHOOLS, HIGH SCHOOL, YES.

IT'S AN HONOR.

>> DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD?

>> PROUD.

I HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, THE HISTORY PROFESSOR CAME FROM DELAWARE TO CALIFORNIA TO INTERVIEW ME.

HE INTERVIEWED ME FOR FOUR HOURS.

HE USED THAT BOOK TO TRAIN HIS FUTURE PROFESSORS.

AND NOW THAT INTERVIEW IS IN EISENHOWER LIBRARY IN KANSAS.

>> TODAY, IT'S 80 YEARS SINCE WHAT YOU ALL DID SO HEROICALLY.

>> I DON'T THINK I WAS A HERO.

I WAS JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

WE WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

I'M NOT A -- I'M NOT A HERO.

I'M A -- PEOPLE KEEP CALLING ME HERO.

I CHANGED THAT WORD.

I TOOK THE O OF A HERO.

I ADDED T-0 PEOPLE ARE WHAT'S A HERE TO?

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU HEROS ARE UP THERE.

THEY GAVE THEIR LIFE.

THEY GAVE THEIR LIFE.

SO THAT I COULD MAKE IT.

MY GOD, I HAD -- I GOT A WIFE, I GOT CHILDREN, I GOT TWO BOYS AND A GIRL.

I GOT NINE GRANDCHILDREN.

I GOT THE 11 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

I'VE GOT A GRANDSON THAT'S A GRANDFATHER.

AND I'M STILL GOING.

CRAZY.

>> WILL YOU COME BACK AGAIN?

>> OH, GOD, YES, I'D COME BACK AGAIN.

JUST TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIFE SO THAT I COULD BE HERE.

>> JAKE LARSON, THANK YOU.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, CHRISTIANE.

>> WHAT A CHARACTER.

WHAT A TEACHER.

TODAY, LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, INCLUDING UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, TURNED OUT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO VETERANS LIKE JAKE LARSON, AND AT ONE POINT, ZELENSKYY FOUND HIMSELF THE FOCUS OF THANKS.

>> OH, NO, NO.

>> YOU'RE THE SAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE.

>> NO, NO.

YOU SAVED EUROPE.

>> BONDED IN A SHARED ENDEAVOR.

FLOWERS AND WREATHS HAVE BEEN LAID AT THE NORMANDY MEMORIALS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INCREDIBLY TOUCHING MOMENTS.

THERE WAS A 21-GUN SALUTE FOR THOSE WHO FELL ON THAT DAY, AND THIS MORNING, WHEN A LONE PIPER LANDED ON THE BEACH, RECREATING THE MOMENT SOME 150,000 ALLIED TROOPS ARRIVED IN FRANCE IN 1944.

[ BAGPIPES PLAYING ] >> AND THERE WERE THE BAGPIPES, OF COURSE.

WHEN WE THINK OF D-DAY, PERHAPS THE MOST VIVID IMAGERY COMES NOT FROM THE NEWS REELS OF THE TIME, BUT FROM CINEMA.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE VISCERAL, HAUNTING SCENES OF "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN."

THAT MOVIE STARRED TOM HANKS, AN AMATEUR HISTORY BUFF.

HE CALLS HIMSELF A LAY HISTORIAN, AND HE TAKES IT REALLY SERIOUSLY.

SINCE THAT FILM HE HAS PRODUCED WITH STEVEN SPIELBERG THE ACCLAIMED TV SERIES "BAND OF BROTHERS," "THE PACIFIC," AND MOST RECENTLY "MASTERS OF THE AIR."

HE CAME TO NORMANDY THIS TIME NOW TO PAY HIS RESPECTS TO THE VETERANS, AND I SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT WHY THIS ANNIVERSARY MEANS TO MUCH, AND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STORYTELLING AND REMEMBERING.

TOM HANKS, WELCOME.

>> CHRISTIANE, HOW NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> AND -- >> WHAT A DAY, WHAT A DAY.

>> THIS IS YOUR HOME AS WELL.

YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH ON WORLD WAR II.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE HERE ON THE 80th.

IT MAY BE THE LAST OF THESE REUNIONS.

>> I DON'T -- IF YOU DO THE MATH, IF YOU WERE -- SAY YOU WERE 17 YEARS OLD AND YOU WERE MAKING YOUR FIRST TRIP INTO COMBAT ON JUNE 6th OF 1944, DO THE MATH, YOU'RE NOW 97 YEARS OLD.

THE FIRST THING I SAY TO ANY OF THE VETERANS THAT I HAPPEN TO MEET IS DON'T GET UP, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE OR LESS WHEELCHAIR-BOUND.

BUT THERE THEY ARE RESPLENDENT IN THEIR PATCHES AND THEIR CAPS AND THE MEMORIES.

AND I PONDER WHAT THESE LAST 80 YEARS HAVE BEEN FOR THEM.

I WANT TO ASK THEM, WHAT'S THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY THING YOU'VE WITNESSED.

>> YEP.

>> SINCE THAT DAY.

AND THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT TO TAKE NOTE OF.

BUT WOULD ANY OF IT HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS DAY HAD NOT BEEN.

>> I WONDER SINCE YOU LEAD ME STRAIGHT INTO THAT QUESTION, IT'S PROBABLY, BAR THE COLD WAR, WHEN THERE WASN'T A RAGING WAR IN EUROPE, IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT, MOST EXISTENTIAL CRISIS FOR EVERYBODY SINCE THAT SACRIFICE, WITH RUSSIA HAVING INVADED UKRAINE, WITH A LITERAL WAR IN EUROPE.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A LAND WAR IN EUROPE IN MY LIFETIME ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE IT HAD PROVEN TO BE SO DISASTROUS FOREALL OF HUMANITY THE LAST TIME SOMEBODY TRIED THAT.

AND FUNNY HOW OFTEN IT COMES OUT OF THE EGO OF ONE HUMAN BEING.

ONE GUY BACK IN THE 1930s SAYS NO, I'M GOING SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOES NOT WORK.

I -- I THINK, LOOK, I'M A LAY HISTORIAN, AND I'M AS OPINIONATED AS ANY KNOTHEAD THAT YOU'RE EVER GOING TO COME ACROSS, BUT THERE WAS THIS THOUGHT THAT AMERICA, PARTICULARLY AMERICA WAS LAZY, WAS DIVIDED, WAS UNDISCIPLINED, THEY COULDN'T GET ITS ACT TOGETHER, THAT WOULD NEVER BAND TOGETHER IN ORDER TO JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.

BY CHOICE.

AND WHEN I'M HERE, I THINK OF A BUNCH OF KIDS.

IT WAS YOUNG FORCE THAT CAME HERE.

THEY WERE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN -- IF YOU WERE 25 YEARS OLD, THEY CALLED YOU POPS, OR THEY CALLED YOU THE OLD MAN.

AND THEY WERE -- THEY LEFT ALL OF THE COMFORTS OF A VERY COMFORTABLE AMERICA, A SAFE AMERICA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN.

AND THEY PUT THEMSELVES HERE.

FOR WHAT?

BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THEY WERE NOT DEFENDING A STATUS QUO.

THEY WERE NOT GAINING TERRITORY.

THEY WERE NOT HERE FOR RICHES.

THEY WERE NOT HERE TO CONQUER ANYTHING.

THEY WERE REALLY HERE IN ORDER TO MEND THE FUTURE, IF I CAN COIN A WORD THAT HAS JUST COME OUT IN A BOOK THAT I READ NOT TOO LONG AGO.

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE I WANT TO SAY IN THE BEDFORD NEWSPAPER IN WHICH -- ON THE 6th OF JUNE, BECAUSE OF THE TIME LAG, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE 6th OF JUNE TO HAVE THIS BE THE HEADLINES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND IT SAID "THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY IS BEING DECIDED RIGHT NOW IN THE FIELDS AND BEACHES OF NORMANDY."

IT WAS NOT ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED PRIOR TO 1944.

IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN 1954 AND '64.

I WAS BORN IN 1956.

HAD D-DAY NOT HAPPENED, AND THAT'S NOT HARD TO IMAGINE HERE.

YOU CAN LOOK AROUND AND WE CAN SEE THE EVASION IN OUR MINDS.

WE CAN SEE THAT DAY.

WE CAN ALSO IMAGINE WITH A LITTLE TURN OF PHRASE, WHAT IF IT HAD NOT HAPPENED, IF IT STAYED AS IT HAD BEEN, A CONQUERED TERRITORY BY ONE OF THE MOST MURDEROUS REGIMES THERE WE GO.

A FED EX IS DELIVERING MY UBER LUNCH RIGHT NOW.

WHAT HAD BEEN LIKE IF ALL THOSE, THAT YOUNG FORCES AND THE CANADIANS AND THE ENGLISH AND ALL THE FREE HAD NOT COME ALONG AND SAID THOSE PEOPLE ARE WRONG.

>> CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING?

BECAUSE ONE MAN IS DOING IT AGAIN, VLADIMIR PUTIN.

HE HASN'T BEEN INVITED.

HE WAS TEN YEARS AGO, BUT THIS TIME NOT.

DO YOU THINK, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, AMERICANS WOULD DO THIS AGAIN, BRITISH WOULD DO IT AGAIN?

I MEAN, WE'RE IN THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES AGAIN.

>> WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK VERY FAR TO BELIEVE AS EARLY AS 1939 AND 1940 AND BIG PARTS OF 1941, THERE WAS A HUGE VOCAL SECTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAT SAID NO WAY.

CHARLES LINDBERGH LED THE AMERICA FIRST.

THERE WERE LITERALLY NAZI PARTY RALLIES IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN WHICH ADOLF HITLER AND GEORGE WASHINGTON, THEIR IMAGES WERE UP ON STAGE AT THE SAME TIME.

IT WASN'T UNTIL OF COURSE THAT WE WERE ATTACKED THAT EVERYBODY KIND OF WISED UP AND REALIZED THAT SOMETHING VERY VENAL IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE WOULD WE BE RIGHT NOW.

AND HAVE I ABSOLUTE 100% FAITH IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THE CONCEPT OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG.

IF SOMETHING AS DEFINITIVED AS HAPPENED IN EUROPE THAT TIME.

THAT IT WOULD TAKE TIME.

IT WOULD NOT BE OVERNIGHT.

IT WOULD BE THOUGHT OUT.

IT WOULD I THINK TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE LESSONS THAT WERE LEARNED.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T DO IT RIGHT OVER THE LONG COURSE OF TIME.

>> CAN I ASK YOU, I WALKED OVER THERE.

I LOOKED AT THE BEACH.

IT'S OMAHA BEACH.

THE CLIFFS THAT THOSE BOYS HAD TO SCALE.

THEN THEY HAD TO RUSH AND START TO LIBERATE A PLACE THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

AND AS YOU SAY, THEY WERE SO YOUNG.

YOU DID THAT FILM, "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN."

I KNOW YOU'RE AN ACTOR.

BUT EVERYBODY SAYS IT'S ONE OF THE MOST REALISTIC DEPICTIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

CAN YOU RECALL WHAT IT WAS LIKE ACTUALLY FILMING THAT AND PUTTING YOURSELVES IN THEIR BOOTS FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, PART OF IT IS GLAMOROUS FUN, YOU KNOW.

BUT AT THE OTHER TIME, AS SOON AS THE CAMERAS STARTED ROLLING AND EVERYTHING STARTED HAPPENING, THERE WAS A TACTILE QUALITY TO THE CONFUSION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WAS THE SPECIAL EFFECTS GUYS WOULD COME UP.

AND ALL OVER THE BEACH WERE THESE LITTLE RED FLAGS THAT SAID HEY, BE CAREFUL WHERE THE LITTLE RED FLAGS ARE BECAUSE THERE ARE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES UNDERNEATH THERE AND IT'S GOING TO THROW STUFF OFF.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T STEP OVER THERE.

IT'S GOING TO THROW A GUY UP IN THE AIR.

AND A GUY DOWN THERE IS GOING TO BE LIT ON FIRE.

STAY AWAY.

THIS IS A PRETTY GLAMOROUS DAY OF WORK, ISN'T IT?

WHAT TIME IS LUNCH?

AND THE FIRST THING THEY DID IS REMOVED ALL THE RED FLAGS, AND I REALIZED.

NOW WE'RE NOT IN ANY DANGER AT ALL WHATSOEVER.

BUT THE VERISIMILITUDE, IF I DARE USE THAT WORD, DOES PUT IT IN A DIFFERENT SORT OF FORM.

THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN, OF COURSE, AS ACTORS WE'RE JUST PRETENDING.

BUT THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN THE REASON WE ARE THERE IS TO CAPTURE THE TRUTH AS THE FILM ROLLS.

AND TO BE COLD, WET, SCARED AND HAVE IT BE AWFULLY NOISY FOR AN AWFUL LONG TIME.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE SHOOTING, AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS STEVEN SPIELBERG WANTED TO MAKE THE MOVE.

HE SAID FINALLY I'LL BE ABLE TO DO WITH FILM TECHNOLOGY, I'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO CAPTURE WHAT HAPPENED ON OMAHA BEACH, AND HERE IS HOW I'M GOING TO DO IT.

FIRST, IT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE WEEKS.

AND SECONDLY, IT'S GOING TO BE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THIRD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING OFF.

AND FOURTH, IN BETWEEN THERE, WE'LL MAKE SOME SORT OF MOVIE AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE TRYING TO LOAD IT UP WITH AS MUCH AUTHENTIC, AND I WANT TO USE THE WORD AGAIN, VERISIMILITUDE, AS WE.

THAT'S OUR JOB AS FILMMAKERS.

IT'S ALSO OUR JOB AS LAY HISTORIANS.

BECAUSE FOR GOOD OR FOR BAD, THAT MOVIE IS A DOCUMENT THAT HAS TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE TENOR OF THAT DAY.

AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THAT WE DID.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HEARING FROM IT FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAID AS CONFUSING AS THAT IS, WELL, MULTIPLY THAT BY WE DID NOT HAVE THE SMELL OF CORDITE OR BURNING FLESH OR, YOU KNOW, BLOOD ON THE SAND.

BUT WE DID HAVE SOME VERSION OF THE WHATEVER YOU CAN GET OUT OF A MOTION PICTURE.

I THINK WE CAPTURED IT.

AND TO STEVEN'S CREDIT, AND I WILL ALSO GO ALONG WITH THE AUDIENCE'S CREDIT AS WELL, THEY WERE WILLING TO SUSPEND WHATEVER DISBELIEF OF IT AND SAY I'VE ALWAYS -- IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHAT IT WAS LIKE, THAT'S AS CLOSE AS SOMEBODY IN DAVENPORT, IOWA, OR OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, OR MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA WAS GOING TO GET TO THAT.

>> AND THEN YOU WENT ON WITH YOUR PRODUCTION COMPANY TO DO SO MUCH MORE IN THE ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD WAR II, "BAND OF BROTHERS," "THE PACIFIC," AND NOW THE LATEST, "MASTERS OF THE AIR" ABOUT THE AIR FORCE.

WHY?

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO DO THAT?

AND WHAT DO YOU WANT TO IT LEAVE?

>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT ALL OF THE CAREGIVERS THAT I HAD -- I MEAN, I WAS BORN IN '56.

BY THE TIME I'M IN KINDERGARTEN, EVERYBODY GROWN UP TO ME IS ONLY 15 YEARS AWAY FROM THE WAR.

AND THEY DIVIDED THEIR LIVES INTO THREE DISTINCTIVE PARTS.

THEY TALKED ABOUT BEING KIDS, AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY WHEN I WAS A KID, WE'D DO THIS.

OF COURSE THAT WAS BEFORE THE WAR, THEY SAID.

AND THEY SAID I WENT TO COLLEGE HERE AND GOT MARRIED HERE.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THAT WAS AFTER THE WAR.

THEY AFTER SAID THAT.

AND WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THOSE YEARS, OF STASIS, IF I'M USING THE WORD CORRECTLY, AND REALLY BETWEEN 1939, CERTAINLY BETWEEN 1941 TO MID -- MID- TO LATE 1945, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ALMOST LIKE A MARTIAN TIME SLIP.

THIS PERIOD OF TIME EXISTED WHEN NOBODY HAD ANY IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF.

WHO WAS GOING TO DIE, WHO WAS GOING TO COME BACK WERE THEY GOING TO BE INVADED?

AND THAT LONG PERIOD OF TIME, I THINK IT WAS -- IF IT WASN'T A BONA FIDE SCAR, IT WAS -- IT WAS SAGA IN THEIR LIVES THAT THEY FELT AS THOUGH THAT THEY WERE LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THOSE THREE YEARS.

AND AS SOON AS YOU TAKE UP ANY SORT OF THEMATIC MOTION PICTURE TELLING, YOU END UP LEARNING SO MUCH THAT YOU CANNOT SQUEEZE INTO A TWO AND A HALF MOTION PICTURE.

IT DOES TAKE ANOTHER EIGHT HOURS HERE OR ANOTHER TEN HOURS THERE.

NOT IN ORDER TO GET THE GRAND OVERVIEW OF IT, BUT THE SPECIFIC TINY DETAILS THAT MAKE EVERY EPISODE HUMAN.

NEVER MIND HISTORY.

NEVER MIND AUTHENTIC.

IT BECOMES HUMAN.

BECAUSE THERE ARE GUYS GOT TO GET UP AND BRUSH THEIR TEETH.

THERE ARE GUYS THAT GOT TO GET UP AND BE COLD.

THERE ARE GUYS THAT GOT TO BURY THEIR BEST FRIENDS FOR NO REASONS.

AND IT'S OUR JOB I THINK ARTISTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT ACT AS RECOGNIZABLE AS NOT MYTHIC BEHAVIOR, NOT HISTORIC BEHAVIOR, BUT AS HUMAN BEHAVIOR THAT EACH ONE OF US CAN KNOW.

>> DO YOU THINK IT WILL GET MORE DIFFICULT NOW THAT THE VETS -- THEY'VE REACHED AND ARE REACHING THE END OF THEIR LIVES TO PASS THE STORIES ALONG?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THINK ANYTHING ME AND MY KNOTHEAD FRIENDS HAVE DONE DOWN AT THE OFFICE HAS BROUGHT GREAT CURRENCY TO THE STORIES THAT THOSE MEN TELL.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A VETERAN OF THIS GREAT, GREAT STRUGGLE, AND YOU COULD HAVE DIED IN A CAR CRASH OR OF A STROKE IN 1958.

>> YEP.

>> AND YOU WERE JUST AS BIG AND HUGE A HERO AND A CONTRIBUTOR TO FREEDOM AND LIBERTY AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT AS ANY OF THESE GUYS HERE.

IF YOU'RE 17 YEARS OLD AND IF YOUR FIRST MISSION IN COMBAT IS TO JUMP OUT OF A PLANE OR COME TO SHORE ON OMAHA BEACH IN 1944, YOU ARE NOW 97.

IF YOU'VE MADE IT TO 97, COME FORWARD.

TELL US EVERYTHING.

LET US KNOW WHATEVER IT IS.

AND THESE OLD GUYS NOW, THEY'RE TIKTOK STARS.

THEY HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT SAY TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.

AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF THEM I THINK IS A PRECIOUS BIT OF SCRIPTURE THAT SHOULD BE READ AND STUDIED.

>> ON THIS DAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ALSO OBVIOUSLY GIVING HIS BIG SPEECHES AND IT WILL ALL BE IN THE CLOAK OF DEMOCRACY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEFENDING.

>> I LIKE THAT, THE CLOAK OF DEMOCRACY, SURE.

>> AND WITHOUT MENTIONING DONALD TRUMP, HE WILL TALK ABOUT THE STAKES FOR AMERICA AND FOR THE WORLD.

FINALLY, DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE UNITED STATES, IN TERMS OF ITS COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM AND EVERYTHING THESE PEOPLE DIED FOR, IF THERE IS ANOTHER TRUMP PRESIDENCY?

>> I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS A REASON TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM.

BUT I LOOK AT THE LONGER TERM OF WHAT HAPPENED.

I THINK THERE IS A ONGOING -- LOOK, OUR CONSTITUTION SAYS WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION.

THAT JOURNEY TO A MORE PERFECT UNION HAS MISSTEPS IN IT WE KNOW.

I CAN CATALOG THEM AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, AND YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST, AND I'M JUST A GUY WHO MAKES MOVIES AND READS BOOK.

>> AND A HISTORIAN.

>> AND A LAY HISTORIAN, I'LL TAKE THAT TOO.

OVER THE LONG-TERM, HOWEVER, WE INEVITABLY MADE PROGRESS TOWARD I THINK THAT MORE PERFECT UNION.

AND HOW DOES IT COME ABOUT?

IT COMES ABOUT NOT BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY'S NARRATIVE OF WHO IS RIGHT OR WHO IS A VICTIM OR NOT.

IT COMES OUT OF THE SLOW MELDING OF THE TRUTH TO THE ACTUAL PRACTICAL LIFE THAT WE END UP LIVING.

IT COMES DOWN TO THE GOOD DEED THAT IS PRACTICED WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR, WITH YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS.

AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE FAITH THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE WESTERN SOCIETIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED MORE OR LESS THE SAME SORT OF DEMOCRACY CANNOT HELP BUT TURN TOWARDS WHAT IS RIGHT.

>> AND THEY TOLD US HOW.

>> THEY WERE KIDS BY AND LARGE.

THEY WERE WELL PRACTICED.

SOME OF THEM -- YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, ON THE 65th, WHICH IS THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I HAPPENED TO HAVE DINNER WITH THE GREAT ANDY ROONEY, WHO HIMSELF WAS A VETERAN.

>> YEAH.

>> HE FLEW.

AND HE SAID OH, COME ON, THEY'RE NOT ALL HEROES.

SOME OF THEM WERE THE 38th SHOE REPAIR BATTALION.

AND YET, EVEN IF YOU WERE IN THE SHOE REPAIR BATTALION.

IF YOU READ AMBROSE, THERE WERE GUYS WHOSE JOB IT WAS, THEY CAME TO EUROPE TO DO ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY.

TO TAKE BUSTED WEAPONS AND MAKE THEM WORKABLE AGAIN.

>> YEP.

>> TO TAKE EXPLODED JEEPS, CABLE TOGETHER A BUNCH OF PART IN ORDER TO GET THEM MOVING AGAIN.

THOSE GUYS LOST AS MUCH SLEEP AND HAD AS BAD A TEETH FROM THE HORRIBLE FOOD THEY ATE AND WERE AS EXHAUSTED AS ANYBODY ELSE WAS BECAUSE THEY WOKE UP EVERY MORNING AND SAID WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO FURTHER UP THIS CAUSE OF LIBERATION.

I'M NOT GOING TO DISCOUNT ANYBODY FOR WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AT THAT TIME, EVEN IF ALL THEY DID WAS TYPE OUT VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PAPERS ON THE TYPEWRITER SOMEWHERE WELL BEHIND THE LINES.

I GO BACK AGAIN TO THAT CONCEPT.

IT WAS THE GREAT COMMUNAL EFFORT.

AND PERIODICALLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GREAT COMMUNAL EFFORTS COME TO BE.

AND THEY END UP CHANGING THE WORLD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE PART OF IT AND ACTUALLY WANT TO END UP -- I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, AND PROBABLY LIKE A LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES.

BUT THEY DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND THEY WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND THEY THINK WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TODAY IN ORDER TO CREATE THAT MORE PERFECT UNION THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE JUST SLIGHTLY OUT OF OUR GRASP.

BUT ON THE CUSP OF REALITY, I LIKE TO THINK.

>> TOM HANKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> PLEASURE TO TALK.

WHAT A DAY, WHAT A DAY.

>> WHAT A DAY.

>> A GREAT COMMUNAL EFFORT INDEED.

AND NOW WE TURN TO ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL SITES OF WORLD WAR TWO, AND THAT WAS ABOUT THE PREPARATION, WINSTON CHURCHILL'S CABINET WAR ROOMS.

THIS UNDERGROUND BUNKER WAS THE NERVE CENTER OF BRITAIN'S WAR EFFORT, WHERE OPERATIONS LIKE THE NORMANDY INVASION WERE PLANNED.

AS BOMBS RAINED DOWN ON LONDON OVERHEAD.

70 YEARS AFTER D-DAY BACK IN 2014, I TOURED THE WAR ROOMS WITH HISTORIAN AND BROADCASTER TAYLOR DOWNING.

>> SO WE'RE IN THE CABINET ROOM ITSELF, IN THE CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS, WHICH WERE BUILT JUST BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR, INTENDED TO BE A SORT OF UNDERGROUND BUNKER, REALLY.

>> AND STILL SO ATMOSPHERIC.

I MEAN, LOOK.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> CHURCHILL'S CIGAR.

WAS THAT REALLY HIS?

THE CIGAR IS THERE, THE DISPATCH BOX.

THIS WAS THE CHAIR.

>> IT'S AS THOUGH THE CABINET HAS JUST LEFT.

THEY JUST WALKED OUT THE DOOR.

THEY SORT OF KEPT THE PLACE WITH THIS VERY, VERY ATMOSPHERIC FEEL.

ITS LOCATION OF COURSE WAS TOP SECRET AT THE TIME.

IT WAS BUILT TO WITHSTAND BOMBINGS SO THAT THE WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT COULD CARRY ON.

DOWN HERE, THERE ARE ALL THE KEY OFFICES THAT WERE NEEDED, THE MILITARY HEADQUARTERS, THE MAP ROOM.

THERE WAS ACCOMMODATION FOR SENIOR STAFF.

CHURCHILL HAD HIS OWN BEDROOM DOWN HERE.

>> TAYLOR, THIS OBVIOUSLY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH SINCE THOSE DAYS.

IT'S STILL DARK.

>> IT'S VERY ATMOSPHERIC, I THINK.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO IMAGINE IS THAT THIS IS BELOW GROUND.

NOBODY DOWN HERE KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING UP ABOVE.

THEY HAD A BIG VENTILATION PLANT THAT THEY BROUGHT IN TRY TO PUMP AIR AROUND.

BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY STUFFY, VERY HOT, AND EVERYBODY PUFFING AWAY.

WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER HIMSELF IS A GREAT CIGAR SMOKER.

HE IS NOT GOING TO STOP SMOKING.

SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ANYBODY ELSE THEY CAN'T SMOKE.

WE'RE COMING HERE INTO THE MAP ROOM WHICH IS THE HEART OF THE UNDERGROUND WAR ROOMS.

THIS IS AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE END OF THE WAR.

SOMEBODY FROM THE RIF.

SOMEBODY FROM THE ARMY.

>> SURPRISED TO SEE US.

>> IT'S AS THOUGH WE INTERRUPTED A VERY IMPORTANT MEETING.

>> AND THERE WERE UNBELIEVABLY IMPORTANT MEETINGS HERE.

>> THERE WERE.

THIS IS WHERE CHURCHILL, ALTHOUGH HE WAS A GREAT WORDSMITH, AND WE REMEMBER HIM FOR THE GREAT WORDS AND TRADESES.

>> AND THE INSPIRATION.

>> INSPIRATION TO THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN AND THE WHOLE FREE WORLD AT THE TIME, HE ACTUALLY HAD A VERY VISUAL WAY OF UNDERSTANDING THINGS.

HE LIKED MAPS.

HE LIKED CHARTS.

HE LIKED ANYTHING THAT GAVE HIM A VISUAL DISPLAY OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

A VERSION OF THE MAP ROOM WAS PACKED UP AND TAKEN WITH HIM SO THAT WHEREVER HE WAS, HE COULD HAVE THIS UPDATE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

>> AND HE WANTED TO BE IN NORMANDY ON D-DAY?

>> HE DID.

HE WAS ACTUALLY IN THIS VERY ROOM ON THE 1th OF JUNE GETTING A BRIEFING WITH THE KING.

>> THE KING CAME DOWN HERE?

>> THE KING WAS DOWN HERE AS WELL.

GEORGE VI.

CHURCHILL SAYS I REALLY WANT TO BE THERE ON D-DAY MYSELF.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE SORT OF THE PRIME MINISTER WANTS TO BE IN THE FRONT LINE OF A HUGE OPERATION LIKE D-DAY.

SO HE ASKED IF HE COULD GO ON HMS BELFAST, WHICH IS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE ROYAL NAVAL COMMANDER TO WATCH THE LANDINGS HAPPEN.

NOW HE IS THE PRIME MINISTER.

NO OTHER POLITICIAN CAN OVERRULE HIM.

HE'S THE COMMANDER OF THE FORCES.

SO THE MILITARY CAN'T SAY WE DENT WANT YOU HERE, SIR.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE END IS THAT THE KING, A DAY AFTERWARDS WRITES TO HIM AND SAYS WINSTON, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO GO TO D-DAY.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SHIP HITS A MINE OR IS SHELLED BY THE GERMANS AND SINKS.

THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE WAR IS TO LOSE OUR PRIME MINISTER.

SO EFFECTIVELY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT RELUCTANTLY, CHURCHILL STANDS DOWN.

A AND THE KING, FOR THE FIRST TIME TELLS HIS PRIME MINISTER YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING.

>> WHICH IS AN INTERESTING CONSTITUTIONAL TURNAROUND.

>> ISN'T IT?

>> THIS IS A REALLY RARE PERMISSION TO COME INTO THIS ROOM.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY GETS TO SEE THIS INSIDE.

AND HERE WE ARE WITH CHURCHILL ON THE PHONE WITH?

>> HE IS ON THE PHONE TO ROOSEVELT.

THIS IS THE ROOM IN WHICH HE HAD THE TOP SECRET DIRECT LINE TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND, IN FACT, IT WAS THE OUTSIDE HAD A DOOR, JUST LIKE A PRIVATE LOO, A WC.

EVEN HIS STAFF THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO THE LOO.

HE WOULD COME IN HERE, GET ON THE PHONE TO ROOSEVELT AND EMERGE AFTER.

IT WAS SO SECRET, THIS HOTLINE.

>> EVEN PEOPLE IN THE SECRET BUNKER DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS IS WHERE THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PRESIDENT SPOKE.

>> DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS ROOM EXISTS.

IT WAS WHERE HE HELPED BUILD UP THE RELATIONSHIP AND BOND AND TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.

IT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT TINY, TINY, BUT REALLY IMPORTANT SPACE.

THE COUNTRY WAS IN A SENSE VERY LUCKY IN 1940 WHEN CHURCHILL WAS APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER THROUGH THOSE DARK DAYS OF 1940, FRANCE SURRENDERS, THE BLITZ.

WHEN BRITAIN REALLY WAS BACK UP AGAINST THE WALL.

TO HAVE A MAN WHO NOT ONLY UNDERSTOOD MILITARY THANKS, BUT GAVE A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW IDEAS, NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

HE REALLY GALVANIZED BRITAIN'S FAIRLY FEEBLE AT TIMES MILITARY EFFORTS.

HE WAS THE RIGHT LEADER IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY FOR THAT TODAY.

>> WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HADN'T BEEN HIM?

>> DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOUGHT ON.

PROBABLY WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IS SOME SORT OF TRUCE WITH HITLER IN THE SUMMER OF 1940.

AND HISTORY WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY DIFFERENT.

>> THE VETERANS.

HOW MANY DO YOU THINK SURVIVE TODAY?

>> WELL, IT'S SAID THAT IN 1994, FOR THE 50th ANNIVERSARY, THERE WERE 20,000 VETERANS ON THE NORMANDY BEACHES WHO WENT THERE TO BE PART OF THAT 50th ANNIVERSARY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY'RE THE REAL HEROES.

HERE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT WHERE THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOK PLACE, WHERE THE THINKING THROUGH, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS EISENHOWER'S HEADQUARTERS DOWN IN THE SOUTH COAST WITH THE SPECIFIC MILITARY PLANNING TOOK PLACE AS WELL.

BUT IN THE END, A GREAT OPERATION LIKE THIS IS DOWN TO THE MEN WHO COME OUT OF THE LANDING CRAFT FIRST, WHO JUMP FROM AIRCRAFT.

THEY'RE THE REAL HEROES OF D-DAY.

>> DID THEY THINK THEY WERE?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

I MET LOTS OF THESE GUYS, AND THEY'RE THE HUMBLEST PEOPLE.

WHAT THEY TELL YOU IS THAT IT WAS A JOB THAT HAD TO BE DONE.

THEY HAD TO DO IT.

AND, FOR INSTANCE, CAPTAIN DICK WINTERS, THE FAMOUS MAN WHO WAS AT THE CENTER OF "BAND OF BROTHERS," DAMIAN LEWIS PLAYS HIM IN THE STEVEN SPIELBERG MINISERIES OF THE NAME, YOU ASK HIM, WERE YOU A HERO?

AND HE SAYS NO.

BUT I SERVED WITH A COMPANY OF HEROES.

AND THAT'S VERY TYPICAL OF THE SPIRIT OF THAT GENERATION.

THERE IS NO SORT OF ME, ME, ME ABOUT IT.

IT WAS A JOB THAT HAD TO BE DONE, AND WE WENT OUT THERE AND WE DID IT.

A AND YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE THAT HUMILITY AND THAT SPIRIT.

>> YOU DO INDEED.

>> AND INDEED, FROM JAKE LARSON, OUR 101-YEAR-OLD VETERAN, WE HEARD THAT SAME HUMILITY AND SHARED ENDEAVOR.

NOW THROUGHOUT THIS HOUR, WE HAVE HEARD ALL ABOUT THE HEROIC BRAVERY OF VETERANS 80 YEARS AGO.

ON OMAHA BEACH, THAT SHEER COURAGE IS BEING HONORED BY AN IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS STAINLESS STEEL SCULPTURE.

IT'S CALLED "LES BRAVES."

IT WAS UNVEILED ON THE 60th D-DAY ANNIVERSARY IN 2004, AND IT HAS SINCE STOOD AMONG CRASHING WAVES, BECOMING A PERMANENT PART OF THE MEMORIAL.

AND EARLIER, THE INTERNATIONAL CEREMONY TOOK PLACE IN FRONT OF THE GIANT STRUCTURE.

ITS SCULPTOR IS "ANILORE BANON, AND SHE IS HERE WITH ME NOW.

IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

WELCOME.

YOU'VE JUST COME FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CEREMONY.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE?

WE TALKED WHEN YOU FIRST UNVEILED IT.

>> YES, IT'S AMAZING TO HAVE BEEN HERE EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO.

>> CRAZY.

>> CRAZY.

BUT WONDERFUL.

IT WAS SO MUCH EMOTION TO SEE THE SAME VETERANS.

I MEAN, THERE WERE NOT MANY.

BUT THEY WERE REALLY BEING HONORED WITH THE MEDAL.

SO THEY WERE STANDING UP.

IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC TO SEE HOW THEY WERE BURYBEARING THE WEIGHT OF ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THEIR FRIENDS THAT DIED THERE.

YOU HAD THIS FEELING THAT THEY WERE VERY HUMBLE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

>> YEAH.

>> YOU REALLY FEEL THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE THINKING, ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS.

>> SO YOU TALK ABOUT THE HUMILITY AND WHAT THEY WERE THINKING.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU CREATED "LES BRAVES"?

BECAUSE IT'S VERY EXPANSIVE.

IT'S NOT A HUMBLE PIECE.

>> NO.

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MAKE THE BRAVE SMALL.

THEIR COURAGE WAS HUGE.

AND SO FOR ME, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SOMETHING SMALL ABOUT THEIR BRAVERY.

I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE A MINIMUM YOU KNOW TO LOOK UP TO.

YOU HAD TO RAISE YOUR EYES AND LOOK UP TO WHAT THEY DID.

>> SO WE'RE SEEING THE PICTURES ON THE SCREEN AS WE TALK.

JUST DESCRIBE -- DESCRIBE THE MODULES.

YOU'VE GOT THREE DISTINCT PARTS OF THAT.

>> YES.

IN FACT I DID THREE PIECES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS BRAVERY, THIS COURAGE AND WHAT THEY DID WAS UNCOMMON ACTION.

AT THE CENTER, IT RISE FREEDOM.

I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THAT THE SACRIFICE WAS ETERNAL.

IT WAS ABOUT LIFE, NOT ABOUT DEATH.

SO THEY ARE RAISING UP FROM THE SAND, AND THEY HAVE THESE BIG COLUMN THAT ARE THE ONLY STRAIGHT COLUMN OR STRETCHER IN THIS CULTURE, THE TWO STRAIGHT TOWERS, YOU CAN SAY.

AND THOSE ARE THE FREEDOM THEY BROUGHT US BACK.

AND THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY THE WINGS OF HOPE AND FRATERNITY, BECAUSE IT WAS A ALL TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, THE FREEDOM CAME FROM THE SEA.

SO ITS WINGS AND ITS SAILS, IT HAS ALL THIS SYMBOLISM.

>> AND HOW DID IT COME THAT YOU'VE JUST OPENED -- I THINK IT'S ABOUT TO OPEN, OR IT HAS OPENED.

>> JUST OPENED UP.

>> YEAH, A SISTER SCULPTURE IN MICHIGAN.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, TIMING IS SYNCHRONICITY.

BECAUSE WHEN I STARTED ON "LES BRAVES" HERE 20 YEARS AGO, I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO A CONNECTION.

BECAUSE MY WORK IS ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE.

SO THAT TOGETHER WE ARE MUCH STRONGER, AND NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I REALLY WANTED TO DO A SECOND ONE.

BUT IT TOOK THREE YEARS AND A LOT OF EFFORTS TO DO THIS ONE.

SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN AND THE RIGHT PLACE WILL COME.

AND IT CAME WHEN THE WAR MEMORIAL IN GROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN CALLED ME AND SAYS WE WALKED ON THAT BEACH.

CAN IT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE A TWIN SCULPTURE.

I SAID THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED 20 YEARS AGO.

WE DID, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> AND WHERE IS IT LOCATED EXACTLY?

>> IT'S GROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN.

IT'S JUST ON THE LAKE, ON LAKE MICHIGAN.

SO IT'S THE FRONTIER WITH CANADA.

SO IT'S ANOTHER SYMBOL, YOU KNOW, OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO HELP US.

INTEGRATION.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AS A FRENCH WOMAN TO DO THIS SCULPTURE, GIVEN THAT "LES BRAVES" LIBERATED YOUR COUNTRY AND LIBERATED THE REST OF EUROPE?

>> IT'S LIKE IF YOU CAN SAY THANK YOU IN SO MANY WAYS, THAT'S MY WAY, BECAUSE I'M AN ARTIST.

AND IT'S ALSO NOT ONLY A WAY TO THANK THEM, IT'S A WAY TO SHOW TO THE YOUNG GENERATION I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THAT BRAVERY AND COURAGE IS NOT AN OLD-FASHIONED VALUE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CERTAINLY TODAY AND WITH ALL THE 182 AND MORE WARS AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

BRAVERY IS SOMETHING THAT'S SOMETHING WE TOO.

>> YOU JUST TOUCHED ON THAT.

THE TRAGEDY IS THAT THIS ANNIVERSARY AND THE DWINDLING NUMBER OF VETERANS, "LES BRAVES" IS COMING RIGHT AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS ANOTHER WAR IN EUROPE.

>> YES.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ISRAEL AND GAZA.

>> YEAH.

IT IS FRIGHTENING THAT WE DON'T LEARN.

I'M THINKING THE WOMEN ARE SO -- ARE THE FIRST VICTIM WITH CHILDREN OF ALL THOSE WARS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS EVEN THEY ARE VICTIM AS WOMEN ALSO.

SO WHAT ABOUT IF ALL THE NEW DIPLOMACY, YOU KNOW, THEY GET INVOLVED A BIT NOW, DON'T YOU THINK SO?

>> I THINK SO.

START A TREND.

MORE WOMEN AROUND THE PEACE TABLE.

WELL, ANILORE BANON, MORE WOMEN ON THE ART FRONT.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

AND YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD LAST MORE THAN SIX, SEVEN MONTHS.

BUT IT'S LASTED 20 YEARS.

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED TO -- HE WANTED THE SCULPTURE TO STAY.

WHEN PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING.

>> THEY GET IT.

>> YES, THEY GET.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTIANE.

>> ON THE 80th ANNIVERSARY.

>>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER AMONG THE MANY VETERANS HONORED TODAY WAS THE 100-YEAR-OLD HAROLD TERENS, WHO WAS ON D-DAY AND STATIONED IN BRITAIN, PREPARING AND REPAIRING DAMAGED PLANES, WHICH WERE RETURNING FROM FRANCE.

BUT HAROLD IS IN FRANCE NOT ONLY TO COMMEMORATE D-DAY, HE'S GOT BIGGER PLANS TO MARRY HIS GIRLFRIEND OF THREE YEARS, 96-YEAR-OLD JAN SWERLENS.

>> HERE IT'S SO PEACEFUL.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WHOLE WORLD AT PEACE.

AND I HOPE THAT OUR LOVE STORY WILL REFLECT ON A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, THAT US SUFFERING TODAY LIKE UKRAINE AND GAZA.

>> AND THEY CERTAINLY LOOK HAPPY.

TERENS AND SWERLENS WILL TIE THE KNOT THIS WEEKEND IN A TOWN JUST NEAR THE BEACHES WHERE HE AND THE OTHER U.S.

TROOPS LANDED 80 YEARS AGO TODAY.

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR LOVE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

BUT MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL C.Q.

BROWN JR., HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, THE HIGHEST RANKING AMERICAN MILITARY OFFICER.

AND HEIR TO SUCH GIANTS AS OMAR BRADLEY, WHO WAS FIRST TO HOLD THE JOB.

I ASKED GENERAL BROWN IF AMERICA TODAY COULD MEET A CHALLENGE ON THE SCALE OF THE NORMANDY INVASION.

>> OUR FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

AND DEMOCRACY CAN STAND ON ITS OWN, BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREPARED.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FOCUS ON IS ENSURING THAT WAR FIGHTING SKILL TO DETER A FUTURE CONFLICT.

>> IT'S BEING SAID THAT AMERICANS OF THIS GENERATION HAVE NOT YET INTERNALIZED WHAT APPARENTLY A LOT OF MILITARY, CERTAINLY NATO MILITARY BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT THERE COULD BE A GREAT POWER WAR AGAIN, AND THAT YOU HAVE TO PREPARE FOR IT.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE AT HOME, EVEN IN EUROPE UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT A SITUATION WE'RE LIVING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

I HAVE A SENSE IT'S COMING ALONG.

AND HAVING WORKED IN THE INDO-PACIFIC BEFORE, HERE IN EUROPE, AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, I'VE WATCHED OVER THE YEARS, AND PARTICULARLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HOW THE WAR IS NOT ONLY FOR THOSE OF US IN THE UNIFORM, BUT WITH OUR ELECTED LEADERSHIP AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

AND WE GOT TO CONTINUE TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SITUATION THAT WE'RE SEEING, THAT WE JUST CAN'T WATCH.

WE GOT TO LEAD.

>> BE VIGILANT AND LEAD, AND MUCH MORE OF THAT INTERVIEW OF COURSE TOMORROW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOODBYE FROM NORMANDY.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH SOME MORE POIGNANT IMAGES FROM THIS HISTORIC DAY.

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