Sgt. William Pekrul, a 98-year-old World War II veteran who survived D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, gave a moving speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, telling the crowd that if former President Donald Trump was the commander in chief again, he would “reenlist today.”
Pekrul received a standing ovation on Wednesday from the crowd at the Republican National Convention when he said that with Trump “back in commander in chief, I would go back to reenlist today.”
The World War II veteran added, “I would storm whatever beach my country needs me to.”
During his speech on Wednesday, Pekrul shared his story of fighting in Europe and witnessing “the horror of the Nazi’s war camps.” The World War II veteran said that at the end of the war, he and his fellow military members “gave thanks to almighty God for delivering us from evil.”
While Pekrul noted that not many of his fellow veterans were still alive today, he said, “For those of us who are here, America is still worth fighting for.”
READ MORE: Marine vet shot, injured at Trump rally
Pekrul not only expressed his enthusiasm for Trump’s potential return to the White House but also heavily criticized the current administration.
“It hurts my heart to see what our current president and vice president have done to the country I love so well,” Pekrul said. “They humiliated us in Afghanistan, we [are] pushed around in China, terrorists run wild in the Middle East, and they let our own southern border get overrun.”
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Pekrul fought in World War II with the 29th Infantry as part of the second wave of troops deployed during the Allied invasion of Normandy. The 98-year-old veteran was awarded a Silver Star and two Bronze Stars for his service to the United States.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Pekrul, who told the RNC crowd that he was honored to be remembered as part of the “greatest generation” of Americans, was celebrated as the Grand Marshall of the Milwaukee Veterans Day parade in 2019.
