veteran george sarros Archives - The 51��

WWII Vets Meet 82 Years Later

Janis — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:26:21 +0000

Eighty-two years after fighting for freedom

Simon Gurdal and George Sarros met on February 28, 2026, two heroes of the WWII European theatre of 1944. Their stories are connected in history and geography. Simon was born November 8, 1926, in Verviers, Belgium. George was born in Chicago on April 17, 1925.

George showed Simon a model of his ship, LST 515.

George Sarros served as a Motor Machinist on LST (Landing Ship, Tanks) 515, landing on the beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944. LST 515 opened its giant door and unloaded tanks, ambulances and hundreds of soldiers as part of the largest amphibious military operation in history. Along with approximately 160,000 of their comrades from the sea and falling from the sky, they successfully began what has been called “the beginning of the end of World War II.” George had joined the US Navy at age 17 (with his parents’ signatures).

George and Simon’s war time roles were connected.

The Allied troops fought their way north through France toward the goal of crossing the Rhine River into Germany. Their “prize” would be Berlin. Joining those Allies in September in the north was the Belgian Brigade Piron. These were soldiers from Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Baptiste Piron of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade—2,200 soldiers.

Simon was interested in George’s mementoes and medals.

The Belgian Brigade Piron moved further north in France, and on September 3, 1944, Piron and his men crossed the French-Belgian border. One day later they liberated Brussels and participated in the liberation of The Netherlands.

Simon Gurdal’s 1c Bataillon also fought in Market Garden, the Allies’ attempt to cross the Rhine (documented in the book and movie, A Bridge Too Far). Simon was 17 years old, having fudged his age to join the army. The Belgian Brigade Piron continued the fight northward beginning three months after D-Day.

From birthplaces 4,000 miles apart, these brave 17-year-olds had joined the fight against tyranny. Simon had felt this through Germany’s occupation of his homeland since 1940. These men now connected their experiences in the geography of Europe from June through September 1944.

Simon and George found something else in common—they both speak Greek. After a short conversation in Greek over lunch of pizza and French fries, Simon said to George, “As soon as I saw your last name, I knew you were Greek.”

Laughing, George said, “I had to learn to speak Greek. My Greek grandmother lived with us in Chicago, and she spoke no English. When she called me in Greek to come to her, I had to know what she was saying or I would’ve been in big trouble.”

Simon learned Greek while living on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, where a large settlement of Greek fishermen made their living night-fishing from the lake.

Painful side of war

The two veterans also recounted the painful side of war—Simon of his injuries, the soldiers from his foxhole who were killed, and the boys from his Boy Scout troop from Verviers who didn’t return home. George told of his and his shipmates’ frantic attempt to rescue hundreds of sailors in the dark, cold English Channel when their LSTs were torpedoed during a training exercise in April 1944. They could only save around 100 out of 900 from the water. Both veterans had tears in their eyes as they shared these sad memories.

As they said goodbye, their parting messages were, “I want to talk with you more.” “Let’s meet again soon.”

The WWII veterans shared their service connection, their fight for freedom, and even a knowledge of the Greek language. When they parted, they vowed to see each other again.

Top photo: Eighty-two years after fighting for freedom, WWII veterans Simon Gurdal (left) and George Sarros met and swapped stories of their war experiences

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D-Day Veteran George Sarros Tells His Story

Commander — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:00:00 +0000

WWII Veteran George Sarros, US Navy LST Motor Machinist, will tell his personal stories of 65 crossings of the English Channel, beginning with the June 6th landings on the Normandy Beaches. His LST 515 delivered tanks, ambulances, and troops for the largest amphibious invasion in history– which some say was the turning point of winning WWII. Saros is a resident of Flat Rock, NC.

Sarros will sign books which contain his full story. The books will be available for purchase at $20 each as a benefit to The 51�� in Brevard.

Registration Required | For Adults & Teens 16+

This FREE program is made possible with funds provided by the Community Foundation of Henderson County through the Richard J. and Betty A. Scott Estate.

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WWII 51�� Gather for Birthday Celebration

Janis — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 21:05:27 +0000

US Navy D-Day veteran George Sarros was honored for his 99th birthday

US Navy D-Day veteran George Sarros was honored for his 99th birthday with lunch, cards, a song, and birthday cake by his fellow WWII veterans. The group’s ages range from 97 to 102.

Sarros served as a motor machinist on LST (Landing Ship, Transport) 515, delivering tanks, ambulances, and troops onto the Normandy beaches on D-Day and the days after, making 65 crossings of the English Channel taking wounded soldiers to hospitals in England.

Harold Wellington served in WWII and during the Korean War. He served in the Merchant Marine, US Army, and US Navy.
Myrl Jean Hughes served in the Pacific as a physical therapist in the US Army.
Ed Cottrell was a P-47 fighter pilot in the Battle of the Bulge and after the war, as an ambassador/recruiter for the new Air Force Academy.
Milt Fletcher fought in WWII’s last battle, the battle of Okinawa, and during the Korean War as a processor of new recruits for the US Army.
Rufus “Pooch” Pace served right after the war during the occupation of Japan as a control tower operator in Irumagawa for the US Army Air Corps.

Top photo: Seated L-R, Harold Wellington, George Sarros, Milt Fletcher, & Pooch Pace. Standing, Myrl Jean Hughes & Ed Cottrell

The 51�� invites WWII veterans to gather to get to know each other and celebrate special occasions several times each year. Their complete stories are in the museum’s book “We Shall Come Home Victorious.” Stories of World War II 51��, available for purchase at the museum. The museum is located at 21 East Main Street in Brevard (next to the courthouse). Admission is free. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11am to 3pm. For information on how to honor your veteran with an Honor Wall plaque, please call 828-884-2141.

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D-Day Veteran has visit from Mississippi Fan

Commander — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 12:58:18 +0000

“The Best Birthday Ever!”

Eleven-year-old Michael Wigington, from Tupelo, Mississippi, has been following D-Day veteran George Sarros on the 51�� History Museum social media for several months. As Michael’s June 4 birthday approached, his mom, Amy Wigington, made arrangements to bring Michael to Western North Carolina to meet his hero.

As part of his birthday present, Michael and his mom visited Sarros and heard his historical first-person accounts of the D-Day invasion. Sarros was a motor machinist on LST-515, which delivered tanks, ambulances, and troops in Higgins boats to the coast of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Sarros showed pictures of his Navy buddies, his ship, and scenes of wreckage from a German torpedo attack to Michael and Mrs. Wigington, answering questions from the very knowledgeable and curious boy. After visiting Mr. Sarros, Michael and his mom also toured the 51��, learning more and seeing many unique artifacts and uniforms up close, and hearing educational stories from Museum Curator Emmett Casciato.

Michael and his mom have enjoyed educational projects such as building Higgins boats from cardboard, and decorating a 40″ x 26″ sheet cake to show a re-enactment of the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach (pictured). They used pretzels to portray the Bavarian gates, rice crispy squares to make HIggins Boats (“painted” with grey-colored white chocolate), and graham crackers to portray bunkers.

Michael’s family serve their country in several ways. Mrs. Wigington has served in the Mississippi National Guard and teaches Social Science. Michael’s dad, Doug Wigington, is Chief of the Fire Department of Center, Mississippi, and an Emergency Medical Technician.

Mrs. Wigington said, “Michael was so excited after we left the museum. He said this was the best birthday ever, especially meeting Mr. Sarros!”

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veteran george sarros Archives - The 51������