Atlanta honors the veterans of WW II

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Atlanta honors the veterans of WW II

On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces in World War II. Servicemen joined Atlanta residents in celebrating V-J Day on top of a street car on Peachtree Street. Today, we honor those who served. These photos were submitted by our readers, and feature their friends and loved ones.

George T. McGuire Jr. was 18 when he signed up to serve in WWII. He arrived on Omaha Beach, Normandy, two weeks after D-Day and served mainly in Germany. Mr. McGuire, a private 1st class during the war, was one of the American WWII vets featured in a BBC series called "D-Day To Victory." He is an Atlanta native who now lives in Sandy Springs. Mr. McGuire is the author of four fictional novels, two of which are set during WWII. He has also been featured in an article in the AJC. Photo submitted by his daughter, Debbie Burton.

Lt. Clark Slayman (third from left, back row) was skipper of his crew and served as VP-26 in the Pacific flying off carriers. He served at Iwo Jima, and was given a mail sack to return to the ship after the battle. He did not open it but knew it contained film. Mr. Slayman made Volusia Honor Air Flight No. 8 in September 2011, shortly before he died. Photo submitted by his daughter.

DeWayne Allen enlisted in California. He served in the Pacific Fleet, aboard the USS Colorado from December 1939 until June 1945. He served as cook as well as in an artillary position. Photo submitted by his grandson, Kimani D. Allen.

Frank Stoj served in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge. Photo submitted by his son, John Stoj.

Frank Stoj served in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge. He's 93 years young. Photo submitted by his son, John Stoj.

Gene Rhodes was born in Atlanta and grew up in the Kirkwood neighborhood. Mr. Rhodes and about 1,500 other GIs departed San Francisco on August 14 aboard the USS Rockingham APA 229. They were not informed of the Japanese surrender until well out to sea. In this photo, Mr. Rhodes had just turned 19. He served in the 8th Army HQ Engineer Section for a year in Yokohama, Japan. Photo submitted by his friend, Janet Russell.

Here is Gene Rhodes today. He has been a Roswell resident since the 1960s.

Henton E. Howard was a gunnery sergeant in the Marines. He quit high school at age 15 with his parents' permission so he could enlist, and turned 16 in a foxhole on Guadalcanal. Mr. Howard served in the Pacific theater, with landings on Iwo Jima, Guam, Guadalcanal, Mariannas and others. He was a certified sharpshooter, and received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Mr. Howard died in 2009 and is buried in Georgia National Cemetery. Photo submitted by his daughter, Tara Landry.

Henton E. Howard was a gunnery sergeant in the Marines. He quit high school at age 15 with his parents' permission so he could enlist, and turned 16 in a foxhole on Guadalcanal. Mr. Howard served in the Pacific theater, with landings on Iwo Jima, Guam, Guadalcanal, Mariannas and others. He was a certified sharpshooter, and received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Mr. Howard died in 2009 and is buried in Georgia National Cemetery. Photo submitted by his daughter, Tara Landry.

Henton E. Howard was a gunnery sergeant in the Marines. He quit high school at age 15 with his parents' permission so he could enlist, and turned 16 in a foxhole on Guadalcanal. Mr. Howard served in the Pacific theater, with landings on Iwo Jima, Guam, Guadalcanal, Mariannas and others. He was a certified sharpshooter, and received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Mr. Howard died in 2009 and is buried in Georgia National Cemetery. Photo submitted by his daughter, Tara Landry.

Henton E. Howard was a gunnery sergeant in the Marines. He quit high school at age 15 with his parents' permission so he could enlist, and turned 16 in a foxhole on Guadalcanal. Mr. Howard served in the Pacific theater, with landings on Iwo Jima, Guam, Guadalcanal, Mariannas and others. He was a certified sharpshooter, and received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Mr. Howard died in 2009 and is buried in Georgia National Cemetery. Photo submitted by his daughter, Tara Landry.

Howard Hannan Braunstein was drafted into the war in 1942 and commissioned a second lieutenant. He served in Luzon, Philippines, and in New Guinea, and was training for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He also did one combat tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. He retired as a colonel in 1975, after 33 1/2 years of service. Mr. Braunstein is buried at Arlington Cemetery. Photo submitted by his daughter, Barbara Braunstein Curasi.

Howard Hannan Braunstein was drafted into the war in 1942 and commissioned a second lieutenant. He served in Luzon, Philippines, and in New Guinea, and was training for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He also did one combat tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. He retired as a colonel in 1975, after 33 1/2 years of service. Here is Mr. Braunstein at 80, shortly before he died. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery. Photo submitted by his daughter, Barbara Braunstein Curasi.

James Frantz Schuirmann served under Gen. George S. Patton and was killed at the Battle of the Bulge. He was 21. Photo submitted by his nephew, Noel Gilliam.

These items belonged to James Frantz Schuirmann, who served under Gen. George S. Patton and was killed at the Battle of the Bulge. He was 21. Photo submitted by his nephew, Noel Gilliam.

Robert Russell Siegel was born in Warren, Ohio, in 1924, and was drafted into the Army on February 3, 1943, at the age of 18. He was part of the Marianas’ Saipan and Japan’s Okinawa invasion forces. He was assigned to the engineers and remained there for his 22-year Army career. “Essayons!” Mr. Siegel went on to serve, and was part of, the Korean War from 1950 to 1951. He eventually retired from the Army in 1965. Among his commendations were the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Army Occupational Medal, Japan. Mr. Siegel died April 10, 2013, at the age of 88. Photo submitted by his son, Eric Siegel, who described him as an amazing man and a great father.

Here is Robert Russell Siegel serving in Korea. Photo submitted by his son, Eric Siegel.

Robert Russell Siegel was born in Warren, Ohio, in 1924, and was drafted into the Army on February 3, 1943, at the age of 18. He was part of the Marianas’ Saipan and Japan’s Okinawa invasion forces. He was assigned to the engineers and remained there for his 22-year Army career. “Essayons!” Mr. Siegel went on to serve, and was part of, the Korean War from 1950 to 1951. He eventually retired from the Army in 1965. Among his commendations were the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal and the Army Occupational Medal, Japan. Mr. Siegel died April 10, 2013, at the age of 88. Photo submitted by his son, Eric Siegel, who described him as an amazing man and a great father.

This is Truman Thompson of Buford. Mr. Thompson fought in the Battle of the Bulge and two other major battles. Photo submitted by his daughter, Jane Olsen.

This is Truman Thompson at age 91. Photo submitted by his daughter, Jane Olsen.

Walter H. Keirsey was a tailgunner with the 8th Air Force , 91st bomb group, based in England. His group had about a dozen successful bombing runs. Photo submitted by his daughter, Jill Waldon, who says her dad is smiling in this photo because he lied about his age and enlisted at 17.

Second Lt. Richard R. Rodgers, USMCR, fought at Guadalcanal and Guam. Mr. Rodgers was killed in action July 26, 1944, during the Banzai charge of the freeing of Guam from the Japanese. Photo submitted by Rich Rodgers.

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On September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces in World War II. Servicemen joined Atlanta residents in celebrating V-J Day on top of a street car on Peachtree Street. Today, we honor those who served. These photos were submitted by our readers, and feature their friends and loved ones.

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