Rishi Sharma’s Dedication to Preserving WWII Veterans’ Stories

For a decade, Rishi Sharma has traveled across the United States with a crucial mission: to document and preserve the stories of World War II combat veterans. Since the beginning of his journey, he has interviewed over 3,000 veterans, and he doesn’t plan to stop soon.

“For the last 10 years, I’ve been dedicated to interviewing every single World War II combat veteran,” the 28-year-old explained. “I’ve spent every single day of these years doing just that.”

Recently, Rishi conducted an interview with Nils Mockler, a 100-year-old Marine veteran from Yorktown, New York. Nils served as a combat intelligence scout, participating in the battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most intense and memorable in Marine history.

“What did it mean to you seeing the American Flag being raised?” Rishi asked.

“Well, the hair on my arms still stands up when I think about how beautiful it was,” Nils replied.

Rishi’s quest began in his Southern California neighborhood, where he recorded interviews with local veterans. His efforts expanded as he meticulously planned future trips across the nation to meet more veterans.

In a 2016 interview, Rishi stated, “There are real superhero World War II vets out there, and I want to meet them.” Despite having no family military background—his parents emigrated from India—Rishi developed a profound passion for World War II history.

His project, known as Remember WWII, receives funding through donations. Rishi spends hours conversing with each veteran, providing their families with the recordings.

A decade ago, approximately 700,000 World War II veterans were still alive. Now, only about 30,000 remain. Rishi believes their eventual passing will signify more than the loss of stories.

“They have long been the moral compass of our society,” Rishi expressed. “Their silent advice has steered the ship of this country.”

This weekend, as the nation celebrates 250 years, Rishi emphasizes that such longevity isn’t accidental. It’s owed largely to the sacrifices and moral clarity of the World War II generation, often referred to as the greatest.