Andrew Biggio

Yeah, in those seven years that I was meeting the World War II veterans and placing that rifle into their arms, there was like one common denominator, and it was like over half of them had never returned to the battlefields they'd served on. And living on the Northeast myself in Boston, I said, well, hell, it's only a six, seven hour flight direct to Paris or direct to Rome or even Amsterdam.

Yeah, in those seven years that I was meeting the World War II veterans and placing that rifle into their arms, there was like one common denominator, and it was like over half of them had never returned to the battlefields they'd served on. And living on the Northeast myself in Boston, I said, well, hell, it's only a six, seven hour flight direct to Paris or direct to Rome or even Amsterdam.

And these veterans I'm meeting are alone. They outlived their spouse. They're trying to find a purpose in life in their late 90s. And I said, would you go back? Let's go back and visit this area. And I got over 60 of them to say yes in a span of five or six years. And I've done over 25 trips back to Europe with 60 different World War II veterans visiting their homes.

And these veterans I'm meeting are alone. They outlived their spouse. They're trying to find a purpose in life in their late 90s. And I said, would you go back? Let's go back and visit this area. And I got over 60 of them to say yes in a span of five or six years. And I've done over 25 trips back to Europe with 60 different World War II veterans visiting their homes.

The villages they liberated, they're finding their foxholes, seeing where they were wounded. And then most recently, I went back to Stalag Luft 4 with an ex-POW who was 101 years old. I'm sure a powerful experience there.

The villages they liberated, they're finding their foxholes, seeing where they were wounded. And then most recently, I went back to Stalag Luft 4 with an ex-POW who was 101 years old. I'm sure a powerful experience there.

You know, the most recent one was a gentleman by the name of Lester Schrenk, and he's still alive. Lester's still alive. He's 101. He'll be 102 soon.

You know, the most recent one was a gentleman by the name of Lester Schrenk, and he's still alive. Lester's still alive. He's 101. He'll be 102 soon.

And, you know, he was shot down. from a B-17 as a ball turret gunner. And he was held prisoner of war for 15 months. For 15 months, he was held prisoner of war, starved, beaten, watched his friends dragged off into the woods and executed. And he agreed to go back to his prison camp with me, which was located in Poland. And we flew back, back in March,

And, you know, he was shot down. from a B-17 as a ball turret gunner. And he was held prisoner of war for 15 months. For 15 months, he was held prisoner of war, starved, beaten, watched his friends dragged off into the woods and executed. And he agreed to go back to his prison camp with me, which was located in Poland. And we flew back, back in March,

And when we visited his prison camp, they said, the Polish said that this is the first survivor of Stalag Luft 4 that they've seen in over 20 years.

And when we visited his prison camp, they said, the Polish said that this is the first survivor of Stalag Luft 4 that they've seen in over 20 years.

That's what we would dream about. Unbelievable. This guy was just a symbol of strength. I mean, not only did he survive that prison camp, but when the Russians started to liberate Poland, the Germans pulled him out of this prison camp and forced them to march 800 miles.

That's what we would dream about. Unbelievable. This guy was just a symbol of strength. I mean, not only did he survive that prison camp, but when the Russians started to liberate Poland, the Germans pulled him out of this prison camp and forced them to march 800 miles.

in 80 days so it was 10 miles a day malnourished starved poked with bayonets this is a well-known death march this isn't you know fallacy made up stuff by a world war ii veteran with a crazy imagination this is true documented stuff that the men of stalag four had to march what was called the german death march 800 miles to not be captured by the Russians. And he survived that.

in 80 days so it was 10 miles a day malnourished starved poked with bayonets this is a well-known death march this isn't you know fallacy made up stuff by a world war ii veteran with a crazy imagination this is true documented stuff that the men of stalag four had to march what was called the german death march 800 miles to not be captured by the Russians. And he survived that.

How it's changed me is... I definitely have a different perspective of life because many of these men and women who I didn't just grab a signature for and take a photo op. I became friends with them. I traveled overseas with them. Hell, I bathed them if I have to when we were overseas. Yeah. And it made me evaluate and appreciate life and slow down a little bit. I spend more time with my kids.

How it's changed me is... I definitely have a different perspective of life because many of these men and women who I didn't just grab a signature for and take a photo op. I became friends with them. I traveled overseas with them. Hell, I bathed them if I have to when we were overseas. Yeah. And it made me evaluate and appreciate life and slow down a little bit. I spend more time with my kids.

I'm more patient. I learned how to handle stress a different way. You know, all these guys saw combat in World War II and were able to live long, successful lives after combat well into their 100s. And so I tried to teach veterans, especially with my books, Rifle I and Rifle II, how

I'm more patient. I learned how to handle stress a different way. You know, all these guys saw combat in World War II and were able to live long, successful lives after combat well into their 100s. And so I tried to teach veterans, especially with my books, Rifle I and Rifle II, how