WWII vet gives direct message to young people today: 'We gave up our yesterdays for your tomorrows'

World War II seasoned David Yoho's blunt and affectional connection for younger generations to retrieve the sacrifices of those who served has gone viral connected societal media implicit the Memorial Day weekend.

"Tell them astir veterans and accidental to them that we gave up our yesterdays for your tomorrows," Yoho, who turns 98 successful August, said Saturday done rainfall astatine the National World War II Memorial successful Washington, D.C.

"And if they accidental to you then, who did you perceive talk these words?" helium continued successful off-the-cuff remarks, holding up a subject salute portion helium held backmost tears arsenic his astir 100-year-old dependable was cracking done the rain.

"Tell them it was a 16-year-old lad successful the bosom and caput and assemblage of a 98-year-old seasoned of World War II."

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In a screenshot from his affectional code Saturday done the rain, World War II seasoned David Yoho, 97, delivered a tribute that has gone viral connected societal media. (Friends of the National World War II Memorial)

The affectional salute capped the erstwhile Merchant Marine veteran's reflection connected the much than 16 cardinal Americans who served successful azygous aft the onslaught connected Pearl Harbor and the hundreds of thousands who ne'er returned home.

Yoho, conscionable 16 erstwhile helium entered service, recalled the subject lowered recruiting ages during the warfare due to the fact that the state needed manpower.

"When you’re 16, you’re a kid playfully successful your streets, and the time you participate the military, that stops," helium said, empathically pounding the lectern. "And our dedication to what was done is apparent."

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World War II seasoned David Yoho speaks during a ceremonial marking the 80th day of Victory implicit Japan Day astatine the National World War II Memorial successful Washington, D.C., connected Sept. 2, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

"Your dedication, adjacent you up determination connected the balconies," helium continued, pointing done the raindrops to those attending his Memorial Day play speech, "your dedication to america is apparent, and we convey you erstwhile we kneel successful obedience to our God and our maker."

Yoho spoke astatine the National World War II Memorial successful Washington, D.C., astatine the eastbound extremity of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, honoring the 16 cardinal Americans who served successful the equipped forces and the 400,000 who died.

"Tell your friends astir this place," Yoho said. "Tell your person astir the information that you stood successful the rainfall to perceive america today. Tell the friends astir your dedication and past archer them astir us."

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Former Merchant Marine David Yoho speaks during a medal ceremonial for World War II Merchant Marines connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, D.C., connected May 18, 2022. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Yoho besides honored the U.S. Merchant Marines, saying 250,000 were recruited during the warfare and that the radical suffered devastating losses portion moving troops and supplies crossed unsafe waters. He pointed to the Murmansk Run, a deadly Arctic convoy way utilized to proviso Allied forces, arsenic 1 illustration of the sacrifices made by Americans from "every race" and "every creed."

"So who are we present today? We are present to toll the bell, toll the doorbell for those who we grant successful rest," Yoho said. "Toll the doorbell for each subject unit."

Yoho provided unsocial discourse to onlookers 84 years aft Pearl Harbor.

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"I adhd my convey you for your being present today," helium said. "We are the past of a breed who you sponsored to correspond you, your families.

"Dec. 7, 1941, the empire of Japan struck Pearl Harbor and started what we called our war!

"We were a state of 130 cardinal and we enactment 16,200,000 of them successful uniform, and 440,000 of them didn't travel home.

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"And erstwhile you spot a prima representing 100 men, contemplate that each 1 of these radical had an attachment to a mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister. They are our family. We basal connected this hollow ground. And we appreciate, contempt the inclement weather, you person seen acceptable to beryllium with america this day."

Merchant Marines had the "highest mortality complaint of any" of the World War II equipped forces, Yoho remembered.

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"We mislaid 733 ships and the highest mortality complaint of immoderate radical that served successful that war, but God is large and God is bully and helium kept this aged sucker alive," Yoho said. "I'm going to beryllium 98 years aged successful six weeks and I instrumentality nary apologies astatine immoderate clip for the clip I instrumentality to archer you, without you, this wouldn't exist."

"I person a heavy affection for everything present and what they basal for," helium said.