World War II veterans speak to the ages

In 1943 Vincent Speranza, the son of Italian immigrants, enlisted when he turned 18. "I decided to be a paratrooper when I found out that that would probably be the fastest way to get into the battle," he said. "We were innocent kids who weren't ready for what was coming, let me tell ya'."

He fought in the Battle of the Bulge – Hitler's last-gasp attempt to stave off defeat in the final months of the war in Europe.

"Twelve-thousand Americans in that town held off 56,000 German troops," Speranza said.