‘We did our bit,’ recall WWII vets 75 yrs later

London, May 8

Seventy-five years after World War II ended in Europe, The Associated Press spoke to veterans who endured mortal danger, oppression and fear. As they mark Victory in Europe Day on Friday, they also are dealing with loneliness brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tony Vaccaro is one of the few people alive who can claim to have survived the Battle of Normandy and COVID-19. By age five, he was an orphan in Italy, by World War II he was an American GI. Now, at age 97, he is recovering from COVID-19. He attributes his longevity to ‘blind luck, red wine’ and determination. “To me, the greatest thing that you can do is challenge the world,” he said.

Mervyn Kersh likes to joke that he was the last British soldier to learn the Nazis had surrendered. “We just did our bit,” he said. “Everyone was in the same boat. Something had to be done.” Now a pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a home for Army veterans, Sullivan has taken a philosophical view to lockdown. —AP

Putin wants to improve ties with US, Britain

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin sent telegrams on Friday to US President Donald Trump and British PM Boris Johnson suggesting the need to rekindle their nations’ cooperation during WW II to solve today’s problems. Putin’s overture was the latest in a series of contacts with Washington with which Moscow is keen to rebuild relations frayed over everything from election hacking allegations to Syria.