LIFESTYLE

Webster teen documenting veterans' stories

Alan Morrell
Patrick Gurnow, a student at Webster Schroeder, speaks with Jack Tuttle in Webster. Tuttle fought in World War II with the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and Patrick is documenting Tuttle’s wartime experiences.

A trunk full of memories inspired Patrick Gurnow to begin his quest to document the stories of World War II veterans.

Patrick, a senior at Webster Schroeder High School, has been at it for three years. He has interviewed "18 or so" veterans, some on video, and plans to compile the collection into a DVD. Some of the interviews lasted three hours.

The fascination with all things World War II started when Patrick came across a trunk that belonged to his late grandfather about eight years ago. Inside were military papers, newspaper clippings and other items his grandfather had kept since his service in World War II.

"The stuff wasn't really valuable, but to me, it meant a lot," said Patrick, 18. "That was my grandpa."

Grandpa had a quite memorable military career. He was an Army Ranger who was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war. Near the end of the war, Patrick said, his grandfather was forced to load and unload dead bodies at a concentration camp in Poland.

Young Patrick pored through the papers wide-eyed.

"It started to sink in right away," he said. "Grandpa never told (family members) the stories. He saw a lot on the front lines."

Patrick never got to talk to him about it. His grandfather died when Patrick was 5. Patrick delved deeper, reading about the war, watching old war movies with his father, watching World War II programs on The History Channel.

He learned that his family's ties to the military run strong. His father, Bill, was in the Navy. A great-uncle was a P51 Mustang pilot who trained and fought with the Tuskegee Airmen. Another uncle fought with Patton's Tank Division.

"I had family members in every branch of the military except the Marines," Patrick said. "In World War II, we had 40 family members in the war."

When he was 14, Patrick won third place (out of 500 entrants) in an essay contest sponsored by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. A short time later, he decided to learn, firsthand, about the experiences of the men who fought in the war.

These men had stories to tell. Patrick made it his goal to listen and make sure others would hear them, too. His essay-contest award gave him credibility, he said, and made it easier to find veterans, many of them 75 years or so his elder, who would open up to him.

Patrick's mother, Debbie, remembered how insistent he was.

"He said, 'I want to interview these people, I want to interview these people,' " she said. "A lot of them, they're kind of like his grandfathers. It's enlightening to them to have a young boy who is so interested. We're very proud of him."

Patrick has assembled a collection of World War II memorabilia, mainly headgear like helmets and caps. He's gotten some from antique shops and some from veterans who donated their goods to him. He has given presentations at the Webster Museum on Veterans Day and he's working on a book about items, like flags and hats, which GIs brought back from the war.

Patrick Gurnow, a student at Webster Schroeder, listens to Jack Tuttle talk about his time in the Army.

One veteran to whom Patrick has grown especially close is Jack Tuttle of Webster. Tuttle, 95, was in the Army's 4th Infantry Division and on the front lines from four days after D-Day until the end of the war, Patrick said. Tuttle received two Bronze Stars for his service, among other awards.

"Mr. Tuttle was on patrol one day in France, and he wore an American helmet," Patrick said. "A German sniper (shot) him in the helmet. It hit the seam perfectly, and that ended up saving his life."

The veterans' ages adds urgency to Patrick's quest. The war ended nearly 70 years ago, after all, and surviving veterans are in their upper 80s and 90s. Their eyewitness accounts are invaluable for a true understanding, Patrick said.

"It's hard to connect when you don't have someone who was actually there," he said.

The connections all started with the grandfather he only vaguely remembers. The experience of learning about him and other veterans prompted Patrick to enlist in the Army Reserves a month ago. Again, the connection goes back to his grandpa.

"When he enlisted, he was the same age as me now," Patrick said. "He enlisted on Dec. 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor. I enlisted with the Army Reserves on Dec. 5, 2013."

Patrick has gone through two weekend drills already. His college plans — perhaps at The College at Brockport or Genesee Community College — include Army ROTC. He's considering a career in the military.

In the meantime, Patrick plans to continue documenting the stories of World War II veterans.

"They understand that I'm not someone who's doing it just for a grade," he said. "I care. I want to learn about their history. I honor the vet. I think they like that."

Morrell is a Rochester-based freelance writer

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Get to know Patrick Gurnow

  • Besides World War II, Patrick's interests include hockey. He plays goalie for the Webster Schroeder varsity team.
  • His favorite movie is Saving Private Ryan .
  • His favorite TV shows similarly demonstrate his fascination with World War II: HBO's Band of Brothers and The Pacific are among his tops.