Honoring the Greatest Generation
Heart Happy
Audio By Carbonatix
Remembering the Men Who Inspired My Stories
Some books change your life. Others are born from lives that have already changed the world. May 5th marked the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps, so I thought I’d share this story with you.
Over twenty years ago, while on vacation with two dear friends, I first heard the powerful story of the 11th Armored Division—the men who liberated the Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps during World War II. Their courage, compassion, and sacrifice gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go.
That divine encounter turned into a lifelong mission to honor their stories. It led me to write two novels, From Dust and Ashes and Night Song, both inspired by the men of the 11th Armored. But more than that, it led me into the lives of real heroes—men who faced evil and chose to fight for freedom, even when the cost was great.
A Reunion to Remember
I’ll never forget the privilege of attending two of their WWII reunions. I sat with them, flipped through their photo albums, cried with them, and listened to their stories. These weren’t just names in history books—they were beloved friends and adopted grandfathers. Many of these veterans were in their 80s and 90s, yet they traveled to gather one final time.
As I walked through the hotel lobby, I was struck by how frail they seemed. But I also knew the strength that once filled those frames. These were the same men who had driven tanks, fought from foxholes, and rescued the innocent. Their bravery shaped the world I live in today.
They were—and still are—the greatest generation.
A Legacy of Faith and Sacrifice
What made this generation so great? Yes, they were brave, but more than that, they were grounded in faith. Many were raised in a time when our nation leaned more fully on God. Their lives reflected that—through their dedication, humility, and sacrificial service.
One of my favorite verses is Romans 12:10:
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
These men lived that out. They honored each other. They honored their families. And in doing so, they honored the God who gave them strength for every battle.
Writing Their Stories Was a Gift
As an author, telling their stories has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Gerald, one of the veterans I interviewed, told me he rereads From Dust and Ashes and Night Song twice a year. “You got it right,” he told me. I took those words straight to heart.
I can’t believe their final reunion has come and gone. Many of them are now home with Jesus. But their legacy lives on in the words they entrusted to me. Their stories are now our stories—passed down to children and grandchildren, kept alive in pages that will outlast us all.
Let’s Never Forget
Before I left that last reunion, I said goodbye to Tony, a tough New Yorker with a soft heart. With tears in his eyes, he said, “This doesn’t seem right, it being the last one.”
“No,” I told him as I hugged him. “It doesn’t. But I’ll keep writing stories. I’ll keep telling people to remember.”
And that’s what I’m doing now. Telling you. Reminding you.
Because we must remember.
5 Ways to Keep the Legacy Alive:
- Read and share their stories. Books like From Dust and Ashes and Night Song help us pass on the torch of memory.
- Talk to your children and grandchildren about history. Let them hear the truth from someone who cares about preserving it.
- Thank a veteran. Every encounter is a chance to express gratitude for a life of service.
- Pray for our nation. Just like the men and women of the greatest generation did, we need to anchor ourselves in God’s truth.
- Live a life of service. In your home, church, and community, live for something bigger than yourself—just like they did.
A Final Word of Gratitude for the Greatest Generation
As I think of these men—now home with Jesus—I’m reminded of 2 Timothy 4:7:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
They did all of that and more. And I’m honored to have walked beside them for just a short time.
Thank you, veterans. You are loved. You are remembered.
—Tricia Goyer
Additional Resources
From Dust and Ashes
It is 1945, and a group of American soldiers liberate a Nazi concentration camp. Helene is the abandoned wife of an SS guard who has fled to avoid arrest. Overcome by guilt, she begins to help meet the needs of survivors. Throughout the process, she finds her own liberation–from spiritual bondage, sin, and guilt. Readers will be intrigued and touched by this fascinating story of love, faithfulness, and courage amidst one of the darkest chapters of mankind’s history.
Night Song
Tricia Goyer tells the little-known, but true story of the orchestra started by prisoners in Hitler’s Mauthausen death camp. This courageous orchestra played the American national anthem as Allied troops arrived to liberate the camps. Around the orchestra story, Tricia weaves the fictional stories of a beautiful member of the Austrian resistance, the American GI who loves her, and a young prisoner who fakes his way into the camp orchestra in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
