George Yochem, 87, a decorated World War II veteran, and recipient of the prestigious Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for gallantry, sits in his Greentree home on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. Mr. Yochem earned the Silver Star for fighting in five battles starting at D-Day on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944.
He has visited the National World War II Memorial in Washington for the past two years, and each time, he sees the faces and hears the voices of fallen soldiers. "I can hear the war," he says. "I hear the echoes and voices of soldiers. I hear scraping. I hear bombing. I hear screaming." Yochem is among 950 World War II veterans who have taken a free bus trip to the D.C. memorial, thanks to a group of local residents grateful for their service. The next trip will be May 25. About 30 are expected to go. For more read: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_681494.html