Eric J. Roberts and Andrea L. Reeves, producers of the documentary series HONOR FLIGHT HEROES airing on Discovery Networks’ AMERICAN HEROES CHANNEL (formerly The Military Channel), are reuniting two WWII vets that served together in the 96th Division “Deadeyes” during the Battle of Okinawa and capturing it on camera for a future program. PFC Harold Stryker, recipient of the Purple Heart, and Vincent “Vin” Terrill, Staff Sergeant and Company Radio Operator, last saw each other in July 1945. Vin Terrill is a Manchester by the Sea resident.
Each presumed the other dead until Terrill’s dear friend, Susan Martineau of Syracuse, NY, saw Stryker featured on the HONOR FLIGHT HEROES television program and knew Terrill had spoken of their service together frequently. Martineau reached out to the producers and confirmed that this was indeed the Harold Stryker that Vincent Terrill met initially in basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia and continued side-by-side until the Battle of Okinawa ended.
Roberts and Reeves decided immediately that this was worth a special edition of the HONOR FLIGHT HEROES program and plans were put into motion to bring Stryker and Terrill together for a reunion and series of interviews about their service together as quickly as possible.
Stryker, 95, and Terrill, 93, have not even spoken by phone prior to the planned reunion this weekend. This will be literally be the first communication either veteran has shared since 1945 when they parted after courageously serving their country.
The 96th Division suffered more casualties than any other unit during the Battle of Okinawa, one of the bloodiest waged during World War II.
Manchester by the Sea Police will be providing a police escort for PFC Harold Stryker as he arrives in Town tomorrow from New York.
EVENT DETAILS:
Friday — January 3, 2020
ARRIVAL: 3:00 PM
GATHERING STARTS AT 2:30 PM
American Legion located at
14 Church Street
Manchester~By~The~Sea, MA 01944