CINCINNATI —

On every Veterans Day, the list of World War II survivors shrinks further due to the inescapable passage of time.

As that happens, their stories — an important part of American history — take on added significance. Advertisement

The recollections of a Springfield, Ohio, soldier are among the stories future generations would be wise to come to know.

Eighty-one years ago, Cpl. Walter Stitt was wounded and scampered onto another tank after his was blown up.

"And just as I climbed up the side of the tank, it was this buh buh buh buh, like that. And the Germans shot at me with a submachine gun," he recounted as WLWT sat in his home recently.

"I said one time if you think (Elly) De La Cruz is fast, you should have seen me," he said with a laugh that still carried the powerful

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