Alabama photographer creates 'Portraits of Honor' for state's World War II veterans

Alabama photographer creates 'Portraits of Honor' for state's World War II veterans

As we near the end of 2020, we are reminded of the staggering numbers of world war two veterans we continue to lose; some of them to covid-19.

There are only 300-thousand veterans alive today of the original 16-million who once served in the war.

This morning, my co-anchor pat simon introduces us to an alabama photographer in a race against time, to capture their stories and create their "portraits of honor."

Nats.

Car door slams .

Debbie walking this year ... nats of leaves ... debbie walking to gravesite debbie opp's father won't be home for the holidays ... nats so she is coming to him/.

Sot ... "daddy" her daddy ... jim feezel passed away just a few weeks ago.

Nats debbie didn't just lose a father, we all lost a national treasure.

Nats we actually met jim in march nats the timing turned out to be ... perfect ... pre- covid ... allowing for a warm reunion between this former prisoner of a natorious nazi death camp ... and the man ... who helped set him free.

Nats jim drove the first tank through the front gates at dachau ... freeing thousands ... 75 years ago.

Jim feezel ..

"our purpose was not fury.

Our purpose was to get this done."

Nats debbie opp - "in his mind it was just god putting him in the place where he needed to be doing what he needed to do."

These days ... "i'm proud you know" and what debbis holds on to now ... are precious memories.

"extremely proud that i can call someone that special my father."

And this portrait.

Of her father.

Debbie opp - "he looked happy."

That debbie clutches tightly.

"looks content."

This face and story of bravery ..

We know ... nats but what about others ... we don't know.

Naps snap but we should ... nats jeff rease - photographer that's photographer jeff rease.

Nats jeff rease - photographer he took that photo of jim ... just in time ... to preserve his incredible legacy.

"when people hear that, they just kind of perk up and say that's an important moment in history."

Moments like that jeff has captured for over a year now.

Nats his "portraits of honor" projec is filled with untold stories and images of more than 100 world war two veterans.

"to have a chance to talk to them and just meet them you know kind of a fascinating thing kind of meeting the heroes."

Nats ... 97 year old terry o'reilly is one of them.

Nats o'reilly ... is the last living marine who could tell you about the friends he lost while serving "it was tough" aboard the uss president adams ... in the south pacific.

Nats there were good times too.

"you look so pretty."

His daughter beth ... can't get enough of her father's stories.

Beth morris - daughter of wwii veteran "sometimes he still comes up with one that i haven't heard before" beth morris - daughter of wwii veteran "butted with "i don't know if i'll ever stop wanting to hear the story just one more time ... just one more time."

And that lasting impression ... is what makes jeff's journey to journal so important.

Nats and we found out ... it's personal too.

Nats ... pictures of his father pop up ... "my father was an army paratrooper during korea and even though i didn't know a lot about what he did i was always proud of that."

His father is one of many in jeff's family to serve their country ... .

Even his son right there .

But jeff did not.

Nats j if you're thinking this is his way of ... you know .

Jeff rease "definitely am giving back not because i didn't serve but because ... " just wait for the moment his hobby ... ... " well" became his purpose.

"maybe it is ... " jeff is now taking up his camera in a fight against time.

Nats - photos - music "it's a really sobering thought."

Nats - photos veterans voices that are vanashing.

An average 300 heroes from world war two die each day..

Jeff rease "anything we can do to honor them is so important."

He'll now have to work at shutter speed because soon there will be no one left on this planet who will know firsthand about a time we almost lost everything.

Jeff rease "they are exceptional."

That's what makes jeff's focus nats so critically clear especially during a pandemic.

Jeff rease - photographer "as long as i can find veterans who are able to sit for a photograph and interview i'll keep doing it."

... taking snapshots of history ... through the eyes of the brave ... before they're all gone.

Pat simon - waay 31 news.

If you would like to donate to the "portraits of honor" project, you'll find a link in this story on our website.