Veterans Get Victory Lap in Indy 500 Parade-- Part 7: At Okinawa

Irv Herman, a radio communications specialist was just a kid when he entered the service.  Just 17.  he saw action at Peleliu and Okinawa.

"On Easter Sunday 1945, we landed on the beaches of Okinawa," he said.  "The Japanese were entrenched further inland. It was our responsibility to direct the delivery of supplies from the ships to the island.  We were still on Okinawa on V-J Day, August 6, 1945."

In the meantime, Japanese planes were still conducting kamikaze attacks on U.S. ships in the harbor.  He saw two of his buddies killed in the fighting.

Now 90, Herman lives in Indianapolis and says he saw enough bloodshed during his 32 months of service that he has a few words for today's politicians and world leaders and that is not to build walls and use diplomacy to solve problems.

--GreGen