World War II Veterans, Held Captive at Same POW Camp, Meet More Than 80 Years Later

Les Schrenk and Casey Bukowski already share a special bond as World War II veterans. After all, not many from the Greatest Generation are still alive.

But when Schrenk, 102, and Bukowski, 101, met for the first time to celebrate Schrenk’s birthday in November, the veterans realized they shared way more in common than simply serving in WWII.

Both men were staff sergeants
Both were gunners on B17 bombers
Both were shot down by enemy forces on the same day – Feb. 22, 1944
Both were captured and spent time in the same prison of war camp
Schrenk told CBS News Minnesota that he’s corresponded with many POWs from World War II through the years, but “every one of them is gone for a good number of years now.”

He was a bit shocked to find out about Bukowski, that he was still alive, and that they shared so many wartime experiences.