This article was originally published at warhistoryonline.com

During the 70th anniversary commemorations of the beginning of our campaign in Normandy, Jim Martin was fortunate to meet several of the actors involved in HBO’s “Band of Brothers” series. He has said on many occasions that he holds all of these young men in high regard. Jim considers them to be among those who brought the attention of so many to the legacy of the Second World War.

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While attending the wreath laying ceremony at the Winters Leadership Memorial near Sainte Marie du Mont, Jim had a completely unexpected conversation with the British actor, Damian Lewis. Lewis portrayed Maj. Richard Winters in the series.

Damian Lewis asked Jim about his experiences from Toccoa through Bavaria as a member of the 506th PIR / 101st Airborne Division. He spoke about his experiences during the production of “Band of Brothers”. This unexpected encounter was a special moment for me and one that I will recall for the remainder of my days.

Jim “Pee Wee” Martin is one of the few “Toccoa Originals” of the famous WWII era 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles” who remain with us. Jim continues to meet the public and carry forward the legacy of his experiences and lessons learned on D-Day in Normandy, during “Operation Market Garden” in Holland, in the snow outside Bastogne during the “Battle of the Bulge” and under Hitler’s “Eagles Nest” in Berchtesgaden.

He does this as a representative of those he served with during The Second World War, and in the hope that this history and those lessons will not be forgotten.