William McGurn
by Nolan from Plaistow
"I remember it like it was yesterday, all you could hear was all of your own friends splashing in the water and swimming for their lives." - William McGurn
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| Bill, Anne and Mary |
"Growing up in a family of eight, with one sister and four brothers there was a lot of fun that happened around the house. Let's just say there was not any slight chance of there being a dull moment. The best times of the day were when we all were sitting at the table all together. Or the times where me and my brothers would fight. When I was in school, history was always my favorite class. Just to hear about all of the different things that we have conquered and struggled through amazed me. Then to compare that to where we were then, and even to today's day and age was fascinating. Most of the lessons I remember revolve around the war, the draft system and the branches of the military. This all inspired me, hearing all of the stories from all of the vets that did serve in the war made me want to join the war. Now, growing up in the Great Depression not everything was pretty. Granted, I was only 14 at the end of the depression a lot of things happened in those 14 years. I look at today's world and compare it to the 30's-40's, and everything has changed. Back in my childhood we would never have taken anything for granted. Everything we received, ate, went out to do, and just time spent with loved ones; those moments were viewed as if it was the last time doing it. Nowadays, anything anyone does is always just "oh, whatever there will be more of that". No one today, especially teenagers, really see a reason to cherish the memories that can be gone tomorrow.
It was 1943, I was eligible to be drafted, I wanted to join the navy as soon as I could. I had always wanted to be in the navy and to serve my country and now was the time. I have always cherished the memories that I had all over the years that I served my great and amazing country. The memories some that are terrifying and others very special play a key role in my life. Many people ask me these days if I ever have trouble telling people all of the events that happened during the war. My answer is no and always will be no. I love to share the experience with others because in today's day and age there are so few of us veterans alive; I want to share the stories with as many people as I can while I am alive. All of this is very important to me and this is why I share everything I can recall. Being 90 years old this year really makes me want to remember and share everything that I have gone through in life."
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| Bill, Daughter Anne, and wife Mary (Anne McGurn (Anne McGurn)) |
When Bill was asked about why he is a hero, he touched upon on how he doesn't deserve to be a hero. He stated that "I was just doing something that I had always wanted to do. In no way does doing what I have always wanted to do make me a hero." This question hit him hard because he does not see himself as a hero. When Mr. McGurn was asked on who is hero is he replied with Franklin D. Roosevelt, he mentioned how if it wasn't for him the war would have been even worse. He continued with "I can say that [Roosevelt] was one of the only reasons why I was not in the war any longer than I was." When he was asked what makes him a hero he replied with "What doesn't make him a hero? For what reason would people even think of him not to be a hero? The man is one of the greatest people to ever help this country." After that question Mr. McGurn got a little upset on these questions. He mentioned how FDR was an amazing man and no other president could do as well as him.
When William was asked if all veterans are heroes, he replied with a simple "No.", he then elaborated on how he is not a hero so not every veteran is a hero. But then he finished up with how most vets are heroes. Mr. McGurn kept going on how different things make different people heroes all of this was very fascinating to hear from him. When Bill was asked about the men and women who risked their lives during 9/11 and their heroic actions, Mr. McGurn got very quiet all of a sudden. He mentioned how he had lost a brother in the war and that had always hit him hard. He believes that everyone who was working that day on 9/11 is a hero. Even if they survived or not. "Those men and women who went out there to risk their own lives in their own country are amazing people. It shows all of the dedication that they have to us normal people."
When he was asked about heroes in general and what makes someone a hero he took some time to answer this question. "Everyone is a hero for a different reason, there is no one reason why someone is a hero. Not everyone can go into war and fight their butts off and come back to tell the tale. Everyone is different and that is why there is not set definition for being a hero." When Mr. McGurn was asked on what made him join the service, he answered this one right from his heart. "I joined the service to help others, there is more to the service than people see. I didn't want to be known as a hero I just wanted to make other peoples lives better. In no way does that make me a hero. I was just wanting to help people."
Mr. McGurn's favorite question that was asked was "Are all presidents heroes?", he loved this question. He took some time to answer this one as well. "No, there are some presidents that did not even move a finger while in office. There is no reason why they deserve to be heroes. Granted all presidents barely do anything to actually pass things through congress. But, the only presidents that are heroes are ones like FDR and Nixon. They are the ones who helped us get out of war and helped our country improve vastly."
Another question that Mr. McGurn was asked was about the Boston Marathon bombings three years ago. He said "Any man or women who put their own lives at risk to help others is a hero in each and every way. They deserve any medal that can be given to them. For example the man in the cowboy hat at the bombings, he risked his life to save others. We should all be praising that man."
Mr. McGurn was then asked about men and women who enlisted but did not serve and if they were heroes. He replied and restated his previous answer on how not all veterans are heroes. But then he continued on how they are still amazing people for wanting to risk their lives for others. He mentioned how they are respected for many different reasons.
When Mr. McGurn was asked if any of his family members are heroes he replied with "Yes, my brother took the ultimate sacrifice, he risked his life in war and his life was taken for the sake of this country. He is the hero in the family not me. I only see him as a hero."
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| Bill at a wedding (Family) |
Mr. William McGurn deserves to be in the Hall of Fame for WWII Veterans for many reasons. This man has had so many life experiences that no one else can even begin to think about. Having such an amazing man in my life and to hear the amazing stories that he has experienced, is incomparable to anything that I will ever do in my lifetime. Being that there are not many people left on this planet being WWII veterans we have to appreciate all of the ones still here. Mr. William McGurn is an amazing man who went through some rough times and is a true hero. Having all of his brothers in the war and one of them even losing his life for the country is amazing. Currently he is the only living McGurn sibling of his generation. He should be in the hall of fame for all of them. He should be the one representing their legacies as well.
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| Bill Nolan and Joe |
http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=Desmond_Doss_HAS_06Mr. McGurn is just like Desmond T. Doss, he has helped many people through the war and loves what he did.
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| Bill and Nephew Joe (Family) |
Page created on 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last edited 4/20/2016 12:00:00 AM
The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.
