Let’s get to know one of those who are part of what is now known as the “Greatest Generation” — Captain Jerry Yellin, the pilot who flew the last mission of the Second World War and even witnessed the death of this conflict’s last casualty.
Valentine’s Day of this year found Captain Jerry Yellin in the seat of honor as he became the “Gathering of the Spirit of 45” campaign’s star that night. It was the first of its kind event throughout the country.
Well, it’s just fitting as history has a special spot for Captain Jerry Yellin. After all, he was the pilot who flew the last mission of the Second World War. He was also buddies and had witnessed the death of the said war’s last casualty — Second Lieutenant Phillip Schlamberg.
The very last mission Captain Jerry Yellin flew in the said conflict was over Japan. Second Lieutenant Schlamberg was also a pilot who was with Yellin during the said mission. According to the now 90-year-old WWII veteran, his friend had a premonition about his death and he had talked about it before the two of them flew the said mission.
“Every soldier in those times were trained to love and kill. Love their fellow comrades to the point that they were willing to give their lives for them and kill the enemies. There is no de-training for that,” Captain Jerry Yellin said in an interview prior to the event which commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the end of WWII in 1945.
“At the end, I had to wonder why I was alive while the others were killed,” he added.
Captain Jerry Yellin suffered from PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] for thirty years after the war.