Sept. 2, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II—the deadliest and most destructive conflict in human history.
As memories of the war continue to fade, and the number of surviving veterans who fought during the six years of bloodshed dwindle rapidly, acclaimed filmmaker Tim Gray is waging his own battle to keep the legacy of one of America’s greatest generations alive.
In 2011, the Rhode Island native—known for directing the Tom Selleck-narrated 2016 film “Remember Pearl Harbor”—established the World War II Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to honor those who served through various educational initiatives and outreach programs.
However, the director’s fascination with the war can be traced back decades before that.
“I began reading about World War II when I was six years old,” Gray, 57, told The Epoch Times in a recent interview. “I was fascinated with the personal stories of those who fought, witnessed, or were caught up during that time period. Most of those who suffered were civilians, and that is the case in most wars and conflicts history has shown us.”
The war began in September 1939 with Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland.
The global war—which was fought by more than 50 nations and incurred a death toll of tens of millions of military personnel and civilians—pitted the Allied powers, including Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union, against the Axis alliance, led by Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan.
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 ultimately led Japan to formally surrender the following month, officially marking the end of the war.
“Approximately sixteen million Americans were caught up in World War II. Each individual has their own very personal story of that time. No two stories are alike,” Gray said.
The filmmaker noted that several of his family members served during the war, including his uncle, Jack, who was involved in the Manhattan Project, which dealt with the development of the atomic bomb.
“Everyone seems to have vivid memories of those days,” Gray added, “Even as the survivors approach one hundred years old and above.”
Through his foundation, Gray—who earned the American Public Television National Programming Excellence Award and six Regional Emmys, among other international film awards—has helped to produce more than 40 award-winning documentary films about World War II, ensuring that the stories of those who took part continue to inspire generations for years to come.
One of the organization’s recent projects, “Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII,” tells the story of the beloved actor and comedian. Hope, who died in 2003 at the age of 100, traveled thousands of miles with a group of performers to entertain troops during the war.
The documentary, narrated by actor Gary Sinise, is one of Gray’s personal favorites. Throughout the film, the director was able to showcase the wide-ranging impact of the war, highlighting how the global conflict inspired some of Hollywood’s biggest stars to take action.
“Actors, directors, producers, and studio owners all got involved in the war effort. There was an enormous sense of patriotism. Nobody wanted to be left out, and everyone wanted to do their part,” Gray said. “Bob Hope certainly did and was the ‘Pied Piper’ for Hollywood’s involvement. Bob’s actions were genuine, and he traveled over 80,000 miles with his entertainment troupe to bring some smiles to those on the frontlines.”
The World War II Foundation currently has four more documentaries in production, which are centered on the Holocaust and battles that took place in Europe and the Pacific.
“We want to hear from the people caught up on the ground, the sea, or the air,” Gray said. “We want to tell the story through their eyes because, deep down, they remember every detail as if it were yesterday.”
Even though there are only around 66,000 World War II veterans alive today, the filmmaker said much can still be learned from the vanishing generation of war heroes.
“The WWII generation left us a blueprint on how to act. It’s up to us to follow it,” he said.
“They were hard workers, humble, and did their job; they came home and rebuilt America. No fanfare. They just went out and saved Democracy and the world, but didn’t want to talk about it,” he continued.
“They also put aside their political and personal differences and did what was best for America. We could learn from them today.”
