More than 80 years after the end of World War II, the legacy of the men and women who served remains one of the most important chapters in American history.
Between 1941 and 1945, approximately 16.4 million Americans served in the United States Armed Forces. Among them were approximately 320,000 Georgians who answered the nation’s call.
They served in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa and other theaters of war. They fought on land, at sea and in the air. Others provided medical care, maintained equipment, transported supplies and performed essential duties that made Allied victory possible.
Their service helped defeat the Axis powers and shaped the world that followed.
Georgia’s Contribution to Victory
World War II transformed Georgia into one of America’s important centers for military training and wartime production.
At installations across the state, service members prepared for assignments overseas. Camp Toccoa trained airborne soldiers, including members of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, whose service in Europe became an enduring part of American military history.
At Fort Benning, soldiers trained for infantry and airborne operations. Military airfields across Georgia prepared pilots and support personnel for wartime aviation.
Many who trained in Georgia came from other states. Their experiences became part of our state’s military heritage, connecting Georgia communities to battles fought thousands of miles away.
The war also mobilized civilians. Workers built B-29 bombers in Marietta and Liberty Ships in Savannah and Brunswick. Families supported the war through rationing, Victory Gardens, War Bonds and volunteer service.
The Cost of Victory
The scale of America’s sacrifice was extraordinary.
More than 400,000 American military personnel died during World War II. Thousands of Georgia families lost loved ones whose names remain preserved on memorials and in historical records across the state.
For those who returned, the war often left lasting memories of combat, separation, hardship and the loss of friends.
Yet veterans also helped shape America’s postwar future.
They returned to their communities, pursued education, established businesses, raised families and assumed leadership roles in civic life.
The experiences and skills they brought home contributed to Georgia’s transformation in the decades that followed.
A Generation Passing From Living Memory
Today, preserving the experiences of World War II veterans is increasingly urgent.
According to 2026 estimates published by The National WWII Museum using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data, approximately 30,600 American World War II veterans remain alive nationwide, including an estimated 690 living in Georgia.
That represents fewer than two-tenths of 1% of the Americans who served during the war.
The surviving veterans are now in their late 90s or older. Their firsthand accounts provide irreplaceable perspectives on one of history’s most consequential conflicts.
Each passing year makes the work of preservation more important.
Preserving Their Stories for Future Generations
Across Georgia, museums, historic sites, memorials and preservation organizations safeguard the photographs, uniforms, letters, military equipment and personal accounts of the Greatest Generation.
The Georgia World War II Heritage Trail connects these institutions into a statewide network dedicated to helping visitors understand Georgia’s contributions to the war.
These places preserve more than military history.
They preserve the stories of ordinary Americans who faced extraordinary circumstances—and whose service helped shape the modern world.
As Veterans Day approaches, we honor Georgia’s World War II veterans, both living and deceased, and remember the sacrifices of their families.
To the Greatest Generation: Thank you for your service, your courage and the legacy you entrusted to us.
Explore the Georgia World War II Heritage Trail to discover the places and stories preserving their extraordinary legacy.