A 28-year-old Indian-American has spent the past 10 years interviewing World War II combat veterans every day, building one of the largest personal archives of first-hand wartime accounts before the generation disappears.
Rishi Sharma has recorded more than 3,000 interviews with World War II veterans, travelling across all 50 US states and overseas to preserve their memories. His work was featured by CBS News, which reported that Sharma has devoted every day of the past decade to the project.
Speaking to CBS News, Sharma said: “For the last 10 years, I’ve been on the mission to interview every single World War II combat veteran.”
“And I’ve quite honestly spent every single day of the last 10 years doing that.”
Sharma began the project as a teenager after visiting a retirement home near his Southern California home. He has since travelled extensively, often sleeping in his car and keeping costs low so he could continue meeting veterans across the country.
Each interview runs for several hours before Sharma hands the full recording to the veteran’s family free of charge, creating a permanent record that future generations can watch and hear.
His motivation comes despite having no military background. His parents emigrated to the United States from India, and Sharma says he sees the project as a way of expressing gratitude.
“My parents were given the opportunity to immigrate and raise a family because of veterans like these. It’s a debt of love I’ll spend my entire life trying to repay…”
One of the veterans featured in the CBS report was 100-year-old US Marine Nils Mockler, who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Asked what it meant to witness the raising of the American flag during the battle, Mockler replied: “The hair on my arms still stands up when I think about how beautiful it was.”
The work has become increasingly urgent as the number of surviving World War II veterans continues to fall. CBS News reported that about 700,000 were still alive when Sharma began his project a decade ago. Today, that number is estimated to be about 30,000.
Sharma believes the loss extends beyond personal memories.
“Because for so long they have been the moral compass of our society.”
“Just the advice that they impart silently steers the ship of this country.”
His project, Remember WWII, continues as he works to record as many surviving veterans as possible while they are still able to tell their stories.
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
