After being apart for 78 years this summer, my grandfather, WWII veteran Jack Gutman, was reunited with his war buddy, Jerry Ackerman. They met for the first time since the 1940s and spent two days together at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, sharing laughter, catching up, and receiving recognition from the Marine Corps.
The reunion was a joyful event and a remarkable story of serendipity. It provided closure for two veterans and their families, transforming their lives meaningfully.
Consider what you were doing at 17 years old.
Generational differences aside, whether you were a baby boomer enjoying a milkshake, a Gen Xer listening to music, or a millennial shopping for accessories, you likely weren’t engaged in what my grandfather was doing at that age—serving as a Navy Corpsman during the Normandy Invasion.
Born in 1925 in New York City, Jack Gutman enlisted in the Navy by lying about his age. He faced the harsh realities of war during the Normandy Invasion and at Okinawa, experiences that he rarely spoke about due to his PTSD. With the support of his family and a skilled therapist, Jack gradually began to heal and even wrote a book about his experiences.
Jack has shared his story through various interviews, including television appearances and a documentary about D-Day. Despite this, he still sought one piece of closure: reconnecting with a friend from his military past.
Jack met Jerry Ackerman at Camp Pendleton between the Normandy and Okinawa campaigns. They quickly became close friends. “Jack was always cheerful and fun,” Jerry recalled. “We bonded instantly.” For Jack, Jerry’s friendship was a rare respite from the horrors he witnessed while treating wounded soldiers. Unfortunately, as the war continued, they lost touch.
In early 2021, a nostalgic song from their Navy days reminded Jerry of Jack. Struggling with his wife’s health issues, Jerry’s memory of the song was a bright spot. His son Peter used Google to find Jack and delivered the news that his father had been searching for him for decades. The emotional phone call was a lifeline for both men, rekindling a deep connection.
While dealing with his challenges during the pandemic, Jack found this call to be a beacon of hope. “The call was a moment of pure joy,” he said, realizing that Jerry had been thinking of him all these years. Peter described the call as a profound moment of happiness for his father, feeling a deep satisfaction in helping to reconnect them.
The reunion wasn’t just about a phone call; it was a pivotal event. My mom, Paula Shaw, organized a face-to-face meeting in San Diego, coinciding with the Ackermans’ visit for a wedding. Before that, Jack and Jerry had a heartfelt Zoom meeting on my mom’s podcast, which was an emotional experience for all involved.
When they finally met in person, it was a profoundly moving experience. Mary Jo Gutman, my grandmother, described it as a beautiful moment of reconnection, while my uncle Craig Gutman noted the joy of seeing old friends reunited. Aunt Marilyn Gutman felt it was a full-circle moment, with the camaraderie of their youth rekindled.
Over the following days, the families bonded, and the connection felt as strong as ever. For Grandpa Jack, this reunion provided the final piece of closure he needed in his journey with PTSD. It reaffirmed the importance of love and friendship.
Jerry was grateful to have been a part of Jack’s healing journey, and Jack felt that meeting Jerry was a significant step toward personal closure. “The reunion was truly amazing,” Jack said. “It fulfilled a chapter that had been open for so long.”
As my mom, Paula, said, “There was so much love between these two men, and the war didn’t diminish it.” As Virgil said, “Amor vincit omnia”—love conquers all.