0 that's what's going on. when president obama said i didn't know this and i didn't know that -- he thought it. again, thanks for watching us tonight. i am bill o'reilly. please always remember that the definitely looking out for you. welcome to a "kelly file" special report. a salute to our nation's gratest generation. in october 2013 a remarkable event took place on washington's national mall. the park service had barricaded the open air world war ii memorial in a move they blamed on the partial government shutdown. the reaction from our vets, their families, and supporters was swift, and it was angry. in the time it took to find some bolt cutters we were suddenly seeing pictures of defiant soldiers, many on canes or in wheelchairs, crossing those barricades with the kind of determination that reminded many in america again of the spirit that once helped us win a war which will live in infamy. the united states of america was suddenly and deliberately attacked. >> everyday life in america changed dramatically. young boys became men in the blink of an eye and went off to war. communities mobilized, and women went to work outside the home. for nearly four years u.s. service members fought some of the bloodiest and most infamous battles. the battle of midway was only six months after the attack on pearl harbor. the u.s. navy dealt a serious blow to the japanese military and derailed japan's offense in the pacific. the invasion of normandy, where on june 6ing inth, 1944 the all forces began their campaign to liberate europe from nazi germany. >> 11,000 allied planes were in the air. the fighters keeping the german air force on the ground while the bombers saturated nazi dropping of the atomic bomb, which almost made all the troops go berserk because it said to us we're going to live. we did not expect to survive. and all of that was a part of the activities in the hearts and minds of the people who were there. we were young, we were inexperienced, each one of us who landed on the beach, did not know the reality of war, and we learned about it, but we went in there willing to die, not wanting to die, but totally convinced that we were right, and we tistill believe it today. so when we go back, we see the rock, iwo jima, we see okinawa, we say to ourselves it really happened. 70 years ago it was a dream. >> yeah. and i know that now you love to ride harleys. your wife gave you a second harley for your 71st birthday and for your 87th birthday you made the longest motorcycle trip yet. here's to many more years, sir. thank you again for your service and for sharing your memories. >> thank you. >> all the best. well, on the 40th anniversary of d-day then president ronald reagan gave a speech that is widely regarded as one of the greatest tributes to the bravery and sacrifice of this greatest generation. coming up, the woman who helped him write that speech joins us live. plus, a former world war ii veteran talks to me about his experience as a prisoner of war and his message to today's young people. >> what does it mean to you? >> what it means, it means that i did -- my life was worth it, i i did -- my life was worth it, i didn't waste my [ woman 1 ] why do i cook? to share with family. [ woman 2 ] to carry on traditions. [ woman 3 ] to come together even when we're apart. [ male announcer ] in stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and more, swanson makes holiday dishes delicious.