Troop Train: A Tribute to WWII Veterans

Los Angeles - Sailors and soldiers board a train from Union Station and take a special ride on a cool December day to pay tribute to veterans of World War II.

Sailors and dames... soldiers and cigarette girls. All aboard a vintage rail car as it winds its way down the Pacific.

You may feel as if you've stepped back in time, and that's exactly the point.

Bill Hatrick:
"I'm longing for a more gentler time."

Conductor Bill Hatrick is the creator of the Troop Train, a ride that pays tribute to World War II veterans.

Bill Hatrick:
"We are losing our veterans at the rate of a 1000 a day... We just thought what can we do to say thanks one more time to the greatest generation?"

On the eve of the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, these passengers include some special guests. Each share stories of life during wartime.

Clyde Shreve:
"December 7 would go down in history as a day of infamy, so help us God... Yes, America was at war."

Clyde Shreve, a World War II flyer tells tales from his book, "One Life, One God, One War" as he rides the train.

Clyde Shreve:
"I'm just glad I survived... I'm glad we did what we did in order to win the war."

And Stuart Hedley, a Naval gun pointer was there in Hawaii when it happened. He got a firsthand view of the tragedy.

Stuart Hedley:
"Bam, there went the Arizona... I estimated 32 bodies went flying thru the air."

The stories are riveting. The mood... right out of the forties.

Volunteer re-enactors warm the hearts of passengers on the Troop Train.

Rob Wyman, who serves now, real life says he's riding the troop train to say "thank you."

Rob Wyman, Seaman:
"It's a wonderful thing to honor what they did."

Today, as these Pearl Harbor veterans ride these rails, they just wants us to remember.

Bob Ruffato:
"Remember Pearl Harbor."

Conductor Bill Hattrick owns one of the rail cars of the Troop Train. To take a trip down memory lane on one of his nostalgic tours through our country's past, go to overlandtrail.com .