Bristol man collects WWII relics

Father’s stories cultivate love of war history

BRISTOL -- Gabriel Illes Jr. was a boy of about 8 when his affection for World War II history began to develop.

His father, Gabriel Illes Sr., who served in the U.S. Army in Italy and Africa during the Second World War, told the younger Illes stories of his time in the service, as did his uncles -- both of whom fought in the Pacific Theatre.

"My dad would only tell me the funny stories when I was young. But as I got older, he would tell me some of the bad stuff. I loved it all," Illes said. "It imbued me with a sense of patriotism."

From those stories, Illes, 66, cultivated an immense love of the history surrounding the war and respect for the 16 million Americans who served, which is why he's undertaken the task of trying to keep history alive as so many World War II veterans die -- so no one ever forgets the sacrifices those soldiers made.

World War II veterans die at a rate of 362 per day in the United States, and in about five years, there will be none alive, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Illes' father died in 2001 at the age of 81.

But their stories can live on.

In part of what Illes is doing to preserve history is collecting World War II memorabilia. Part of his extensive collection is on display at the Bristol Public Library through Thursday.

Some of the items in his collection, including a comb and a set of dog tags, belonged to his father. Other items are exact replicas of official items he purchased at places likes flea markets and military surplus stores, or they were given to him as gifts.

His passion for military history also led him to join a living history group that re-enacts the D-Day beach landing in Normandy, France, every August in Conneaut.

The re-enactment is based on the Able Company 116th Infantry Regiment 29th Infantry Division National Guard Unit out of Bedford, Va. It is the same unit depicted in the opening minutes of the film, "Saving Private Ryan," and was among the first units to land on the beaches of Normandy.

Illes said he joined the group after attending the event three years ago because the re-enactment was done well and authentic. About 100 people ranging in age from 18 to 72 belong to the group, he said.

The group is close and there is a sense of camaraderie, but they don't do it for fun, Illes said.

"We do it because we don't want people to forget what happened on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944," Illes said. "I already knew a lot about the history of the war and D-Day in particular, but I have learned even more being with these guys."

Illes wears his father's dog tags to the re-enactments.

He said his first piece of World War II memorabilia was an Army pack that contained a first aid kit, a shaving kit, rations, a change of socks and other items. His second one was a canteen. Both are on display at the library.

He estimates he has hundreds of items and approximately 1,000 books on military history.

"When I was a kid, I would read about the Civil War and other wars," Illes said.

D'Lynn Johnson, youth services librarian at the library, said there has been a lot of interest in the display, especially by men Illes' age who also had fathers who fought in World War II.

"He is just so knowledgeable. He spouts off all these facts," Johnson said.

She said several people have called the library after seeing the display to offer Illes items to add to his collection.

"I hear him telling people about the items and about the war in general. I have learned a lot from that," Johnson said.