March 19, 2024

‘From hatred to respect’

WWII vet brings incredible story to Newton

Retired Capt. Jerry Yellin piloted the final combat mission of World War II and witnessed the atrocities of war.

He saw death and destruction. His wingman, Phillip Schlamberg, was the last man killed in WWII combat.

Yellin survived.

After the war, however, Yellin struggled to adapt to civilian life. The young man (who is now a spry 93) thought about suicide. He couldn’t hold a job. He was suffering from an undiagnosed case of severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

For 30 years, Yellin felt empty and lonely, even in the presence of a loving family. Then he and his wife found transcendental meditation in 1975, and the stress left his mind and body, he said.

When he was fighting for the Allies, Yellin hated the Japanese. They were not human to him, he said.

In 1983, Yellin visited Japan for the first time since the war. His visit to the country nearly 40 years later was completely different. He saw the people of Japan as human beings. He had incredible experiences with food and sight-seeing.

“It was an enormous change in me — from hatred to respect — for a nation of people,” Yellin said.

The retired fighter pilot, who now lives in Florida, brought this incredible story to DMACC’s Newton campus Thursday night. Doug Bishop and Elaine Mattingly helped coordinate Yellin’s visit to Jasper County. Jasper County Veterans Affairs, American Legion Post 111, the family of Ike and Harriet Eichner and Clemon-Maki Insurance all sponsored the event.

In addition to his public forum at DMACC, Yellin is meeting with several schools and veterans groups in Jasper County over the next couple days. He’s hosting an event exclusive to veterans and their families on Saturday morning at Newton’s American Legion. Part of Yellin’s current mission is to help today’s veterans with PTSD.

Yellin flew for freedom. He now lives for peace.

In a remarkable twist of fate, Yellin’s son married the daughter of a Japanese Kamikaze pilot. The WWII vet now has three Japanese grandchildren who live in Japan. The veteran’s lecture at DMACC showed it is wild how times change.

Yellin said it was an honor and a pleasure to be standing in Newton, telling his story. He said he doesn’t expect everyone to learn the lessons he learned during his life. Over nine decades, Yellin’s journey has been one of a kind.

Yellin learned that things like race, spirituality and language do not have to be barriers between people.

“We are all human beings in the eyes of nature,” he said.

Contact Justin Jagler at 641-792-3121 ext 6532 or jjagler@newtondailynews.com