A World War II hero died Friday at age 99.T. Moffatt Burriss' life was remembered throughout the decades for his efforts with the U.S. Army against Nazi Germany.His death was announced by his family and posted on the Shives Funeral Home website, The State newspaper reported."He delivered freedom to people around the world and made the lives of those he touched better and safer," South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement on social media.In 1944, his unit, the 82nd Airborne Division, had a mission with U.S. and British forces to capture bridges in Nazi-controlled territory, which involved Burriss in lead elements of American paratroopers, the newspaper reported. "A Bridge Too Far," a 1974 book and 1977 movie, featuring Robert Redford, showed their efforts.In 1945, Burriss was a 24-year-old Army captain when his unit had a very close call outside Berlin, according to the U.S. military.He recalled his experience for an Army leadership course.“We drove about 40 miles, about half way to Berlin, and ran head-to-head into a German armored corps ... and probably 15,000 or so troops. I needed a plan, and quick,” Burriss said. "I got out and went to the lead vehicle which had a German captain in it. He spoke English and I said, ‘I’m here to accept your surrender.’ He looks back and says, ‘Are you crazy? Three men and a jeep?’ I said, ‘I have a whole army of paratroopers and tanks right behind me and the Russians right behind you. Do you want to surrender to us or to them?’ He said, ‘Wait a minute.’ He called a conference of about three or four other German officers. He came back and walked up to me and pulled his pistol out. I thought, ‘Oh no, not here in the last few days of the war.’ Then he turned it around and handed it to me."According to The Post and Courier newspaper, when he was 75 and just shy of 90, he made airborne jumps in Holland for efforts to help remember the efforts Allied forces made.

A World War II hero died Friday at age 99.

T. Moffatt Burriss' life was remembered throughout the decades for his efforts with the U.S. Army against Nazi Germany.


His death was announced by his family and posted on the Shives Funeral Home website, The State newspaper reported.

"He delivered freedom to people around the world and made the lives of those he touched better and safer," South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement on social media.

In 1944, his unit, the 82nd Airborne Division, had a mission with U.S. and British forces to capture bridges in Nazi-controlled territory, which involved Burriss in lead elements of American paratroopers, the newspaper reported.

"A Bridge Too Far," a 1974 book and 1977 movie, featuring Robert Redford, showed their efforts.

In 1945, Burriss was a 24-year-old Army captain when his unit had a very close call outside Berlin, according to the U.S. military.



He recalled his experience for an Army leadership course.

“We drove about 40 miles, about half way to Berlin, and ran head-to-head into a German armored corps ... and probably 15,000 or so troops. I needed a plan, and quick,” Burriss said.

"I got out and went to the lead vehicle which had a German captain in it. He spoke English and I said, ‘I’m here to accept your surrender.’ He looks back and says, ‘Are you crazy? Three men and a jeep?’ I said, ‘I have a whole army of paratroopers and tanks right behind me and the Russians right behind you. Do you want to surrender to us or to them?’ He said, ‘Wait a minute.’ He called a conference of about three or four other German officers. He came back and walked up to me and pulled his pistol out. I thought, ‘Oh no, not here in the last few days of the war.’ Then he turned it around and handed it to me."

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According to The Post and Courier newspaper, when he was 75 and just shy of 90, he made airborne jumps in Holland for efforts to help remember the efforts Allied forces made.