On Nov. 11, Americans pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces. Here are five of them.

Pete Johnson
World War II • Army

SYCAMORE – A member of the "Greatest Generation," Pete Johnson served in the U.S. Army in World War II.

"I was just one of 15 million," he said.

Johnson tried to enlist with the Marines with his high school buddy Elmer Nelson in 1942, but since he was attending Northern Illinois University at the time, was advised to wait until the term was up. While in school, Johnson was recruited by the Army, with which he served in the Pacific Theater until 1946.