AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP)- A local World War II Veteran is being remembered for his legacy. Daily, WWII memories are fading as generations pass. At 18-years-old Bernard "Mel" Crosby joined the marines. He was born in Chicopee and raised in West Springfield. He passed away last week leaving his legacy behind. His grandson shaared a memory Crosby told him about a classified mission on the U.S.S. Augusta back in 1944. "He took President Truman across the Atlantic to the Potsdam Conference in Berline and he was in charge of escorting the president throughout Europe. It was actually prom night and he couldn't tell my grandmother where he was going so she was all dolled up ready for prom and he never showed up because he was already on a boat halfway across the ocean and she still married him anyway" says Steve Forni, Bernard "Mel" Crosby's grandson. A lot of Crosby's training was spent at Perris Island. During his time in the service, his mother passed away and he flew back to Western Massachusetts, and Missed D-Day. To date, less than 1% of the more than 16 Million Americans who served during WWII are still with us. "When somebody walks by in military gear and you thank them for their service, I think that really goes a long way. I don't think any of us are really here without that generation or those people. So we really owe them a great deed of gratitude and my grandpa was right at the front of that", says Steve Forni, Bernard "Mel" Crosby's grandson. According to Crosby's family his key to a long happy life was his endless love for his wife and enjoying a lot of dessert when he could. Local News Headlines AIC women’s volleyball eyes NE10 title as top seed 98-Year-old WWII Veteran from West Springfield dies, leaves behind legacy Holyoke police discover large amount of crack cocaine during narcotics investigation Holyoke police arrest two in heroin, fentanyl distribution investigation WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.