in 1945, she was at mauthausen, standing in a line of people being led to their death when the americansrrived. >> i was sitting outside the crematorium, and i remember like today, the noise when they say you're free, you're free. >> reporter: kreuzman never got to thank the soldiers who rescued her. she became a nurse, moved to america, and married another holocaust survivor. you did find love in your life? >> oh, yes. my husband was a nice man. >> reporter: to honor his memory, her parents, brother and the six million jews killed, kreuzman has spent years telling her story to school groups and to others. what does it mean to you when you look at all these thank you cards? >> i love it. that's what i wanted. i keep something. >> reporter: little did she know, someone else had been doing the same thing just a few miles away, but from a different point of view. joe barbella served in the u.s. 11th armored division that helped liberate concentration camps. for years he also spoke to students, sharing pictures he took and letters he sent home. but for kreuzman, never meeting any of the amer