text: Ten-year-old twin brothers obsessed with naval history had their passion come to life as they heard first-hand battle stories from their new best friend - 89-year-old World War II veteran, Robert Harding. Carter and Jack Hanson, who live in Raleigh, North Carolina, met their hero on the Yorktown - a retired carrier in Charleston, where Mr Harding served as an aircraft handler decades before, CBS reported. It was an emotional first meeting for the three friends who had been in contact for about a year via email after the twins learned about Mr Harding on their first trip to Yorktown and the Patriot's Point museum. Scroll down for video . World War II veteran Bob Harding, of Oklahoma, began exchanging emails with Carter and Jack Hanson of Raleigh, North Carolina about a year ago. They recently had the chance to meet each other on board the Yorktown aircraft carrier where he once served . Unbreakable bond: The three friends had an emotional first meeting on the retired war ship during a recent visit to Charleston, South Carolina . Mr Harding (pictured) served as an aircraft handler on the warship many decades before his young friends were born . The friends sent each other emails every day but only got to meet on board the Yorktown recently. They spent the day exploring the ship together with the boys hearing first-hand just what life was like on board a real battleship. The boys told CBS in an interview that meeting Mr Harding, who lives in Oklahoma, has changed their lives. Carter said: 'We want to know what his voice actually sounds like. We want to touch him. We want to know him a lot more.' The ten-year-old added: 'I just realized how amazing history can be.' And getting first-person history lessons hasn't only been good for the twins, it appeared Mr Harding had been looking for someone to share his stories with. The veteran told CBS: 'I guess I needed somebody to talk to about it. It's surprising the way it worked out.' The 89-year-old vet is still married and has a couple of children along with grandchildren and several great grandchildren. The Yorktown after an American revolutionary war battle and she is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to hold the name. She was renamed to commemorate USS Yorktown (CV-5), lost at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The carrier was commissioned in 1943 and was active in battles with Japan in the Pacific Theater. Mr Harding, 89, said that meeting the boys has been great for him as he has not shared a lot of stories from the wartime . The two brothers began their obsession with naval history when they got into the game Battleship a few years previously . The USS Yorktown in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina where the warship now permanently resides as a museum . The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) underway during the Marianas operation in June 1944 .
target: Carter and Jack Hanson, who live in Raleigh, North Carolina, met their hero on the Yorktown - a retired carrier in Charleston, South Carolina .
  Robert Harding traveled to meet the boys from his home in Oklahoma after spending months exchanging daily emails .
  Mr Harding served as an aircraft handler on the Yorktown during the Second World War .