Sentence:  A veteran diplomat with an extraordinary knowledge of Russian language , history and literature , Kennan <WSD>recalls</WSD> how , at the time of Hitler 's attack on the Soviet Union in 1941 , he penned a private note to a State Department official , expressing the hope that `` never would we associate ourselves with Russian purposes in the areas of eastern Europe beyond her own boundaries '' . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection