D-Day and the heroes who were there

101st Airborne Division in History: D-Day June 6, 1944
By ClarksvilleNow.com
June 6, 2018

Clarksville NowGen. Dwight Eisenhower gives the order of the day “Full victory – Nothing else” to paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division at the Royal Air Force base in Greenham Common, England, on June 5, 1944, just hours before the men board their planes to participate in the first assault wave of the invasion of the continent of Europe. (Photo: AP)

The Invasion of Normandy started as a landing operation on June 6, 1944 on the beaches of Normandy, France by Western Allied forces during World War II against German-occupied western Europe. 

The initial assault was marked as D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history. 

A staggering 156,000 British, American, and Canadian forces landed on the five beaches of the Normandy region. The Battle of Normandy lasted from June to mid-July 1944, resulting in the liberation from Nazi Germany.
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Chicago WWII Veteran Receives France's Legion Of Honor

France honors Chicago-area World War II veteran
Chicago Tribune
By Gregory Pratt
March 7, 2015

Almost 71 years ago, Leonard Goldstein stormed a Normandy beach during the D-Day invasion. On Saturday, the 100-year-old veteran received the Legion of Honor from the French government for his bravery.

Goldstein, who was born in Chicago and raised his family in Skokie, was one of many soldiers who fought to liberate France during that battle that changed the course of history.

Vincent Floreani, the French consul general in Chicago, pinned the medal to Goldstein's chest after a ceremony at Alden Estates in Barrington where he thanked Goldstein and all the American soldiers "who were ready to sacrifice their lives for France and Western Europe" during World War II.

"Many did not return, but they are in our hearts and fortunately, Mr. Goldstein, you are among us to help us remember," Floreani said.

The Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is the "highest honor" the French can bestow.
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WWII 101st Airborne Medics Treated Friend and Foe in Normandy Church

Ken Moore, 101st Airborne Medic, D-Day (Unedited)
TimGrayMedia
WorldWarIIFoundation

Published on Jan 1, 2015 Two American 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles) medics caught in a church in Normandy, France during the opening hours of D-Day. Outside a savage battle raged all around them. The church changed hands several times with American and German forces over-running the village of Angoville-au-Plain. Inside the small church the wounded were both Allied and Axis uniforms and civilian clothing. The American medics, Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore of the 2nd battalion, 501st PIR, treated all who were brought into the 12th century Norman church, no matter whether they were friend or foe. Airing on American Public Television in 2014.

Recreating Service for Normandy assault played "In The Mood"?

Glenn Miller "In The Mood" being played is not honoring the lives lost that day!

Hundreds of paratroops re-create Normandy airborne assault
More than 600 American and allied paratroops jumped onto a field outside this tiny farming town in rural Normandy Sunday, re-creating a daylight version of the airborne invasion here 70 years ago.

D-day anniversary brings honor to Easy Company

D-day anniversary brings honor to Easy Company
By Michael Muskal
June 6, 2012

To commemorate the 68th anniversary of D-day -- the Allied invasion that paved the way for the end of the World War II in Europe -- a statue honoring Maj. Dick Winters and his fellow front-line leaders was unveiled in France.

The story of Winters and his fellow soldiers of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division was the subject of the 2001 miniseries, "Band of Brothers."

The 12-foot bronze statue was unveiled in the Normandy village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and shows Winters with his weapon at the ready. Winters, a native of Ephrata, Pa., who died last year at age 92, accepted serving as the statue's likeness after monument planners agreed to dedicate it to the memory of all junior U.S. military officers who served that day, the Associated Press reported.
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D-Day veteran: "The horror I saw"

D-Day veteran: "The horror I saw"

US veteran Robert Sales was dropped on the beaches of Normandy as part of the D-Day landings, a crucial turning point in the war with Nazi Germany.

In one of the biggest military exercises in history, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops on 6 June 1944. On D-Day alone up to 3,000 Allied soldiers died, with 9,000 wounded or missing.

As the world prepares to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the operation, Mr Sales reflects on his experience, admitting, "I had never dreamed of a disaster like this".