http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jkQeus3uQ

In this fascinating compilation of interviews, both German and American veterans from World War II describe their experiences of warfare on Omaha Beach during D-Day. Franz Gockel and Bruno Plota were German soldiers responsible for shooting U.S. soldiers as they dispatched from their boats onto the beach. Plota says, “The first ones to land were poor guys. The first ones almost didn’t…hardly any of them got through. None of them, you could say.” Veteran Bob Slaughter from the U.S. 29th Infantry Division talks about how American soldiers had to run about four yards of sand to attain cover from enemy fire. The highest amount of American casualties during the Normandy Landings occurred on Omaha Beach; Josef Schroder, a German machine gunner, describes the battle scene as “hell.”

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Germans & Americans Recall the ‘Hell’ That Was Omaha appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qQED-hn1U

In this audio clip, Billy Joel discusses how Ray Charles was his favorite piano player/singer, and how he named his daughter for Alexa Ray, for this iconic performer. Billy Joel is a pianist and singer-songwriter best known for his song “Piano Man”.

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[Audio Only] Billy Joel Talks Working with Ray Charles appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDJ48CmbHao

In this audio clip, Billy Joel discusses the “misunderstanding” between him and Elton John after Joel quit touring with Elton John. Billy Joel is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer best known for his song, “Piano Man.”

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[Audio Only] Billy Joel on His Relationship with Elton John appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgCDYIOKh1o

U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Joseph C. Beyer recalls his experience of dropping paratroopers in the town of Carentan in the Cherbourg Peninsula on D-Day. A few weeks later, the Americans had cleared the air fields so that Beyer and others could land in France and bring-in supplies and haul back the wounded.

The post Invasion of Normandy
U.S. Air Corps Vet on Dropping Paratroopers appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmFjVcgFsrg

Former NBA player Magic Johnson discusses the racist comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Sterling specifically pointed out Johnson, and Johnson says he is hurt by the comments, and that such statements have no place in society. On April 29, 2014, Sterling was banned from the NBA for life for his comments.

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Magic Johnson on Clippers Owner Donald Sterling appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1HSab_O83g

Richard Dorff signed up to enlist in the U.S. Navy at 18 years old, becoming a first-class seaman that helped to guide a landing craft onto the beaches of Normandy during D-Day.

The post Invasion of Normandy
Memories of Normandy Still Haunts This Veteran appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK48PK9eCLs

Sergeant Mike Fitch of the U.S. Army’s 29th Infantry Division remembers storming the most dangerous zone of Omaha Beach on D-Day. He describes the chaos of getting into his landing craft and how he was “scared to death.” Fitch explains how he looked for potential areas for cover as he came close to the coast, knowing Germans were awaiting their arrival with several machine guns ready to fire along the beach.

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‘You Were Doin a Lot of Prayin’ appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmMJuDvuiIg

Bill Millin, the personal piper to Lord Lovat, a prominent British Commando in World War II, was ordered by Lovat to play the bagpipes as his fellow soldiers died around him on Sword Beach and all the way to the seize of Pegasus Bridge during the Normandy Landings. Millin asked some captured German snipers why they never targeted him and he was told that they all assumed he was a “dummkopf,” a dolt or a stupid person. His courageous yet risky actions are portrayed in the 1962 film, “The Longest Day,” starring John Wayne.

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Why Germans Didn’t Shoot This D-Day Bagpiper appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGBAt4egoKo

Sergio Moirano was part of the U.S. 9th Infantry Division during World War II, and participated in the Allied landing of Utah Beach. Moirano describes his thoughts during the journey across the English Channel and the turbid events that followed after he got off his landing craft–including the decisions he made on that day that he believes helped him survive.

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‘I Got to the Shore. I Just Laid Down…I Was Scared’ appeared first on Witnify.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E7pJSC097w

World War II veterans discuss D-Day and their experience in the Normandy Invasion. Taken from the documentary Voices of the Veterans, this clip shows several U.S. veterans from a town in Virginia who were in the first wave to land on Omaha Beach.

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Voices of U.S. Veterans From Virginia appeared first on Witnify.