Tag: Omaha Beach

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Invasion of Normandy
Germans & Americans Recall the ‘Hell’ That Was Omaha

  By Morgan Birck • June 4, 2014 Uncategorized
National Archives and Records Administration

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 … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
A Presidential Citation for Outstanding Duty

  By Sarah Dejak • June 2, 2014 Uncategorized
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Warren E. Breniman was a U.S. Army staff sergeant and part of the 149th Engineering Combat Battalion that helped to invade Omaha Beach on D-Day. In this account, Breniman discusses the presidential citation his battalion received for their outstanding service during the invasion. He also talks about the obstacles that … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
A Lesson Learned on Omaha Beach

  By Sarah Dejak • June 2, 2014 Uncategorized
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Dan Farley, part of the U.S. Company “A” 5th Ranger Battalion that landed on Omaha Beach during D-Day. He explains what it was like to be in combat and describes bullets whizzing by his body, as well as the lesson he learned that saved his life many times.

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Invasion of Normandy
WWII Vet: ‘When We Got to the Beach, There Was No Segregation’

  By Sarah Dejak • June 2, 2014 Uncategorized
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Charles Sprowl, a veteran who served as an army technician in the U.S. First Unit Special Brigade, landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day with his unit. He describes the camaraderie that was created when landing on the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Sprowl explains that there was no … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
Two Thousand African-Americans Fought on D-Day

  By Virginia Choi • June 1, 2014 Uncategorized
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African-American soldiers reflect on the Normandy Invasion that took place on June 6, 1944. One veteran emotionally reacts to the cemetery that honors the Americans who fought on Omaha Beach at Pointe du Hoc hill. Allen Price describes being part of the 32 75th Quartermaster Company on D-Day: “Blood all … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
A Veteran Remembers His Close Call on Omaha Beach

  By Witnify • May 22, 2014 Uncategorized
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World War II veteran Torre Tobiassen recalls how Beach Master Joe Vaghi saved his life on D-Day as he and his battalion took Omaha Beach during the Normandy Campaign. Tobiassen also talks about his family taking him to see the movie, Saving Private Ryan, due to the D-Day scene in … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
WWII Veteran is Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor

  By Witnify • May 22, 2014 Uncategorized
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Walter Ehlers is a veteran who served as staff sergeant in the U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division during World War II. Here, Ehlers is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor because of the amazing courage and heroism he showed on June 9, 1944, just a few days after D-Day. Ehlers … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
[Text] Vivid Description of Surviving Omaha Beach

  By Veterans History Project • May 21, 2014 Uncategorized
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“All of our leaders were gone. It was just — just a bunch of privates and sergeants and corporals trying to, you know, get something going and trying to get it to succeed…Nobody could possibly be trained for what we found that day. But you learn fast, you know. It’s … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
African-Americans of D-Day

  By Witnify • May 20, 2014 Uncategorized
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Veteran Edward Farley describes his experience as a member of the 463rd amphibious truck company and other African-American veterans recall their experience as they stormed the beach on D-Day. These interviews were conducted by makers of the 2008 Emmy-nominated documentary, “A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-Day,” produced by the … Continue reading

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Invasion of Normandy
[Text] Minister With the Fighting First Division At Omaha

  By Sarah Dejak • May 20, 2014 Uncategorized
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“As I lay there listening I thought of the awfulness of it all; the birds were singing and we Human Beings were trying to kill each other.” John G. Burkhalter was a former Miami minister before becoming part of the 1st Infantry Division with the U.S. Army during the Normandy … Continue reading