D-Day Stories: Where Were You?

June 6, 1944, the Allied forces commenced their invasion of Normandy in the turning point of World War II. That night, President Roosevelt gave a radio address and asked the nation to pray with him.

"[Our] men's souls will be shaken with the violence of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace," Roosevelt said, closing with a prayer for "a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil."

Just over a year later, America and much of the World enjoyed a peace that would last decades.

We are commemorating this D-Day with stories from people who were there. We want to hear your story and if you weren't alive yet, we invite you to interview a family member or friend who was. These are important memories to share, which is why we'll be featuring your stories (200 words or less) on Saturday, D-Day.

And take a look at the stories that have already been submitted.

Comments

[CAP6]

I wasn't even born when D-Day went down. My father and an uncle participated in the invasion at Normandy. My uncle lost his right foot and suffered serious head wounds that scar him even today, he is 89. I lost my father and my best friend in 1992. He rarely mentioned his service and when he did it was only in reply to a question he had been asked, a short reply with no elaboration. After researching my father's service, using my own service as a gauge, I could never be the man my father and that generation was. I have said often, I thought I was a lean mean grunt but my father and his generation are what we should all strive to be as parents, as Americans, as human beings. I miss my father every day of my life and have often wished I could have been beside of him in the march across France.

[CanuckforObama]

Rosaire Gagnon was a French-Canadian soldier who landed at Juno Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944 with the French-speaking Regiment de la Chaudiere of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Rosaire so impressed the local population of the town of Beny-sur-Mer on the Normandy coast that a street was named after him after the war. Sadly, Rosaire was killed in action only a few days after D-Day on June 13th near the village of Rots.

Another soldier of the same regiment fell in love with a local French girl while fighting in Normandy and they promised to get married at war's end. Unfortunately this soldier subsequently lost both of his legs during fighting to liberate Holland. At the end of the war he returned to France to tell his fiance that the marriage was now off because she could not possibly want to marry a man with no legs. She quickly replied that he was a fool to think such a thing. They lived happily as man and wife for the next 50 years.

I pass these stories on as told to me by Rosaire's brother, who still grieves his loss to this day. We owe so much to these brave American, Canadian, British, Polish, French and Czech soldiers and other free men who made the ultimate sacrifice to defeat Nazism.

[CAP6]

A sad but wonderful and inspiring story. Thank you.

[plages]

I was wombing it!

[naschkatze]

Toddling around the house, but when my 16 year older than me brother came back from the the war is one of my earliest memories. I don't know whether it was the uniform or both of my parents crying because he had come home safe, but I remember I had a red velvet dress on and I peed my pants out of fear.

[Democrab]

Born 18 days after, but am still amazed at the courage and determination of the greatest generation and my father's experience in the Pacific theater and his contributions.

[ArdentV]

I can remember the day. The town sirens sounded off and everyone headed to their respective churches for prayer. I was only eight but I can still remember the sirens and the crowded churches.

[gcallaghan]

It's tough to remember that far back, but as near as I can pin it I was somewhere inside my grandparents' dna or maybe on their dinner plates,

[elmerfude]

I was three years old but remember watching lots of planes flying over our house. I found out later that there was a navy training base near our town and these were Stearmen aircraft going out to the desert to practice bombing.

[jordan3189]

Under our beds-----The French

[Newthron]

Tu n'etais pas un homme alors.

[Newthron]

I was an evolving spermatozoid. That's it.

[sagmann]

So young, and already so stupid. What bothers me is not your ignorance, is you bragging about it. I advice you to read "Idiot". Great book, and so accurate.

[carolinecantoo]

I was a twinkle in my daddy's eye and he landed on Omaha beach on D Day. It was not until I was 8 years old and spent the night at my first slumber party that i realized all daddy's don't cry out and scream in the night. My Dad was a hero for me for that. He had a very hard life and died in 1998. I love you dad.

[carolinecantoo]

My Dad was a hero for his service is what I should have said.

[SRDaedal]

I was ten years old and my father was one of the plant physicians at a Republic Aviation plant at Evansville, Indiana. The plant built the P-47 Thunderbolt which figured large in the invasion. We were glued to the radio for days.

I learned to be really proud of that plane as I grew older and learned more about it!

[drumz]

I'm sure there are many stories to tell but your running out of people to tell them so good luck with this.