Chance encounter with D-Day (France) vet

[imarangemaster]

I was at the doctor's office waiting for treatment for a raging sinus infection and bronchitis when I was sitting next to an old gentleman in the waiting room. We talked about current events, and the topic of military service came up. I mentioned my dad on Iwo Jima, and my Gyrene Uncles in the pacific. He mentioned that he landed at Omaha Beach on 6 June, 1944. He told me the unit, but I can't recall it. He was an ordnance man with an engineer company. He carried a carbine. He did not say what wave he landed in, but that it was the worst hell on earth. His lasting memory of the beach was his last, as he left the beach head, seeing dead from both sides stacked "like fence posts" alongside the exit road he took. When I was called into the doctor's office, I stood up, shook his hand, and thanked him for his service to us and his country. He replied in the manner of most of his generation, "WE were just doing our job." The emphasis on WE. I confess my eyes watered as I walked off. Some was for my departed dad and uncles, some for the others of their generation.

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[Bill Hollinger]

We had a doctor named Griffin at the prison that went in on D-Day plus 1 at Omaha. He was a regular GI and said he fought all the way to Germany. Funny thing ol Doc Griffin, he always wore a suit to work and when I commented that he always looked sharp he told me his father told him "if you're going live the part, you have to look the part." What a great guy and he too said they were just doing their job.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I was at the VA last month and sat with an older gentleman (89) who was a paratrooper, carried a carbine. That got our conversation going. Said his group were dropped way off their designated landing area. Not in a friendly area. He would talk about the people he met, places he had been, but didn't care to talk about any action. That was it, wouldn't elaborate. Really a nice guy.

[LeagleEagle]

They were all remarkable people. My favorite uncle who was my Dad's older brother was a member of B Company of the 506th PIR, 101st Abn. who jumped into Normandy and was in all of the unit's battles including Bastogne. He was age 29 at the time and used to joke about how his fellow soldiers called him "gramps". He came back from the war and led a productive life. He had a ready smile and laugh. He passed away at the too young age of 67 in 1982.