Defense.gov - Special Report - D-Day: 65th Anniversary

On June 6, 1944, nearly 160,000 allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end, the allies had gained a foot-hold in Normandy.

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First French Town Liberated
On D-Day Honors Veterans

William Tritt, 86, a native of Carlisle, Penn., wears his original uniform from World War II at a ceremony in honor of D-Day veterans outside the town hall of Sainte Mere Eglise, France, June 7. Army photo by Spc. Adrienne Killingsworth SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France, June 9, 2009 - As the ceremonies in remembrance of D-Day come to an end here in Normandy, the veterans and the people who gather here to honor them have not waned in their enthusiasm. Story

Paratroopers Honored in Ceremony

World War II veterans Arthur Petersen, from Santa Barbara, Calif., and Robert Herrot, from Friendship, Wisc., study a historic photo together moments before a ceremony in Carentan, France honoring World War II paratroopers of the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment as part of events honoring the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Army photo by Master Sgt. Donald Sparks CARENTAN, France, June 9, 2009 - Nearly 200 citizens of this small French town paid homage to paratroopers of the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division during a wreath-laying ceremony. Story

U.S., French, German Soldiers Pay Tribute to Victims of D-Day Atrocity

Brig. Gen. Jon Miller, deputy commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, salutes after laying a wreath at the base of a memorial in Hemevez, France June 5 to seven paratroopers who were executed on D-Day by German troops. Army photo by Sgt. Fay Conroy HEMEVEZ, France, June 9, 2009 - Servicemembers from the United States, alongside French and German soldiers and residents of this small village in Normandy gathered in a local churchyard to pay their respects to seven Soldiers executed by German troops during on D-Day. Story

Obama Joins Other Heads of
State to Honor D-Day Veterans

President Barack Obama at the Normandy American Cemetary, Colleville-sur-Mer, France, for D-Day's 65th Anniversary. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo NORMANDY, France, June 7, 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama and other heads of state spoke here yesterday at a ceremony honoring the servicemembers who fought and died during the allied invasion of Normandy 65 years ago. Transcript | Story

Celebration Focuses on Veterans

Surviving members of the famed Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, participate in a ceremony honoring the 65th anniversary of D-Day, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, June 6. U.S. Army photo by Bill Roche NORMANDY, France, June 7, 2009 -- For many U.S. servicemembers celebrating the 65th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, the focus was on the veterans of that operation. Story

Member of All-Black Unit Honored

William Dabney, a veteran of the D-Day invasion, poses with son Vinny Dabney at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 2009, ahead of their trip to France where the elder Dabney is to receive the Legion of Honor, the French government's highest award for his actions in WWII. DoD by John J. Kruzel WASHINGTON, June 5, 2009 - Sixty-five years ago, William Dabney was a young black soldier whose role in the allied landing at Normandy would go largely ignored. Dabney returned to France this week to receive the French government's highest award for his military service. Story

WWII Veteran Copes with Memories

Robert Blatnik, 89, is a World War II and Army veteran who participated in his sixth National Veterans Golden Age Games in Birmingham, Ala., in June 2009. He credits the games and the Department of Veterans Affairs for helping him deal with his combat experiences in North Africa and Europe. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 5, 2009 - Robert Blatnik couldn't bring himself to talk about his experiences as a young soldier storming the beach in Normandy on D-Day, or missing in action in North Africa. That changed six decades later when he began competing in the Department of Veteran's Affairs Golden Age Games. Story

Families Welcome U.S. Visitors

NORMANDY, France, June 5, 2009 - Families in Sainte Mere Eglise, France, have opened their hearts and hearths to more than 350 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, federal employees and contractors visiting and working on the 65th anniversary D-Day commemoration. Story

French Citizens Honor Those
Killed in Gourbesville

World War II veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division salute during the playing of Taps at the commemoration ceremony here, June 4. Current soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 507th Infantry Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division were also at the ceremony. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Fay Conroy GOURBESVILLE, France, June 5, 2009 - In the days following the allied invasion of Normandy, the town of Gourbesville and others nearby became the scene of intense fighting as the U.S. Army moved east. Story

D-Day Commentary: U.S. Soldier Breaks Bread With French Family

SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France, June 4, 2009 - Army Spc. Adrienne Killingsworth reports that sharing dinner with a family in Sainte Mere Eglise, France, was the cultural experience of a lifetime. Story

Rennactors Bring D-Day Era Alive

A restored World War II era-Army car sits on display in a field at the Airborne Festival here, June 3. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Fay Conroy SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France, June 4, 2009 - Maurice Lancelot is not American soldier, but he is dressed like one this week as he and other Frenchmen who are members of Normandie Souvenir Avenir reenact life in an American World War II Army camp for the anniversary of D-Day. Story

Soldier Pays Tribute to
Forebears With Service

Army Pfc. Scott Simpson, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, holds a copy of his grandfather's military identification card from World War II on Normandy's Utah Beach, June 4. DoD photo by Army Sgt. Fay Cornroy NORMANDY, France, June 4, 2009 - For U.S. Army Pfc. Scott Simpson, serving in the military, and on Task Force Normandy 65, is just part of the family legacy. His great-grandfather served with Gen. John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing in Mexico; his grandfather stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Bulge; and his father served in Vietnam. Story

D-Day Commentary: Values Bind Servicemembers Across Time

Rows of white crosses in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial mark the graves of the thousands of U.S. servicemembers who gave their lives during the D-Day invasion of June 1944. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Adrienne Killingsworth NORMANDY, France, June 4, 2009 - As I walked through the American cemetery at Omaha Beach here, I found it difficult to wrap my mind around a battle so large and so brutal. I imagine, as thousands of Soldiers poured onto these beaches 65 years ago, the magnitude of the conflict must have been overwhelming to them as well. Story

D-Day Commemorated in England

American and British World War II veterans on a tour of significant sites in the European Theater render honors during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner here June 1. DoD photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin M. May ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England, June 4, 2009 - American and British veterans gathered on the airfield at Thorpe Abbots, England, to honor the heroes of World War II and D-Day. The airfield was once the home of the 100th Bomb Group, whose legacy and "Box D" tail marker are carried on by the airmen and aircraft of the 100th Air Refueling Wing. Story

Cavalry Sergeant Meets Veteran

Sgt. 1st Class Steve Selvage of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment gets an autograph from 91-year-old D-Day survivor Ralph Manley in Sainte Mere Eglise, France, June 1. The two met while Selvage was in town to participate in events commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. U.S. Army Photo SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France, June 4, 2009 - U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Steve Selvage said he has waited 22 years to see the Normandy beaches and participate in commemoration ceremonies, but his greatest honor was meeting a 91-year-old D-Day survivor. Story

Stryker Sergeants Recreate Image

This original photo, taken June 6, 1944, during the World War II D-Day campaign, was recreated by three Army noncommissioned officers assigned with 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, based in Vilseck, Germany. U.S. Army Photo NORMANDY, France, June 4, 2009 - Three U.S. soldiers and career-long friends got the rare opportunity to relive the past in a unique way while supporting the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Sgts. 1st Class Patrick Martin, William Suarez and Steve Selvage from 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment recreated a picture taken of soldiers on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Story

French Church Honors
U.S. Soldier for D-Day Acts

One of the stained glass windows in the church in Ste. Mere Eglise, France, that is dedicated to the paratroopers who liberated the town on June 6, 1944. The window was designed by Paul Renaud, who was 14 years old at the time of the liberation and 16 years old when he drew the sketch. U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Fay Conroy SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France, June 2, 2009 – Sainte Mere Eglise, the first town in France to be liberated on D-Day, continues to honor the American soldiers who parachuted in to help, including one who got caught on the town's church tower. Story

French Museum Honors D-Day Jump

SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France, June 3, 2009 – Sainte Mere Eglise, the first town in France to be liberated on D-Day, continues to honor the American soldiers who parachuted in to help, including one who got caught on the town's church tower. Story

Soldiers Prep for 65th Anniversary

Senior staff members of Task Force Normandy 65 pose in front of a German gun post at Pointe du Hoc, France. Task Force Normandy 65 is in France providing support and ceremonial command and control for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, June 6. Pointe du Hoc is the site of the 2nd Ranger Battalion's assault on a German stronghold during D-Day. U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Fay Conroy NORMANDY, France, June 2, 2009 – Thousands of people are expected to flock to the shores of Utah Beach and Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, to pay homage to the sacrifice of those who fought and died during the D-Day invasion 65 years ago. Story

Painting Honors 'Filthy Thirteen'

The 'Filthy Thirteen' by Joel Iskowitz is slated to be unveiled during the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Museum's 19th Annual World War II weekend, which takes place between June 5 -7, at the Reading Regional Airport in Pennsylvania. Courtesy Image May 29, 2009 - A painting honoring the "Filthy Thirteen" as they readied for their D-Day parachute jump is being unveiled in time for the 65th anniversary of the battle. Story

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