LEBANON — Across the Atlantic, in France, leaders of the allied nations joined together on Saturday to remember D-Day, June 6, 1944.
In Lebanon, Maine, half a world away, a hush fell as an old soldier raised his voice to sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. He, too, had fought his way up Omaha Beach but unlike so many others, Florien St. Arnault was one of the fortunate ones: He survived and went on to fight again in Germany and come home to tell the tale.
St. Arnault, 87, and Fred Hall , 88, of Rochester, N.H. who also landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, spoke at an American Legion Post 214 “Witness to History” event Saturday.
There were bagpipers, World War II artifacts to view and heartfelt thanks to the men who served in that battle and to others who served in World War II.
These days, the enormity of D-Day is told in conversations with fellow veterans, in media interviews, and in speeches at commemoration events. It is told in dog-eared black and white photographs of young Americans fighting in Europe ”“ who, somehow, were still able to smile for the camera despite all they’d seen.
Sixty-five years ago, it was told in the sounds of shelling, in the sheer difficulty of breeching the fortified beaches, and in the blood of those who didn’t make it off the beach.
But they did it, despite the obstacles, and pushed on into occupied France.
Oganizers of the event said it was important to remember.
“Hitler fully intended to enslave the entire world,” said American Legion Post 214 Commander Steve White. “He was the leader of the original axis of evil.”
The Invasion of Normandy, which began with D-Day, changed the course of the war and changed history, he noted.
“The men (who fought) will only tell you they were striving to survive,” he siad. “We will tell you there were acts of bravery that could not be denied.”
There were 73,000 American soldiers fighting in D-Day ”“ whether from the skies, on the water, or on the beaches. The American casualty toll was 1,465 dead, 3,184 wounded, and 1,900 missing in action.
Americans fought on Omaha and Utah beachers, the British at Gold and Sword beaches, and the Canadians at Juno beach. Eleven months later, the war in Europe was over.
Hall, who entered the war as a second Lieutenant and was a Captain on D-Day, said the invasion has never been forgotten by the people who lived there.
“It was a very difficult time and we suffered a great many casualties,” he said. Much of the tank support went into the English channel, released from the carriers too soon. Battleships shot their 15- inch guns, but the bullets didn’t fall where they were supposed to, he said. The noise was terrible and communications were poor. Troops could hear Allied aircraft overhead, but the skies were cloudy and the planes couldn’t see the troops on the beach. There was enemy sniper and artillery fire.
“If D-Day had failed, the war would have been lost or gone on for several more years,” pointed out Rep. Joan Nass, whose son Jonathan has been serving in Iraq. Her father served in World War II and died Oct. 16, 1944 in Nancy, France.
“I salute a bunch of very brave men,” said St. Arnault of his fellow D-Day soldiers.
On Saturday, St. Arnault, Hall and all those like them received a salute of their own.
— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or at twells@journaltribune.com.
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