The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Remembering D-Day 70 Years Later-- Part 4: Five Famous D-Day Fighters From That Day

These men were there and later when on to fame.

YOGI BERRA (1925-   )  The baseball legend was an 18-year-old seaman first class.  "Being a young guy I thought it was like the Fourth of July, to tell you the truth."

J.D. SALINGER ( 1919-2010)  The author was carrying six chapters of the "The Catcher in the Rye" when he landed on Omaha Beach with the 4th Infantry Division; his iconic novel would be published seven years later.

JAMES DOOHAN  (1920-2005) Boomers know Doohan as Scotty from the "Star Trek" TV show.  Serving with the Canadian military in the landing at Juno Beach, he was wounded six times.

CHARLES DURNING (1923-2012) The acclaimed character actor landed with the U.S. Rangers on Omaha Beach in the first wave of the invasion and was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

JOHN FORD (1894-1973)  He was already famous.  The legendary Hollywood director, serving as a commander in the U.S. Navy, was put in charge of filming the landing on Omaha Beach and then the rest of the day's fighting on it.

--GreGen

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