D Day

My father landed at Normandy under heavy barrage. On leaving the landing craft he forgot to take his rifle and gas mask with him, all he had was his side arm. He went to the beach commander and informed him of this lapse. He pointed towards the piles of dead soldiers and told my father to get a rifle and gas mask from them since they would no longer need them.

Of the many stories my father told me that is one that has stuck in my mind and given me an impression of what landing on that day must realy have been like.

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