Exactly 67 years ago today, my maternal grandfather took part in one of the biggest and most important military operations of all time, D-Day… World War II.
My grandfather was a Navy Frogman, the precursor to the Navy Seals of today. Specifically, he was in the Navy Combat Demolition Unit Force “O” that landed in the first wave on Omaha Beach. His unit was to remove the obstacles on the beach, but nearly all their explosives went overboard during the assault. Under heavy machine gun and sniper fire, he and the men of his unit did what they could to punch through the German lines. Eventually they did, but his unit took heavy casualties. He was one of the few survivors.
The heroic actions of his unit earned them a Presidential Unit Citation, which is included below. Though Memorial Day is behind us, take some time today to remember those that sacrificed some 67 years ago for the cause of good and freedom. This page on the Navy website gives information on the actions of the various Navy Combat Demolition Units on D-Day.
Thank you, grandpa.
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