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BÉNOUVILLE, France — The 80th anniversary of D-Day, marked by solemn ceremonies and grand re-enactments, may be the last major milestone where many veterans recount their stories firsthand. Around 200 veterans, the youngest in their 90s and some over 100, attended this year’s event in Normandy, reflecting on the sheer brutality of that pivotal battle.
Among those present was Richard “Dick” Rung, 99, from Carol Stream, Illinois. As a motor machinist mate second class, he ferried troops to Omaha Beach, where the craft’s hull was soon soaked with blood. “It was raining death,” Rung recalled at a ceremony at Pegasus Bridge. He recounted the chilling moment he heard over the radio, “We are being slaughtered like hogs.”
President Joe Biden, speaking at the American Cemetery in Normandy, emphasized the importance of preserving these stories. “We must remember: The fact that they were heroes here that day does not absolve us of what we have to do today,” he said, drawing parallels to Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Biden was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy among other world leaders at Omaha Beach.
With firsthand testimonies becoming rare, NBC News spent the week traveling around Normandy with several busloads of veterans, brought over by the Best Defense Foundation, a California-based charity. Their stories, like that of Gideon Kantor, offer invaluable insights. Kantor, 99, a Jewish refugee who fled Vienna in 1939, returned to Europe as a U.S. soldier. He became one of the “Ritchie Boys,” using his language skills for military intelligence.
Kantor’s recollections highlight the complexity of the soldiers’ experiences. “They wouldn’t spell out antisemitism as such but would say ‘New York City’ with the clear implication that it was a Jewish town,” he noted. Despite this, he remained committed to fighting for democracy, recalling the terrifying impact of Hitler’s dictatorship.
The week also offered moments of levity. At a dinner near the Maisy Battery, a restored military equipment auction house, George Reitmeier, 99, enjoyed his first ride atop an M4 Sherman tank in 80 years. “I felt like a kid again; it made me feel like a young boy,” said Reitmeier, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge after surviving a torpedo attack on his troop ship.
These veterans, who endured the horrors of D-Day and beyond, shared their memories with a mix of solemnity and humor, ensuring their stories live on even as the number of living witnesses dwindles. As we honor their sacrifice, their testimonies serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring importance of courage, democracy, and the human spirit.
Source: NBC News
