Not a D-day story but reminded me of when I was a grad student. Working in my office late at night, the janitor was a former high ranking officer from the South Vietnamese army. Doing some lowly work for his citizen ship and proud to do it.
> the janitor was a former high ranking officer from the South Vietnamese army
I worked in a plant in Milpitas, many nationalities including Vietnamese. There was a worker there, older Vietnamese gentleman, everyone was very deferential towards him. Turned out he was a former South Vietnamese Air Force Major, commanded a helicopter battalion, lost his hands in the line of duty rescuing pilots, helped a great number of members of his command escape with their families. Many worked in the plant. He was captured, spent years in “re-education” camp.
Major Nguyễn Quý An