Posted on 06/06/2019 9:24:31 AM PDT by beaversmom
"I’m no hero, I was lucky. I’m here. All the heroes are dead and I’ll never forget them as long as I live.”
An article link via The Sun:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9234779/d-day-vet-harry-billinge-hero-viewers-tears/
Germany was an ally of Japan, which attacked us.
For this reason we found ourselves in a war in Europe.
What OTHER reason —other than alliances, that is— explains why the USA fought in Europe..?
Charles Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) also went ashore on D-Day and was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Heart Medals for his service in Europe. He was always one of my favorite character actors appearing in in The Sting (1973) as the crooked cop, Lt. Snyder.
Other film credits off the top of my head include Dog Day Afternoon; the Senator in The Final Countdown; the Captain in The Hindenburg; Twilight's Last Gleaming with Burt Lancaster; True Confessions with Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall and playing "Pappy" O'Daniel, a cynical governor of Mississippi i in the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).
Rest in Peace, Charlie, we honor your service.
https://www.industrycentral.net/sites/default/files/2018-07/Charles_Durning-The_Sting-%281973%29-1140x450.jpg
I remember reading about his service when he died a few years back. Had to kill at least one man, German, close up during his time in Europe.
Yep, found it on FR. Had lives like a cat.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2972134/posts
Then came World War II, and he enlisted in the Army. His combat experiences were harrowing. He was in the first wave of troops to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day and his unit’s lone survivor of a machine-gun ambush. In Belgium he was stabbed in hand-to-hand combat with a German soldier, whom he bludgeoned to death with a rock. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, he and the rest of his company were captured and forced to march through a pine forest at Malmedy, the scene of an infamous massacre in which the Germans opened fire on almost 90 prisoners. Mr. Durning was among the few to escape.
Enjoyed him in Dog Day with Pacino.
Awesome pic. Gonna save that one.
Germany declared war on the United States on December 11th, 1941.
We had been assisting England prior to this in a mostly non-combat status. We would attack submarines caught operating along our coast.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.