Free Republic

Ken Axelson is what you would call a survivor. Seventy years ago Friday the 20-year-old Minnesotan was in one of the deadliest places in a big, bloody battle in the middle of a devastating worldwide conflict. He was an American soldier hitting Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion of German-occupied France, a crucial turning point in World War II. Axelson lived through what has been called "the longest day." But more bad stuff would happen before the war was over for the Welch, Minn., farm boy. He became a paratrooper and fought in another brutal battle, the Battle of the...

BAD NAUHEIM, Germany - German Elvis Presley fans clad in jean jackets, hats and T-shirts bearing the name of The King flocked to this spa town to celebrate his 70th birthday with a series of shows and events. Organized by local authorities and the local Elvis Presley Association, the events marking his birthday on Saturday include a Las Vegas show, gospel concert and walking tours of places the singer lived from October 1958 through February 1960 while stationed here as a soldier — his only residence outside the United States. "His voice was magic: there was so much soul,...

US, Iraqi forces fight street-to-street in Kerbala By Kieran Murray KERBALA, Iraq, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. troops fought street-to-street with paramilitaries in the central Iraqi city of Kerbala on Saturday in a fierce assault aimed at protecting supply lines of U.S. forces moving into Baghdad. U.S. officers said the American troops had killed about 75 Fedayeen paramilitaries loyal to President Saddam Hussein and said six or seven U.S. soldiers had been wounded in the battle. Others had slight burns but continued to fight. The Iraqi fighters took up positions on rooftops in the narrow streets of this Shi'ite shrine...