Normandy

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French Commando Helped Liberate His Country on D-Day
D-Day Hero Warned the Young
obituary
Jul 3, 2023 4:45 PM CDT

D-Day Hero Warned the Young

'War is misery,' said Leon Gautier, who landed with commandos on D-Day to liberate France

(Newser) - Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of an elite French unit that joined US and other Allied forces in the D-Day invasion to wrest Normandy from Nazi control, has died. He was 100. The death was announced Monday by Romain Bail, the mayor of Ouistreham, an English Channel coastal community...

Trump Salutes 'Greatest Americans Who Will Ever Live'

Leaders mark 75 years since Normandy landings

(Newser) - D-Day veterans are "among the very greatest Americans who will ever live," President Trump said Thursday at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the day thousands of American, British, and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin the invasion of Nazi-occupied France. "Their mission...

Why a 90-Year-Old Is Beating Taylor Swift on the Charts

Jim Radford's D-Day memorial song has been re-released

(Newser) - A 90-year-old is currently beating Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, and Ed Sheeran on Amazon UK's singles chart—but not just any 90-year-old, a D-Day veteran who's out with a tribute to that fateful day in 1944. Jim Radford was just 15 during World War II's D-Day landings—...

Unknown X-9352 Will Finally Rest Beside His Twin

Brothers reunited 74 years after WWII deaths at Normandy

(Newser) - For decades, he was known only as Unknown X-9352 at a World War II American cemetery in Belgium where he was interred. On Tuesday, the now-identified soldier will be reunited with his twin brother at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France, 74 years after their deaths on June...

ISIS Claims Attack That Killed Elderly Priest in French Church

Another is critically injured; 2 attackers dead

(Newser) - More misery in France: Two attackers took hostages inside a French church during morning Mass on Tuesday near the city of Rouen, killing an 86-year-old Catholic priest by slitting his throat before being shot and killed by police, reports AP . The Islamic State claimed responsibility. Another person inside the church...

'Tide of the Century' Strands Medieval Island

2 dead as thousands flock to see Mont Saint-Michel

(Newser) - What do you call a "supertide" that comes every 18 years? Why, the "tide of the century," of course—and it dazzled thousands yesterday in northern France and south-western England, the Telegraph reports. In fact, it momentarily cut off scenic Mont Saint-Michel island from the coast of...

Normandy Invaded Again in Final D-Day Salute

1K paratroopers dropped on beach as 70th anniversary winds down

(Newser) - Nearly 1,000 paratroopers dropped out of the sky in Normandy today—but this time they did so in peace, instead of to wrest western France from the Nazis as they did during World War II. Drawing huge crowds who braved hot weather and lined the historic landing area at...

'Democracy's Beachhead': Vets, Leaders Honor D-Day

Obama in Normandy for 70th anniversary

(Newser) - World leaders joined thousands of veterans who stormed the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago today to commemorate D-Day. At Omaha Beach, the site of the bloodiest fighting, a US military band played while veterans from the 29th Infantry Division stood at attention at 6:30am, the precise moment Allied...

9K Silhouettes of Bodies Stenciled on D-Day Beach

Commemoration in France marks Peace Day

(Newser) - Two British artists found a striking way to mark International Peace Day over the weekend on a French beach that was used in the D-Day invasion of 1944. With the help of volunteers, they stenciled the bodies of 9,000 fallen soldiers and civilians onto the sand of the Normandy...

Sarko Uses Footstool to Measure Up to Obama

5'5" French president shorter than Napoleon

(Newser) - At 5 feet 5 inches, Nicolas Sarkozy seems to feel a bit stature-challenged—so at the recent D-Day tribute, he used a 6-inch footstool, in addition to his elevator shoes, to hold his own against Barack Obama and Gordon Brown, the Daily Mail reports. Sarko “knew he was appearing...

Hardship Made Them the 'Greatest': Brokaw

(Newser) - Even before enlisting, World War II soldiers were made great by the “deprivations and lessons of the Great Depression,” Tom Brokaw writes in the Wall Street Journal. Shared sacrifice and lack of staple goods forged the outlook of the "Greatest Generation," and made the Army almost...

Obama: D-Day Is 'Story of America'

(Newser) - President Obama today paid homage to the men who stormed the beach at Normandy on the 65th anniversary of D-Day, reports the Los Angeles Times. Speaking at Omaha Beach, Obama called the invasion the "story of America" and said it can provide inspiration "for the hardships and struggles...

Obama, Sarko Oppose Nuclear Iran, New Israeli Settlements

(Newser) - Barack Obama and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, stood together today on thwarting Iran's nuclear ambitions and furthering a Mideast peace that provides for separate Israeli and Palestinian states. "We want peace. We want dialogue. We want to help them develop. But we do not want military nuclear weapons...

Gaga Paris Awaits 'New Jackie'

(Newser) - All of Paris is breathlessly awaiting the arrival of Michelle Obama, hoping to catch a glimpse of an American first lady as beloved by the French as Jackie Kennedy, reports AP.  Like Jackie,  "Mrs. Obama is exactly the kind of American woman the French adore: a woman...

French to Queen: Oh Fine, Come to D-Day Event

Invitation extended after Elizabeth grouses

(Newser) - France has finally relented and extended an invitation to a miffed Queen Elizabeth to D-Day ceremonies next week with President Obama, reports the Daily Mail. A French official said earlier this week the queen would not be included in the 65th anniversary commemoration in Normandy because it was very much...

Queen Livid at French Snub for Obama D-Day Fete

Sarkozy wants to focus on 'main event' of US prez visit

(Newser) - Queen Elizabeth is furious at not being invited by the French for D-Day ceremonies next week that will include President Obama, reports the Daily Mail. The French never had any intention of inviting members of the British royal family to the 65th anniversary commemoration in Normandy in order to allow...

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