June 6, 1944

As the 50th anniversary of D Day neared in 1994, the S-R presented a multi-day package of stories and photographs featuring local participants.

Almost all of them are gone now.

Here’s how a story I wrote began.

The practice assaults on the English coast had been a breeze.

And the commanders had said the combined air and naval bombardment of the German defenses would minimize resistance.

But as his landing craft dipped and rocked toward barely visible Omaha Beach early on the morning of June 6, 1944, Calvin Warner’s first glimpse of combat revealed the truth.

Nazi guns ripped into the advancing flotilla. Not far from Warner, boats were blown out of the water. Others foundered in the vomit-inducing waves.

There was screaming and confusion. Bodies floated everywhere.

“You talk about being scared,” he said. “You’ve never been scared like that in your life.”