MAUMEE, Ohio — Thursday is the 75th anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandyit was the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.
Dan Cummins found two brothers who are a living part of our nation’s history.
George and Ken Snyder are in their mid 90s Raised in Maumee,both were drafted into the Army during World War II.
That was 75 years ago, but it’s something they’ll never forget.
Omaha Beach was hell on Earth. There was a massive assault by American troops at the most heavily defended section of Normandy
Ken Snyder, a Maumee native, was in a landing craft. with his artillery unit.
“Our outfit was pinned down on the beach.. because they had a cement wall and till that wall was penetrated it was impossible to get off the beach," Ken said.
An estimated 24,000 were killed ... but they took the beach.
Nobody loves their country more than a veteran who answered the call.
Ken’s brother George served in Italy with the 85th Infantry. In January 1944, he fought at Anzio in Italy. That battle cost 7,000 American lives. Geoge was a German POW for a month before escaping.
I first met George two years ago with Flag City Honor Flight at the World War II Memorial.
“I just don’t want anybody to go thru what I went thru.. it was terrible. Unbelievable,” George said.
The allies broke through and pushed across France.
Ken was in Germany when the war ended.
George was on a ship heading to the Pacific for the planned invasion of Japan. That never had to happen. The war was finally over in 1945.
But forgetting it was another matter.
“I used to wake up screaming and crying. My wife said you gotta put a stop to that. We had a reunion in 1947 with the outfit I was in. I got to meet the guys left. There were just 12 of 250. That broke everything after that," George said.
There was a third Snyder brother — Bernard, a Navy medic in the Pacific. He, too came home, but died just a few years ago.