Seventy-five years ago today allied forces, led by Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, took part in the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Departing the Southern coast of England and crossing the English Channel, destined for the Nazi occupied and heavily fortified northwest coast of France were the beaches of Normandy.

D-Day, the Normandy Invasion, code named Operation Neptune, the initial phase of Operation Overlord. That Operation, Operation Overlord, executed throughout the following months, successfully guided allied forces through their mission to liberate Europe, ending the occupation and reign of Hitler’s Nazi regime.

In addition to the troops storming the beaches facing heavy machine gun and devastating 105-mm howitzer fire at Normandy, and the Army Rangers, receiving heavy enemy fire from above while scaling the steep cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, was another important aspect of the D-Day mission. The Airborne invasions. Soldiers dropping behind enemy lines in Glider aircraft, known as the Glider Infantry Regiment and soldiers jumping from airplanes known as the Parachute Infantry Regiment.

It is memories from among the likes of these paratroopers, that I want to share with you today.

Many hours before the seaborne invasion was to begin, thousands of airborne paratroopers, from the recently formed Parachute Infantry Regiments, loaded into C47 transport airplanes in England preparing for their flight across the English channel to fulfill their mission as part of the D-Day invasion. In the early morning darkness of June 6th, behind enemy lines above and beyond the beaches of Normandy, the planes begin to take on fierce enemy anti-aircraft fire. Many of the C47 aircraft and their cargo of paratroopers perished before reaching their specified DZ (drop zones).

The remaining paratroopers, their static lines secured, awaited the green light above them, the signal from the pilot to jump. At the flash of the green light, amid the flash of enemy fire, paratroopers began to pour from the planes, many landing far from their specified DZ. Their mission in part was to block enemy exit routes, destroy bridges and to slow Nazi reinforcements as the seaborne invasion was to begin. Realizing heavy casualties before, during and after the jump, the accomplishments of these paratroopers throughout the remaining months of the war, is truly an amazing story. One I hope many of you will research and come to respect.

I want to share with you a little bit about two of the men that made that jump on D-Day. Two men I came to know — two men I came to admire and respect and two men that helped change the world .

The first is Joe Lesniewski. I met Joe, compliments of my brother, at a nearby firearm show. My brother had teased me by saying, “there will be someone there I’m sure you’ll want to meet.” At that show, my brother brought to my attention, an elderly, but fit gentleman, as he began to unpack. He began by displaying wartime memorabilia including the unmistakable “screaming eagle” of the 101st Airborne. Following came WWII memorabilia and books and finally an engraved wooden sign that read, “Band of Brothers.”

Joe had served during WWII in E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. An original member of Easy Company portrayed in the miniseries, Band of Brothers.

I introduced myself and years of friendship then began. Joe invited me to his home where I met his lovely wife Phyllis. During my visits to his home he shared with me many stories of his time at war. From that early morning June 6 jump in darkness, and the ensuing chaos. His role in assisting to disable the four German howitzers pounding our troops as they stormed the beaches at Normandy. Through the many horrifying days during the battle at Bastogne where two of his best friends lost their lives in a foxhole, a direct hit from a German mortar shell. His stories are vivid in my memory. But my most precious memory of Joe is one of my last visits I had with him.

He said to me, “Before you leave I want to show you something.” He got up and returned with a box. He opened that box and began to remove items he wanted me to see. First came his marksmanship badge, then a clicker, also called a cricket, then jump wings … I reached over to Joe’s hand to stop him there. I picked up the clicker and asked if this was the clicker he carried when he jumped on D-Day.

He nodded. I then asked if these were the jump wings he had worn all through the war. Again Joe looked at me and nodded. I had to pause for a moment, realizing, I was holding in my hands, two pieces of history that accompanied Joe from his jump on D-Day through the end of the war. I have not the words to do that moment justice, I hope many of you will seek similar opportunities. There are many Veterans among us, each with interesting stories to share. You will find them beyond rewarding.

The second person is Spencer Wurst. I knew of Spencer but not enough to even know he was a veteran. Until one day when I called my brother to see if he was interested in taking a little road trip. He said he couldn’t because he was taking Spencer Wurst to a reunion in Ohio. A reunion of 82nd Airborne paratroopers that jumped with Spencer on D-Day. I had no idea. And said I would like to meet him.

A few days after their return my brother, on his way to Spencer’s for a visit, invited me along for a formal introduction. And again, the beginning of a valued friendship. I shared many rewarding visits with Spencer, listening to stories from his memory of the war. A memorable moment he shared, was of his jump on D-Day.

“We were flying too high and traveling too fast when the green light came on. As I stepped to the door, I looked at my watch. It was 51 minutes past 1 am on June 6th 1944.”

That moment, so vivid in his memory. But rather than share with you more of his stories, I ask you read his memoir, “Descending from the Clouds.” I found it a very informative, interesting and enjoyable read. I think you will too.

The many stories these men shared with me, men that were there 75 years ago today, will live with me, as long as my memory serves me. Neither are with us now to celebrate this 75th anniversary of the day they both helped change the world, but I will do my part to keep the memory of these men I called friends, and those that served with them, alive in the minds of many, these many years since they have served.

But the greatest reward for me from all of this is the time I spent in the presence of these men. Men of strength, honor, courage, dignity, integrity, pride. Men dedicated to God and to Country. Men that defied overwhelming odds, defined sacrifice, and denied Hitlers Nazi regime. Men, when the word hero was directed at them, denied any act of heroism. Instead, assuring me, heroism lies within the souls of warriors lost on the battlefield.

“They were the heroes — we were the survivors.” Words, they and their likes, so often reminded me. Truly, these men, and all that served along side them, have earned the title, and their rightful place among, “The Greatest Generation.”