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Last month, I devoted my column to responses to “Where were you on D-Day, June 6, 1944?”  Today, I will share some additional memories.

“I was born June 6, 1938 (in) Winston-Salem,” shared S. Gray Steifel of Greensboro. “On June 6, 1944, upon hearing the news of the successful landings at Normandy, all the neighbors went outside on their lawns and driveways to celebrate the good news. People were crying, waving flags, etc. My mom says that I was grinning ear to ear ’cause I thought they were celebrating my sixth birthday.”

Steifel adds, “I am a Navy vet (1956-’60); served on the USS Ross, DD 563, a WW2 Fletcher class Tincan (destroyer) out of Norfolk.” A true and treasured family story.

John R. Holden, who now lives in Jacksonville, N.C., was born and raised in Greensboro.

“My dear friend, Kenneth L. Lewis, a Greensboro native, sends me your articles,” he wrote. His re-cap of his military background notes that he served in intelligence and reconnaissance. “It was mid-September of 1944 before we first made our way onto German soil. Two weeks later, we approached a small German village and encountered a heavy barrage from the dreaded and deadly German 88 mm guns.”

But the gist of his comments are about finding comfort from a small dog named Minka. “We soon became so close that nothing could separate us,” he said. The dog stayed with Holden all the time he was overseas, and he was able to smuggle him aboard the troopship that brought his unit back to the States — and then off the ship and onto American soil. Minka’s reaction to being off the ship: He “hit the first 10 trees he saw.”
 

Holden married and he and his wife had three children, all of whom got to know Minka. The dog died in 1957.

Following is information on four more veterans telling where they were that fateful day. It arrived too late to be included in the earlier list.

“June 6, California, preparing to go overseas to England, France. Attached to the 95th Infantry, (and) joined Patton’s 3rd Army. After the Battle of the Bulge, we joined the 9th Army, 2nd Armored Division to spearhead across Germany. After the war was over, (service in the) Army of Occupation as Railroad Security Guards.”
—  George W. Duncan, Greensboro, U.S. Army, sergeant

• • •

“I landed by Higgins landing craft on Omaha Beach just before mid-day. My unit was the 17th Field Artillery. We left from Southampton and when we arrived on the beach, in-coming rifle fire was deadly. When we got off the landing boats, I stayed low and crawled forward with my rifle cradled in my arms. The GI next to me stood up to run forward and was killed. In the fighting, my back was broken, and I spent two days unconscious on the beach before I was evacuated.”
—  Harold Morgan, Gibson­ville, Pfc.

• • •

“Our station was on the south coast of England and our job was to maintain barrage balloons over the harbor to keep dive bombers from attacking shipping in the harbors. On D-Day, we met the boats coming back with the wounded, and everyone of them I talked with wanted me to contact their family back home to let them know that they were OK. But all we could do was offer support and help them get the medical care they needed.”
—  Sheila K. Smith, Greensboro, British Royal Air Force, Leading Aircraft Woman
 

• • •

“On D-Day, I was with the Army’s 1277th Combat Battalion north of London. As usual, my outfit was practicing building the Bailey bridge (replacement bridges), of which we built many later in France and Germany. Also, we removed mines and booby traps, cleared roads, etc. My highest rank was Technician 5th Grade (corporal).”
—  Lewis Webb, Greensboro

• • •

I am listing also veterans who are no longer with us, but whose lives and deeds make them personal heroes of mine. This is where they were on June 6, 1944:

l John R. Bumgarner, Greensboro, U.S. Army surgeon; captured by the Japanese on Bataan Peninsula in April 1942. On June 6, 1944, Capt. Bumgarner was a POW at Camp Kamiso, Hokkaido, Japan. He had been assigned there in March 1944, and described the hospital in his book, “Parade of the Dead”: “a 12 by 18 foot room bare of furnishings except for one charcoal burner.” His responsibility: “150 young British, Irish, and Scottish soldiers” who had been part of the surrender of British Forces in Singapore on Feb. 15, 1942. Capt. Bumgarner was freed when the Pacific War ended in August 1945.

l Steve Millikin, Greensboro, U.S. Navy, seaman: On D-Day, was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, North Chicago, training for combat service on a destroyer escort in the Pacific theater. After discharge, attended UNC- Chapel Hill, where he got his bachelor’s degree and went to law school. Millikin became a leader in the legal and civic affairs of Greensboro and North Carolina. He founded and was the first commander of the Steve Millikin Black Caps Veterans Group, now named in his honor.

On June 14, Flag Day, there was a Memorial Service for Millikin was held at his gravesite at Green Hill Cemetery. It was organized by Millikin’s wife, Sally, and was a loving tribute to the life this fine veteran lived. About 60 friends and colleagues attended. The theme was that no veteran should ever be forgotten.

It was by no means a sad occasion: Millikin was toasted with his favorite Corona beer, served ice cold. Trumpeter Luke Boudreault sounded off with “God Bless America” followed by “The Lord’s Prayer” and then with a rousing “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
For me, the highlight of the event was the ringing of the ship’s bell that is part of the headstone. I felt it was a personal connection to this veteran who contributed so much to the city and the nation.

Ned Harrison, a veteran of WWII, wants to hear from veterans. Send your stories to: Ned Harrison, News & Record, P.O. Box 20848, Greensboro, NC 27420. E-mail:vetspeak@ earthlink.net