Grandpa, Private Zorko at the time, was in the fourth boat that landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on D-Day, June, 6, 1944. The first three boats were destroyed. During the invasion, the U.S. 29th and 1st Infantry Divisions confronted the 352nd, the best of Germany’s coast divisions. The invasion almost failed, but with dedicated local leadership and a cost of over 2000 lives, the troops made it inland.

Many of Grandpa’s fellow soldiers, and superiors, were among those 2000. He was given a field promotion to the rank of Sergeant that day on Omaha beach.

He didn’t really talk about it for over sixty years, until he moved in with Mom, where he told her some of the stories about that time in his life that she had never heard before. He was so humble, he had earned service medals in the war that he never bothered to claim.

Encyclopædia Britannica has a site dedicated to the history of D-Day. You can find it here.

When J. Island was in France last summer, he got the chance to walk on Omaha Beach in Normandy, and learn a little about what happened there. He wrote Grandpa’s name in the sand, and took a picture of it. He gave the picture to Grandpa when he got back from the trip.

At Grandpa’s funeral, a large Honor Guard was present and he was given graveside military honors. He received a 3-volley salute, a bugler played Taps, and Mom was presented with the American Flag that had draped his casket. It was a deep and touching moment closing the final chapter in his long full life.

He was put to rest next to Grandma, where he will always be at peace. We will all miss them.

-Island