Stories from Normandy

Personal accounts from the beaches that changed the world
For those who walked these shores, and those who remember

Filter by Beach:
All Beaches Gold Beach Juno Beach Omaha Beach Pointe du Hoc Sainte-Mère-Église Sword Beach Utah Beach
Omaha Beach

The Brothers Who Landed Together and Didn't Survive the Hour

Private First Class Preston Niland and Sergeant Robert Niland were brothers from Tonawanda, New York. Preston landed with the 22nd Infantry Regiment on the eastern end of Omaha Beach. Robert was a par...

June 6-7, 1944 Preston Niland, Robert Niland, Frederick Niland, E...
Omaha Beach

The Chaplain Who Buried the Dead Under Fire on Omaha

Father Francis Sampson was a Catholic chaplain with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne. He landed near Sainte-Mère-Église on D-Day and spent the next three days moving betwe...

June 7, 1944 Father Francis Sampson, burial detail soldiers...
Omaha Beach

The Chaplain Who Buried the Dead Under Fire on Omaha

Father Francis Sampson was a Catholic chaplain with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne. He landed near Sainte-Mère-Église on D-Day and spent the next three days moving betwe...

June 7, 1944 Father Francis Sampson, burial detail soldiers...
Omaha Beach

The Medic Who Died Saving 200 Men on Omaha

Private First Class Waverly B. Woodson Jr. was an African-American medic with the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion attached to the 1st Infantry Division. When his landing craft from the 629th Tank Dest...

June 6, 1944 Private First Class Waverly B. Woodson Jr....
Omaha Beach

The Chaplain Who Died Praying Over a Wounded Man

Father Ignatius Maternowski was one of only four Catholic chaplains killed on D-Day. With the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne, he landed by glider in the early hours. Despite th...

June 6, 1944 Father Ignatius Maternowski...
Omaha Beach

The Piper Who Walked the Beach Playing for the Dead

Bill Millin was Lord Lovat's personal piper with the 1st Special Service Brigade. Under heavy fire on Sword Beach (later moving to support operations near Omaha), Lovat ordered him to pipe the troops ...

June 6, 1944 Bill Millin, Lord Lovat (Simon Fraser)...