June 6, 1944, began with Allied aircraft bombing German defenses in Normandy, followed by some 1,200 aircraft who carried airborne troops. With vets and world dignitaries gathering in Normandy to commemorate the landings' 80th anniversary, here's a look at how Operation Overlord unfolded. In World War II, millions of women rolled up their sleeves and worked in defense-industry factories, freeing up and equipping men for combat. Few witnesses remain who remember the storied Allied assault and history’s biggest amphibious invasion. Vets, many of them centenarians and likely returning for one last time, pilgrimaged to what was the bloodiest of five Allied landings on June 6, 1944. WWII vets are converging on France to revisit old memories, make new ones and hammer home a message D-Day survivors have repeated time and time again. Families of four of the five Marines killed when their Osprey crashed in California allege the manufacturers failed to address known mechanical failures. By Tara Copp, AP
4 months ago Recovered artifacts at the Virginia site include chimney bricks and musket balls that were indented with soldiers’ teeth. "But now the tide has to turn, and we have to get back to quality of life," Gen. Eric Smith said. 'I want Marines focused on bullets on bad guys, not managing HVAC systems.' Load More