D-Day Veterans Bill Soule, Franklin Simon, Christy Fier and Marvin Gilmore
Marvin Gilmore
D-Day Veterans Bill Soule, Franklin Simon, Christy Fier and Marvin Gilmore at Le Roosevelt Bar - Utah Beach
USA Warrior Stories was in Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. While at Utah Beach we heard that a group of D-Day Veterans were having lunch at the Le Roosevelt. We were honored to speak with Bill Soule, Franklin Simon, Christy Fier and other D-Day Veterans like Marvin Gilmore, one of the last surviving African-Americans who served during the Liberation of Europe. This group of WWII Veterans was brought to the 80th Anniversary of D-Day by The Rifle and organization started by Andrew Biggio.
For more information on The Rifle search @therifle
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To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1945, USAWS is showcasing a WWII Veteran each month. Jim was born on November 7, 1927 in Brooklyn NY, he was orphaned at the age of 13 years old, and has been on his own ever since. With the country at war at that time he joined the Merchant Marine at the age of 16. He started in the engine room of a coal burning ship as a coal passer. Then transferred to the deck department. He was on ships during the North African campaign. Later he continued on ships bringing supplies in support of the D-Day Invasion and liberation of France.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1945, USAWS is showcasing a WWII Veteran each month. Claude Perasso was born in San Francisco on May 31, 1926 attending St. Ignatius and leaving before graduation to serve in the Merchant Marine during WW2 in the South Pacific at age 17. After the war Claude returned to San Francisco, attended U.S.F both undergrad and law school eventually serving in the San Francisco Public Defenders Office for sixteen years before being appointed as a judge.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1945, USAWS is showcasing a WWII Veteran each month. "It was my honor to serve my country. But it wasn't just me, I would say my whole generation, the spirit in those days, the spirit in the barracks, the spirit. Nobody ever complained. It was just a wonderful, wonderful thing the way the whole country came together." - Justin Kawaler, Making 103 Years Old Look Good
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1945, USAWS is showcasing a WWII Veteran each month.