BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa. — Last week, our nation's heroes once again descended on the beaches of Normandy 80 years after the initial invasion of D-Day—among them two World War II veterans from Susquehanna and Bradford Counties.
In the center of Bradford County sits a tribute to service and sacrifice, but just down the road, the memories of that service and sacrifice live with Bill Wall and Harold Gary every single day.
The two have become friends over the past year, sharing their experiences of World War II.
Wall enlisted at 19 years old. He was a radio operator and aerial gunner tasked with bombing roads and bridges across Germany and France. Bill was assigned to the 733rd Bombing Squadron, and his group operation's officer was movie star Jimmy Stewart. Bill says he was one of the few crews who were not shot down and had the same men throughout the entirety of the war.
"I was hoping to make a better world for my kids and everybody else," Wall said.
Gary decided to enlist as well at 21 years old after the events of Pearl Harbor. He chose the Navy. After completing his Navy training and becoming an aviation machinist second class, he was assigned to Squadron VPB-74, a patrol bomber group flying over the Atlantic. While keeping our waters safe, his brother was also serving overseas flying B-17s until he made the ultimate sacrifice.
Wall was originally expected to fly 25 missions but ended up flying 32. The day after D-Day, he was back in the air, his bombings forcing the Germans to retreat.
Last week, 80 years since that day, these heroes of Normandy returned to the beaches.
"Eighty years. That's the first time I went back," Wall said.
Both received thanks from a grateful nation.
"The welcoming, the warmth of the French people, they wanted to touch you. They wanted to know that they were thankful," Gary said.
Wall got the chance to walk on the sand he once flew over. A place that haunted him for years now brought closure.
"It gave me a chance to give those final goodbyes," Wall said.
These heroes remain humble about their service 80 years later.
"I don't feel like a hero now," Wall said. "Those heroes are the ones under those crosses in the unmarked graves. Those are the real heroes."