Special Feature
World War II Participants and Contemporaries
 | Stanley T. "Stan" Bahner
Topeka, Kansas
U.S. Army, Mediterranean Theater |
February 18, 1944-"My God, what a day. Today was the day we have all been waiting for (or I should say expecting.) Jerry [German forces] tossed all hell at us. We had tanks firing point blank at us. I have seen men pray before, but nothing like we are doing today. I have a headache from bombs landing so close. All of us have aged a lot. I watched one of the officers trying to read a funny paper and his hands were shaking like leaves . . . . I have had shells fall closer, but never have I felt so useless. Our infantry took an awful beating. Some got caught between German infantry and German tanks. Some crawled out under our artillery barrage. All day our infantry was carrying back wounded. Two companies were captured. The Germans have massed infantry. They seem to be giving their all. I must admit it's a hell of a lot. The strain on a man's mind is terrific and sleep is a thing of the past. Lt. Conely and Sgt. Ayers got killed at Observation Post 4. Ayers was the only guy left that was inducted with me."
-Stan's diary
Battle for Anzio
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Save the Date - June 6, 2014
D-Day 70th Anniversary
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On June 6, 1944, approximately 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which "we will accept nothing less than full victory." More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day's end, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Normandy.
Plans are moving forward in scheduling special programming and activities for a multi-day, commemorative event. Veterans and the public are invited to join in all the commemorative activities, especially the third annual Symphony at Sunset concert on the lawn.
"We hope to create an extra special event this year commemorating what is perhaps the most momentous day in World War II history. We are extending an invitation to the community to help us mark this special day," states Karl Weissenbach, Director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library.
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