Results tagged “General Dwight D. Eisenhower” from Yucaipa Now

Albert R. Gonzales of Calimesa was one of the thousands of soldiers who fought in the bloody invasion of the beaches of Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Photos By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

"June 6, 1944, 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 on June 6, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high - more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded - but more than 100,000 soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler."

By Diana Sholley / Staff Writer

CALIMESA - On June 6,1944, thousands of young men crammed into the bellies of ships and planes and waited to meet their destiny on the beaches of Normandy.

Among exploding bombs, machine-gun fire and torpedo blasts, many brave men pushed on through a sea turned red with the blood of soldiers while others parachuted into Normandy.

Saturday marks the 65th anniversary of D-Day. Sharing his story from that day is Albert R. Gonzales, 85, from Calimesa.

On a barge on the waters off Omaha Beach, 400 soldiers, including Pfc. Albert R. Gonzales, received their D-Day instructions from the ship's captain.

"He said, 'When that door opens, go out running,'" Gonzales recalled. "We jumped out and into the water that was up to here," he said, motioning to his chest. "We held our guns over our heads and went for the beach."