Use controls above or click here to open this Hometown Heroes podcast in a new window
Episode #576 of Hometown Heroes, airing May 16-19, 2019, advances our countdown to the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion with the stories of three men who experienced that scene from three different vantage points on June 6, 1944. Before hearing their D-Day experiences, you’ll hear excerpts from President Ronald Reagan’s speech from the 40th anniversary commemoration in Normandy in 1984, which you can view in its entirety below:

Vahram Kiramidjian witnessed the daring ascent of the 2nd Ranger Battalion that President Reagan showcased in his speech. Assigned to the role of trainer on the #2 gun turret aboard the destroyer USS Satterlee (DD-626), which fired at German positions from the base of Pointe du Hoc, he shared his D-Day story with Hometown Heroes in 2010. Kiramidjian passed away in 2013, but you can link to his complete original interview here.

Phillip “Pete” Hauck shared his unique World War II story on the radio in 2011. Included in this episode are explanations of why he actually made two trips into Omaha Beach with the 502nd Engineer Company on June 6th, 1944. Hauck passed away in 2016. You can listen to his original interview through these links: Part I and Part II.

The third D-Day survivor you’ll hear from in this episode is Colonel Arnald Gabriel, who will carry out a very special role on the 75th anniversary of the invasion. On June 6th, 2019, Gabriel will conduct a collection of musicians performing for the official anniversary ceremony that will draw participants from around the globe.

He did the same thing in 2014, 70 years after he came ashore on Omaha Beach with the 29th Infantry Division. Link to the original interview with Colonel Gabriel here.