70 Years Later: Howell Veteran Recalls His Role on D-Day70 Years Later: Howell Veteran Recalls His Role on D-Day

6/6/14 - It was 70 years ago today that the D-Day invasion of Normandy took place in World War II, and on this anniversary a Livingston County veteran of that historic event is back on the same soil he helped to liberate. 89-year old Don Burgett of Howell was just 19 when he parachuted into Normandy in the morning hours of June 6th, 1944 as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. He’s back in Normandy today for anniversary celebrations, but recalls that morning as if it were yesterday. "I parachuted in at 14 after one in the morning on D-Day. The beach landings started at 6:30. I picture myself as 19 years old, dark, all alone in a field taking my parachute harness off. It gets to you, almost hour by hour, where you were and what your were doing." Burgett was a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was charged with securing the causeways behind Utah Beach, so that the troops landing in a few hours would have an exit to get off the beach and head inland. But they were dropped miles from their intended target and had to fight their way to their objective. Burgett’s experiences of the war only began in Normandy. He took part in the ill-fated “Operation Market Garden” drop into Holland and then helped to hold the line against a last-gasp German attack at the Battle of the Bulge. Burgett will be honored tomorrow by the French government with the Légion of Honour, the highest decoration in France, and is normally reserved only for citizens of that nation. However, it is also bestowed to those who have served and fought in defense of France. Burgett would go on to write four books about his experiences, including the iconic “Currahee; A Screaming Eagle at Normandy.” Burgett says he’s working on a fifth book about his experiences. Picture courtesy of AFP. (JK)