Minnesotan recalls his role in D-Day

D-Day
American soldiers on a landing craft headed for the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.
Keystone/Getty Images

The D-Day invasion of Normandy took place 70 years ago today, as Allied forces began the final drive to end Adolf Hitler's domination of Europe. Of the 160,000 personnel landed on the beaches in France, roughly 73,000 were Americans.

One of them was Milton Guion, of Minnesota.

Now 89 years of age and living in May Township just outside of Stillwater, Guion was a teenager in the 87th Chemical Mortar Battalion. He and the members of his unit landed on Utah Beach in the second wave of the D-day assault.

Guion retired from his job 28 years ago. He was married for 63 years. His wife died in 2008. He has three children in their 50s and 60s.

Guion says he doesn't hear as well as he used to, and his memory is a bit clouded. But he remembers the faces of the young men in his gun crew who sailed with him to France that day.

Phil Picardi spoke with him about his part in the invasion for The Daily Circuit.

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