D-Day

World War II started when Hitler's Germany invaded neighboring Poland in 1939, and by the end of 1940 much of Europe was under his heel. France was conquered in 1940 and would remain occupied for four years - until D-Day, June 6, 1944.

While Hitler slept in that morning, and his generals were undecided, one-hundred-fifty-thousand troops landed along the Atlantic coast and began taking back the nation of France for the French people.

American General Eisenhower told those troops, "The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you." 

It was a day of heroic effort by many, and some won the Medal of Honor. Read their stories here, including the story of one Army private who "arose as a leader" on the beaches of Normandy.

(cont'd tomorrow)