As June 6th comes around each year, I am always aware it is yet another anniversary of the famed D-Day invasion of Normandy, France that occurred on June 6, 1944. I am even more keenly aware of the date when it falls on a Tuesday, as it does this year (2023), for it was in the early Tuesday morning hours that thousands of Allied ships approached the coast of France and American, Canadian and British soldiers landed on the beaches to begin the long-anticipated assault on Hitler’s “Fortress Europe.”
At the time of the invasion, US Army Private John McKenzie, was departing from Fort Meade and heading to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey from where he would sail on a troop ship to England. The Allies had succeeded in gaining a beachhead on the coast of France, but proceeding further inland was proving to be tough going. Casualties were mounting, and replacement soldiers – especially infantrymen like John – were needed to keep the attack moving forward.
On Wednesday, July 19, John was one of 34 replacements assigned to duty with the 134th Infantry Regiment, which as a part of the 35th Infantry Division was then engaged in the Battle of Saint-Lo. It was just the beginning of a long tour of combat duty for John. By virtue of never becoming a casualty himself, he was present for the entire campaign through France, into Belgium and the Battle of the Bulge, and on into Germany. You can read his story in the new book, “Hero in the Family: A World War II Combat Story.”
“Hero in the Family: A World War II Combat Story” is the latest book written by Matt McKenzie, and is available for purchase on Amazon.
MATTHEW McKENZIE 