A D-Day Hero

"Into the Jaws of Death," June 6, 1944. The photograph's original caption reads: "Down the ramp of a Coast Guard landing barge Yankee soldiers storm toward the beach sweeping fire of Nazi defenders in the D-Day invasion of the French Coast. Troops ahead may be seen lying flat under the deadly machinegun resistance of the Germans. Soon the Nazis were driven back under the overwhelming invasion forces thrown in from Coast Guard and Navy amphibious craft." (The National Archives)

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history along the Normandy coast of France. Code-named Operation Overlord, this pivotal assault has become known as "The Longest Day.”

Operation Overlord (West Point Digital History Center Atlases)

American forces stormed two beaches designated Utah and Omaha, while British and Canadian troops landed at Sword, Gold, and Juno beaches.

The seaborne invasion was preceded by extensive bombing and night landings of parachute and glider infantrymen, including the 82nd Airborne Division landing near Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Though the landings ultimately succeeded in establishing a crucial foothold in Nazi-occupied Europe, victory came at a tremendous cost. Approximately 10,000 Allied troops were killed, wounded, or reported missing, including over 4,000 confirmed dead. The highest casualties occurred at Omaha Beach, where more than 2,000 Americans were killed, wounded, or missing.

Utah Beach, Operation Overlord (West Point Digital History Center Atlases)

Among the thousands of servicemen and some women who landed on the Normandy beaches was Norman C. Sandford from Watermill. Serving with the 12th Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, Sandford landed at Utah Beach around noon as part of the second wave. Casualties at Utah Beach were relatively light compared to other landing sites, allowing American forces to advance inland after navigating the flooded terrain behind the beach defenses. By day’s end, the 12th Regiment was able to link up with paratroopers near Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

Americans landing at Utah Beach, June 6, 1944 (The National Archives)

For Norman Sanford, D-Day marked his first combat experience since enlisting in the U.S. Army in May 1942. As a Jewish American, the war against Nazi Germany held profound personal significance. On June 7, the 12th Infantry engaged in fierce fighting on the outskirts of Neuville-au-Plain. During this battle, Sandford was killed in action. He was 28 years old. Sandford was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. He rests at the Normandy American Cemetery, among thousands of his fellow servicemen. A cenotaph in his honor stands at Southampton Cemetery.

National Jewish Welfare Board Card. (ancestry.com)

Normandy American Cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (Musée Mémorial d'Omaha Beach)

As the voices of the "Greatest Generation" grow fainter with time, we invite you to help preserve their memory and honor heroes such as Norman Sanford. If you have a loved one who served or lived through World War II, we welcome you to share their story with us by clicking on this link: https://forms.gle/ZXxMabyJQyGvjc3m7

Please visit Homefront to Battlefront: Southampton during WWII, the Southampton History Museum's pop-up exhibition commemorating the legacies and sacrifices of Southampton's citizens during World War II. The exhibition is open Saturdays from 11 AM to 4 PM at Veterans Memorial Hall in Southampton Village.