
BY SAM ROTH
The following human stories are my personal experiences. During my return to Europe this summer for the World War II 50th-anniversary commemorative events, these experiences affected me as much as my return visit to Omaha Beach.
I am a product of the brutality of the 1944 D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach, the invasion of Luzon, and the battle of Manila. I was on two ships— one hit by a mine, the other hit by a suicide plane. Still, the following human happenings have given me food for thought and faith, that with all its faults, the human race will survive and make a better and more humane society.
Let me first begin by saying that on my return visit to Normandy, the French people, French police, American military, and other Europeans treated me with kindness and did everything possible to make my visit there enjoyable. They succeeded.
On June 4, 1994, I was sitting in the lobby of the hotel in Le Havre with other veterans, drinking beer. Two Frenchmen came out of the restaurant toward us. They both took our bands and told us how glad they were to see us, and they thanked us for freeing them from the German occupation. Then. The unexpected happened.
One of the Frenchmen fell on his knees and began to cry, telling us that even though he lost part of his family due to the shelling of his home by the Americans during the invasion of Normandy, he still was thankful that France was liberated.
After that, he again shook my bands, and l had a terrible feeling in my gut, thinking since I was a spotter for a battleship with 16-inch guns, did my spotting hit his house, and kill part of his family.
On the late evening of June 6, 1994, I was leaving Omaha Beach to go back to Le Havre. After U.S. Army soldiers were kind enough to help me find my car, I started back to Le Havre. On my way, I got lost and ended up on some country lanes. Since I’m not able to speak French, it was very difficult to communicate and get directions.
I finally came to a small village, where people were coming out of church. After parking, I asked if anyone spoke English.
Lo and behold, a young girl between 10 and 12 years old came over to me, and was able to speak a little English. I told this beautiful young girl that I was lost and wanted to go to Le Havre. She said she would ask her father and be right back. I took off my Chicago Bulls cap and put it on her head. I gave her a hug and a kiss and continued to Le Havre. This French family went at least 20 miles out of their way to help a stranger from a strange country. I will never forget this act of kindness.
In the short time, I was in Normandy, there were many incidents of human kindness, and I’m sure all of us who revisited France went home feeling exhilarated. For me, the experience is unforgettable.
-Sam Roth, of DeLand, was a member of the 293rd JointAssault Signal Company during World War II.