France opens its arms as American war veterans return

PARIS - With armfuls of gifts, France on Friday welcomed back American veterans who helped free Europe from Nazi occupation when they landed on Normandy's beaches 60 years ago.

One hundred former World War II fighters saluted and waved as they climbed off a chartered Air France plane that brought them from Washington, D.C., to receive France's highest honor at D-day anniversary commemorations this weekend.

Several leaned on canes as they walked down a red carpet on the tarmac at Charles De Gaulle Airport outside Paris. Many wore military caps and medals on their chests, some toted video cameras and all placed hands over their hearts when a French military band played The Star-Spangled Banner.

They sang along, too, to La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, whose words they had practiced on the flight.

"I'm really humbled by the whole thing," said Rocco Moretto, 79, of the New York City borough of Queens. "The buddies that we left behind were the real heroes. I often think of them."

French Veterans Minister Hamlaoui Mekachera promised the Americans they'd find a warm, grateful welcome here.

"For the French people of 2004, just like for the French people of 1944 ... you are true heroes," he said.

"We are fully aware of what we owe you; we have not forgotten the immense sacrifices that you have made for the liberation of our country."

France is to bestow the Legion of Honor, its most prestigious civilian and military award, on the 100 veterans who were chosen by U.S. officials. France says it wants to honor them as representatives of all the Americans who fought against Nazism.

The 100 veterans are among thousands arriving in France for a weekend of ceremonies marking the 60 years since D-day. Many are now in their 80s or older, and this year's commemorations are likely to be the last major anniversary attended by large numbers of those who participated in the June 6, 1944, landings.

More than 20 national leaders are expected in Normandy to mark the occasion, including President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. It is the first time Russian and German leaders are attending a D-day anniversary.

On Sunday, President Jacques Chirac will bestow the coveted award on Charles Hostler during a Normandy ceremony that will draw the heads of state.

Hostler served with the OSS - Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA - in its effort to lead Nazi spies in France to feed false information about Allied plans back to their German commanders, said his wife, Chin-Yeh Hostler.

The honorees and their relatives traveled free on a flight paid for by Air France and other French businesses. Some of the top hotels in Paris are putting them up without charge.

156,000 Allied troops involved in the invasion of in Normandy:

73,000 Americans,

61,715 British,

21,400 Canadians.

The Germans had 105,000 soldiers there.

6,500 ships and landing craft, which would land nearly 200,000 vehicles and 600,000 tons of supplies in the first three weeks of the operation.

13,000 fighter, bomber and transport aircraft that supported the invasion. The Luftwaffe was able to deploy fewer than 400.

822 aircraft carried parachutists or towed 100 gliders to the Normandy landing zones. Less then half of the gliders deployed with the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions landed intact.

5 beaches where the landings were to take place: Sword, Juno and Gold, where the British and Canadians landed; and Omaha and Utah, where the Americans landed.

10,000 Estimated number of Allied casualties, including 2,500 dead.

U.S. casualties:

1,465 dead,

3,184 wounded,

1,928 missing,

26 captured.

- Sources: The National D-day Memorial Foundation, Encyclopaedia Britannica; Normandie Memoire; U.S. Army Center of Military History; Time magazine.

World and national headlines

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright