Ranger Copeland: Memorial Day

Bloody Omaha: My Remembrances of That Day (Paperback, Fall - 2010) by James Robert Copeland, S/SGT., 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion

I remember receiving sniper fire from above in a similar scene as pictured here -- none of us thought we'd make it. I did make it and here is my story.

It begins from my childhood in West Virginia, where my family and my family's family, worked in the coal mines.

When war broke out (Pearl Harbor), I enlisted in the Army and became Army Ranger -- fighting that fateful day, on the bloodiest beach, June 6th, 1944.

As a home health aid my wife Linda discovered James Robert Copeland. Linda and I were surprised with his energy, his vitality and his story. It didn't take much conversation to convince him of the importance of recording his story for posterity. We had several interviews over the past year and each time JR (as Ranger Copeland likes to be called), reminded me he felt his time was running out. He wanted me to hurry in my writing so he could see the finished book.

JR Copeland will be 89 years old this year. There has never been a time when I didn't find him cordial, informative and quite lucid in his conversation. Hopefully JR will see his story published -- this man is a magnanimous individual, besides being a war hero. I hope my writing does justice to his great story.

--garry m graves, biographer

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Memorial Day - 2011

The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach is the final resting place of a few good friends of mine.

Soldiers killed on D-Day.

They all wanted a life beyond WWII. A family…kids to love and take care of.

I was one of the lucky ones, I made it off that bloody beach. Sure, I’d been shot a couple times but I was breathing -- unlike the 6000 or so others who took their last breath June 6, 1944.

War is hell.

Take just a minute today and remember all veterans, living and dead.

Respectfully, James Robert Copeland, S/Sgt., Company B, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, WWII Survivor.