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

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans Day

Hello All,

Today is veterans day, a day of special meaning to me. I'm a veteran of World War II. A survivor of WWII. Naturally, I remember the times when fighting in the Normandy Invasion, that I thought I'd be killed soon. All the soldiers, not just me, felt that the next moment would be their last. Many, many, of my fellow soldiers never made it to the next day, after D-Day, June 6, 1944.

I'm truly sorry for that. Surly they would have wanted to come home after the war, like I did, and have a loving family, a wonderful job...a meaningful life. It's sad to think of the soldiers who were young and full of life to have lost the chance to grow up.

Every man and women I met while in the military always believed in what they were doing. They felt good about their effort, the war effort. After all it was for a great cause, perhaps the greatest cause of all. So today, veterans day, take a few moments and think of the many who gave their lives, willingly, to help our great country survive. Those who didn't make it would want you to enjoy your freedom's, love your family and do your best in every pursuit you have. It's every soldiers dream for you to enjoy life, for what they did.

Don't forget those who serve our military now. They have the same mission as those who have perished.

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