The landing.                                                           By Chewie
The mist, it felt refreshing, it felt like there would be no worries as the sun glared down on his helmet. Then he remembered...He remembered where he was, who he was, and what he was doing. In that instant his ears readjusted to his surroundings as he heard yelling, gunfire, and the booming sounds of cannon fire in the distance. Thats right..He was in the middle of the invasion of Normandy. He was about to land on Omaha and take the beach at all cost. His hands gripped tighter to his M1A1 Garand, his pride, his buddy, the only thing that would help him overcome this battle. Gritting his teeth he turned his head to the left and right, watching as his fellow soldiers mentally prepared for the fight ahead. The LCVP or Higgins Boat rocked against the waves as it sliced through the water, intent on reaching it's destination. He refixed his body and kept himself pointed forward, his eyes closing as he heard the call. The call that would start it all..
"30 SECONDS MEN! GET READY!" Yelled the driver of the boat, his voice strong and powerful, demanding almost. That's when the gun fire got even louder and he saw tracers in the sky out of his peripherals. He lowered his form in the boat and heard rather loud tinks and bangs against his boat. Then he felt the boat jerk and come to a sudden stop as the ramp slowly lowered and exposed the bloody battlefield. Bodies, everywhere, men crying, men yelling, it was terrible but he moved. He moved with the purpose to surive, the purpose to end the enemy. He stepped off the boat and looked around as men fired their rifles and watched as men took bullets and dropped to the sand lifeless. He looked up to the hill and saw the bunkers, the muzzle flashes of the machine guns looked like a dragon breathing fire on the world below. Quickly he pushed all thoughts aside and moved his legs as fast as they could move. Running through the blood soaked sand he kept his head low and his weapon ready. With no air left in his lungs he made it to a tank trap and quickly dove against it to shield himself from the incoming fire. Panting heavily he gritted his teeth and looked back at the water. The power they had brought with them was massive, the naval guns firing, the boats coming in, it was historic, it made him proud, but still he cringed every time he watched as a fellow soldier dropped to the ground. How was he so lucky? Why did he make it to cover and others just...died?
That question would stick with him as long as he would live. He pushed all those thoughts aside and raised his rifle as he twisted his form and leaned around the tank trap. Aiming with steady hands he saw a figure moving up on the hill at the top. Exhale...Pull the trigger...Round sent. Within a second the figure dropped to it's knees and then face first into the dirt. He killed a man.. He took the life of an enemy, and he did not think twice. He shuffled to his feet and moved around the tank trap as he ran up the beach even more. He was going to make it.. He would show everyone how damn good of a soldier he was! Sand kicking up under his boots he kept running, he was focused, in his prime and ready for anything. Then he felt it. He felt his entire body shudder as the impact against his chest stopped him dead in his tracks. Looking down to his chest he blinked a few times and dropped his rifle. Falling to his knees he brought his hand to his chest and felt the warm blood as his vision began to blur. Whispering to himself softly he felt the warm tears against the side of his cheek as he struggled for breath. "Im sorry mama...I did my best..." With the last whisp of breath he fell forward, face in the sand as his eyes ceased to see. The battle raged on for a long time as he laid there lifeless. In the end the battle was declared a Decisive Allied Victory. During the entire Battle of Normandy over 209,000 Allied soldiers were killed in battle. 

Remember those who fought for Freedom. Remembers those who died to preserve it.