I was only a "glint in the eye" of a young 2nd Lieutenant waiting in southern England to jump in on D+3. On the approach to Brest and the huge submarine base there, a German sniper took out each of his company's officers until he was senior. 30 minutes later they got him ... one round through both thighs. His sergeant threw him over a hedgerow and into a field, where he lay for 24 hours waiting to be evacuated. Once hospitalized, he somehow talked the docs out of amputating both legs, and after two years in Army hospitals, eventually recovered almost fully -- certainly enough to walk many a mile in search of pheasants.

One of many thousands from many nations, but my personal hero. Thank you, David, for thinking of them all on this special day. Here's to my dad and yours. TT

"The very acme of duck shooting is a big 10, taking ducks in pass shooting only." - Charles Askins