Lying on the rocks are the bodies of dead American assault troops killed in action while storming Omaha Beach. France. June 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-189924)

On June 6, 1944, D-Day in the European Theater, a million and a half Allied troops embark on one of the greatest invasions in history: the invasion of France.

Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944, was the Western Allies' greatest operation of World War II and the finest hour of Anglo-American cooperation. Only the United States and the British Empire could have successfully undertaken the largest and most dangerous amphibious assault in history. The . . .

As seen from a Coast Guard landing barge, the first wave of American soldiers approaches the shores of Normandy, France, June 6, 1944

Source: National Archives (26-G-237)

American soldiers, under German artillery fire, disembark from a landing craft off the shores of Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of France. June 6, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-189906 ?)

The news of D-Day reaches across America

A landing craft packed with soldiers approaches the shores of Normandy, France. June 6, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-320901)

Near an English port, a landing craft ferries American soldiers to the transport ship that will take them to Normandy for the D-Day invasion. June 1944.

Source: National Archives (80-G-252154)

Allied soldiers wade through the surf during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. June 6, 1944

Source: National Archives (26-G-2343)

Crossed rifles serve as a tribute to an American soldier killed during th D-Day invasion. Normandy France, June 1944.

Source: National Archives (26-G-2397)

Dwain Luce was born April 25 1916, and grew up in Mobile. His father was in the lumber business. Luce graduated from high school in l934 and from Auburn in l938, with a reserve commission. After graduation he went to work at his family's cannery business in Mississippi. On December . . .

Mobile's Dwain Luce, left, with friends Hunter Marstan, Jack Manning and Stuart Waring. Luce, a glider pilot, would see action in Sicily, Italy, Normandy and Holland as part of Operation Market Garden.

Source: Dwain Luce

Mobile's Dwain Luce poses for a snapshot. Luce, a glider pilot, would see action in Sicily, Italy, Normandy and Holland as part of Operation Market Garden.

Source: Dwain Luce

Ernest Taylor Pyle, best known as "Ernie," covered the Second World War for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain. Pyle was born to farmers in Dana, Indiana on August 3, 1900. He joined the US Navy in 1918 hoping to see action in World War One, but the . . .

Ernie Pyle at Anzio, Italy. March 18, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-191703)

Ernie Pyle at his typewriter, Anzio, Italy, March 18, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-191705)

A favorite of the GIs, journalist Ernie Pyle offers a cigarette to an infantryman. He later would be killed by a sniper's bullet.

Source: National Archives (127-N-116840)

President Roosevelt leads the nation in prayer for the cross-channel invasion. (excerpt)

Joseph Vaghi was born in Bethel, Connecticut on June 27, 1920, one of nine children born to Italian immigrants. His father owned and operated a successful cabinetry business and during the war received a contract to make rings for the Norden bombsite. All six boys in the family would eventually . . .

Group portrait of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion taken in Swansea, England before D-Day, 1944. Joe Vaghi, top row second from the left, served as a beach master.

Source: Joe Vaghi