Sacramento's Harry Schmid, a glider pilot, and Ed Chandler before the launch of Operation Market Garden. September 17, 1944. Schmid also took part in the invasion of Normandy.

Source: Harry Schmid

Airborne troops are ferried to Holland for Operation Market Garden. September 17, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-198051)

Pvt. Murray Poznac, a signal corps cameraman assigned to the airborne invasion of Holland, with two Dutch children, September 18, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-271536-1)

Citizens of Gravas, Holland welcome American paratroopers, part of Operation Market Garden. September 18, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-195311)

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

Harry Schmid was born in 1921, a 5th generation Sacramentan. His father worked for the telephone company and moved the family to Stockton in the mid 1930s, but Schmid returned to Sacramento after high school, got a job as a bookkeeper at the telephone company and studied accounting at Sacramento . . .

Harry Schmid, ready for combat, in front of a cafe. March, 1945. Schmid, from Sacramento, became a glider pilotand was part of the landings in Normandy and Operation Market Garden. After landing his glider, he became an infrantryman.

Source: Harry Schmid

Sacramento's Harry Schmid, "on-tow" , at the helm of his glider. Schmid took part in the invasion of Normandy and Operation Market Garden.

Source: Harry Schmid

Harry Schmid's glider after a bumpy landing in Holland. September 17, 1944. Schmid was part of the invasion of Normandy and Operation Market Garden.

Source: Harry Schmid

The hardest part was not knowing what was going to happen.

Jumpmaster inspects paratroopers of 82nd Airborne preparing for Operation Market Garden, the invasion of Holland. Sept. 17, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-254001)

Brig. Gen. James Gavin, 82nd Airborne, prepares his pack, outside of plane, for Operation Market Garden, the invasion of Holland. September 17, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-232810)

Members of the 101st Glider Borne Division head for the loading area. September 18, 1944, one day after Operation Market Garden began.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-377589)

Anglo-American offensive that included history's largest airborne operation. The brainchild of British Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Operation MARKET-GARDEN was designed to catapult the 21st Army Group across the Rhine River into the Ruhr, Germany's industrial heartland, and win the war in 1944. The plan called for three airborne divisions . . .

In Holland, American paratroopers turned infantrymen advance during Operation Market Garden. September 25, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-253999)

During Operation Market Garden, medics attached to the 101st Airborne Division take cover at the side of a road in Holland. September 18, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-353361)

British armor and motorized vehicles roll across the Nijmegen Bridge over the Rhine in Holland, part of Operation Market Garden. September 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-194336)

The remains of Nijmegen, Holland and the Nijmegen Bridge, September 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-194568)