Robert J. Korgie
Robert J. Korgie served in the United States Navy from 1942-1948 joining the Navy weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was sent to Northwestern University in Chicago to learn to be a naval radioman. He would earn the rank of Navy Radioman First Class on his assignments that took him from from the European to Pacific Theaters of World War II.
Radioman First Class Korgie served on the USS Phelps DD361 during the D-Day Invasion. He left these words of what he saw:
"For me it started on the eve before the invasion when our destroyer squadron left an English harbor escorting minesweepers while they cleared the beach areas of German mines and other obstructions. Our biggest problem was keeping the boats from attacking us and the minesweeper. At sun up things really began to happen. First came the roar and sighting of our bombers and fighters. The sky was alive with planes. Some began bombing and strafing the beach area, while others flew further inland. Our guns were firing at the cliffs while the Germans were firing back at us. We sustained some hits, but nothing serious. Then came the ships on the horizon in unbelievable numbers: battleships, cruisers, troopships, tankers, supply ships and more. The seas were still very rough when the troops started heading for the beaches. I noticed many were very seasick from the rough crossing and when they had to wade ashore loaded down with guns and ammo the waves knocked them over and many drowned. It was a pathetic site of thousands of our drowned soldiers floating everywhere. Others were being blown to bits by German artillery and motor fire. This went on most of the day until the beaches were secured and the Nazis were driven up the cliffs and farther inland at sunset. It was then a large barge was tied up to our ship. It stacked our brave men 10 feet high. At sunrise, the barge left the beach to bury all those who died that day. I feel humbly honored to have been a part of this great effort and sacrifice to preserve our flag and our freedom."
May this first hand account be a reminder of the service of the many brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country and our freedom. May they never be forgotten.
