Today marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day, when 156,000 Allied troops landed at Normandy, the largest amphibious invasion ever to take place, opening up a second front against the Nazis. It was a turning point in the war — often called the beginning of the end of the war in Europe.
Troops from the United States, England, Canada and France participated in the invasion on Tuesday, June 6, 1944. Among them was a 19-year-old from Brooklyn, Daniel DeFrancisco.
De Francisco, now 89 and a 30-year resident of Reeves Park, Riverhead, vividly remembers the invasion and the battles that followed. He was a member 87th Chemical Mortar Battalion, part of the second wave of the assault on Utah Beach. His unit was tasked with supporting the infantry. The Germans mounted a counterattack after the battalion hit the beach but were pushed back. De Francisco’s entire battalion was awarded the Silver Star for its part in that effort. DeFrancisco survived the assault and with his unit made his way through France and pushed into Germany, fighting in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. He took shrapnel in the leg in Hurtgen Forest.
For his role on D-Day, De Francisco was awarded the French Legion of Honor during ceremonies at West Point last month. See story, “Riverhead WWII veteran honored by France for D-Day role.”
RiverheadLOCAL sat down with De Franciso in November and he shared his memories of D-Day and his wartime service with reporter Micah Danney. See story, “Almost 70 years later, Riverhead veteran’s WWII memories are still vivid and painful.”
The coverage got the attention of reporters for DW, a Germany international news media company. DW contacted RiverheadLOCAL asking to be introduced to De Francisco for an interview.
As a result of that interview, De Francisco was featured prominently in the German media company’s special D-Day coverage. See DW story (English).
DW reaches “roughly 100 million people per week in 30 languages,” a company spokesman said.
De Francisco, a life member of Riverhead VFW Post 2476, is the one of only three World War II veterans who are members of the post, according to its former commander, Joe Edler.
His new-found international celebrity doesn’t faze De Francisco, but he is surprised people are so interested in the D-Day invasion so many years later.
After the war, De Francisco became a machine operator for a men’s clothing manufacturer in Manhattan. He married his wife Evelyn in 1955 and they lived in Brooklyn until his retirement in 1986, when they moved to Reeves Park — where they had summered since 1971.
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