Utah veterans remember D-Day

TOOELE — Fifty World War II veterans from Utah and their guests came together Saturday in a private World War II museum to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the first day of the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day.

Museum owner and Provo investor Karl Smith, 61, and his wife, Wendy, hosted a lunch and a '40s swing band for 150 people in a warehouse chock full of World War II vehicles. Wendy Smith said they have been hosting events like this for veterans over the past five years "at every chance we get."

"This is the greatest generation," she said. "We're losing them every day.

"It's fun to have them out and to let them know we appreciate them."

Over burgers and brownies, the veterans mingled with family and friends.

Dick Daynes, 85, and Bob McGregor, 86, have known each other since high school and throughout their careers in what was then called the Army Air Force. They still get together every Tuesday in Salt Lake City through their seven-member ROMEO Club, which stands for Retired Old Men Eating Out.

McGregor, a lanky man who stands 6 feet 2 inches, lost 55 pounds as a prisoner of war when his B-24 plane was shot down by Germans over Styre, Austria.

"I jumped out," McGregor said. "My chute was full of holes, but they missed me. The ground was awful hard. Austrian soldiers and civilians were there to meet me." McGregor survived nearly 15 months of incarceration.

Many more had stories to share.

Crit Killen, an 85-year-old highly decorated veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, told of a time when, as a ship gunner, he witnessed the amazing survival of a crewman in the south Atlantic seas.

"I saw him fall off the flight deck," he recalled. "Our ship headed for him. He was flopping out of the water. He was unconscious and porpoises kept shoving him up. He was all bruised up, but alive."

Sydney Montague, 87, who holds dual citizenships from the U.S. and England, teared up when recalling his experience as a 21-year-old driver of a British navy landing craft in Normandy on D-Day.

"You go on the beach and drop the door," Montague said. "Soldiers rushed out. There were men not even on dry ground getting shot." He took at least five boatloads of soldiers to the beach.

Dr. Shig Matsukawa served with Hawaiian Sen. Daniel Inouye in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in the history of the U.S. Army.

Matsukawa's son Andy said, "We're proud of him. I'm glad none of us have to go through this."

Allan Jackson, age 102, earned the distinction of longest-surviving World War II veteran among the guests. Although sitting in a wheelchair and on oxygen, he was alert and talkative. He still remembers joining the Army in 1937 because it was impossible "to support 12 kids working on the (Alabama) railroad for 10 cents an hour."

Geoffrey Panos, a longtime World War II historian who acted as master of ceremonies and who assists Smith in ensuring the authenticity of collection pieces, said, "It's important for our nation to remember this day as it tells us who we are. There will be more wars, and we need to find courage and valor that these men have." Karl Smith began housing his collection in Tooele County eight years ago, his wife said. He has never served in the military, but his relatives have. His fascination with World War II began when he discovered a bayonet that belonged to his uncle in the attic of his grandmother's home.

He has collected thousands since then.

E-Mail: jpallen@q.com