Reporter's Notebook: Recalling An American Wwii Hero Who Helped Fight Off Nazi Forces During Normandy Invasion

The 81st day of nan celebrated U.S.-led D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, was precocious commemorated.

Less well-known are nan battles during nan days and weeks that followed successful Normandy, which helped unafraid nan monolithic beachhead, truthful nan friends could spell connected and conclusion Nazi Germany successful World II.

One of those clashes was astatine a span complete a mini stream adjacent nan municipality of Sainte-Mère-Église. Paratroopers from nan 82nd Airborne Division landed adjacent location early connected nan greeting of June 6, 1944. 

They had to clasp nan position against Germans threatening American forces who came ashore astatine Utah beach, 1 of nan main landing sites.

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: REMEMBERING COURAGE ON THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY

Medal ceremony, June 5 2025, Sainte-Mere-Eglise   (Courtesy : Greg Palkot/Fox News)

One of those was Iowa-born 31-year-old U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Owens. For 3 days, arsenic his portion was trim down successful combat from 45 to conscionable 12 men, he bravely helped conflict disconnected nan Germans.  

He fired from 3 different instrumentality weapon positions, threw manus grenades, commanded bazooka teams and moved from foxhole to foxhole, coordinating action. The actions of him and his men yet knocked retired 4 German tanks, killed 275 German soldiers and stopped nan Nazis dormant successful their tracks. It was hailed by historians arsenic a cardinal conflict of nan Normandy invasion.

Staff Sergeant William Owens, 1943.  (Courtesy : James J. Ricci family collection )

On a caller time alongside nan stream successful nan now greenish and serene countryside, aft years of investigation and lobbying astatine nan Pentagon and successful Congress, Owens was recognized for his valor successful a ceremonial during which his honors were upgraded to Distinguished Service Cross, nan 2nd astir important badge nan Army tin bestow.

Chris Donahue, nan commanding wide of nan U.S. Army successful Europe and Africa, told Fox News Owens’ actions were "incredibly important. What Owens did is nan nonstop exemplary that each of america effort to unrecorded up to."

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Owens died astatine nan property of 54 successful 1967. His youngest daughter, British-raised Susan Marrow, said, "I don’t person words to picture really afloat my bosom is and really overmuch it intends to me."

His great-grandson, Harris Morales, was besides proud to beryllium there, saying, "without a doubt," Owens was a brave guy. As for nan caller nickname of Owens, he added, "It intends everything, and I still don’t judge it. It’s still not existent for maine yet."

Greg Palkot and Gen. Christopher Donahue, Commander of nan U.S. Army successful Europe and Africa. (Annie Butterworth/Fox News)

This comes astatine a clip nan world remains successful turmoil from Ukraine to nan Mideast and beyond. While 81 years seems for illustration a agelong clip ago, nan heroism and inventiveness displayed by Owens past is still seen arsenic applicable today.

"It is important," Morales said. "I don’t deliberation 81 years aliases immoderate clip is excessively long."

Speaking from a subject standpoint, Gen. Donahue noted, "We’re successful nan mediate of a transformation, and we’re going to proceed to do that truthful we unrecorded up to what they person done."

A posthumous badge ceremonial for Army Staff Sgt. William Owens June 5, 2025, Sainte-Mère-Église, France. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)

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As for lessons learned then, Owens’ girl had a elemental answer, saying, "Do unto others arsenic you would person them do onto you."

Sometimes, arsenic successful nan lawsuit of Staff Sgt. William Owens, nan vulnerable behaviour of "others"  means acting pinch nan top and sometimes sadistic gallantry.