WWII VET MARRIES NEAR OMAHA BEACH, FRANCE 80 YEARS LATER


By sfelty
Memorial at Omaha Beach France.

80 years have passed since the world witnessed one of the most daring military operations, the Allied invasion of Normandy aka D-Day. In 1944 on June 6th, the beaches of Normandy were a standing ground for Allied forces as they launched an assault against Western Europe, which was occupied by Nazis. Soon, a 100-year-old World War II Vet is marrying the love of his life on the same grounds on Omaha Beach, France.Related read: Inside the Deployment of US Green Berets in Taiwan

An Omaha Beach, France Celebration

A World War II Veteran, Harold Terens, and his fiancee, Jeanne Swerlin, are buzzing about their upcoming wedding on Omaha Beach, France. In fact, this is the same place 20-year-old Harold visited as a U.S. Army Air Forces Corporal right after D-Day.Even though Terens is 100 years old, he is still very much alive and energetic. In June, during part of the 80th anniversary celebration of France's liberation from the Nazis, they are honoring Harold. Following the celebration, he plans to marry 96-year-old Swerlin on the beach.Terens and Swerlin have been dating since 2021, and they love to dance. “I love this girl, she is quite special,” said Terens. Swerlin followed up with, “He's an amazing guy, amazing. He loves me so much and he says it.” She added “...and my god, he's the greatest kisser!”

How The Two Lovers Crossed Paths

The fates really were aligning for these two lovers to get married on Omaha Beach, France. Both of them, who are now widowed, grew up in different areas of New York City. They crack jokes about how different their WWII experience was. She was in high school and dated Soldiers. He enlisted in 1942 and the following year was on a four pilot P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron as the radio repair technician.On D-Day, Terens helped fix planes returning from France so they could start the battle again. He said half of his company's pilots died the same day. You may be wondering how many D-Day Veterans are still alive. Of the 16 million WWII Vets, only 120,000 remain. Terens mentions that his original pilots all died in the war.Terens went to France 12 days later, transporting captured Germans and freed American POWs back to England. Next, he went on a secret mission. The plane he was on eventually landed in Tehran. In Tehran, he survived being robbed, and left naked in the desert until an American military police patrol drove by.After the Nazi surrender in May of 1945, Terens was back in the U.S. He married his wife Thelma in 1948 who passed away after 70 years of marriage. He has 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Swerlin married her first husband at 21 and her second husband in her 40s. He passed away after 18 years of marriage. She lived with Sol Katz before his death in 2019. In fact, it was Sol Katz’s daughter Joanne who introduced the two in 2021.The two will go to Paris in May where Terens, and a handful of other WWII Vets, will be honored. It will be his fourth D-Day anniversary celebration in France. Five years ago he received the President Emmanuel Macron medal.They are traveling to the town of Carentan-les-Marais where they will marry on June 8th by Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur in a 1600s chapel near Omaha Beach, France.The rest is history.Suggested read: Why Are VA Officials Wanting to Ban the Iconic WW2 Kiss Photo?

What Can You Do In Omaha Beach, France Today?

If you're thinking of visiting Omaha Beach, France today, there are a number of things to do in relation to D-Day. But where exactly is Omaha Beach? It is located on the coast of Normandy, France. It is one of the five landing beaches where Allied forces conducted D-Day.One of many things to visit is the Omaha Beach Memorial. The Omaha Beach Memorial Museum pays tribute to Soldiers who landed on the beaches. The museum has a documentary film, personal items, historic documents, and more.Read next: Was Shaggy a Marine? The Truth About Mr. Boombastic


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