By Adam Allington, KWMU
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-841695.mp3
Belleville, il – Friday marks the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Europe.
As an 18-year-old Army private, East-St. Louis native Bill Carriel was assigned to a medical supply company that landed on Omaha Beach on the second morning of the battle.
With the men of his company, Carriel's job for the next several days was to clear the bodies on the beach on stretchers.
At 84 years old, Carriel is one of handful of D-Day veterans remaining who can testify to the tremendous sacrifice paid by allied troops during the Normandyinvasion.
Carriel went on to raise nine children after the war. He retired after working over 30 years for the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center in St. Louis.
He currently lives in Belleville, Illinois with his wife.
Bill Carriel's remembrance of D-Day was produced by KWMU's Adam Allington.