CHARLOTTE, N.C. — June 6, 2021 marked the 77th anniversary of D-Day. It was a pivotal moment during World War II when the Allied forces started to gain control of Nazi Germany. WWII veteran Sgt. Eugene Deibler was there that day and explains what he wants people to remember.

What You Need To Know

  • June 6, 1944 is referred to as D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history

  • More than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the on the beaches of Normandy, France to fight Nazi Germany

  • An estimated 10,000 Allied troops died on D-Day

At the age of 96, Sgt. Eugene Diebler can still walk and talk about his favorite WWII books. His nickname is “Doc.” Diebler was a dentist for several years after returning from the war. He also has plaques and medals that decorate his living room.

“This was basic training in Georgia in December of 1942,” Deibler said as he pointed to a picture. “This is a medal of honor from the French president for action in Normandy, France.”

Sgt. Eugene Deibler shows a photo from basic training in Georgia in December of 1942.

Deibler was happy to show the memorabilia around his apartment. But to really talk about D-Day and what happened that day he had to take a seat.

He says his legs aren’t as strong as they once were. After taking a seat, he opened one of his favorite books, the “101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles at Normandy,” by Mark Bando.

Diebler shows a medal of honor he received.

Deibler was a member of the 501 Parachute Infantry, 101 Airborne Division when he was 19 years old. As a U.S. Paratrooper, he landed on the beaches of Normandy and tried to take control of the barquette locks.

“They were locks that crossed the Douve River,” Deibler said. “If the Germans opened them they would flood the area and we couldn’t land.”

It was a mission that lasted several days and cost hundreds of lives. Deibler had a list of how many people were wounded and when. He says 213 people in his regiment were killed on D-Day. The U.S. government estimates a total of 10,000 Allied soldiers lost their lives that day.

“You’re fighting and you’re moving, somebody gets killed and you just keep moving,” Deibler said. “It doesn’t bother you then, but it bothers you later on.”

It’s why he hopes people don’t forget about June 6, 1944. 

“The Japanese had taken all the islands, all the way to Guam,” Deibler said. “People need to remember that and the sacrifices they made. They were 18, 19-year-old kids.”

According to The National WWII museum 15 million soldiers from both sides died during the war. An estimated 45 million civilians were killed.