DANVILLE — Today marks the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy.
The knowledge most people have of D-Day comes from films such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Longest Day.” How do these films rate when it comes to historical accuracy?
“It’s not exactly like it is,” said Marvin Dossey of Danville, “but they’re close.”
Dossey should know. He was there.
Dossey was part of the first wave of troops to land on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. The amphibious assault, code named Operation Overlord, established a new front for the Allies in Europe during World War II. More than 150,000 Allied troops landed on the five heavily defended beachheads held by German forces. According to the National D-Day Memo-rial Foundation, about 10,000 men lost their lives during the landing, despite fears from Allied commanders of higher casualties.
“I don’t think they expected any of us to be alive,” Dossey said.
Dossey was a member of the 237th Engineer Combat Battalion. The 237th was given the task of clearing Utah Beach of any obstacles that would have impeded the Allied landing. For their efforts on D-Day, Dossey’s unit was awarded a Presidential Citation and the French Croix de Guerre.
Dossey would remain with the 237th throughout the remainder of the war. His unit was responsible for the construction of more than two miles of bridges which allowed tanks, troops and supplies to reach the front.
After the war, Dossey came back to Danville where he worked for General Motors and operated a gas station. He retired in 1986 from running his own business, North Gilbert Auto Supply.
Dossey and his wife, Edwina, have visited Europe more than a dozen times since World War II. As a veteran, Dossey has been overwhelmed by the hospitality and gratitude of those he meets there.
“Over there, everyone feels like they’re indebted to you, “says Dossey. “They don’t forget anything over there.”
During the years, Dossey has collected a number of souvenirs from his time in the military and his travels. He has graciously donated many of these items to museums in France and the United States, including the Vermilion County War Museum. The Vermilion County War Museum has on display a photograph of Dossey and others on board LST 326, the vessel which trans-ported them across the English Channel to Normandy.
Dossey was recently honored at May 21’s Salute to Veterans concert at Danville High School. Mayor Scott Eisenhauer asked Dossey to stand and be recognized. Dossey received a standing ovation.
“That was pretty neat,” Dossey said. “I appreciated that.”
Despite the recognition and accolades that Dossey has earned as a veteran of World War II, he does not see anything significant about his role in D-Day.
“It’s just more or less a job, and somebody had to do it,” Dossey said.
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