His name was Alexander Fleming—the son of a Scottish pig farmer. He served in World War I, and his research has likely saved your life at some point. Or at least your parents' or grandparents' lives--and therefore yours as well! He received the Nobel Prize for his accidental discovery of penicillin.

Because he passed away On this Day, March 11, 1955, now is a very good time to recount his incredible story...

Sir Alexander Fleming was born at Lochfield near Darvel in Ayrshire, Scotland on August 6th, 1881.

His parents, Hugh and Grace were farmers, and Alexander was one of their four children. He also had four half-siblings who were the surviving children from his father Hugh's first marriage.

His parents could not afford to send him to school. His father passed away when he was only seven years of age.

He worked at a shipping office in London where he moved to when he was 13, and ultimately attended the Royal Polytechnic Institution since he could not afford to go to a private ...

Just completed another "D-Day Experience" video program that discusses The Battle of Carentan and what became known by the Soldiers who fought there, as "Purple Heart Lane."

The objective of the attacking American forces was consolidation of the U.S. beachheads--Utah Beach and Omaha Beach--and establishing a continuous defensive line against the German counterattacks that were certain to follow.

This is an interesting battle and event to study--it features the first bayonet charge of World War II, a Medal of Honor to the man who led it, and multiple Distinguished Service Crosses.
It's also a very complex battle--primarily because of the series of bridges along the causeway into Carentan, the movements and maneuver, the logistics, personalities and key locations involved; not to mention the series of attacks and counterattacks that occurred over the course of those several days in June 1944--less than a week after D-Day. But one thing was as clear to those men and women then, as it is ...

One Minute on Omaha Beach with Luke. The lessons learned here for all generations--but especially for our youngest--are extraordinary and enduring...

Arguably, if you had to pick one day that mattered most in the 20th Century, I'd say that D-Day would be that day. 

But how much do we really know about D-Day?  What importance do we place on it?   

I decided to canvass the internet as a kind of ad hoc method of determining what people regarded as the top events in 20th Century world history.  After reading many accounts, it ran the gamut: the Assassination of JFK, Apollo 11's First Steps on the Moon, the Challenger Disaster, the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand...and many others.

I talk about the results of that research project in one of the emails that you receive when you opt in to The D-Day Experience.

But what was so surprising to me is that D-Day was not in the top 10 of any of those lists I found.  

Was this a mistake of ignorance, omission or commission?  

You could probably make an argument for all three, but my immediate answer--giving society the benefit of the doubt--was that it's probably just the result of basi...

75 years ago, today, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. passed away from a heart attack in Normandy.

Ted and his younger brother Quentin were the sons of President Theodore Roosevelt. Ted was wounded at Soissons during the summer of 1918 and received the Distinguished Service Cross. In July of that year, Quentin was killed in combat.

As assistant division commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Ted led the first wave on Utah Beach on D-Day. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Both Quentin and Ted are buried side-by-side at Normandy American Cemetery.

Luke and I had the opportunity to attend the Battle of Saint-Lô 75th Anniversary Commemoration at the Atlantic Arch of the WWII Memorial today. Our good friend, Jan Scruggs MC’d the event.

We had the opportunity to meet 94 year old WWII Veteran Harold Radish, who was captured and held in a Nazi POW camp. Realizing his imminent capture, he told us he immediately “understood the situation I was in.” ...“I’m Jewish!” he exclaimed. “So I quickly threw my dog tags away!”

We also spoke to WWII (Korean War and Vietnam War) Veteran Retired Army Colonel Frederick Clinton who joined the Army at 16 years of age.

D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France (Jeremy Selwyn)

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex reacts as he arrives to review the Chelsea Pensioners during the annual Founder's Day Parade at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London (AFP/Getty Images)

A lone piper plays on the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches in Normandy (Jeremy Selwyn)

Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge lays a wreath at The National Memorial Arboretum (Getty Images)

The 6 inch guns on board HMS Belfast in London are fired to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings (PA)

Prime Minister, Theresa May makes a speech at a memorial service at Bayeux War Cemeter (Getty Images)

U.S President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand during a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France (Reuters)

D Day 2019: 75th Anniversary at Arromanches Beach, France (Jeremy Selwyn)

D D...

It was 75 years ago today that the largest air, land, and sea invasion in human history began on the shores of Normandy, France.

 It involved 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 155,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and Airmen. The code name was “Overlord,” and it was the result of years of intensive planning, training, and applied innovation on a scale that’s difficult to fathom even now.

 It would prove to be one of the decisive battles and turning points in the war against Adolph Hitler’s Third Reich.

When the doors and ramps opened at dawn on June 6, 1944, many of these Soldiers were not yet 20 years old.

 “You get your ass on the beach,” Colonel Paul R. Goode told the men of the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division before D-Day. “I’ll be there waiting for you and I’ll tell you what to do. There ain’t anything in this plan that is going to go right.”

Lieutenant Colonel Robert L Wolverton, who was commanding 3rd battalion, 506th PIR, announced:

Men, I ...

Whenever I'm in Normandy, I always make a point to visit the Dick Winter's Leadership Monument.  You can't miss it.  It's right off the causeway on your way to Utah Beach.  In many ways, I believe it represents all of the values and principles of leadership that should be recognized during any visit here, and in any study of D-Day and the Battle for Normandy.  Here's a quick video from that monument to the young leaders who fought and won this monumental battle.

Paratroopers from 2d Battalion, 506th PIR loading for their Albany mission, 
intended to jump on the DZ "C" in Hiesville at 0120 hours. 

This photo was taken on Upottery airfield in Devon on the evening of June 5, 1944. 
The aircraft is a C-47 (#42-93004 from 94th Squadron - 439th Troop Carrier Group - 
Chalk number # 78 - serial # 12). The pilot (back) is 2nd Lt. Martin N. Neill. 
2nd Lt.  Carl E. George (co-pilot) helps the paratroopers to board.  


William G. Olanie, Frank D. Griffin, Robert J. Noody, Lester T. Hegland

The 506th PI...