Glen McClain received the French Legion of Honor on June 4, 2016, the 72nd anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy. In remembrance of the sacrifice made my so many, the French government is presenting its highest military honor to living veterans who participated in the military campaigns that liberated France in World War II.
McClain, a 17 year old sailor, was a machine gunner on one of the many landing ships that took part in the D-Day invasion. We crossed the old English Channel in terrible weather,
McClain recalled, it was rough, high waves and landing crafts aren’t made to slice through the water.
Glen McClain received the French Legion of Honor on June 4, 2016, the 72nd anniversary of the the Allied landing at Normandy. In remembrance of the sacrifice made my so many, the French government is presenting its highest military honor to living veterans who participated in the military campaigns that liberated France in World War II.
McClain, a 17 year old sailor, was a machine gunner on one of the many landing ships that took part in the D-Day invasion. We crossed the old English Channel in terrible weather,
McClain recalled, it was rough, high waves and landing crafts aren’t made to slice through the water.
The landing craft was destroyed by a sonar mine as it approached Omaha Beach, killing 98 of the ship’s crew and most of the soldiers they were carring to shore. McClain was thrown into the water by the force of the blast. I never knew how I got out of that,
he said. I was completely unconscious in the water… By the time I surfaced, I was really gasping for air. Another 30 seconds, I would have drowned.
Eventually, McClain was able to pull himself and shipmate Nick Vasillou, who lost both legs in the explosion, into a life raft. Of the 100 crew, only McClain and Vasillou survived the blast. A PT patrol boat towed the two to safety.
Of course, I’m very humbled. I’m honored to get it,
said McClain. “But the problem is, it cost the lives of my shipmates… I’m also sad about it.
