D-Day veteran recalls invasion

Art Levine's outlook on life hasn't changed much since he was a young Army private in World War II.

Levine, 82, was one of about 150,000 Allied troops who stormed France 61 years ago in an effort to break Germany's stranglehold on Europe.

Thousands died in the June 6, 1944, invasion that turned the tide of the war.

Today is the 61st anniversary of the assault most think was the turning point of the war in Europe.

"D-Day guaranteed Allied victory, University of Central Oklahoma history professor Bing Li said.

University of Oklahoma history lecturer Tim Zwink said the logistics that went into planning the invasion were almost incomprehensible.

"It was one of the greatest military invasions in world history, Zwink said, pointing to the number of military leaders, troops and others involved in making it possible. "It's just an amazing feat.

We were lucky' For Levine, it was one of the longest days of his life.

The Oklahoma City resident saw his first action as a U.S. Army paratrooper in that attack, jumping out of an airplane to help lay the groundwork for the invasion.

He and other paratroopers were dropped inland of the beaches that would be the site of the main attack. They reached their targets by 2 a.m., four hours ahead of the scheduled assault.

Levine said he hit the ground quickly because his 125-pound frame was laden with 90 pounds of equipment. He ditched most of it before trying to rendezvous with other members of the 101st Airborne Division.

Levine said paratroopers were so scattered during the night drop that only fragments of two companies were able to get together near the predetermined landing point.

Those 60 or 70 soldiers subsequently turned their attention to their mission: Preventing German reinforcements from reaching the beaches where Allied forces would be landing soon.

Levine was dispatched to take a map to the leader of another platoon. As he hurried through the streets of a French town where German soldiers had been encamped, he crashed into an enemy sergeant. Both men were knocked to the ground by the collision, but Levine was able to turn and shoot the other man before he could pull his pistol from its holster.

Levine said he escaped the encounter with more than his life. He found another map on the fallen German's body that aided in the invasion.

Preparation for the decisive assault had been ongoing for two years as Allied nations marshaled their forces in southern England.

Once the invasion started, Levine said it seemed to take forever for the troops who stormed the beaches to fight their way to him and his fellow paratroopers, although they made it to the road by late afternoon that day.

Levine said he was involved in heavy fighting for much of the next six months as the Allies continued moving across Europe.

"We were lucky, he said, comparing his experiences to soldiers in today's war on terrorism. "I knew who the bad guy was because he had a different uniform on.

Levine witnessed a lot of death and bloodshed during the war. He learned to start focusing on each day rather than the future.

"All in all, it was a day-to-day existence, he said. "You live for today, and tomorrow's another day.

Levine said he still approaches life that way, but the details of his past remain vivid.

Those memories stick with him, as does the ache in his hip from the shrapnel that ended his participation in the war.

After recovering from his wounds, Levine spent the better part of two decades in the military before opening a service station in Midwest City.

Since his retirement, Levine has recounted his experiences in World War II for a variety of audiences, mostly as a volunteer at the 45th Infantry Museum in Oklahoma City. He said he is proud of his D-Day participation.

"The invasion of France was the turning point of the war, Levine said.

Zwink said it is important to observe this D-Day anniversary because the number of veterans who participated in the invasion is dwindling.

Levine acknowledged the same thing. "We're dying off, he said ruefully.

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