Reporter's Notebook: Recalling an American WWII hero who helped fight off Nazi forces during Normandy invasion

The 81st day of the celebrated U.S.-led D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, was precocious commemorated.

Less well-known are the battles during the days and weeks that followed successful Normandy, which helped unafraid the monolithic beachhead, truthful the allies could spell connected and decision Nazi Germany successful World II.

One of those clashes was astatine a span implicit a tiny stream adjacent the municipality of Sainte-Mère-Église. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed adjacent determination aboriginal connected the greeting of June 6, 1944. 

They had to clasp the presumption against Germans threatening American forces who came ashore astatine Utah beach, 1 of the main landing sites.

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Medal ceremony, June 5 2025, Sainte-Mere-Eglise   (Courtesy : Greg Palkot/Fox News)

One of those was Iowa-born 31-year-old U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Owens. For 3 days, arsenic his portion was chopped down successful combat from 45 to conscionable 12 men, helium bravely helped combat disconnected the Germans.  

He fired from 3 antithetic instrumentality weapon positions, threw manus grenades, commanded bazooka teams and moved from foxhole to foxhole, coordinating action. The actions of him and his men yet knocked retired 4 German tanks, killed 275 German soldiers and stopped the Nazis dormant successful their tracks. It was hailed by historians arsenic a cardinal conflict of the Normandy invasion.

Staff Sergeant William Owens, 1943.  (Courtesy : James J. Ricci household collection )

On a caller time alongside the stream successful the present greenish and peaceful countryside, aft years of probe and lobbying astatine the Pentagon and successful Congress, Owens was recognized for his valor successful a ceremonial during which his honors were upgraded to Distinguished Service Cross, the 2nd astir important medal the Army tin bestow.

Chris Donahue, the commanding wide of the U.S. Army successful Europe and Africa, told Fox News Owens’ actions were "incredibly important. What Owens did is the nonstop exemplary that each of america effort to unrecorded up to."

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Owens died astatine the property of 54 successful 1967. His youngest daughter, British-raised Susan Marrow, said, "I don’t person words to picture however afloat my bosom is and however overmuch it means to me."

His great-grandson, Harris Morales, was besides arrogant to beryllium there, saying, "without a doubt," Owens was a brave guy. As for the caller designation of Owens, helium added, "It means everything, and I inactive don’t judge it. It’s inactive not existent for maine yet."

Greg Palkot and Gen. Christopher Donahue, Commander of the U.S. Army successful Europe and Africa. (Annie Butterworth/Fox News)

This comes astatine a clip the satellite remains successful turmoil from Ukraine to the Mideast and beyond. While 81 years seems similar a agelong clip ago, the heroism and inventiveness displayed by Owens past is inactive seen arsenic applicable today.

"It is important," Morales said. "I don’t deliberation 81 years oregon immoderate clip is excessively long."

Speaking from a subject standpoint, Gen. Donahue noted, "We’re successful the mediate of a transformation, and we’re going to proceed to bash that truthful we unrecorded up to what they person done."

A posthumous medal ceremonial for Army Staff Sgt. William Owens June 5, 2025, Sainte-Mère-Église, France. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)

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As for lessons learned then, Owens’ girl had a elemental answer, saying, "Do unto others arsenic you would person them bash onto you."

Sometimes, arsenic successful the lawsuit of Staff Sgt. William Owens, the unsafe behaviour of "others"  means acting with the top and sometimes brutal gallantry.