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D-Day hero receives posthumous honor after 81 years
Fox News senior correspondent Greg Palkot spoke to the family of Staff Sergeant William Owens, who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions during the D-Day invasion. (Still: James J. Ricci family.)
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The 81st anniversary of the famous U.S.-led D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, was recently commemorated.
Less well-known are the battles during the days and weeks that followed in Normandy, which helped secure the massive beachhead, so the allies could go on and defeat Nazi Germany in World II.
One of those clashes was at a bridge over a small river near the town of Sainte-Mère-Église. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division landed near there early on the morning of June 6, 1944.Â
They had to hold the position against Germans threatening American forces who came ashore at Utah beach, one of the main landing sites.
Owens died at the age of 54 in 1967. His youngest daughter, British-raised Susan Marrow, said, “I don’t have words to describe how full my heart is and how much it means to me.”
His great-grandson, Harris Morales, was also proud to be there, saying, “without a doubt,” Owens was a brave guy. As for the new recognition of Owens, he added, “It means everything, and I still don’t believe it. It’s still not real for me yet.”
Greg Palkot and Gen. Christopher Donahue, Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa. (Annie Butterworth/Fox News)
This comes at a time the world remains in turmoil from Ukraine to the Mideast and beyond. While 81 years seems like a long time ago, the heroism and inventiveness displayed by Owens then is still seen as relevant today.
“It is important,” Morales said. “I don’t think 81 years or any time is too long.”
Speaking from a military standpoint, Gen. Donahue noted, “We’re in the middle of a transformation, and we’re going to continue to do that so we live up to what they have done.”
A posthumous medal ceremony for Army Staff Sgt. William Owens June 5, 2025, Sainte-Mère-Église, France. (Greg Palkot/Fox News)
As for lessons learned then, Owens’ daughter had a simple answer, saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do onto you.”
Sometimes, as in the case of Staff Sgt. William Owens, the dangerous behavior of “others” Â means acting with the greatest and sometimes brutal gallantry.
