From the Washington Post Opinion

As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaches, people of all ages are honoring the Americans who fought in World War II. But a few remaining citizens are remembering fighting in it themselves.

One is former Air Force gunner Mel Jenner, now 102. Follow this link to read the story. We transcribe these stories every day, and it’s amazing how little they have forgotten. This next paragraph from The Washington Post Opinion illustrates what we hear every day. They remember the names, they remember the faces, they remember their laugh, where they were from, where they were heading, the shock of realizing they weren’t coming back. I hope you can follow the link and read the article.

Jenner, as photojournalist David Burnett recounts, is not thinking about the war in the abstract. He is thinking about his best friend, Oscar McClure, then a young gunner as well, and watching as his friend waved his last goodbye from a neighboring plane. Far away from the speeches this week, that’s what D-Day still means to those who were there.

Mel Jenner, a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Air Force, at his home in Orlando in March. (David Burnett/Contact Press Images)

Opinion

The B-17 blew apart in an instant. The memory has burned for 80 years.

For waist gunner Mel Jenner, a friend’s farewell in the skies over occupied France has echoed since 1944.

By David Burnett

June 3, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT