Legionnaires at La Fiere

Hartley Baird served in the 9th Army Air Force, 30th Air Depot Group, in Beauvies, France, during World War II. Marcus Bartusek of Manley, Iowa, fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 106th Division, as did Henry Breton of Augusta, Maine. Vern Shoemaker of Kansas was in the Navy during World War II.

Together, they sat in the shade near historic La Fiere Bridge in Normandy, France, Sunday, watching the parachute jumps. And when they saw American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett, American Legion Auxiliary National President Sharon Conatser and their group there, they realized World War II service was not their only common denominator. They are all Legionnaires.

The veterans visited with the national commander and president and posed for photos with them, including American Legion Past National Commanders Dan Dellinger and Marty Conatser.

Baird, of Bethel Park Post 760 in Pennsylvania, told the Legion group that “it’s a privilege to be here” and made the point that “Harry S. Truman saved my life,” referring to the atomic bombing of Japan that ended World War II in August 1945.

Bartusek and Breton connected in Normandy and shared what it was like to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, Hitler’s last major offensive against the Allies, in the bitterly cold winter of 1944-45. “It was tough, even though I am from Maine and am used to cold weather,” said Breton, a member of Post 2 in Augusta, Maine. “I was 19 years old at that time.”

“Cold and wet” was how Bartusek described his time in the 106th. “We were the last division activated in World War II.” Bartusek is a member of Post 110 in Manley, Iowa.

Shoemaker, who spent most of his wartime experience stationed in Hawaii, is a member of Post 379 in Cawker City, Kan.