THIS
THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK MARKS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY, A BATTLE THAT 4@
THAT 4@
THAT 4@ KSDK.COMKNOW AT MBUSH AT
SOMEONE, LET ME
>>>
>>> THIS
>>> THIS WEEK MARKS THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY.4@
A BATTLE THAT HELPED TO END
WORLD WAR II.
HISTORIANS REGARD IT AS ONE OF
THE MOST MILITANT, THE GREATEST
MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS EVER.
INTO NIGHTS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
REPORT, ONE OF THE ST. LOUIS
RESIDENTS WHO HELPED SAVE THE
WORLD.
WORLD.
WORLD. >>4@ RALPH GOLD STICKER IS THRU
THUMBING THROUGH THE FILES OF
HIS MEMORY.
HIS MEMORY. >>4@ SPENDING TIME WITH HIM IS
BETTER THAN READING A HISTORY
BOOK ON WORLD WAR II.
>> EVERY UNIT WAS GIVEN THE
PRESIDENTIAL --
PRESIDENTIAL -- >> AFTER PEARL HARBOR I KNEW I
WAS GOING TO GET DRAFTED.
>> Reporter: HE SIGNED 4@4@UP F
THE AVIATION CADET CORPS 4@
BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO HIM,
FIGHTING THE ENEMY IN THE AIR 4@
BE MORE GLAMOROUS THAN FIGHTING
ON THE GROUND.
>> I HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN
AIRPLANE.
AIRPLANE.
AIRPLANE. I HAD SEEN LOTS OF4@ MOVIES OF
CLARK GABLE.
CLARK GABLE. THERE WERE ALL THESE HEROES.4@
>> Reporter: HE SOON REALIZED
THIS WAS 4@NO HOLLYWOOD 4@MOVIE
THE SCRIPT MAY NOT HAVE A HAPPY
ENDING. 4@
ENDING. 4@ SERVING AS A BOMBARDIER ON A B-
174@ FLYING FORTRESS,4@ HIS CRE
CAME UNDER HEAVY FIRE ON JUST A
174@ FLYING FORTRESS,4@ HIS CRE CAME UNDER HEAVY FIRE ON JUST A@
SECOND MISSION OVER LEIPZIG, 4@
GERMANY.
GERMANY.
GERMANY. HE WASN'T SURE HE WOULD EVER
MAKE IT BACK TO ST. LOUIS.
>> IT WAS HEAVILY DEFENDED.
WE HAD TO FIGHT OUR WAY IN AND
OUT.
OUT.
OUT. WE
OUT. WE LOST THREE PLANES OUT OF 18.
OUT. WE LOST THREE PLANES OUT OF 18.@
HE FIGURED, WHAT CHANCE DO YOU
HAVE?4@
HAVE?4@
HAVE?4@ >> Reporter: IN ALL, GOLDIE AS
HE WAS CALLED,4@ FLEW FIVE
MISSIO4@NS INCLUDING TWO ON D-D.
>> OUR TARGET WAS OVER THE
BEACHES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE
TROOPS.4@
TROOPS.4@
TROOPS.4@ >> Reporter: HIS CREW TOOK OFF
AT4@ 2 AM BECAUSE THERE WERE SO
MANY PLANES IN THE AIR THEY HAD
TO FLY TO SCOTLAND JUST TO GET
INTO FORMATION.4@ 4@
>> I DROPPED MY FIRST BOMB AT 4@
6:58.
6:58.
6:58. RIGHT BEFORE THE BREACH TROOPS
LANDED.4@
LANDED.4@
LANDED.4@ >> Reporter: ALL TOLD ON THAT
FATEFUL DAY IN JUNE, HE WAS IN
THE AIR, 14 1/2 HOURS.
>> THAT AFTERNOON I COULD SEE
THE WHOLE HARBOR.4@
THERE WERE 7000 VESSELS IN 4@TH
HARBOR.
HARBOR.
HARBOR. IT WAS AN UNUSUAL SIGHT4@.
BATTLESHIPS, CRUISERS, LANDING
CRAFT, IT WAS SOMETHING TO
BEHOLD.
BEHOLD.
BEHOLD. WE HAD IT EASY COMPARED TO WHAT
THE GUYS ON THE GROUND WERE
GOING THROUGH.4@
GOING THROUGH.4@ THIS IS MY FLIGHT JACKET.
I HAVE HAD IT FOR 76 YEARS.
>> Reporter: NOW 97, THE PAST
IS VERY PRESENT IN HIS HOME.
>> THIS WAS MY FIRST MISSION.
THIS IS NORMANDY.
>> Reporter: HE KEPT MAPS,
LETTERS AND OTHER MEMORABILIA.4
FROM HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE.
THEN, THERE ARE THE METALS.4@
IN ADDITION TO THE
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, A
FEW YEARS AGO, THE FRENCH
GOVERNMENT GAVE HIM THEIR
HIGHEST AWARD.
HIGHEST AWARD. THE LEGION OF HONOR FOR RISKING
HIGHEST AWARD. THE LEGION OF HONOR FOR RISKING@
HIS LIFE TO HELP LIBERATE
FRANCE FROM 4@THE4@ NAZIS.
HE NOW SPEAKS TO STUDENTS ABOUT
HIS TIME IN WAR.
>> DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT ALL
THE TIME?
THE TIME?
THE TIME? DO DREAM ABOUT IT? 4@
>> NO, --4@
>> Reporter: HE PLACED ON HIS
ROLE ON D-DAY END WORLD WAR II.
BUT, RELUCTANT HEROES ARE 4@STI
HEROES.
HEROES.
HEROES. >> I 4@AM ONE OF 16 MILLION.
WE ALL DID OUR JOB. 4@
>> Reporter: D-DAY IS A DAY WE
WILL NEVER FORGET THANKS TO THE
MEN WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER.
>> I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, THAT
IS ALL.
IS ALL.
IS ALL. >> Reporter: IF YOU EVER GET
THE CHANCE TO HEAR RALPH TALK,
TAKE IT.
TAKE IT.
TAKE IT. YOU WILL FIND OUT ABOUT THE
TIME HE SAVED THE LIFE OF 4@HIS
CREW'S COPILOT.
CREW'S COPILOT. IF YOU 4@KNOW SOMEONE, LET