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Local vets remember D-Day, honor vets who lost lives

PITTSBURGH — Seventy years ago today, the largest-ever amphibious invasion began the liberation of Western Europe and hastened the end of World War II.

In the D-Day operation, more than 150,000 American and allied troops rolled ashore on the beaches of Normandy, France.

"We jumped and we did our bit and we held bridges.  We suffered a lot of casualties, and I remember that," said WWII veteran Norman Barley.

To honor veterans and the lives lost, the County Meadows of South Hills held a luncheon for their residents and family. 

"We went from France to Belgium and we ended up in Germany the day the war ended," said WWII veteran Larry Turnice.

Army medic Charles Barley said he was more concerned about the water than the enemy soldiers.

"The boats didn't take us in far enough, and I couldn't swim," he said.

More than 160,000 troops supported the D-Day invasion to defeat Adolf Hitler.