Eugene veteran remembers D-Day landings on this Veterans Day
By Tom Adams KVAL NewsEUGENE, Ore. - He is part of a quickly vanishing breed: U.S. veterans of World War II. Longtime Eugene business owner Taylor Ramsey still fits into his old army jacket at age 90. "I don't know if this is getting pretty old," he says, "but we've kept the moths out of it and it's held up real well." This jacket gets worn every Veterans Day, and there's a story behind every patch, every pin. "See that little rascal? That's a purple heart," says Ramsey of the coat that's still in excellent shape. Born in Kansas, drafted into the army in 1941, Ramsey found his niche with the artillery units. That led to a year's worth of training in England. "They often said we were overpaid, over-sexed and over-there," jokes Ramsey about the attitude of some of the English. Later came a trip across the channel on June 6, 1944: The D-Day invasion. "Finally when we saw the gliders over us -- we knew that time was real," explains Ramsey. Taylor was with the GIs who landed at Utah Beach. He was wounded in action. Though a part of the "greatest generation," he says he only did his job. Ramsey said, "It was an experience once in a lifetime--you wouldn't want to repeat it, but I'm not sorry that I made it." The owner of United Pipe and Supply in northwest Eugene still goes to work every day, but no more 8 hour days for Taylor. After all, he turns 91 next week. Company employee Deana Southworth says, "I've known him for a long time. He's quite a guy...he's got a lot of stories to tell." Even though the guns of Normandy are silent, perhaps we should not be. "On Veterans Day, I think the greatest thing that happens to me is I have several people come up to me," Ramsey says, "and thank me for my service." Taylor Ramsey's grandson, Daniel Ramsey, carries on the tradition. He's stationed in Alabama with the Army. |
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