By Timothy Page

On that fateful morning of June 6, 1944, the world held its breath as thousands of Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy. Among them was Frank Spendley, a 20-year-old paratrooper from St. Albans, who had enlisted in the army just two years prior. Little did he know then that this day would etch itself into the annals of history, forever changing the course of World War II and his own life. In 2019 the then-96-year-old sat down with the St. Albans Messenger for an interview on what he experienced that fateful day.

Like many members of the 101st Airborne, Spendley met Gen. Dwight Eisenhower the night before the invasion. “It was an honor to meet the general,” Spendley later recalled.

As the planes soared over the English Channel, Spendley’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. It was his sister’s birthday, and he couldn’t help but wonder how devastating the news of the invasion would be for his family back home. He pictured his sister, blissfully unaware, perhaps baking a cake or opening presents, while he was about to leap into the jaws of hell itself.

“The Nazis had no limitations,” Spendley recalled, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and determination. They had witnessed the devastation wrought by the bombing raids on London, and they knew that this war would be all-consuming, a battle for the very soul of humanity. Spendley’s heart pounded like a drum, but he refused to let fear take hold. He had a job to do, and failure was not an option.

Like many combat veterans – no, virtually all – Spendley does not provide graphic, gruesome details of the chaos of combat. But what he does not describe, neither can he forget.

“You can’t forget it. None of it is forgettable,” Spendley said, his eyes glazing over with the weight of memories etched into his very being. The sight of a fallen comrade, a mere breath away, was a harsh reminder of the fragility of life, but it only steeled their resolve to keep pushing forward.

In the years that followed, Spendley’s life was forever altered by his experiences on the battlefields of Europe. He found solace in long walks through the woods, a ritual that helped him cope with the nightmares and restlessness that plagued him. But it was his journey to visit the families of his fallen brothers-in-arms that truly brought him peace.

“After all that, I was an entirely different person,” Spendley reflected. “I was finally comfortable with civilian life.”

Spendley went to college on the G.I. bill and spent his working career working for the U.S. Customs Service, the Messenger reports. He married Rosemary O’Neil in 1951. They were married 68 years until her death in 2019.

Spendley’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, courage and sacrifice can pave the way for a better tomorrow. As we honor the heroes of D-Day, let us never forget the sacrifices made by good men who did great things, men like Frank Spendley, who risked everything to defend freedom and justice.

In 2022, amidst fanfare and in the presence of both his Mayor and his Governor, Spendley finally made the pilgrimage to DC to visit the memorials dedicated to his comrades in arms.

An Oct. 4, 2022 Press-Republican (NY) newspaper story offers more details about Spendley’s role in the invasion of Normandy and afterwards.