Montana Soldiers in Normandy: How Many Served on D-Day?

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, a day best known as D-Day. On that day thousands of American soldiers lost their lives storming the beaches of France in an attempt to take back Europe from the Nazis. Men from every corner of the country stormed the beaches, including a couple of tough Montana boys.

Get our free mobile app

When you stop and think about it, since Montana became a state, we have helped fight in just about every American conflict. There are proud veterans scattered across Big Sky Country. For crying out loud, it was a Montana boy who took out Osama Bin Laden.

How many Montana soldiers fought on D-DAY?

According to Americandday.org:

Dozens of Montana boys participated in the legendary invasion. Most of them are either part of the Army Airborne and 1st infantry division or members of the U.S. Air Force.

The website shows at least two veterans hailed from Sweet Grass County and Valley County. Two members of the 82nd Airborne were from Teton County. Six vets hailed from Stillwater County and Toole County. Four Airborne and Air Force veterans came out of Yellowstone County. The county with the highest number of D-Day vets was Silver Bow County, home to six D-DAY veterans, consisting of Airborne, Rangers, "Big Red 1" and Air Force.

What a crazy day it must have been for all of those brave soldiers that stormed the French beaches. If it were me, even with the number of bullets flying as they landed, it would be comforting to know that a tough Montana soldier was fighting alongside me.

CHALLENGE: Watch Sam Elliot recite a D-DAY survivor's story without nearly crying. It will give you chills.