Bernard Jordan, an 89-year-old veteran, escaped from his nursing home to commemorate D-Day in Normandy.
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Throughout the military, the term D-Day is used to signify the day an attack will begin, or an operation will be initiated. But all soldiers know that there’s really only one true D-Day. June 6th 1944. It’s the day that, without it, we might all be speaking German right now. It’s the day that has now become one of reflection and gratitude as we look back on the soldiers who gave their lives that fateful day.
One of the soldiers who stormed the shores that day was a British sailor named Bernard Jordan. Mr. Jordan, at the time of Operation Neptune, was serving in the British Royal Navy. It has been many years since the events of that day, and in the days leading up to the 70th anniversary, Mr. Jordan, a young feeling 89 year old, was determined to join his comrades in Normandy to commemorate the day and pay his respects to the men who gave their lives. But just as the Nazi’s had tried to stop the soldiers from securing a strong hold on that day in June, 1944, so too was there someone trying to stop Mr. Jordan from joining his friends in commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
You see, Mr. Jordan was a resident at a nursing home, and the staff who were charged with taking care of him were unable to organize a way to get him to Normandy for the event. But do you think this would stop a D-Day veteran like Mr. Jordan?
First reported by the Telegraph in the UK, we see that NO, Mr. Jordan would let nothing stop him from going back to those beaches:
“Pinning on his D-Day campaign medals under his raincoat Mr Jordan, 89, set off under his own steam and headed for Normandy.
The extent of Mr Jordan’s resolve to join his old comrades only became clear when another veteran – thought to be slightly younger than him – informed police that the missing pensioner had joined a coach party and made his way to Ouistreham.”
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Councillor Garry Dunn, a friend of Mr Jordan for almost forty years, said:
“He is such a wonderful chap. He was always very modest about the war. I know he was involved in D-Day but he would never talk about it. I think he is the perfect example of a generation who did their duty, but didn’t feel they had tell people what they had done.”
Seventy years later and Mr. Jordan still has that spirit and determination that those men showed on that day. It’s no wonder men like him were able to turn the tide of the war and are still able to inspire us with their actions.
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–Photo: U.S. Army/Flickr
A wonderful story this, although saying he ‘escaped’ from his nursing home does make it sound as if he was some kind of prisoner, which I’m sure was never the case! All of the recent commemorations of the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War have thrown into light, for me at least, the dichotomy that is the nature of masculinity. On the one hand, events such as D-Day serve to highlight the innate heroism that all good men are capable of, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend their… Read more »
I thought this was a wonderful story. So glad it was shared. Ratty, I have never once heard men OR women in service (and I know a few, some in my family and close friends) who say that they believe they are disposable because they decided to serve the country. I actually think this is a touch insulting. Giving one’s life for their country is not the same thing as being disposable. I also think you have to remember that there were a few women who also were in the service and that it’s not fair to undermine even if… Read more »