November 2018 – Past Present Future

French girls were on hand at Camp Home Run to make for a less “G.I.” atmosphere.

Bernard McKenzie, June 23, 1945

A German-constructed pill box surrounding their old fort at Le Havre, France.

Bernard McKenzie, June 23, 1945

A distant view of Le Havre, France. Taken from the top of an old German fort. Church and other buildings in the foreground were relatively untouched–buildings in the background were demolished.

Bernard McKenzie, June 23, 1945

Entrance gate to Camp Home Run.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 23, 1945

Underground tunnel barracks that we were housed in during our 5 days at Home Run.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 23, 1945

A sector of Le Havre that had missed some bombs.

Bernard McKenzie, June 23, 1945

Service deluxe was to be had at Camp Home Run. Here are a few French girls who dished out food in the kitchen.

Bernard McKenzie, June 23, 1945

Once a German fort, Camp Home Run was a restful place for American G.I.’s awaiting shipment home.

Bernard McKenzie, Le Havre, France, June 23, 1945

Veteran’s Day need not be a politicized holiday. Looking back at these amazing photos that are the greatest gift my father left us, I see Americans fighting oppression and tyranny. I see the great nation and people of France so devastated yet only weeks after the end of the war the smiles have returned to many of their faces. Veteran’s Day is a day to remember what binds us all together, the valor of generations of young people to protect fellow humans. I am proud to say that my dad was a veteran of World War 2 along with his brother, who landed in Normandy 24 hours after D-Day, and their dad before them was a veteran of World War 1.