William Dabney (wearing his Legion of Honor Medal) to the right, accompanied by his son, Vinney.
June 6, 2021, is the 77th Anniversary of D-Day. Honoring the Courageous Americans of D-Day, the most important day of the twentieth century. The day the free world unleashed its power and might upon the tyranny of fascist Germany.
During June 5 – 6, 2009, I had the privilege to meet and talk with William Dabney, an American hero. The spectacular occasion was in memory of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. The French government awarded The Legion of Honor Medal to some seventy-five American and British World War II veterans. The majority of these were D-Day veterans: soldiers, airmen, seamen, paratroopers, and barrage balloon specialist, William Dabney. The ceremony took place in the magnificent courtyard of Les Invalides in Paris, France (see photo below).
The Barrage Balloon Battalion was composed totally of African-American soldiers. The Battalion was made up of four 1,000 man units: 318th, 319th, 320th, and the 321st. Their mission was to provide a protective umbrella over the invasion transport ships and the landing beaches. The enormous hydrogen-filled balloons were tethered with steel wire cables, which prevented the Luftwaffe (German air force) from low altitude bombing and machine-gun strafing runs. Thus contributing an essential role in the success of the invasion and the months-long unloading process of soldiers and war material. As the Luftwaffe shot down balloons, the units of the Battalion quickly floated replacements. (See invasion photo below)
Nineteen-year-old William Dabney, along with his fellow brave soldiers of the 320th joined the invasion forces on Omaha Beach amidst the carnage and murderous German crossfire. In the hellish chaos, they went to work sending up the balloons which supplied air protection for their fellow American soldiers.
William Dabney, passed away on December 12, 2018, in Roanoke, Virginia at the age of 94. Thank you for All you did for our great nation! God Bless William Dabney and God Bless America! On the final photograph of the rose on Omaha Beach, please see his signature.
The Legion of Honor ceremony took place in the magnificent courtyard of Les Invalides.
This classic photograph of Omaha Beach was taken just days after the invasion. It shows the balloons, which were placed and maintained by the Barrage Balloon Battalion.
I took this photo of the rose on Omaha Beach early on the morning of D-Day, 2007. Returning to Normandy for the 65th D-Day anniversary (2009), I brought a copy of the photo. Every D-Day veteran I met signed it. William Dabney’s signature is just above and left of the rose (W Dabney, 320 Bal, Va.)