When Don landed on Omaha Beach he was a nineteen year old Buck Private in H Company, 2nd Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division and was carrying two boxes of .30 cal ammo, carbine, bazooka and five rounds, plus pack- over 100 pounds.

Three months later VanRoosen earned a battlefield commission and was now a 2nd Lieutenant Infantry. We’ll hear his story from landing in chest deep water to making it through the "longest day" to a night action that earned him his first Bronze Star.

In April of 1945 Don was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. In addition to his CIB his awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star w/V and cluster, Purple Heart w. 3/clusters, the French Croix de guerre, POW medal, ETO ribbon w/invasion arrowhead, with four stars.

Don went on serve in the USAR and was a distinguished member of A Company, 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Along the way he earned his Special Forces Qualification, Ranger tab and Senior Parachutist Badge.

VanRoosen is active in the 29th ID and has conducted battlefield tours of Normandy for the National Geographic and the Smithsonian Institute.

Oct 1st Meeting