The We Can Be Heroes Foundation is planning a D-Day remembrance brunch for 11 a.m. Saturday, June 4, with a presentation honoring World War II veterans to follow. A meet-and-greet precedes the brunch at 10:30 a.m. The event takes place at the Salem Centre Auditorium, 7235 Bentley Road in Jacksonville.
Guest of honor will be D-Day Purple Heart veteran Frank Purpura. The keynote speaker will be Capt. James Ransom III, Ret. USN, historian and nominee for Unsung Hero recognition.
On the evening of June 5, 1944, Purpura was aboard LST 356 while his ship and many others loaded men, supplies and ammunition and began their deployment to France’s beaches in terrible stormy weather for the invasion on June 6, 1944. Omaha Beach was their first stop.
Purpura, then just 18, was a Higgins boat driver that unloaded soldiers on the beaches. While en route to the beach on his first trip he was struck above his right eye with shrapnel from flying debris. He was patched up and quickly returned to his duty. He then made more than 50 trips between Utah, Sword and the other beaches delivering the men, ammunition and supplies.
LST 356 participated in several different actions, earning three battle stars.
Today, Purpura actively serves as the oldest Patriot of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 524, marching in Veteran’s Day parades, leading and helping with fundraising and holding chapter meetings in his home when the current facility was under repair.
Ransom is a 1980 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy. He holds a B.S. in history and an M.A. in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. He served as a submarine officer following a career that included commanding U.S.S. Miami during strike operations against Iraq and Serbia.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, and his crew was recognized with the 1999 Battenberg Cup, awarded to the best ship in the Atlantic Fleet.
Ransom is an adjunct professor for the Naval War College’s College of Distance Education, teaching the Strategy & War Fleet Seminar in Mayport.
Among those in attendance will be veterans, Unsung Heroes, Atlantic Coast Young Marines and the Let Freedom Sing Choir.
Tickets are $25, or a six-person table for $135, an eight-person table for $175. Veterans and Gold Star families will receive a 10% discount.
Seating for this event is limited. Go to Events at WeCanBeHeroesFoundation.org, or mail check to: We Can Be Heroes Foundation, 14286-19 Beach Blvd. #120, Jacksonville, FL 32250.
For further information, call 904-373-8817.
