WWII Vet on D-Day: 'The bullets were coming all around'

Four members of the American Legion Post 160 in Smyrna will soon be honored with the French Legion of Honor Medal for their service to France during World War II. Each was selected by the French Government to receive the medal, which is considered to be the highest honor bestowed by France.

Those receiving the honor are Venson Abercrombie, 89, of the U.S. Air Force; Ralph Ardito, 88, of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army; Leon “Barney” Barnett, 87, of the U.S. Army; and Robert Spooner, 90, of the U.S. Army.

The Legion of Honor, or Légion d'honneur, is France’s highest order and decoration that recognizes both military and civilians for their bravery or honorable service to the country. Napoleon Bonaparte established the Legion of Honor on May 19, 1802.

The French Counsel General in Atlanta, Pascal Le Denuff will conduct the French Legion of Honor Ceremony on Wednesda at 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 160 in Smyrna. Refreshments, prepared and served by the Ladies Auxiliary, will be available at 1 p.m. and at the conclusion of the program.

Several of these men took time recently to discuss with Patch their experiences in the war, as well as what receiving this honor means. 

Spooner, who rose to rank of Corporal and served between July 1942 and September 1945, resides in Doraville. He was among the first wave of soldiers in the 116th infantry that stormed the beach the morning of D-Day, June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France. 

He recalled that fateful morning as he and many other soldiers “got off of the big boat” about 15 miles from the shore and got into the landing crafts that would take them the rest of the way in.

“Everyone was seasick,” he said. ‘But by the time we got to the shore we had forgotten about the seasickness.”

He and the rest of the soldiers were dumped out into water up to their chest. Spooner saw many soldiers shot down as he slowly fought his way through the churning ocean. Many of the landing crafts suffered direct hits before the soldiers on board even made it into the water. 

“The Lord just blessed me and looked after me,” he said “The bullets were coming all around.”

Spooner, whose primary job was gathering information on casualties, and others his division were ordered to stay on the beach until the next morning. By noontime that day, he said other troops had advanced well beyond the beach. He remembers looking back into the ocean and seeing a horizon lined with ships. 

To now be receiving this honor means a lot to Spooner. His family and church are going out of their way to show their support, he explained.

“I am quite honored to be able to receive this,” he said.

While Abercrombie was not in the first wave that stormed Normandy, he was one of the first American soldiers to fly from French soil. Abercrombie now resides in Mineral Bluff, but lived in Smyrna for 53 years. He served between January 1942 and September 1945 and held the rank of Airman First Class.

During his time in Normandy, Abercrombie was sent in as part of a ground operation on June 12, 1944 to do reconnaissance work after the initial invasion.

‘We spotted tanks and troop movements,” he explained.

Upon arriving, he recalled the water still being red with blood. Intel from his group led to the eventual bombing of Utah Beach by American forces.

Abercrombie had previously received the Presidential Unit Citation for being among the first group to fly from France. The fact that he and the other Smyrna American Legion members are now receiving the medal for helping liberate France from Germany means much to him.

“I am so proud of it,” he said. 

Others from throughout the Southeast who will receive the award include Donald Van Roosen, Pinehurst, N.C.; Hubert Aaron; Crawford, Ga.; Joseph J. Hammonds; Thomaston, Ga.; Thomas Parsons, Decatur, Ga.; James Wright, Millington, TN; James McKinley, Perry, Ga.; Elmer Evans; Knoxville, Tenn.; Reuben Downer, Atlanta; John Ogden, Dundee, Miss.; Emmitt Dooley, Summerville, Ga.