Normandy 2023 - Le Roosevelt Signature Research

When we started visiting Normandy, Museum Paratroopers still had 'Longest Day' style first aid packs on helmets, the US Army used woodland camo and WWII vets and families outnumbered re-enactors.
But the times have changed. The most fittest of the last WWII veterans will travel to Normandy in 2023 and 2024, when the 'Last Big One' will commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
For now: let us have a look to some of the men (and some friends), who revisited the former ETO (European Theater of Operations) battlefields. In this case: Normandy, France.

In 1989 (45th) - 1994 (50th) - 1999 (55th) there were 'Big' commemorative events with scores of WWII Allied veterans attending. But since 2001... almost every year is a 'Big One' with many events.

In 2001 the World Premiere of the HBO TV-series was staged at Utah Beach. Ceremony, theater, production office and all. Almost 50 veterans of Easy Company of the 506th PIR and Tom Hanks. It changed everything.

So... as quiet as it was in May 2023... on June 6th 2001 we attended the ceremony and World Premiere of Band of Brothers right here. Make shift theater, red carpet and veterans of E/506 in yellow windbreakers.

'Le Roosevelt Café'. Historical location. The old owner had a private museum with radio's and transmitters setup in the 90's. He met many US WWII veterans who left a signature on his furniture and/or 'Wall of Fame'!

Today, Le Roosevelt Café still has an area which is covered in signatures of WWII veterans who stopped by during private visits or commercial WWII Tours. We met many of these men in the last 25 year!

One name stood out right away: 'E. Gilbertson'. Cpl. Elmer Gilbertson (Ass. radioman) I-Company, 506th PIR. Wounded in action in the Netherlands (Oct 44) Here is some research on him, from years ago. Amazing.

I-Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, sign. Camp Toccoa July 1942. Elmer 'Shorty' Gilbertson at the right next to Raymond 'Red' Carroll. James A. Crawford Jr. and Sergeant Murton McCarty on the left.

There are also veteran signatures printed on several tables. And we came across many familiar names.

A few faces of veterans we met over the years: Joe Crilley (Capt - 326th AEB), Bob Lott (327/401st GIR) and Jed (A/501) we met during 101st AB Association Tour of The Island in The Netherlands, 20 years ago.
And Bob Noody (F/506) who hasn't met this iconic warrior with his trademark smile? Picture taken during a canceled 'parachutage' (parachute drop) during a D-Day commemoration at La Fiere, back in 2011.
We also see 'Fast' Fred Bahlau (H/506), Tony B. Lujan (B/502) who we met in the Ardennes with 4 men of B/502 (2002), Rod Bain and Shifty Powers (who we met in 2001/2003) and Dick Klein (HQ-Co 3/501).

At the top right: Herb Suerth of E/506, who gave a thrilling speech during the inauguration of the Dick Winters Leadership Memorial in 2012. When so many of us met along that road to Utah Beach.

This was 11 years ago, by the time we release this 2023 article. It was surreal to hold the original dogtags of 2/506 legend Dick Winters (his 1941 set). Also bittersweet to see my late friend Johan van Waart next to Sophia.

Below: another table at Le Roosevelt café, and another set of signatures. And yet again many familair names. It is like a 'who is who' of 90's - 00's and 10's populair WWII history!

Paul Miller (506th PIR) who we met during a 'Band of Brothers' Tour, our late friend Lud Labutka (E/502) who visited our house in 2007, and veteran/historian George Koskimaki. We've toured with all these men.

Various signatures on various surfaces at Le Roosevelt Café. For us the signature of S/SGT Ted Liska (D/12 IR) stood out. We met this veteran of the 4th Infantry Division in 2002 at the townhall at Ste Marie du Mont.