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World War II veterans return home for D-Day Conneaut

Star Beacon - 8/17/2018

Aug. 17--CONNEAUT -- Two men stood on the Conneaut bluffs Thursday afternoon as a documentary crew from Fictionless interviewed them about their World War II experiences.

Daniel McBride, 94, and James McBride, 88, grew up about 400 yards west of Conneaut Township Park and are in town to enrich D-Day Conneaut 2018 by sharing their life experience.

Daniel McBride said he never dreamed of a D-Day reenactment in his childhood neighborhood, but he comes back yearly from his home in Silver City, New Mexico.

"I come back every year to see my family and I come back for this re-enactment," he said.

Daniel McBride was a paratrooper who landed behind enemy lines on D-Day. He said the re-enactment "seemed pretty realistic ... but we didn't come in on the beach.

"All of our training for two years was for leading the invasion."

He said, however, there were no training manuals for the operation and they had to make it up as they went along.

"I was 20 when we landed in Normandy," he said.

James McBride,

88, was one of the younger World War II participants because a recruiter didn't ask his age. He was just 16.

"I went down and applied for the draft and they never asked my age," he said.

James McBride never left the country and came home to Conneaut, where he worked in the railroad industry for 36 years and took up flying airplanes with his GI Bill benefits. He still lives in the city.

Many re-enactors in town said they love the history portion of the event, which kicked off Thursday but gets going in earnest Friday and Saturday.

"Basically we are a traveling museum," said Steven Martin of Fort Mills, South Carolina, adding D-Day Conneaut is an awesome event. "It is an absolute pleasure to come."

Tim Arter of Bedford, Indiana, is a teacher by profession and said he likes to bring the events of World War II to the average citizen.

"They have read books and played video games, but this is hands on," he said. "We don't glorify war but we try to show the pieces and parts."

Eric Korincz, of Verona, Kentucky, echoed the sentiments of his fellow German re-enactors.

"This is such a great event. ... There are so few that have this amount of people. I am just a history buff. I loved everything in it," he said.

Phil Budzinski, of Columbus, is the signal officer for the Allied Camp and said he likes to help people understand there were 10 "behind the scenes" guys for every one fighting in battles.

"I am here to do things that people aren't aware of," he said.

As the event gets going, UH Medical Center Conneaut staff members are gearing up to make it as safe as possible.

"We've got probably 75 UH employees that rotate," said Denise DiDonato, manager of business development. Two first aid trailers and a tent will be available for participants and visitors.

On Thursday, local police announced a new parking lot arrangement on the department's Facebook page for the weekend as Conneaut High School and Gateway Plaza shopping center will not be used as parking areas this year.

Gateway Elementary School and Conneaut Middle School will be used this year, and signs will direct visitors leaving Interstate 90 to Gateway Avenue from Route 7 north.

Another lot at Broad and Jackson streets will be used, and a smaller lot for disabled visitors is available at Day and Erie streets, police stated.

Shuttle buses will transport visitors from each lot to Conneaut Township Park.

Many side streets in the vicinity of the park are off-limits as well to ensure adequate space for emergency vehicles. Lake Road will experience one-way traffic westbound only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

MARK TODD contributed to this article.

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(c)2018 the Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio)

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