The insignia on their helmets is from the 29th Infantry, organised out of MD and VA National Guard units. They went ashore on Utah beach, the worst one.

When I was a kid, the guy across the street was a refrigeration mechanic. Two of his boys were my playmates. He gave us motors and relays and junk to tear apart. He made us a small freon tank with which we would freeze insects. He wore a copper bullet on a chain around his neck, along with his 'dog-tags'. He was in the 116th infantry reg. of the 29th, and that bullet was given to him by some german armed with an MG42 when he stepped ashore on June 6 '44. He drank Schlitz beer, but didn't hate Germans. He was an easy-going fellow, but his wife was umh kinda mean. I was a kid, and that is all I remember about him.

Some years later, just a few ago. I worked PT in a local liquor store, and he came in for a 6-pack of, you guessed it, Schlitz. He was at this point very aged. We talked a little while, just light stuff. He barely remembered who I was. I never saw him after that. God Bless him!