Iowa Veteran Laverne Sinram (1924-2013) was wounded going ashore at Omaha Beach, first wave, on D-Day. In his Voices of Iowa interview, he talks about praying, smoke coming out of his chest (thru his wound) and how he did not realize what had happened.
Mr. Sinram was from Oelwein and was part of the initial assault. He served with the 116th Army Infantry.