D-DAY 70th ANNIVERSARY - JUNE 2014
USS CORRY (DD-463) SURVIVORS 
TRIP TO NORMANDY FRANCE

A FRENCH COAST GUARD CUTTER TOOK USS CORRY D-DAY SURVIVORS 
GULLY AND TOM GROOT AND OTHERS TO THE SPOT WHERE THE CORRY SANK
FOR A CEREMONY TO REMEMBER THE 24 CORRY SHIPMATES WHO DID NOT COME HOME
AS A RESULT OF THE USS CORRY BEING SUNK ON D-DAY MORNING. 

USS CORRY SURVIVOR TOM GROOT ABOARD FRENCH COAST GUARD 
CUTTER HEADED TO WHERE THE CORRY WAS LOST ON D-DAY. 

HEADING TO WHERE THE CORRY WAS LOST. 

SURVIVORS GULLY AND TOM GROOT AT REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY WHERE
24 ROSES WERE PLACED IN THE WATER OVER THE SPOT WHERE THE USS CORRY SANK, 
ONE ROSE FOR EACH CORRY SHIPMATE WHO DID NOT COME HOME. 

SURVIVORS GULLY AND TOM GROOT WITH CLIFF HUMPHREY. 
CLIFF SPREAD HIS FATHER'S ASHES OVER THE SPOT WHERE THE CORRY SANK. 

SURVIVORS GULLY AND TOM GROOT REMEMBERING THE 24 USS CORRY SHIPMATES LOST ON D-DAY. 

 
GULLY AND TOM GROOT BEING RECOGNIZED 
BY THE MAYOR OF GOUVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE.

EACH OF THE VETERANS AT NORMANDY WAS GIVEN A MEDAL. 
THE MEDAL CEREMONY WAS ON THE SAME DATE THAT GULLY AND TOM GROOT 
TOOK THE BOAT OUT TO WHERE THE CORRY SANK, SO THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN
THEY WERE STAYING IN MADE A SPECIAL CEREMONY JUST FOR THE TWO OF THEM. 

THE MAYOR SPOKE THESE WORDS:

"YOUR DETERMINATION AND BRAVERY IS EVER-PRESENT IN OUR MEMORY, 
AND WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE 
TO THOSE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES SO THAT WE MIGHT BE FREE."

THE FRENCH PEOPLE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN NICER. 

 
BARFLEUR, FRANCE: 
USS CORRY SURVIVORS GULLY AND TOM GROOT (CENTER) WITH NBC CREW.  

JUNE 6, 2014 -- GETTING ON THE BUS FOR THE D-DAY REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY,  
WHICH WAS HELD AT COLEVILLE-SUR-MER, NORMANDY, FRANCE. 

        
GULLY AND TOM GROOT BEFORE THE D-DAY CEREMONY. 

GULLY (LEFT) WITH WWII VETS BEING GREETED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA.
COLEVILLE-SUR-MER, NORMANDY, FRANCE. 
THEIR PHOTO APPEARED IN MANY MAJOR NEWSPAPERS.