Remembering Omaha Beach

Sixty-five years ago, two teens from the same North Carolina community waited off the coast of France for the start of an invasion that turned the tide of World War II.

The friends were aboard different ships. But knowing someone from home was close by comforted each of them.

Pete Lail and Bill Brown had gone to Oak Hill High School in Caldwell County, joined the Navy together and sweated through boot camp side by side.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the 19-year-olds steered landing craft toward Omaha Beach at Normandy. On June 7, when their boats happened to pass, they recognized each other and waved.