South Carolina Focus

75 years ago - June 6, 1944 - 156,000 Allied troops on nearly 7000 ships and landing craft and supported by 11,590 planes dropping both bombs and paratroopers, landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. The top-secret invasion of Europe was code-named Operation Overlord, but is more broadly known the world over as D-Day. That day began the battle to free the continent from the grip of Nazi Germany. 23,000 American soldiers swarmed Utah beach under German fire, and among those following the 4th Division ashore was Stewart Swift, a resident of Pawley's Island, S.C. He admitted to being apprehensive, "because we knew there'd be casualties," though not to the extent of those suffered by the 1st Division next door at Omaha beach. But he was confident in the backup given the landing troops by Navy gunfire and Army Air Corps bombers. Once Normandy was secured in late June, Swift's group moved inland following tank patrols. "We followed the tanks in many, many engagements," he said. Driving