I read with special interest the article “Joy, sadness intertwine at Normandy’s D-Day commemorations” (June 7). Two Pennsylvanians were among the many heroes who made history on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Lt. Richard (Dick) Winters commanded Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division. He was made famous by the TV miniseries “Band of Brothers.”

Much less known was T/Sgt. Alexander Busony. My Uncle Al was a platoon leader in the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach. He and his men were unofficially credited with making the furthest advance into enemy lines, but it nearly cost him his life. He lost an eye and spent many months in hospitals recovering from a head wound.

When Dick Winter’s grandson asked him, “Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?” Winters replied, “No, but I served in a company of heroes.”

Uncle Al was asked that very same question by an interviewer in a 1985 Johnstown Tribune-Democrat article about him and other local D-Day survivors. His response: “We were not heroes. The ones who didn’t come back are the heroes.”

Uncle Al never talked to my cousin or myself about his ordeal. I’m sure it was too painful.

The sacrifices made by the humble heroes from the “Greatest Generation” should never be forgotten!

Ken Busony

Unity

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