Remembrance from Dennis Beck and Todd Smallwood.  NORMANDY, France -- Dr Tommy McDonnell, a retired physician from Marshfield, Missouri is one of the dwindling number of WWII veterans who made the trip to France for Friday's 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.  Dr. Tommy McDonnell, 91, traveled to Normandy, France with family members to tour the site of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944.  He joined other surviving D-Day veterans, along with thousands of family members, heads of government and local residents.  President Barack Obama paid tribute Friday to the U.S. service members who "defied every danger" to pour onto the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago.  The invasion is widely credited with turning the tide of the war and the downfall of Nazi Germany.  An elaborate international ceremony was on a section of beach named Sword Beach, in Ouistreham, France.   Dr. McDonnell's personal recollections of his part in D-Day include staging of the 16th Regimental Combat Team of the Army's First Infantry Division. He was with the initial assault force "O", trained as heavy machine gunner and rifle sharpshooter.  McDonnell was wounded by mortar and artillery fire, hit in the stomach, side and buttock.  He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.  He remembers boarding a landing craft in England and being shipped across the English Channel, then waiting for the order to go ashore.  McDonnell and his team landed at 7:05 am on Omaha Beach.  Omaha was the deadliest of the landing sites because German forces were able to fire from fortified positions on the cliffs above as the first waves of soldiers reached the shore.  McDonnell helped knock out German bunkers and pill boxes above the beach.  The fighting lasted nearly two days.    You can read McDonnell's first hand account of that day in his personal notes, attached above this story.  More than 156,000 troops crossed the English Channel during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. Nearly 10,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded.  (photos provided by McDonnell family)

What an honorable tribute! Great song both lyrically and musically :)

Excellent. Next time I'll wear my glasses when I'm writing.

This is a nice, clean folk sound with great musicianship, both in terms of the quality of play and the players' ability to choose the right textures.  Enjoyed this listen.

Randle Chowning from his CD RC and The Keys

Til We Meet Again

Song from Randle Chowning from his CD RC And The Keys

Trouble In The House

Burn It Down

Musical tribute from Dennis Beck and Todd Smallwood...

NORMANDY, France -- Dr Tommy McDonnell, a retired physician from Marshfield, Missouri is one of the dwindling number of WWII veterans who made the trip to France for Friday's 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Dr. Tommy McDonnell, 91, traveled to Normandy, France with family members to tour the site of the Allied invasion on June 6, 1944.  He joined other surviving D-Day veterans, along with thousands of family members, heads of government and local residents.

President Barack Obama paid tribute Friday to the U.S. service members who "defied every danger" to pour onto the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago.  The invasion is widely credited with turning the tide of the war and the downfall of Nazi Germany.

An elaborate international ceremony was on a section of beach named Sword Beach, in Ouistreham, France. 

Dr. McDonnell's personal recollections of his part in D-Day include staging of the 16th Regimental Combat Team of the Army's First Infantry Division. He was with the initial assault force "O", trained as heavy machine gunner and rifle sharpshooter.  McDonnell was wounded by mortar and artillery fire, hit in the stomach, side and buttock.  He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

He remembers boarding a landing craft in England and being shipped across the English Channel, then waiting for the order to go ashore.

McDonnell and his team landed at 7:05 am on Omaha Beach.  Omaha was the deadliest of the landing sites because German forces were able to fire from fortified positions on the cliffs above as the first waves of soldiers reached the shore.  McDonnell helped knock out German bunkers and pill boxes above the beach.  The fighting lasted nearly two days.  

You can read McDonnell's first hand account of that day in his personal notes, attached above this story.

More than 156,000 troops crossed the English Channel during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. Nearly 10,000 Allied troops were killed or wounded.

(photos provided by McDonnell family)

3 Rows Over (Dennis Beck/Todd Smallwood honor Dr Tommy McDonnell, Marshfield, MO)

This track is a re-recording of a 35 year old song of mine. Had a lot of white noise back then, so I tried to protect all your precious ears from damage by giving it another try with today's technical equipment. Only my skills didn't improve in the meantime, so I apologize to my younger version of me if I f..... up... ;-)

Guitar still my 35 year old Valley Arts in Gun-Metal Blue.

Artwork by my 87 year old and beloved Dad

In The Distance (2025)

Knocking On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

Dennis Beck - Watchin Children Grow

Angelica Abrams - Orchestration, Keyboards, Vocals
Angelica and the Amani Childrens Choir - Background Vocals 
Marc Veilleux - Lyrics and music collaboration
Dennis Beck - Guitar
Joe Barsuglia - Additional percussion, bass, and production

A Common Thread - Angelica Abrams with Amani Children's Choir

Dennis Beck's Drinking Song. Also performed at the Gillioz Theatre on 10/06/2012 during the Songwriter Circle opening for The Paul Torn Band. Nashville bound?

Meet Jose Cuervo

Hope to worship with you for eternity.  
From Dust tracks are my sons recordings available on i-Tunes.

3 Rows Over (Dennis Beck/Todd Smallwood honor Dr Tommy McDonnell, Marshfield, MO)

J R Barsuglia / Interim Worship Band

Recent comments

Bumpkin

The Krum Church K1UMC

The Krum Church K1UMC

Kmocet

Related tracks