Second Lieutenant Leonard Alton Anker rapidly chewed his gum. D-day was a week before his 23rd birthday. His thoughts drifted to his roots, third generation at the Anker homestead ranch in Lovelock. As the youngest of five children to James and Myrtle Talcott Anker, Leonard learned responsibility. His thoughts progressed to ROTC training at the University of Nevada. Two days after graduation, he was commissioned and received officer training. Crossing the pond, he met the enlisted men of his platoon in England. K Company's three platoons were part of the second wave of the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division to land at Omaha Beach.
Meanwhile, 6,000 miles to the west in Lovelock, Leonard's older sister, Staff Sgt. Phyllis Anker, had taken leave time to visit their parents. Most Americans at the Home Front listened to their radios, "Allies invaded France!" Myrtle and Phyllis felt helpless. They did what hundreds of thousands of Americans did on June 6th; they attended church to pray for their loved ones and for all our boys to return safely.
In the English Channel Leonard's face was wet from ocean spray as the second wave sped to Omaha Beach. As soon as their landing craft hit a sand bar, the front ramp dropped. Leonard led his men through waist-high red ocean water. Pushing a path through the floating bodies of 18- and 19-year-old GIs, Leonard yelled orders to his sergeants to have his men take cover while moving through the chaos, destruction and death that littered "Bloody Omaha."
They reached the high water mark at the top of the sea wall. Suddenly, a machine gun began firing 1,000 rounds a minute pining them down.
Lt. General Omar Bradley pinned the Distinguished Service Cross on Leonard's chest and read. "To Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Leonard Alton Anker, United States Army, while serving as Platoon Leader in action against enemy forces on 6 June 1944, at Normandy, France. At the time of the landing of Second Lieutenant Anker's platoon, the beach was under withering fire from enemy artillery, automatic weapons and small arms. After proceeding about 200 yards, all troops in the vicinity of Second Lieutenant Anker were pinned down by the devastating fire. Second Lieutenant Anker located an enemy machine gun that was inflicting heavy casualties. With complete disregard for his own safety, Second Lieutenant Anker, aided by an enlisted man whom he inspired to action by his own gallantry, fearlessly charged and destroyed the enemy strongpoint with hand grenades, killing 16 and capturing five of the enemy. Second Lieutenant Anker's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 29th Infantry Division and the United States Army."
His mother and sister's prayers protected and aided him in his recovery from being wounded three times as the 29th Division crossed France into Germany. Leonard had a DSC, three Purple Heart and three Bronze Star medals when Germany surrendered, May 8, 1945.
Captain Anker was honorably discharged in May 1946. He lost no time marrying his college sweetheart, Frances Helen Burke, on June 10, 1946. A brief time later, they settled in Minden and had four children, Claudia, Shirley, Alton and Beverly. He retired from the USDA Soil Conservation Service and became a successful rancher and businessman while being involved in service clubs of Douglas County.
June 6 was etched forever in Leonard's mind especially the loss of his first sergeant. He would change the subject when asked questions about the War. Zealous devotion to Duty was how Leonard lived his life. He entered this world on Monday, June 13, 1921, and departed on Monday, Sept. 22, 2008, age 87.
Above the bluffs of Omaha Beach, there are 9,387 of our boys buried at the Normandy American Cemetery. When I visited Normandy's beaches and our cemetery in September 2011, I walked past a couple of hundred white marble grave markers standing at attention in a sea of green grass. After reading the name and age on each grave marker, I thanked each one for his sacrifice and speaking English today.
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