ST. LOUIS — June 6th, 1944. Forever known as D-Day.
“I dropped my first bombs at 6:58 a.m.,” said World War II veteran and St. Louisan, Captain Ralph Goldsticker.
The 102-year-old distinctly remembers his crew’s mission over northern France that day.
“The 8th Air Force had two priorities: destroy the Germans’s ability to wage war. The other was the fighter part. Knock down the Luftwaffe so we’d have air supremacy on D-Day, which we did. This is the pin from the first bomb to leave our plane. 297222 on June 6th, 1944, at 0658. RPG, I signed,” said Goldsticker.
Nearly eight decades after that pivotal day in World War II, Goldsticker is returning to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. He’s joining dozens of World War II veterans on a nine-day trip to France sponsored by American Airlines.
“As my son said, it’s going to be a flying nursing home. Ha,” said Goldsticker.
A series of events will honor the veterans’ service and sacrifice once they land in France, culminating in a D-Day commemoration at the American Cemetery in Normandy.
“I was thinking about these fellas who didn’t have a life. I had 80 years of living after that, which they didn’t have. Children. Grandchildren. Great grandchildren,” said Goldsticker.
Which are blessings that Goldsticker says he could’ve never imagined during the 35 missions he flew during the war.
“I assumed I was going to die every time. If I died, I died. My attitude was that I wasn’t coming back. But I did. I was one of the lucky ones,” said Goldsticker.
And it’s our good fortune that Goldsticker is here to inspire us.
“The stories that we’ve heard that have been shared are just amazing.” Rolando Lopez of the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight.
“I would say his real legacy is not what he did in the war, but the fact that he raised three successful sons. The attributes he instilled in us,” said Goldsticker’s son, Bob.
With eyesight as clear as his memory, Ralph Goldsticker proves the greatest generation’s sacrifices are still worth fighting for.
“We did our job and we’re living free right now, thanks to us and others that have served since,” said Goldsticker.
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