Remembering the 23 servicemen from Mississippi who died on the beaches of Normandy

On June 6, 1944, a multinational landing force numbered at 160,000 servicemen landed on five codenamed beaches in northern France: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword.

With an objective of securing a beachhead and ultimately liberating Nazi-occupied Europe, 23 servicemen from Mississippi died participating in the world’s largest seaborne invasion, what’s now called D-Day.

Those from Mississippi confirmed fallen by the National D-Day Memorial Necrology Project are:

• Seaman First Class William F. Hopper of the Second Beach Battalion died on Utah Beach. He’s commemorated at Normandy American Cemetery’s Tablets of the Missing.

• Private Ellis S. Abney of the 29th Infantry Division died on Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo, Mississippi.

• Second Class Motor Machinist’s Mate James E. Simmons of Tank Landing Craft 597 is commemorated on Normandy American Cemetery’s Tablets of the Missing.

• First Lieutenant James L. Robinson of the First Infantry Division died on Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia, Mississippi.

• Sergeant George S. Rogers of the 587 Bomber Squadron is commemorated at Cambridge American Cemetery’s Tablets of the Missing.

• Private First Class James Rone Jr. of the 81st Chemical Battalion died on Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Tabernacle Cemetery in Mississippi.

• Private First Class Howard M. Duke of the 101st Airborne Division is commemorated at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Private First Class Willie E. King of the 29th Infantry Division died at Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Coalville Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi.

• Staff Sergeant Jefferson D. Smith of the First Infantry Division died at Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Oak City Cemetery in Bainbridge, Georgia.

• Private First Class John E. Boman of the Fourth Infantry Division died at Utah Beach. He’s buried at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Private Earnest L. Knott of the 112th Engineer Combat Battalion died at Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Cedarlawn Cemetary in Jackson, Mississippi.

• Private Jesse M. Hawkins of the 101st Airborne Division is commemorated at Normandy American’s Tablets of the Missing.

• Sergeant Felix C. Sandefur of the 82nd Airborne Division is buried at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Private First Class Edward B. Thurmond of the 1st Infantry Division died at Omaha Beach.

• Private Alex H. Raines of the 149th Engineer Combat Battalion died at Omaha Beach and is buried at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Private First Class Marion D. Tubbs of the 1st Infantry DIvision died at Omaha Beach and is commemorated on Normandy American Cemetery’s Tablets of the Missing.

• Coxswain Warren J. Moran of Infantry Landing Craft 88 is buried at Alphonse G Malley Memorial Cemetery in Fenton, Mississippi.

• Private First Class Bryant L. Hinson of the 101st Airborne Division is buried at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Private Charles E. Morgan of the First Infantry Division died on Omaha Beach and is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Sardis, Mississippi.

• Private First Class Elbert M. Beasley Jr. of the Fourth Infantry Division died at Utah Beach and is buried at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Staff Sergeant Jefferson D. Smith of the First Infantry Division died on Omaha Beach. He’s buried at Oak City Cemetery in Bainbridge, Georgia.

• Private First Class Edward B. Thurmond of the First Infantry Division died on Omaha Beach and is buried at Normandy American Cemetery.

• Private First Class Marion D. Tubbs of the First Infantry Division died on Omaha Beach and is buried at Normandy American Cemetery.