A Tough Hombre Returns Once Again To Commemorate The 70th Anniversary

By Acadia Otlowski and Jacqueline Stoughton

Tom Ingram is one of many World War II veterans who are gathering in Normandy with their families to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of D-Day June 6^th.

Ingram, 88, served in the 90^th Infantry Division, 359^th Regiment. The division is nicknamed the “tough hombres.” Ingram arrived on Utah Beach the day after the initial invasion, on D-Day plus one.

Enlisting before he was 18, he was able to die for his country but was unable to drink legally.

Ingram traveled to Normandy this year with a family friend, Ronnie Ammons. Ammons’ father, Jack Ammons served in the 357^th Regiment and fought with Ingram.

“I didn’t think I would ever get off the beach”

Ingram grew up on a farm where he worked with gun. He learned how to shoot at a young age, making him an effective soldier in the war, Ammons said . During the war, Ingram worked supporting infantry, carrying 30-calliber machine guns around with him at all times.

Ingram said the fighting at Normandy was brutal.

“I didn’t think I would ever get off the beach,” said Ingram, an Alabama native.

Still, he went on to survive and continued to serve. He helped find stolen artwork, silver, and gold that had been hidden away by the Nazis in salt mines. He also helped liberate the Flossenbürg concentration camp.

“The most horrible thing ever”

“Everything was hard. It was tough. You know, it was bad to kill someone and I’ll never forget it,” said Ingram, his voice quivering with emotion as he spoke. “The most horrible thing ever was the Flossenbürg concentration camps, seeing all of those dead Jews. And the ones that were able to walk, they tried to move down ahead of us. From Flossenbürg to Dachau, every 10 steps, one dead Jew. They couldn’t keep up, the S.S. would shoot them.”

“The rumor was they were burning the bodies to make soap out of them and for ammunition, you know,” said Ingram, “But that was just a rumor. That’s what they kept telling us.”

After the war was over, Ingram went back home to Alabama and worked as a cotton and peanut farmer, Ammons said.

A real connection with France

“You can see by my medals that I did go through hell in World War II,” said Ingram.

Ingram received three Silver Stars for his participation in the war. One of the stars was the result of Ingram doing his best to save an officer who had been wounded during battle. According to a report, Ingram faced almost certain death in his attempt to help the officer.

Ingram has traveled back to Europe more than 20 times and is planning another trip back to Normandy later this month. “He has a real connection here and with France,” Ammons said.