European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 4, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes saturday june 4,1994 for Young officer War return to roots by Nancy  . Bureau Weymouth England when Peter f. Broad joined the military during world War ii he never dreamed he would enter the service As a British citizen and come out As an american. But Broad soon Learned that anything can happen in War. Broad 75, was bom in England and spent his. Early years in the Southwest coastal town of Weymouth. Flis parents Fredrick Broad and Eveyln Tizard both of whom were English had lived in America before he was bom. When he was 5, his parents decided to return to the United states to seek Job opportunities he said. The family settled in Omaha neb., where Broad still resides. Living in Omaha Broad said a is one of those coincidences in life Quot Broad eventually was assigned to a . Army heavy artillery battalion that assaulted Omaha Beach in Normandy. When the War broke out in 1939, Broad tried to join one of the British military services even though he still lived in the states. He wrote to the British Council in America but was told that British citizens living abroad could not join Britain a military he said. The americans did no to want him either because he was a foreign National Broad said. So he tried to sign up with another Allied nation. A i went to Canada at my own expense and tried to join the Royal Canadian air Force a Broad said. A but they refused to take me because i was  then in 1942, the United states passed the Friendly aliens act which allowed foreign nationals to serve in the american military. A i was in the first group of aliens to join up he said. In the army a 941st Field arty in his commander recognized that Broad had an aptitude for leadership. Despite his British citizenship which precluded him from becoming an officer the commander sent the new recruit to officer candidate school at fort Sill okla. Less than a week before Broad was to graduate he reminded his commander that he was still a British citizen. A they his superiors took me Down o the local courthouse to swear me in As a . Citizen on a saturday and four Days later i was a commissioned officer a he said. As a new second lieutenant he shipped out to a. A amps Dave Aldio Peter f. Broad found himself Back in his Hometown in England As an army officer during the War. The same general area he had left As a child 20 years earlier just outside Weymouth. A i marched right Down Dorchester Road right past my aunts House and right past St. Johns Church where my parents were married and i was baptized a he said. A what Shook me was Here i was looking at the town i came  he said he decided to commemorated Day in Weymouth in part because it was one of the largest centers of . Activity during the War. The reception shown . Veterans by locals has been tremendous Broad said. A of course we his heavy artillery battalion weren to infantry a Broad said. A a there a a lot of difference. The infantry boys up there in the cemetery in Normandy Are the  russians fake View of Celebration Moscow apr russians left out of a Day anniversary ceremonies urged the West on Friday to remember the great soviet sacrifices that helped make the Allied invasion possible 50 years ago. Some expressed bitterness about not being invited to France this weekend and scoffed at suggestions that the Normandy landings were strictly a Western affair. A we were together during the War we were allies so How can you say this was purely a Western operation a said Vitaly Lostin a 61-year-old employee of a world War ii museum in Moscow. A every russian knows that Victory was on the Eastern front. The Norman won by invasion was a second rate event in comparison a author Alexander Borisov told the English language Moscow times. The soviet Union suffered More casualties in one Battle a 1.2 million killed at Stalingrad in Southern Russia a than the United states did in the entire War. By wars end More than 20 million soviets had died. Soviet and russian historians have stressed the enormous losses suffered by the soviet Union and the victories that culminated in the capture of Berlin while minimizing the Impact of the United states and Britain a opening a second european front on the French coast. A specialists interpret differently this event even today five decades after the Start of the operation a the russian army newspaper red Star said Friday. A foreign historians Are inclined to overestimate the role of the second front in achieving the common Victory Over Germany. Domestic historians tend to underestimate this  Many russians continue to question Why it took the allies so Long to open the second front at Normandy echoing soviet suspicions that the West wanted the nazis and con my lists to bleed each other to death. Russian foreign minister Andrei Kozy a a a a a a a a a a a ight Rev said thursday that Russia Felt no Sligo about being left out of a Day ceremonies. A there is no offence no hard feelings a Kozarev said. A to the contrary we feel very much with our allies. But that was a particular operation during the War and it directly concerns those countries that took part in it Battle group to put out gangplank for Public visits 13y the stars and stripes Coleville sur Mer France the Navy a 13-ship George Washington Battle group steamed off Southern England on Friday As 14,000 sailors took their stations for a Day 50th anniversary celebrations. The Battle group led by the aircraft Carrier Washington was scheduled to visit the English ports of Portsmouth Southampton Torquay Portland Weymouth and Milford Haven during Calls from Friday through sunday. During and after the a Day events the group will visit several French ports. A a we re looking Forward to being a platform to recognize the sacrifices and hardships that our world War ii veterans have endured a said cmdr. Norris Jones a Navy spokesman at the joint information Bureau in Coleville sur Mer. The Washington which is on its first overseas deployment will play Host to a Day veterans and president Clinton during the commemorative activities Clinton will stay overnight on the Carrier sunday and will open a Day ceremonies monday by taking part in a Sunrise memorial service off Normandy. The Washington also will join ships from other Allied nations to form an International flotilla that will steam past Omaha Beach on sunday. On monday the Carrier and eight other . Craft will provide a backdrop for the a Day observances on Omaha Beach and in the Normandy american cemetery above Omaha Beach. Other . Warships will steam off Utah Beach and the Pointe do hoc on a Day. A the Battle group is making port visits in England and the Normandy area to allow the veterans to Stop aboard and be saluted by today a men in uniform a Navy spokesman Jones said. The Washington Battle group includes the guided missile cruisers Normandy Thomas s. Gates and san Jacinto guided missile destroyer John Barry destroyer Deyo guided missile frigate Doyle amphibious transport Dock ship Austin amphibious assault ship Guam amphibious Dock Landing ship Tortuga amphibious tank Landing ship Harlan county replenishment Oiler Kalamazoo and ammunition ship Santa Barbara. Here is a schedule of port visits by to Battle group a Plymouth England a the Austin and san Jacinto wiil play Host to guests today from 8 . Until noon. A Torquay England a the Gates will be open to the Public today sunday from 11 . Until 4 pan. The Tortuga will also be open on a Days from 1-4 . Southampton England a the Public will be Able to visit the Guam today from noon until 5 . Cherbourg franc a the Guam will be open to the Public tuesday from 11 . To 3 . And wednesday from 9 . Until 3 . A Llavet franc a five Navy ships will be open to the Public. The ships and hours arc the Deyo tuesday and wednesday from 1-4 . Doyle and Gates monday through thursday from id . To 4 . Nor and those Mandy tuesday and wednesday from 9 . Until 4 . And san Jacinto both Days from 10 . Until 3 . Brest franc a an additional . Ship the nuclear attack submarine Newport news will be open to visitors monday from 1-4 . And tues re ii 4 to m inn int. 1 4 a a. J 1 4al a _ d  is i 1day and wednesday from 8-10 . And 1-4 . The Santa Barbara will be open to the Public from tuesday through thursday from 8-11 . And from 1-t . L