"My name is James Mardin and I was born on 23 January 1922 and I live in the City of Portland Maine, in the United States of America.
I joined the United States Army in 1940 and was assigned to the Army Forces protecting Portland Harbor and the Liberty Ship Construction Yards from German submarine attack. We had long range 12 inch (305 mm) guns located on the mainland and on islands.
Later, in 1943, I was assigned to the 460th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion and we crossed the Atlantic Ocean to England in late 1943. On 12 June 1944, my unit landed on the beaches of Normandy France and we advanced to the East against Nazi forces. My unit had 500 men and thirty 40 mm Bofors guns for use against Nazi fighter planes. (My unit was credited with the 1000th Nazi fight plane shot down by all Allied Forces on the Western Front.)
We advanced Eastward through France and Belgium where we fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After that, we advanced into Germany and crossed the Rhine River, eventually turning South and we occupied the City of Mies in western Czechoslovakia. Russian forces advanced from the East in Czechosloviakia and met with our American forces near the City of Pilsen.
I send warm greetings to all my fellow veterans of the Great Patriotic War and I send my best wishes to the families of all who died in defending against Nazi aggression.
James Mardin, Sergeant
United States Army
14 March 2020
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