Board Honors U.S. Navy Veteran Fred Camp

On the 69th anniversary of the D-Day invasion during World War II, a brief ceremony took place at village hall to honor one of Garden City's own - a man who proudly fought for his country and is humbled by the community's offering of thanks.

"I did it for my country," U.S. Navy veteran Fred Camp said of his service on the beaches of Normandy.

Mayor John Watras presented Camp with a citation. "We had the honor on Memorial Day of meeting Fred for the first time and we found out on that day what a brave, outstanding human being he is," Watras said.

Camp landed on Omaha Beach nearly seven decades ago and worked as a medic, a pharmacist's mate, for three weeks on "that beachhead." "I did all I could do," he said.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” Omaha Beach, code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France, saw 3,000 casualties.

"Fred Camp, you are the ultimate volunteer," mayor Watras said.