World War II Honoree

Norman Daniel Christensen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lake Benton, Minnesota

Honored By

Richard E. Manzer

PRIOR TO THE U.S. ENTERING THE WAR, HE WAS WORKING AS A JOURNALIST WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES COVERING THE WAR IN EUROPE. HE WAS SHARING A ROOM WITH ERIC SEVEREID IN PARIS WHEN FRANCE SURRENDERED. HE HAD BEEN THROUGHOUT WESTERN EUROPE COVERING HITLER'S RISE TO POWER SINCE THE MID-1930'S. FOLLOWING FRANCE'S SURRENDER, HE RETURNED TO THE U.S., JOINED THE ARMY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE STARS AND STRIPES. HE WAS SENT BACK TO ENGLAND AND CAME ASHORE WITH HIS TYPEWRITER AT NORMANDY ON D-DAY +3 AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO BERLIN.