In 1935, at age 14, Gunther Renberg emigrated from Germany, changed his name to Kenneth, and settled in Enid, Oklahoma, with his second cousins. He volunteered for the Army when he was just 17. First Lieutenant Kenneth Renberg earned a Purple Heart after he was wounded 70 years ago during the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. That Allied victory was hard fought—the Nazis held artillery and strategic advantages; the tumultuous tides and vigorous winds pulled many landing crafts off course. Now 93 years old, Renberg lives in Tulsa and is a beloved philanthropist in the Jewish community.

Originally published in This Land, Vol. 5, Issue 12, June 15, 2014.