The veteran I selected to research for this article is Carl D. Beck. He was born in Avondale, Missouri, on November 21, 1925. Mr. Beck served in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War, with the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. It is unclear what his rank was at the time of his service, but at the end of his military career, Mr. Beck's rank was that of Master Sergeant. Before joining the military, Mr. Beck worked with his father in a factory and also raised chickens and pigs on a farm. Beck joined the military at age 17 and used his brother's birthdate to enlist because he wasn't old enough. Mr. Beck joined the military during the Great Depression in the United States. His family was very poor at the time and one of the reasons Beck chose to join the army was so he could get away from home. He was also influenced by meeting other members of the Airborne Army. On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, marking the start of Operation Overlord. This day became known as D-Day. On this day, Allied forces invaded France and began their mission to liberate Europe from the control of Nazi Germany. D-Day marks a key turning point in World War II and is considered by many to be the day that marked the end of Hitler's reign. In the book The Longest Day, author Cornelius Ryan describes the great importance that D-Day had and still has today by saying: "The day began the battle that ended the foolish gamble of Hitler to dominate the world (Ryan, 1). » Boys of Pointe Du Hoc author Douglas Brinskley quotes Reagan giving a speech on the importance of D-Day: "We remember D-Day because the French, the British, the Canadians and the Americans fought side by side for democracy and... .. middle of paper ......rather than a small part of it. Through my research, I have determined that oral history and secondary sources are both very valuable tools for studying and learning about historical events. When used together they certainly complement each other, what one lacks is made up for by the other. Both helped strengthen my knowledge of the Normandy Invasion during World War II and provided me with valuable insight into the events and significance of that day. They both have their strengths and weaknesses, but neither is as good alone as when paired with the other. Works Cited Beck, Carl D. Interview with Annette Fromm, July 11, 2002. (AFC/2001/001/1985), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of CongressText: Brinkley, Douglas. The Boys of Pointe Du Hoc. New York: Harper Vivace, 2005. Ryan, Cornelius. The longest day. New York: touchstone, 1959.