D-Day veteran Jim “Pee Wee” Martin marked the 70th anniversary of the World War II invasion of Normandy by returning to France to do precisely what he did seven decades ago: jump.
As reports CNN, Martin, a member of the United States 101st Airborne Division that parachuted over Utah Beach, jumped from a plane Thursday into the same area as he did on D-Day. At the age of 93, Martin accomplished quite a feat in doing so.
“What made me do it today?” said the former paratrooper. “A little bit of ego because I’m 93 and I can still do it. And also I just wanted to show all the people that you don’t have to sit and die just because you get old.”
Reflecting on his experience during World War II, Martin explained, “Everybody (was) scared all the time, and if they tell you anything differently they are full of crap. But you just do what you had to do, regardless of it. That’s the difference.”
Upon his return to France, the veteran was struck by the gratitude and praise he received from individuals for his service. “I am kind of humbled and embarrassed at the adulations because I don’t feel that we did anything that we weren’t supposed to do, or anything exceptional,” said Martin.
Will this be the last jump for the 93-year-old veteran? It likely won’t be. “If I come back next year, I’ll make a jump next year,” Martin promised. “You can bet on it.”
