Saugus native killed in Normandy invasion receives Medal of Honor

SAUGUS, Mass. — It was more than 75 years ago. Thousands of soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, France and more than 4,400 allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen died that day.

Among them was a 25-year-old from Saugus.

Staff Sargeant Arthur DeFranzo was a true hero killed in action. He's one of 13 Medal of Honor recipients and he and those 12 others were remembered in a special tribute Thursday.

DeFranzo was in the first wave of soldiers who stormed the braces in France. During the invasion that turned the tide of the war, his heroism shined.

"It's very emotional. I just hope the people in America know the sacrifice those guys made that day," said his cousin Frank DeFronzo.

Frank, Arthur's second cousin and also an Army veteran, says it's important people remember the incredible sacrifice men made on that fateful June day in 1944. Frank stopped by his gravesite to thank him.

"I go by to say that we appreciate everything that he did. And I hope he knows what he did. I hope he’s looking down from heaven," said DeFronzo.

Joe Daniels is the CEO of the Medal of Honor Museum. He helped organize the bell ringing for the 13 recipients in their hometowns across America.

"We wanted to highlight that through all of our nation’s conflicts there’s one-tenth of 1% that earned this Medal of Honor," said Daniels.

Frank says the bravery Arthur DeFranzo showed exemplifies the men and women who fought and died for all of us.

"He kept going back and got as close as he could and started knocking out the nests kept refusing medical attention still being shot and he waived his men on," Frank said.

We owe those men a debt of gratitude.

Cox Media Group