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Remembering D-Day

Aired June 04, 2004 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is LIVE FROM... I'm Carol Lin.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips. Here's what's all new this half hour.

Sunday marks the 60th anniversary thousand of American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy and lost their lives in the D-Day invasion. We found a story that you've probably never heard. The story of one American town that sacrificed more than any other that fateful day.

But first, let's take a look of the top stories we're following for you.

The president and the pope, President Bush presented pope John Paul II with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a Vatican meeting today. The pope expressed his continued opposition of the war in Iraq and made a veiled reference to the prisoner abuse scandal, saying that he was troubled by what he called deplorable the events.

An explosion rips through a crowded market in the Russian city of Samara. Police say that the blast killed eight people and wounded 45. Samara is 500 miles southeast of Moscow. A criminal investigation is now under way. No word yet on a possible motive.

Japan's parliament looked like a wrestling ring today. Take a look at this. The brawl is a sign of how hot the emotions are running over Japan's troubled pension system and efforts to reform it. Opposition lawmakers rushed an unruly politician as he tried to announce a reform bill had cleared a key committee.

Sixty years ago allied commanders were putting the finishing touches on their plan to land troops on the beaches of Normandy, France. For historical perspective, here's an excerpt of our "People in the News" special on the legacy of D-Day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER CRONKITE, WWII CORRESPONDENT: The legacy of D-Day must be remembered as a turning point of the worst war in history. It was a costly war in lives and history.

But I prefer really in a sense that it be remembered with the sacrifices it took to win it. JOHN S.D. EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER'S SON: My dad paced the floor by himself. Real Hollywood. Real dramatic. He finally said, OK, we'll go. And he said, the second after that, the room was empty.

GEN. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, U.S. EUROPE SUPREME COMMANDER: Soldiers, sailors and air men of the expeditionary Air Force, you are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have driven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.

DICK WINTERS, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION: As you looked down, it took your breath. You were looking at a site no man has seen before or since. You were looking at about 7,000 ships, about 4,000 landing rafts, over 250 battleships.

MARVIN PERRETT, U.S. COAST GUARD: You see the machine gun bullets hitting the water. And you see the troops like kneeling on boats and wading in towards shore. And every now and then you'd see one of them fall.

HAL BAUMGARTEN, 29TH DIVISION: The boat on our left blew up. We were covered with wood, metal and body parts -- and blood. When our ramp went down for us to exit the little boat, it was a signal for almost every machine gun on that beach to open up on the exit to our ship.

LEN "BUD" LOMELL, 2ND RANGER BATTALION: The Germans didn't believe there was anybody so stupid that would try to climb a 100-foot cliff straight up under fire. We got up to the top. Fought through the Germans who were there. We then, through our horror and anger, discovered none of the guns were there.

MARTIN MORGAN, NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM: Eisenhower had no plan B. The invasion across the English Channel had to succeed. It was the only chance we were going to have.

D. EISENHOWER: Let us all beseech the blessing of all mighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Ceremonies honoring those who fought and died in the D-Day invasion will run through Sunday. More than a dozen heads of state will be there, including President Bush, Britain's Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Joining us now from Normandy of the preview of the busy weekend is CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, and of course, Gerhardt Schroeder of Germany, the chancellor, will be the first ever sitting chancellor of Germany to come to these D-Day commemorations.

And so there will be an enormous significance put on this 60th anniversary, not only because of the group of people coming, because of the moment of history in which it occurs with everybody knowing that the Iraq war looms in the background as an uninvited guest, if you like. But also because most people believe that this 60th anniversary might be the last time that, after all, veterans who are now in their late 80s, may be able to gather in these kinds of numbers.

And already, the celebrations and the commemorations are under way. They will culminate with big national celebrations with all the heads of state, as you mentioned, on Sunday. But today, for instance, in (UNINTELLIGIBLE), which was liberated actually 34 days after the D- Day landing. In (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the locals dignitaries and officials paid tribute to several hundred American, British and other some European veterans who had come here as part of the commemorations.

And the town official said to them that 60 years later, Normandy does not forget its liberators. And they said that they were there to pay a huge debt of gratitude, to say aloud how much they know that they owe their liberators, the sacrifice, the courage, the strength and the fortitude and determination they made on those beaches 60 years ago.

It was really very emotional. Nobody could help but be touched by what we saw there under that tent this afternoon. These old men who as youngsters, 20, younger, some, you know, even teenagers, had stormed those beaches with such terrible sacrifice 60 years ago.

Many of them were in wheel chairs. They couldn't even walk today. Some of them were joking with each other about looking for lost comrades and having finally met up with people they hadn't seen for so many years.

But there was a sort of feeling of pride, of course, you can imagine. These men were still here to accept the gratitude of the French, to accept special commemorative medals that had been especially minted for this 60th day commemoration. And they were pinned on each and every one's already brimming chest full of medals.

And there was emotion as the national anthems of the United States, Britain, other European countries that took part in D-Day, as well as Canada, of course, were played. Some tears, laughter, hugs.

But a deep, deep sense of what that day meant. It was the day the will forever live in glory, it was a day when democracies divided to fight back, and it was a day they decided to change the course of that terrible war.

And it was the day, as the all said, that enabled our societies to live in freedom and democracy today.

So there was also obviously illusions, although not direct mentions, but illusions to the discord over Iraq. And the dignitaries today saying that they hope this commemoration would be an event of peace, of tolerance, and friendship between nations. And very much appreciated by many of the veterans who were there obviously, and the French who were there to say a huge bravo and thank you for what had happened 60 years ago -- Carol.

LIN: It's going to be a big day. Thank you very much, Christiane Amanpour. Looking forward to your special tomorrow as well.

The hardest hit town in America per capita by the D-Day invasion was Bedford, Virginia. Nineteen young men from Bedford died within 15 minutes of landing on Omaha Beach. Out of the 34 who actually made it to the war out of that town, only 11 survived the World War II.

A new book chronicles their story, weaving it into a narrative of the larger campaign. Joining us is the author of "The Bedford Boys," Alex Kershaw.

Alex, I'm just wondering. Of all of the stories you could tell, why did you pick this one, the story of Bedford?

ALEX KERSHAW, "THE BEDFORD BOYS": During the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1994, I, like many Americans and many Europeans became fascinated by D-Day. I then read every book I could find. I watched "Saving Private Ryan." And I was struck by one thing. I didn't know who any of those men really were.

When we talk about sacrifice, I think it's very important to know the human dimension of that sacrifice...

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: ... these were young men. What? The average age was 21. The all-American town that sent these boys off to war.

KERSHAW: Absolutely, yes. These young men joined the National Guard in the 1930s for a buck a day and ended up being in Company A of the 116th Infantry Regimen of the 29th Division which unfortunately landed on the most lethal, heavily-defended sector of Omaha Beach.

Out of company of 200 men, by lunchtime on D-Day, only 12 were actually able to stand and fight.

LIN: When you actually got a chance to talk to the families in Bedford, what struck you about what they said about the war?

KERSHAW: What struck me was that they were acutely aware of the cost of warfare and acutely aware of the cost of that magnificent day. But they also felt an immense pride. They realized that their loved ones, their sons had died for a very, very specific reason, i.e., to liberate Europe.

Mixed emotions. Many people in that town still feel a great deal of grief. But over time, that has been replaced by immense pride -- and rightly so.

LIN: Because when we talk about the per capital a loss to Bedford, I mean losing 23 -- or sending 34 men off to war, losing 23. That's the equivalent of losing, what, some 55,000 people, say, in the city the size of New York.

KERSHAW: Absolutely, yes. It was absolutely devastating. If you can imagine taking a small community of 3,000 people and then removing 19 boys from the graduating high school class, that gives you an idea of the level of devastation.

LIN: The story of Roy and Ray Stevens. I want to show their pictures. They're twins who were sent off to war. One of whom survived, Roy Stevens actually 50 years later got to go back to the beaches of Omaha. An emotional portrait of him there as he recalls that day.

What was it about their story that really hit home for you?

KERSHAW: I think that story that fit the broader tragedy that befell that community. Roy Stevens and Ray Stevens had shared everything during their lives. They shared uniforms in the military. They shared Red Cross parcels from home.

On D-Day, at 4:00 in the morning they stood on the decks of the Empire Javelin and for the first time in their lives they were going to do something separately. They were going to take different landing craft into Omaha Beach.

LIN: And the moment they looked into each other's eyes that day?

KERSHAW: Well that morning at 4:00 a.m. in the darkness on the decks of the Empire Javelin, all of the Bedford boys were shaking hands and wishing each other good luck. Ray came over to Roy and said, "Shake my hand." Roy, said, "I won't shake your hand. I'll shake it later when we get to Verville sur Mer," which is a small village above Omaha.

LIN: And they never got that chance, did they?

KERSHAW: Roy's landing craft was sunk 300 yards from the beach and Ray landed on the beach and was killed.

Now when you look at that photograph from 1994 when Roy went back to Omaha Beach for the second time, there's a great emotional significance to that because after that photograph was taken, he went up to Verville sur Mer, put his hand in the air, almost as if he was shaking the hand of his brother.

He told me that it was a kind of closure for him after 50 years of real guilt. He felt real guilt.

LIN: Alex Kershaw, thank you very much for sharing your story. And a wonderful story indeed. A story that has gone untold about Bedford, Virginia. Thank you.

KERSHAW: Thank you so much.

LIN: For more on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, go to cnn.com. Our special coverage includes a photo gallery and key facts on the invasion, a quiz and a section for D-Day veterans to share their memories.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: The Internet allows you access to all sorts of personal information. It's convenient for you but also potentially for a hacker. All those Web sites you log on to require passwords but are they enough protection from those who want to clean out your bank account, for example, or maybe even your stock portfolio?

CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg joins us with tips for logging in safely. This is if you do online banking. This is not just e-mail stuff, right?

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECH CORRESPONDENT: Right. Not just e-mail stuff. Actual money stuff, online banking. If you're using an ATM. In fact, some people out there might have been using the same password since ATM machines were invented.

Ask yourself this question: have you changed your password recently? And If you haven't, you're definitely going to need to. It's one of those things that a lot of people don't think about. But it's the key to so much secure information these days. And scammers and hackers are increasingly finding ways to discover your password. to find out your information. That could mean loss of money, loss of identity theft and a real hassle to try and get that information back.

So we put together tips for people to at least try and stay up to date with your password, stay on top of it. First of all, you're going to want to use a random combination of numbers and letters. This is referred to in the tech community as alphanumeric.

What that means is mix up as much as you can. Stay away from your mother's maiden name, for example, a pet's name, date of birth. Those are very easy for people to guess or to try and figure out.

Create longer passwords, not just the standard four to six character combos. Try to go longer if you can. Be creative.

Don't use words from the dictionary. Some hackers actually use programs that just scan for words in the dictionary. So you want to try and mix it up although it may be difficult to memorize this.

Now you also don't want too use the same password on multiple sites. Try and use different ones for a different sire, say for a news site versus a bank site. Keep your passwords in a secure place. Don't write it down near your computer monitor in case someone can see it if they walk by. Try to memorize them.

Change your passwords often. Even every month if you can. But every six months for sure.

You can even trick spy software. If you're logging on to an Internet cafe, you can type out the entire alphabet, cut and paste some of that into the spot for your password. I know it sounds complicated and a little bit tedious but it's one of the things that can save you hassle in the future.

LIN: I can think of off the top of my head 12 things that I need a password for. It's tempting to use the same password. So if I can't remember 12 different passwords or six. So what advice do you have?

SIEBERG: Exactly. It's very tough. So many sites require a password. Even if you're just logging on to the Internet to start with, or ATM.

Actually, Kyra (sic), we can tell you about some products that are trying to make it more secure although some people might argue a little more tedious.

This is from RSA. And this is a secure ID. The numbers on here actually change every 60 seconds. This is a six-digit code. You would use this in addition to your regular secure password pin.

LIN: How do you use it, what is it?

SIEBERG: It's looks like a key chain. You carry it with you. It's meant for people on the road, if you're logging in remotely to a network.

You would type in your normal password and this combination of six numbers after it. You're actually using both. And this combination number resets every 60 seconds. So it's meant to be very secure.

But again, for some people this would be cumbersome, tedious. You have to carry this around with you.

Another one was sent to us by a bank in Sweden, Nordia. It looks kind of like a lottery card that you would scratch off. The idea behind it is you would scratch off part of it.

And below here are actually not the words try again. You're to the going to win $5,000. You're going to see more numbers. This is something you would carry with you in your bank card and type this in addition to your actual secure password.

(CROSSTALK)

SIEBERG: Can't be too careful.

LIN: A lot to remember.

PHILLIPS: All right, here's something to remember. How do you spell pressure?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID TIDMARSH, SPELLING BEE CHAMP: ... N-O-U-S, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are the champion. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Definitely. That was the definition of pressure. This guy fought off the nerves to be the king bee. We're going to check out his work right after this break.

LIN: I want to give him a hug.

PHILLIPS: He's a cutie pie.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIDMARSH: A-U-O-C-H-T-H-O-N-O-U-S.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I love him! Talking at a competition leaving you breathless. David Tidmarsh is champ, that's C-H-A-M-P, of the 77th Scripts National Spelling Bee. The 14-year-old is an eighth grader from South Bend, Indiana. And in case you're wondering, autochthonous means indigenous.

It's not the first time he's seen it, though. It was on his practice list. One of 10,000 that compiled the study for this spelling bee.

His stellar vocabulary netted him an impressive prize package including 17,000 bucks, an engraved trophy, a $1,000 savings bond, a reference library and one prize that we think that he probably doesn't need, and that's a set of encyclopedias.

I guarantee you this kid, with the trophy any that's taller than he is, is a brainiac.

Let's not forget the second place finalist also who added even more drama to the competition. Check out this 13-year-old, Akshay Buddiga, from Colorado Springs. Yes, he did faint in the final rounds. But he didn't miss a beat.

Check this out. He quickly got back up on his feet. He spelled the word perfectly and he received a standing ovation. Are we going to hear him do it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AKSHAY BUDDIGA, FAINTING RUNNER-UP: A-L-O-P-E-C-O-I-D.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Alopecoid.

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: And why didn't these kids get up an help the boy? (CROSSTALK)

(MARKET UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: All right, more LIVE FROM.. right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 4, 2004 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is LIVE FROM... I'm Carol Lin.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips. Here's what's all new this half hour.

Sunday marks the 60th anniversary thousand of American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy and lost their lives in the D-Day invasion. We found a story that you've probably never heard. The story of one American town that sacrificed more than any other that fateful day.

But first, let's take a look of the top stories we're following for you.

The president and the pope, President Bush presented pope John Paul II with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a Vatican meeting today. The pope expressed his continued opposition of the war in Iraq and made a veiled reference to the prisoner abuse scandal, saying that he was troubled by what he called deplorable the events.

An explosion rips through a crowded market in the Russian city of Samara. Police say that the blast killed eight people and wounded 45. Samara is 500 miles southeast of Moscow. A criminal investigation is now under way. No word yet on a possible motive.

Japan's parliament looked like a wrestling ring today. Take a look at this. The brawl is a sign of how hot the emotions are running over Japan's troubled pension system and efforts to reform it. Opposition lawmakers rushed an unruly politician as he tried to announce a reform bill had cleared a key committee.

Sixty years ago allied commanders were putting the finishing touches on their plan to land troops on the beaches of Normandy, France. For historical perspective, here's an excerpt of our "People in the News" special on the legacy of D-Day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER CRONKITE, WWII CORRESPONDENT: The legacy of D-Day must be remembered as a turning point of the worst war in history. It was a costly war in lives and history.

But I prefer really in a sense that it be remembered with the sacrifices it took to win it. JOHN S.D. EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER'S SON: My dad paced the floor by himself. Real Hollywood. Real dramatic. He finally said, OK, we'll go. And he said, the second after that, the room was empty.

GEN. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, U.S. EUROPE SUPREME COMMANDER: Soldiers, sailors and air men of the expeditionary Air Force, you are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have driven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.

DICK WINTERS, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION: As you looked down, it took your breath. You were looking at a site no man has seen before or since. You were looking at about 7,000 ships, about 4,000 landing rafts, over 250 battleships.

MARVIN PERRETT, U.S. COAST GUARD: You see the machine gun bullets hitting the water. And you see the troops like kneeling on boats and wading in towards shore. And every now and then you'd see one of them fall.

HAL BAUMGARTEN, 29TH DIVISION: The boat on our left blew up. We were covered with wood, metal and body parts -- and blood. When our ramp went down for us to exit the little boat, it was a signal for almost every machine gun on that beach to open up on the exit to our ship.

LEN "BUD" LOMELL, 2ND RANGER BATTALION: The Germans didn't believe there was anybody so stupid that would try to climb a 100-foot cliff straight up under fire. We got up to the top. Fought through the Germans who were there. We then, through our horror and anger, discovered none of the guns were there.

MARTIN MORGAN, NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM: Eisenhower had no plan B. The invasion across the English Channel had to succeed. It was the only chance we were going to have.

D. EISENHOWER: Let us all beseech the blessing of all mighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Ceremonies honoring those who fought and died in the D-Day invasion will run through Sunday. More than a dozen heads of state will be there, including President Bush, Britain's Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Joining us now from Normandy of the preview of the busy weekend is CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, and of course, Gerhardt Schroeder of Germany, the chancellor, will be the first ever sitting chancellor of Germany to come to these D-Day commemorations.

And so there will be an enormous significance put on this 60th anniversary, not only because of the group of people coming, because of the moment of history in which it occurs with everybody knowing that the Iraq war looms in the background as an uninvited guest, if you like. But also because most people believe that this 60th anniversary might be the last time that, after all, veterans who are now in their late 80s, may be able to gather in these kinds of numbers.

And already, the celebrations and the commemorations are under way. They will culminate with big national celebrations with all the heads of state, as you mentioned, on Sunday. But today, for instance, in (UNINTELLIGIBLE), which was liberated actually 34 days after the D- Day landing. In (UNINTELLIGIBLE), the locals dignitaries and officials paid tribute to several hundred American, British and other some European veterans who had come here as part of the commemorations.

And the town official said to them that 60 years later, Normandy does not forget its liberators. And they said that they were there to pay a huge debt of gratitude, to say aloud how much they know that they owe their liberators, the sacrifice, the courage, the strength and the fortitude and determination they made on those beaches 60 years ago.

It was really very emotional. Nobody could help but be touched by what we saw there under that tent this afternoon. These old men who as youngsters, 20, younger, some, you know, even teenagers, had stormed those beaches with such terrible sacrifice 60 years ago.

Many of them were in wheel chairs. They couldn't even walk today. Some of them were joking with each other about looking for lost comrades and having finally met up with people they hadn't seen for so many years.

But there was a sort of feeling of pride, of course, you can imagine. These men were still here to accept the gratitude of the French, to accept special commemorative medals that had been especially minted for this 60th day commemoration. And they were pinned on each and every one's already brimming chest full of medals.

And there was emotion as the national anthems of the United States, Britain, other European countries that took part in D-Day, as well as Canada, of course, were played. Some tears, laughter, hugs.

But a deep, deep sense of what that day meant. It was the day the will forever live in glory, it was a day when democracies divided to fight back, and it was a day they decided to change the course of that terrible war.

And it was the day, as the all said, that enabled our societies to live in freedom and democracy today.

So there was also obviously illusions, although not direct mentions, but illusions to the discord over Iraq. And the dignitaries today saying that they hope this commemoration would be an event of peace, of tolerance, and friendship between nations. And very much appreciated by many of the veterans who were there obviously, and the French who were there to say a huge bravo and thank you for what had happened 60 years ago -- Carol.

LIN: It's going to be a big day. Thank you very much, Christiane Amanpour. Looking forward to your special tomorrow as well.

The hardest hit town in America per capita by the D-Day invasion was Bedford, Virginia. Nineteen young men from Bedford died within 15 minutes of landing on Omaha Beach. Out of the 34 who actually made it to the war out of that town, only 11 survived the World War II.

A new book chronicles their story, weaving it into a narrative of the larger campaign. Joining us is the author of "The Bedford Boys," Alex Kershaw.

Alex, I'm just wondering. Of all of the stories you could tell, why did you pick this one, the story of Bedford?

ALEX KERSHAW, "THE BEDFORD BOYS": During the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1994, I, like many Americans and many Europeans became fascinated by D-Day. I then read every book I could find. I watched "Saving Private Ryan." And I was struck by one thing. I didn't know who any of those men really were.

When we talk about sacrifice, I think it's very important to know the human dimension of that sacrifice...

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: ... these were young men. What? The average age was 21. The all-American town that sent these boys off to war.

KERSHAW: Absolutely, yes. These young men joined the National Guard in the 1930s for a buck a day and ended up being in Company A of the 116th Infantry Regimen of the 29th Division which unfortunately landed on the most lethal, heavily-defended sector of Omaha Beach.

Out of company of 200 men, by lunchtime on D-Day, only 12 were actually able to stand and fight.

LIN: When you actually got a chance to talk to the families in Bedford, what struck you about what they said about the war?

KERSHAW: What struck me was that they were acutely aware of the cost of warfare and acutely aware of the cost of that magnificent day. But they also felt an immense pride. They realized that their loved ones, their sons had died for a very, very specific reason, i.e., to liberate Europe.

Mixed emotions. Many people in that town still feel a great deal of grief. But over time, that has been replaced by immense pride -- and rightly so.

LIN: Because when we talk about the per capital a loss to Bedford, I mean losing 23 -- or sending 34 men off to war, losing 23. That's the equivalent of losing, what, some 55,000 people, say, in the city the size of New York.

KERSHAW: Absolutely, yes. It was absolutely devastating. If you can imagine taking a small community of 3,000 people and then removing 19 boys from the graduating high school class, that gives you an idea of the level of devastation.

LIN: The story of Roy and Ray Stevens. I want to show their pictures. They're twins who were sent off to war. One of whom survived, Roy Stevens actually 50 years later got to go back to the beaches of Omaha. An emotional portrait of him there as he recalls that day.

What was it about their story that really hit home for you?

KERSHAW: I think that story that fit the broader tragedy that befell that community. Roy Stevens and Ray Stevens had shared everything during their lives. They shared uniforms in the military. They shared Red Cross parcels from home.

On D-Day, at 4:00 in the morning they stood on the decks of the Empire Javelin and for the first time in their lives they were going to do something separately. They were going to take different landing craft into Omaha Beach.

LIN: And the moment they looked into each other's eyes that day?

KERSHAW: Well that morning at 4:00 a.m. in the darkness on the decks of the Empire Javelin, all of the Bedford boys were shaking hands and wishing each other good luck. Ray came over to Roy and said, "Shake my hand." Roy, said, "I won't shake your hand. I'll shake it later when we get to Verville sur Mer," which is a small village above Omaha.

LIN: And they never got that chance, did they?

KERSHAW: Roy's landing craft was sunk 300 yards from the beach and Ray landed on the beach and was killed.

Now when you look at that photograph from 1994 when Roy went back to Omaha Beach for the second time, there's a great emotional significance to that because after that photograph was taken, he went up to Verville sur Mer, put his hand in the air, almost as if he was shaking the hand of his brother.

He told me that it was a kind of closure for him after 50 years of real guilt. He felt real guilt.

LIN: Alex Kershaw, thank you very much for sharing your story. And a wonderful story indeed. A story that has gone untold about Bedford, Virginia. Thank you.

KERSHAW: Thank you so much.

LIN: For more on the 60th anniversary of D-Day, go to cnn.com. Our special coverage includes a photo gallery and key facts on the invasion, a quiz and a section for D-Day veterans to share their memories.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: The Internet allows you access to all sorts of personal information. It's convenient for you but also potentially for a hacker. All those Web sites you log on to require passwords but are they enough protection from those who want to clean out your bank account, for example, or maybe even your stock portfolio?

CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg joins us with tips for logging in safely. This is if you do online banking. This is not just e-mail stuff, right?

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECH CORRESPONDENT: Right. Not just e-mail stuff. Actual money stuff, online banking. If you're using an ATM. In fact, some people out there might have been using the same password since ATM machines were invented.

Ask yourself this question: have you changed your password recently? And If you haven't, you're definitely going to need to. It's one of those things that a lot of people don't think about. But it's the key to so much secure information these days. And scammers and hackers are increasingly finding ways to discover your password. to find out your information. That could mean loss of money, loss of identity theft and a real hassle to try and get that information back.

So we put together tips for people to at least try and stay up to date with your password, stay on top of it. First of all, you're going to want to use a random combination of numbers and letters. This is referred to in the tech community as alphanumeric.

What that means is mix up as much as you can. Stay away from your mother's maiden name, for example, a pet's name, date of birth. Those are very easy for people to guess or to try and figure out.

Create longer passwords, not just the standard four to six character combos. Try to go longer if you can. Be creative.

Don't use words from the dictionary. Some hackers actually use programs that just scan for words in the dictionary. So you want to try and mix it up although it may be difficult to memorize this.

Now you also don't want too use the same password on multiple sites. Try and use different ones for a different sire, say for a news site versus a bank site. Keep your passwords in a secure place. Don't write it down near your computer monitor in case someone can see it if they walk by. Try to memorize them.

Change your passwords often. Even every month if you can. But every six months for sure.

You can even trick spy software. If you're logging on to an Internet cafe, you can type out the entire alphabet, cut and paste some of that into the spot for your password. I know it sounds complicated and a little bit tedious but it's one of the things that can save you hassle in the future.

LIN: I can think of off the top of my head 12 things that I need a password for. It's tempting to use the same password. So if I can't remember 12 different passwords or six. So what advice do you have?

SIEBERG: Exactly. It's very tough. So many sites require a password. Even if you're just logging on to the Internet to start with, or ATM.

Actually, Kyra (sic), we can tell you about some products that are trying to make it more secure although some people might argue a little more tedious.

This is from RSA. And this is a secure ID. The numbers on here actually change every 60 seconds. This is a six-digit code. You would use this in addition to your regular secure password pin.

LIN: How do you use it, what is it?

SIEBERG: It's looks like a key chain. You carry it with you. It's meant for people on the road, if you're logging in remotely to a network.

You would type in your normal password and this combination of six numbers after it. You're actually using both. And this combination number resets every 60 seconds. So it's meant to be very secure.

But again, for some people this would be cumbersome, tedious. You have to carry this around with you.

Another one was sent to us by a bank in Sweden, Nordia. It looks kind of like a lottery card that you would scratch off. The idea behind it is you would scratch off part of it.

And below here are actually not the words try again. You're to the going to win $5,000. You're going to see more numbers. This is something you would carry with you in your bank card and type this in addition to your actual secure password.

(CROSSTALK)

SIEBERG: Can't be too careful.

LIN: A lot to remember.

PHILLIPS: All right, here's something to remember. How do you spell pressure?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID TIDMARSH, SPELLING BEE CHAMP: ... N-O-U-S, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You are the champion. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Definitely. That was the definition of pressure. This guy fought off the nerves to be the king bee. We're going to check out his work right after this break.

LIN: I want to give him a hug.

PHILLIPS: He's a cutie pie.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIDMARSH: A-U-O-C-H-T-H-O-N-O-U-S.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: I love him! Talking at a competition leaving you breathless. David Tidmarsh is champ, that's C-H-A-M-P, of the 77th Scripts National Spelling Bee. The 14-year-old is an eighth grader from South Bend, Indiana. And in case you're wondering, autochthonous means indigenous.

It's not the first time he's seen it, though. It was on his practice list. One of 10,000 that compiled the study for this spelling bee.

His stellar vocabulary netted him an impressive prize package including 17,000 bucks, an engraved trophy, a $1,000 savings bond, a reference library and one prize that we think that he probably doesn't need, and that's a set of encyclopedias.

I guarantee you this kid, with the trophy any that's taller than he is, is a brainiac.

Let's not forget the second place finalist also who added even more drama to the competition. Check out this 13-year-old, Akshay Buddiga, from Colorado Springs. Yes, he did faint in the final rounds. But he didn't miss a beat.

Check this out. He quickly got back up on his feet. He spelled the word perfectly and he received a standing ovation. Are we going to hear him do it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AKSHAY BUDDIGA, FAINTING RUNNER-UP: A-L-O-P-E-C-O-I-D.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Alopecoid.

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: And why didn't these kids get up an help the boy? (CROSSTALK)

(MARKET UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: All right, more LIVE FROM.. right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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