HOUSTON, Texas — The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the identification of a World War II soldier who was killed during the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach, France. A landing craft carrying approximately 200 soldiers struck an underwater mine and was hit by artillery rounds, causing it to burst into flames.
On July 25, the DoD POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of the remains of Private First Class Nicholas Hartman. PFC Hartman died on June 6, 1944, as his Company attempted to storm Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. On the morning of June 6, Hartman boarded Landing Craft Infantry (Large) 92, with members of the 500th Medical Collecting Company, 60th Medical Battalion, DoD officials stated.
As LCI-92 steamed toward Omaha Beach, the boat struck an underwater mine, which caused it to erupt into flames. The craft came under artillery fire, which struck a fuel tank. The resulting explosion instantly killed the approximately 200 soldiers in the troop compartment. Due to the intense enemy fire, a search for survivors was not possible, the report explained.
Officials were unable to identify PFC Hartman’s remains at the time after a search of the landing craft on June 10. Eventually, the American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) recovered small amounts of remains from LCI-92 and interred them at the U.S. Military Cemetery at St. Laurent-sur-Mer in Normandy…