Tulsans recall Normandy Invasion 67 years later

It was to be his first combat action, and he remembers being half-numb with anxiety.

As his landing craft bobbed in the waters off the coast of France, Price could see and hear the dramatic struggle unfolding as American forces fought to take Omaha Beach on D-Day - June 6, 1944.

Somewhere nearby in those same waters, Paul Andert also had a catbird seat to history.

A 21-year-old Army staff sergeant, Andert had already seen plenty of action in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily.

But as the fighting raged on Omaha Beach, Andert's only concern was for the safety of the men in his platoon.

"A lot of our soldiers were shell-shocked, frozen on the beach," Andert said. "But you had to keep them moving, or otherwise they would be killed."

The fighting for Omaha Beach was bloody, and Andert likened the scene to the opening minutes of the movie "Saving Private Ryan" with its graphic re-enactment of the battle.

Getting those soldiers off the beach was imperative, Andert said, because the tanks needed to move inland to support American and British paratroopers who had jumped into France hours before the invasion to forestall any German counterattack or reinforcement of their defensive positions.

The Normandy Invasion produced the final drive across western Europe against Germany, catching it in a vise between the allies on the west and the Russians to the east.

Inland, Price and Andert said American, British and Canadian forces were hamstrung by hedgerows - tall, thick underbrush which flanked country roads and were also used by French farmers to mark off their property.

Those hedgerows, they said, slowed Allied forces in their advance into the countryside, while at the same time providing an excellent cover for German forces to attack them.

American ingenuity finally paid off when tanks were outfitted with dozer blades and rake-like contraptions to cut through the hedgerows, Andert and Price said.

Many more bloody battles would follow across France for Price and Andert.

By December, the two found themselves in the bloodiest campaign of the war - the Battle of the Bulge.

That battle was marked by the coldest winter in Europe in 200 years, and Andert and Price said their feet still feel the effects of nearly being frozen. Andert and Price never knew each other during the war.

Kirk Of The Hills Congregation Loses Church - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa ...

TULSA, OK -- A Green Country congregation loses its church. After splitting from the Presbyterian Church two years ago, Kirk of the Hills has lost its two-year legal battle with the denomination.

Kirk of the Hills left the Presbyterian Church after saying the denomination's leadership had departed from its "historical beliefs." But, the denomination technically owns the property and Tuesday a judge gave everyone there 20 days to get off of it.

The vote in 2006 wasn't even close. An overwhelming 96% of the 2,400 member congregation wanted to leave the Presbyterian Church of the USA.

Its leaders had cited theological differences, including the possible ordaining of homosexuals and sanctioning of same-sex marriages.

Two years later, that vote may have cost Kirk of the Hills its Church.

"I don't regret any of our decisions. They have been right. There's no question in our minds we've done the right things every step along the way," said Pastor Tom Gray, Kirk of the Hills.

Both Kirk of the Hills pastors believe they had to go ahead with the split. And even if they do lose their appeal, they say their congregation will remain intact.

"You just think that may not happen in the future and you do get emotionally attached to a place. But, we're reminded that church is not really about a building, it's about people."

But the people who have called Kirk of the Hills home say it will be difficult to let those memories go.

"We baptized our kids here. We've had marriages, funerals, those memories are going to be hard," said Tim Trump, Kirk of the Hills Trustee.

The victors in the case issued a statement Tuesday: "The Court affirmed the concept that individuals may leave the church, but they cannot take the church property with them... At the same time, there is a great sadness over this division within the Body of Christ."

Although they face the prospect of empty pews, representatives of Kirk of the Hills say they will find a way to overcome that sadness.

"It's a tragedy for us if we lose this sanctuary and this property, but our church is intact. Every person who was in it, is in it," said Gray.

If the appeal is lost, Kirk of the Hills representatives say they plan on holding temporary services, but it is not sure where yet.

The Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery says it tried to pursue alternatives to this legal battle, but claims its efforts were rejected by the congregation's leadership.

Churches in Tulsa, Oklahom, All Souls Unitarian Church (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Kirk of the Hills

Minutes

Class of 1987: George L. Bragg (Kirk of the Hills PC) (President, Telex Corporation, Tulsa), 10901 South Louisville Ave, Tulsa, OK; Rev. ...

American Motorcyclist

Joan and Jim Kirk of Palos Hills, with the help of Ina Mae and Larry Fosse, ... helmet and said that Gretchen Bennett of Tulsa, Oklahoma, had just arrived. ...

American Motorcyclist

Sharon Wanek of Oaklawn, Ramona Holt of Hazel Crest and Joan Kirk of Palos Hills got together on September 29 and headed for Oklahoma City National Race to ...

Minutes of the ... General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America

Richard R. Dorst, Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, Tulsa, OK; Rev. Leonard H. Evans, Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church, Niles, OH; Rev. ...