ENID, Okla. (AP) — Ernest Leierer's 22nd birthday started out like any other day at his Army Air Corps Base in England. By the end of that day, Leierer was in France, in Eisenhower's "Great Crusade" to liberate Europe.

Leierer, now 97, of Enid, found himself in the war the same way as many other young men. He enlisted after Pearl Harbor, following the footsteps of his older brother, who would fight with the 3rd Marine Division in the invasions of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Two younger brothers followed, to serve in the Army and Navy.

Leierer was assigned by the Army Air Corps to serve with the 16th...