Veterans Day commemorates the end of World Wars I and II, and honors all Veterans. I always pay tribute to Michael Sharik. He was one of the most outstanding veterans I ever knew. He was my father. Many of my friends and neighbors met him the numerous times he visited in Jones.

A career soldier, Dad spent eight years at Ft. Myer, Va. at the pentagon with the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. He was part of the Nike-Hercules missile program at Sandia Base, New Mexico. He was stationed at Ft. Meade, Md.; Ft. Bliss, Texas; in Germany and Turkey, and was a company commander at Ft. Devens, Mass. He retired as a Warrant Officer.

One thing of which I am most proud is the 2nd Ranger Battalion patch he wore. Made up of volunteers from all branches of the Army, the 2nd Ranger Battalion was trained specifically for the invasion on D-Day during World War II.

Under the command of Col. William Darby, these Rangers required the highest physical stamina and superior mental ability to accomplish he upcoming mission. They were proficient in many skills including the use of all types of weapons, hand-to-hand combat and infantry tactics. They received amphibious training with the Navy and learned the use of German weapons and the German language at the Army Intelligence School. They were taught Scottish and British Commando fighting techniques in Scotland.

On June 6, 1944, under the command of Lt. Col. James Rudder, the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions landed at Pointe-du-Hoc. Dad, in the 2nd Battalion, was among them.

During the attack, 225 men from 2nd Ranger Battalion’s Dog, Easy and Fox companies scaled the 100-foot cliffs using grappling hooks and ropes. They disabled the German artillery, paving the way for the invasion of France. However, only 90 of them were still standing after two days of relentless fighting.

Meanwhile, Able, Baker and Charlie companies landed, along with the 5th Rangers, the 1st Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach. Despite heavy casualties they were able to complete their D-Day objective.

A collection of recollections, Dad’s story as recalled by his good friend Bud Potratz, is detailed in a book titled “Beyond Valor, World War II‘s Rangers and Airborne Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat“ by Patrick K. O‘Donnell, author of “Into the Rising Sun.”

Potratz tells that the battalion moved into the Brandenberg area six months later on Dec. 6, on a cold and wintry night. They had been called to assault the icy, slippery 1,322-ft. high Hill 400, laden with pill boxes. A patrol from D and F companies was sent to reconnoiter the best plan of attack. My dad, Sgt. Sharik, and Potratz were in D company and part of this patrol.

Under-staffed, Dad replaced the Staff Sgt. who was promoted to acting Company Commander. Many survivors of Pointe-du-Hoc were involved in the assault and valiant defense of the hill.

Potratz said prayerfully, “We’re going on the line again. Gotta be big. I can see it in Sgt. Sharik’s actions. He’s muttering about his infant daughter, Penny (my nickname). He’s scared.”

Everyone was scared. On Dec. 7 at 7:30 a.m., they launched an assault on Hill 400. On that cold morning the 2nd Rangers were involved in the battle of Brest, the Battle of Hurtgen Forest and Hill 400 at Bergstein. This is where Dad received on of his two Purple Hearts.

At one time Potratz reported in the midst of mortar shells dropping on the company, he and Dad were the farthest on the south side of the line and Dad knew some of their guys stayed in the cellars and he ran back to get them.

He returned with Lt. Lomell and several other men. So many men were mowed down during the charge it was a miracle that Potratz, Dad and Lomell eventually found themselves laying together in a foxhole. Then at dawn, Potratz said, “All hell broke loose.” On the morning of Dec. 8 Dad was hit twice in the leg with mortar fire. Potratz was hit in the hip.

The New York Times reported later that day that the 2nd Rangers had captured Bergstein and Castle Hill. A follow-up story on Dec. 11 read, “Every attempt to regain Hill 400 east of Bergstein have been repulsed.”

Newsweek magazine (June 13, 1998) quoted Lieutenant Len Lomell with saying, “Dec. 7, 1944 was the worst day of my life. People say D-Day was the longest day, but I was there, too and it was much easier on me than Hill 400 in the Hurtgen Forest. Five thousand men had already tried to capture the hill and the town below. We passed their bodies and burnt-out tanks on the way in. At 7:30 a.m., 130 men in D and F companies assaulted across flat table land as German machine gunners sprayed fire at us. It was icy cold, artillery was raining down and we couldn’t even dig in.

But we took the 400-meter-high hill. In 1989, I went back with some of my men and we met a group of young German officers. They showed us a textbook that claimed the Germans were outnumbered that day. I said, ‘That’s ridiculous!’ We were the ones who were outnumbered, by 10 to one. Only 15 or 16 men in each company made it back on their own power.”

Potratz said, “Historians will say 130 Rangers charged up Hill 400, and only 25 lived to tell the tale. But I know differently. 65 Rangers charged up that hill and only a few came down.”

It was a bloody battle with many casualties, but considered successful. There is an additional story about this battle as told by Bud Potratz at the International War Veterans Poetry Archive: www.iwvpa.net/sharikb/. Click on “A Few Came Down.”

Prior to Dad’s death in 1999, he gave me many of his decorations including the French Croix de Guerre medal, the Bronze Star, two purple hearts, the army commendation and the American Defense Service medals.