91-year-old veteran vividly recalls WWII

A 91-year-old veteran from Orange County says he can vividly remember the invasion of Normandy.

The retired sergeant has shared his story with his family and now he wants Southeast Texans to learn about his experiences and his efforts to protect our freedom.

Andrew Jacobs was stationed in Iceland and several other countries during World War II.

He was a sergeant and covered thousands of miles in Europe and Africa, fighting in five different battles.

“I walked everywhere and never rode a car," said Jacobs. "I walked all over the country. I don't know how many miles but I walked it.”

And no matter where he went, his thoughts returned to Southeast Texas.

“All the things that went through my mind, I wish I was home, that's the best place, yeah,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs remembers it like it was yesterday.

“I come over there by ship. Not any other way.”

Jacobs was on a ship with 200 men when they landed on the beaches of Normandy.

“There was nothing but blood and water," said Jacobs. "You just had to kick them out of the way you know, while you was there getting shot, cause they was shooting big guns,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs manned a machine gun. During the invasion at Normandy, he and two other men held a machine gun for 5 hours to fight off the Germans.

“Doing this for my grandkids. I'm doing this for my grandkids and I did,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs says that thought helped him remain strong for 91 days while he was a prisoner of war in Germany.

“He knocked me down, he took his gun and hit me in the back and I thought I broke my bones. I couldn't hardly move,” said Jacobs.

The 91-year-old says it was worth it.  He survived the war and endured the pain to protect the freedom of his family and friends.

Jacobs received a Silver Star for fighting at Normandy, as well as in Holland, Belgium, Africa and Germany.