'This was going to be the beginning of the end of the war'
Approaching German-occupied France on D-Day, Stan Mincher detected a "national feeling" that the war must be brought to an end.
It was with that weight of responsibility that Mr Mincher, then 18, arrived on Juno Beach as second in command on Landing Craft LCT1008.
"We just thought it'd be like another exercise, Mr Mincher told the BBC.
"What we didn't know of course, what the opposition would be, until the last moments."
After dropping off supplies, Mr Mincher's landing craft headed back to Southhampton for another load.
He insisted he is not to be considered a hero, but regarded the mission as a highlight of his life.
We Were There aims to collect as many first-hand accounts as possible by 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, to preserve veterans' accounts for future generations.
The BBC is currently working on the project with a number of partners including the Normandy Memorial Trust and Royal British Legion. Some of the stories collected may be shared with our partners and used on BBC News platforms.
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