Norman Benjamin Foster Remembered by Margaret Lichtenfels
Growing up in small, rural, Craig, Colorado, daily life didn’t have much to offer. However, Norman Foster was always having fun, whether he was attending school dances, playing on the high school football team, working at his dad’s Pontiac shop, or taking trips up to Steamboat Springs to visit Fish Creek Falls or the Hot Springs. Out of his graduating class of 43 people, Norman stood out among his peers. He was very close to his family, especially his younger sister Beth. Norman’s family never found closure in his death, and it took a great physical and emotional toll on his family. Seeking some small bit of closure, it was Beth who, many years later, finally had a grave stone placed in the Craig Cemetery.
Norman Foster was very a sharp dresser who loved the feeling of being fresh and clean- something hard to come by in the army. When Norman came home on furlough in late 1943, his mom asked him what he wanted. He replied that he would like his sheets laundered every day while he was home. There’s nothing like that feeling of going to bed in clean sheets, and he wanted to remember that. Apart from being very clean, Norman was a class clown. Always cracking jokes, he had the love of everyone he knew. His charming personality led him to befriend people from all walks of life. He was remembered by classmates as being a kind person of high moral character.
His athletic skills would have served him well in basic training, where he and his comrades learned to maintain their weapons and crawl along on their elbows and knees. Pleasant evenings were spent at the Post Exchange, drinking soda pops and enjoying candy. One evening in December after learning of his assignment to England, Norman and his hometown friend Stewart Coles were visiting on the lawn outside their barracks. Norman said, “Stew, this is a one way road to death.” Stuart was bothered by this, and encouraged Norman to be more positive, reminding him to do what they had been taught- it would all be okay.
I cannot imagine standing, waiting for my name to be called to ship out to England- where units were preparing for the long awaited cross channel invasion. Soon after, Norman would be leaving Ft. Knox and ship overseas to join the battle tested A Company, 70th Tank Battalion. He was assigned as a driver on one of the secret amphibious tanks that along with B-Company would spearhead the invasion in the first assault wave on Utah Beach.
Norman’s tank and the other three tanks on LCT 593 would never make it ashore. As they prepared to launch their DD tanks a massive underwater explosion took place, ripping LCT 593 in half and hurling all four tanks 100 feet into the air. Only one soldier survived the blast, the rest, including Norman Foster, were never seen again.
Stuart Coles did not know that a navigational error coupled with an underwater mine would combine to make Norman’s premonition come true. Norman was holding onto a death ticket, and departed on that journey 3,000 yards off Utah beach on the morning of June 6th, 1944.
Norman is the type of person I would have been friends with. He was kind and funny, and had his own unique quirks. He had a future- one he wanted to live out just as I do, and it is unfair that he did not get the chance. I have the greatest respect for Norman and his family- and the sacrifices he and others made to preserve our freedom.
Norman Foster was very a sharp dresser who loved the feeling of being fresh and clean- something hard to come by in the army. When Norman came home on furlough in late 1943, his mom asked him what he wanted. He replied that he would like his sheets laundered every day while he was home. There’s nothing like that feeling of going to bed in clean sheets, and he wanted to remember that. Apart from being very clean, Norman was a class clown. Always cracking jokes, he had the love of everyone he knew. His charming personality led him to befriend people from all walks of life. He was remembered by classmates as being a kind person of high moral character.
His athletic skills would have served him well in basic training, where he and his comrades learned to maintain their weapons and crawl along on their elbows and knees. Pleasant evenings were spent at the Post Exchange, drinking soda pops and enjoying candy. One evening in December after learning of his assignment to England, Norman and his hometown friend Stewart Coles were visiting on the lawn outside their barracks. Norman said, “Stew, this is a one way road to death.” Stuart was bothered by this, and encouraged Norman to be more positive, reminding him to do what they had been taught- it would all be okay.
I cannot imagine standing, waiting for my name to be called to ship out to England- where units were preparing for the long awaited cross channel invasion. Soon after, Norman would be leaving Ft. Knox and ship overseas to join the battle tested A Company, 70th Tank Battalion. He was assigned as a driver on one of the secret amphibious tanks that along with B-Company would spearhead the invasion in the first assault wave on Utah Beach.
Norman’s tank and the other three tanks on LCT 593 would never make it ashore. As they prepared to launch their DD tanks a massive underwater explosion took place, ripping LCT 593 in half and hurling all four tanks 100 feet into the air. Only one soldier survived the blast, the rest, including Norman Foster, were never seen again.
Stuart Coles did not know that a navigational error coupled with an underwater mine would combine to make Norman’s premonition come true. Norman was holding onto a death ticket, and departed on that journey 3,000 yards off Utah beach on the morning of June 6th, 1944.
Norman is the type of person I would have been friends with. He was kind and funny, and had his own unique quirks. He had a future- one he wanted to live out just as I do, and it is unfair that he did not get the chance. I have the greatest respect for Norman and his family- and the sacrifices he and others made to preserve our freedom.