His transport boat was blown up.

But Beazley grew up on the Kentucky River. "I learned to swim before I could walk," he said.

He swam 600 yards, through rough seas, barbed wire and dead soldiers.

He later went on to the Battle of the Bulge, through Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany, all the way to Czechoslovakia.

"I'm fortunate to be alive," said Beazley. "I was a combat rifleman. They don't last very long."