17/09/2026
You may remember our recent post about the family story behind a WWII American flag meant to pay tribute to the Greatest Generation. In reaction to this story, one of our followers, Mr. Tom Rudisill, has shared the story of another U.S. flag. This flag was carried on one of the first vessels at Utah Beach on D-Day. LCT-595, along with three other Landing Craft, Tank amphibious assault vessels, were ordered to deploy swimming duplex-drive tanks off Utah Beach. One of the LCTs exploded after hitting a mine. As the remaining LCTs approached the beach, Allied bombers hit the shoreline and ships fired salvos at German fortifications to suppress the intensifying German machine gun fire. After the landing, LCT-595’s captain told Tom’s father, U.S. Navy Boatswain George Edward Rudisill to remove the tattered flag and fly a new full one. George asked to keep the remains of the original D-Day flag as a keepsake. He preserved it in a shoebox, along with the only known photo of LCT-595. The flag is on display at Flying Heritage Combat Armor Museum in Everett, WA. 🇺🇸
In the photos you can see Tom’s father with his parents and siblings, the flag at the museum, and LCT-595 on the beach and taking wounded American and German soldiers to England for treatment during the Battle of Normandy.
Chose the right Normandy tour for you to visit Utah Beach where LCT-595 landed: https://www.beachesofnormandy.com/tours/normandy-tours/