8 famous people who served on D-Day

Lucasfilm

Monday is the 72nd anniversary of D-Day. 

On June 6, 1944, the Allies embarked on the crucial invasion of Normandy on the northern coast of France. Allied forces suffered major casualties, but the ensuing campaign ultimately dislodged German forces from France.

Did you know these eight famous individuals participated in the D-Day invasion?

James Doohan

Actor James Doohan is beloved among Trekkies for his portrayal of chief engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in "Star Trek."

Years before he donned the Starfleet uniform, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery during WWII. During the Normandy invasion, he stormed Juno Beach and took out two snipers before he was struck by six bullets from a machine gun, according to website Today I Found Out. He lost part of a finger, but the silver cigarette case in his pocket stopped a bullet from piercing his heart.

David Niven

Academy Award-winning British thespian David Niven became a lieutenant-colonel of the British Commandos during the Second World War. In the D-Day invasion, he commanded the Phantom Signals Unit, according to the New York Post. This unit was responsible for keeping rear commanders informed on enemy positions. 

After the war, he declined to speak much about his military experience. 

Yogi Berra

Famed baseball catcher Yogi Berra helped to storm Normandy by manning a Naval support craft. The vessel fired rockets at enemy positions on Omaha Beach. 

The New York Post reports that Seaman Second Class Berra manned a machine gun during the battle.