TOLEDO, Ohio — This month marks 80 years since D-Day. The allied-led attack is seen as a pivotal turning point in World War II, but one that came at a significant cost to American lives, including many from Ohio.

One Toledo grandmother is remembering her own father after he was killed in the attack and using his letters to keep his memory alive. 

Just before Father’s Day, Carol LaBounty remembers her dad.

“He was home one time, but I can still see him going out the door,” said LaBounty.

He left his family in Toledo as he went off as a paratrooper to fight in World War II. When it happened, she was just eight.

“In June they jumped in for D-Day. That was his third combat jump. Well, then he was there for 27 days in combat, and then on their very last assault, my father was wounded and then he died of his wounds there,” said LaBounty. 

Now she says she visits her dad, George Rajner, at the cemetery in Normandy, France where he died. He’s being honored along with hundreds of Americans who lost their lives on D-Day, June 6th, 80 years ago.

“You gotta remember there were 800,000 children that were left without a father. People never think about those numbers, you know,” said Rajner. 

Without her father, she said her brothers followed in his footsteps and became a part of the military.

She said she looks back at the letters to keep his memory alive.

“We would just say, you one time he said well you won’t know daddy when he comes home losing my hair,” said LaBounty.

She said he wrote to her while he was serving overseas, which brings her comfort when she thinks about her childhood without her dad.

“I think girls, you know, you want a relationship, I had an uncle that I was very close to, so he also walked me down the aisle when I got married and those are the things that you miss, you know?” said LaBounty.

She said she’s proud of what he did so she could live on and show her own grandchildren the sacrifice he made.

“You know, you never forget it never goes away,” said LaBounty.