An 104-year-old WWII veteran who participated in the D-Day invasion returns to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the historic event.

On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Steven Melnikoff, a World War II veteran who bravely stormed Omaha Beach, made a triumphant return to honor his brothers in arms.

On Tuesday, a 104-year-old veteran sat with Planet Chronicle anchor Martha MacCallum in Normandy, France to discuss his experiences during a time of great uncertainty that significantly impacted history.

At 24 years old, Melnikoff was a member of the 29th Division, 175th in the Infantry, where he served in Operation Overlord and later in Normandy, France. For his bravery, he received two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars.

"Although the infantry received only 12 weeks of training, they were aware of the upcoming battle and received 17 weeks of training. However, after 17 weeks, they were sent to England for an additional five months of training before going into battle," Melnikoff stated.

On June 6, 1944, American troops bravely landed on Omaha Beach, facing intense opposition, which is now known as "The Longest Day."

On the first day of the invasion, the 29th Division and the 1st Division sustained 5,720 casualties, as informed by Melnikoff to MacCallum.

Melnikoff pondered on the injury he sustained during the second attempt to capture Saint-Lô on June 17.

I was a Browning automatic rifleman," said Melnikoff. "The automatic rifle was my buddy and assistant. We were two together as a team. On the first day, a small German squad attacked us while we were preparing to dig in foxholes. They shot and killed my buddy with automatic fire over the hedgerow.

"We were drafted from Fort Devens and shipped to Texas for training. Our time together began there and continued in England, where we danced and drank beer together. However, we lost our buddy during this time."

"The life of a machine gunner or Browning automatic rifleman is short in combat because they fire against the biggest threat, which is the machine gun. On the day I was hit, I was shot in the neck by a machine gun. I don't know how it's possible, but as the gunner moved along with his machine gun, he hit me and fired, and my first lieutenant was there and took the brunt of the attack."

"I'm not sure if it was my instincts or the shot that knocked me down. Nevertheless, I fell to the ground while he remained standing. Following their departure, I walked back to a medical station. Upon arrival, they bandaged my wound. I was then placed on a plane with other injured veterans," Melnikoff concluded.

The Rhode Island native shared his view on America's current state, giving off a vibe reminiscent of 1938.

"Melnikoff stated, "I observe things that I truly dislike. I see a resemblance to what occurred in 1939 and 1938. I was present. I'm not reading a book or something similar. I was there, and this sensation that we have - the people are so engrossed in themselves - they're not the way we were. We volunteered, we were drafted - but we knew we had a mission we did.""

In 1938 Germany, as Hitler and the Nazis began their conquest of Europe, one significant event was Kristallnacht, when Nazi activists and sympathizers looted and burned Jewish businesses, resulting in the deaths and imprisonment of many European Jews.

"We were a lot tougher than you guys because we didn't have the conveniences," Melnikoff stated. "I remember my mother lighting the gas lamp in the house and all the hardships we faced."

Melnikoff highlighted the differences between his childhood and modern America, emphasizing the increased independence that defined his generational divide.

"Although we experienced depression, don't feel sorry for us. In my childhood, I had more fun than your kids do. The reason is that we were independent and allowed to plan and play our games without restrictions. We didn't have padding, so we walked to school and had to wear shoes. This made us more independent, and we were able to do things because we were mostly factory workers."

The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings holds special significance this year, as it may be the last chance for many World War II veterans to participate in the commemoration.

This year, the 80th anniversary of the Greatest Generation is expected to attract a larger turnout of 150 attendees at the commemoration ceremony, compared to the small number who were able to attend last year.

"I'm 104. Although I claim to be in good health, I'm not entirely okay," Melnikoff mused. "However, you know something because we were poor, we ate basic foods, we had rye bread, little meat due to its high cost, a lot of vegetables. Now dietitians recommend this type of diet. We didn't have white bread because it was expensive, but now it's cheaper. So when I say we were tougher, it was simply because we were forced to be tougher."

Melnikoff expressed his hope for the present generation, considering how they might react if they faced a situation like his own from years ago.

"I hope that future generations will be able to accomplish what we did if necessary. The things I see on the edges remind me of that time."

Planet Chronicle' Martha MacCallum and Kerry J. Byrne contributed to this report.