Nearly three-quarters of a century ago, Buford Johnson was one among thousands who took part in D-Day, the pivotal 1944 invasion of Western Europe by the U.S. and its allies during World War II. The 100-year-old Army veteran, who grew up mostly in New Mexico but now lives in the Denver area, served in infantry during the historic operation at Normandy. “He never talked to us about where he was or what he went through when he was in the service,” said Johnson’s daughter, Darlene Johnson-Ortega.