Rob Matwick

Executive VP, Public Affairs, Texas Rangers

[Dave Scarangella @DaveScarangella]

Tonight, as I do every year at this time, I’ll be raising a glass to a scared young man, who 82 years ago was preparing to go ashore on the beaches of Normandy as part of an event code-named Operation Overlord.

D-Day.

I can’t imagine what was going through his mind. I’d be scared to death and I’m sure he was too. But in that first wave was a 21-year-old Private First Class from Henry County, VA by the name of Allen Homer Sink.

Fortunately, he would survive that initial wave, participate in battle until it ended in August, then come home to marry and raise a family of four, including two daughters after the war ended.

He would also become my father-in-law until his death in 2006.

His nickname for some reason was “Hank” and when I asked him how he got it, he said some guy in the Army said he “looked like a Hank.” From the time I first met him, he was a salt-of-the-earth man who was never afraid of anything. He was a carpenter by trade, and he’d stand up on the tallest roofs, grab bumblebees with his bare hands when they tried to persuade him to move elsewhere, and never be bothered by anything.

His hands were tough and leathery, but he was a softie. He spoiled his children, complained when my mother-in-law would gripe about something involving one of his alleged misdeeds, and always thought he was fooling everybody when he snuck around the back of the house and lit a cigarette, a habit everyone opposed but he could never part himself from.

He could talk your ear off for hours at a time, and I always suggested he become a greeter at Wal-Mart when he retired because then he could talk all day to strangers and none of them would – like his wife and daughters often did – tell him to be quiet for a few moments. Yet for all his love of talking, there was one subject he just wouldn’t discuss.

June 6, 1944. Omaha Beach.

In 1998, when he was 76 years old, the subject came up again. The movie “Saving Private Ryan” came out and the beginning was gruesome. Reviews said it was incredibly realistic to what really happened that day. I asked Hank if he wanted to go see it.

“No,” he shook his head. “I don’t ever want to see any of that again.”

He did offer that he remembered the night before when troops were loaded into the boats for the amphibious assault. He said it was raining and that once everyone was in place, they gave everybody ice cream and told them to try to get some sleep. Then the next thing he knew, they were waking everybody up telling them to stay low and head for the beach.

No, that doesn’t sound like somebody drugged the ice cream. Not at all.

That’s all he would say about the subject, and he never said another word about it until the final months of his life. Alzheimer’s would gradually rob him of his mind, and as his condition deteriorated, memories of the past would briefly spill out. One evening he thought I was his commanding officer and he was back at Normandy. It is the only time I ever saw him where he appeared to be scared. Ever.

It reminds me every day of something I had unknowingly taken for granted. The greatest generation did fight in and win World War II, then did incredible things over the next 50 to 60 years after the war. But many carried unspeakable memories from the War, ones they would never talk about and carry inside them to their graves. Those veterans lost a piece of themselves in battle they would never, ever, get back.

I mean, how can you at the tender age of 21 storm a beach, see friends die only a few feet from you, wonder each night if you will wake up alive the next morning and then return home a year later and try to pick up on the same normal life you had before you left? I told him once that after seeing “Saving Private Ryan”, I understood why he was never afraid of anything; after you’ve made it through something like that, everything else pales in comparison.

So tonight, I raise a glass to Hank and the 150,000-plus men, who like my father-in-law, were very young, very scared, and still charged that beach, paying a price that even for the survivors would last the rest of their days.

Rest In Peace...

[Military History Now @MilHistNow]

RIGHT NOW in 1944, the BBC broadcasts an excerpt of Paul Verlaine's 1866 poem "Chanson d'automne" into Nazi-occupied Europe. The passage "...wounds my heart with a monotonous languor” is a coded signal to the French Resistance. It means: “The Allies are coming!”

[Patrick MacCoon @PMacCoon]

The Spain national football team has arrived in downtown Chattanooga for the FIFA World Cup

[War Times @wartirnes]

D-Day in Color: Reinforcements Secure the Beachhead 🇺🇸🇬🇧

The Normandy beachhead is now firmly in Allied hands as supply convoys, DUKWs, and fresh troops continue moving inland after the initial assault.

German prisoners are gathered under guard while Coast Guard rescue boats and hospital ships work offshore to recover survivors and evacuate the wounded.

A sweeping panoramic view reveals the massive scale of the secured beachhead, now packed with ships, vehicles, supply depots, and the wreckage left behind by the invasion.

The largest amphibious invasion in history was now firmly underway.

[Pete Delkus @wfaaweather]

El Niño strengthens rest of the year. It could be one of the strongest ever. I looked back at the strongest El Niños to see what it could mean for NTX. Bottom line: odds of a wetter fall & winter go up. Stormier springs, too. No clear relationship with winter weather or temps.

[alex kershaw @kershaw_alex]

Greatness. Eisenhower's note, written today, in which he takes full responsibility - "mine alone" - in the event that D-Day fails.

[Texas Rangers @Rangers]

Repping red on @AppleTV. #AllForTX

[Sarah Nauser @SarahNauser]

Cincinnati Recap – Episode 1!

Great American Ball Park was stadium number 16 for me, and it did not disappoint. From the moment we arrived, the Reds organization rolled out the red carpet for us—even though we were decked out in Royals gear. The hospitality and welcoming atmosphere immediately earned this ballpark a spot near the top of my favorites list.

We were fortunate to attend batting practice on the field, where I got to catch up with so many familiar faces, watch balls launched into the seats, and soak in the sights and sounds of another Major League ballpark. The dream is still alive, one stadium at a time.

I even had the chance to meet a THE Ohio State legend and current Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Jim Tressel.

One of the most special parts of the day was reconnecting with Brady Singer. I’ll admit, I shed a few tears when the Royals traded him to Cincinnati. Brady has been incredibly supportive of me since the day we met, and I still make a point to watch nearly every one of his starts. He surprised me with an autographed Reds jersey, which I promised him I’d wear proudly.

Before the game, we visited the Reds Hall of Fame to celebrate our friend Reggie Sanders, who was recently inducted. The museum is outstanding and does an incredible job honoring the rich history and legendary players who have worn a Reds uniform.

During the game, I also had the chance to finally meet Nick Badders, the voice of the Omaha Storm Chasers. Nick has been a loyal supporter for years, and while I’ve listened to countless broadcasts featuring his voice, it took a trip to Cincinnati for us to finally meet in person.

The day ended with a Royals victory, but the score was only part of what made it memorable. It was a day filled with friendship, baseball, and reminders of how many incredible people this journey has brought into my life. Stay tuned for Episode 2! ⚾❤️ So much gratitude for the @Reds organization and staff!

[Baseball’s Greatest Moments @BBGreatMoments]

Arlington Stadium’s scoreboard

[Military History Now @MilHistNow]

RIGHT NOW in 1944, this is the scene in the English Channel as the Allied invasion armada steams for Normandy.

[MLB @MLB]

The national exclusive broadcast schedule for Play Ball Weekend ⚾️

[UT Austin Police Department @UTAustinPolice]

Welcome home, Champions. 🤘🏆

UTPD was proud to assist with escorting Texas Softball back to campus following their national championship victory.

#HookEm

[NWS Fort Worth @NWSFortWorth]

Scattered showers and storms will continue into Saturday. It will not be raining all day Saturday, but do stay weather aware if you have outdoor plans!

The flash flooding threat will increase Sat evening and night across parts of North TX. Turn Around, Don't Drown! #txwx #dfwwx

[Texas Rangers PR @TXRangersPR]

A reminder that tonight's game will air in an exclusive national broadcast on Apple TV. The Rangers radio broadcast can be found on 105.3 The FAN and along the club's radio network.

[alex kershaw @kershaw_alex]

D-Day is underway. Some would argue that what's happening right now is the most daring and ultimately successful operation in the history of military Alliances.
Note: the majority of troops are friends of the US from eight countries. Eisenhower has been told that three-quarters of the 23,400 airborne troops will be lost. He's hoping that the prediction will be wrong.

[FOX 4 NEWS @FOX4]

Fans welcomed the Czech National Team (@ceskarepre_eng) to Fort Worth. The team will practice in Mansfield ahead of their first World Cup appearance in 20 years!

[Texas Rangers PR @TXRangersPR]

Rangers lineup for June 5, 2026 vs. Cleveland

[CStatz @TheCStatzer]

Excited to share that starting TONIGHT we’ll be welcoming in Guest DJ’s on select Friday and Saturday games who will be working alongside me to bring the vibes 😎

Tonight we’re welcoming @DJAvenger to the Globe

Tomorrow night I’ll be out here DJing all game long #AllForTX

[Texas Softball @TexasSoftball]

she’s home 🤘🏆

#HookEm

[James Brun @LeBrunJames81]

Soldiers from The North Shore Regiment, landing at Juno Beach, Nan Red sector, 6 June 1944.