Trump joins Queen at D-Day commemorations: Live updates - CNN

Tom Rice, 2nd from left, will replicate his D-Day parachute jump, 75 years after the Normandy landings. CNN

Tom Rice, a 97-year-old D-Day veteran of the US Army's 101st Airborne Division, will be replicating his jump during Wednesday's commemorative events.

The division, nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, played a crucial role in the Normandy landings 75 years ago.

But Rice told CNN he's not nervous about replicating his feat three-quarters of a century later. "They’re not shooting at us this time," he joked. "It’s much safer. And I’m going for the ride, it’ll be a lot of fun."

Explaining his decision to take part in the event, Rice said: "I decided to honor those who didn’t come back, who were wounded, who walked away from it, who are deceased. Those are the guys who are the heroes."

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