Remembering D Day

[Lowlight]

D-Day: June 6, 1944
Description:
June 6, 1944 marks the 68th anniversary of "Operation Overlord" - the D-Day invasion where more than 160,000 allied troops landed on a 50-mile stretch of French Coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. The invasion led to the deaths of more than 9,000 allied forces, but the victory resulted in a significant turning point for Europe's history. Today, we would like to honor the allied forces that participated in the invasion by sharing a film created by the U.S. Army in 1969. In this film, the drama and battle action of the landing at Normandy is portrayed along with the fierce combat that took place to overcome "Fortress Europe" (compliments of the National Archives).


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[ryank]

Re: Remembering D Day

Thank you for posting this Lowlight. God bless all those who have, and are serving our country. My late grandfather always said June 6 was a second memorial day to him.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Remembering D Day

One Grandfather and five Great-Uncles were on that beach that day. Three on one side, two on the other. Another Grandfather was in England in the Motor-Pool.

Stories and scars, that's what they brought back. Stories and scars.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Remembering D Day

I just watched a History of the Amierican Airborne on the Military Channel.

I picked up something I didn't think of before. As a paratrooper I had always been up set with the Air Force (Army Air Corp) because of the way they scattered paratroopers all over the place instead of their assigned drop zones.

Something that was pointed out in the show, was though it was a goof, it (scattering the paratroopers everywhere but where they were suppose to be) turned out to be a huge asset.

It cause confusion amoung the Germans who had to deploy defenders in areas they wouldn't have to if the troopers weren't scattered.

This pulled many additional Germans off the beaches where they would have otherwise been and ended up helping the invasion troops.

An intersesting guy to talk to is my daughter in laws, great grandfather. He made every jump the 82nd made in WWII, including D-Day.

It took a lot of guts for those kids to walk off a landing craft in the face of such fire power. More guts then I could muster I'm sure.

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Re: Remembering D Day

Looking at your ribbons, I dare say I think you could have, and would have done it.

 

[c1steve]

Re: Remembering D Day

Lowlight, thanks for posting the reminder and video. Sometimes in our busy life we forget that courage, difficult decisions, and diligence made Americans and allies who we are today.


An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
---Sir Winston Churchill

 

[5RWill]

Re: Remembering D Day

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: c1steve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Lowlight, thanks for posting the reminder and video. Sometimes in our busy life we forget that courage, difficult decisions, and diligence made Americans and allies who we are today.


An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
---Sir Winston Churchill</div></div>

Agreed. Here's another good link. I interviewed a vet that was at Omaha. Never will forget Mr. Alrdrege I think he passed away at 96, he was a great man.

http://www.army.mil/d-day/

 

[vwhugger]

Re: Remembering D Day

Operation <span style="font-weight: bold">Overlord</span>, I'm sure you meant.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Remembering D Day

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I think he passed away at 96, he was a great man.</div></div>

That is the problem, we are loosing these great men at an alarming rate, never to be replaced.

I miss talking to my father (he dies in '86). He didn't talk much about his service (he was an infantryman in the SP) except when I was on leave inroute to Vietnam, he passed on some advice about an infantryman's life in the jungle, but other then that, nothing about his experiences.

 

[topgun99]

Re: Remembering D Day

God Bless those that made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could continue to enjoy the freedoms we fought so hard to obtain and those that serve today so that we may stay free.

 

[donws2]

Re: Remembering D Day

Many gave away all of their tomorrows so we can live free today. God bless all of those whe serve and keep them safe.

 

[KM375]

Re: Remembering D Day

Birth of the Ranger Motto
On 6 June 1944, during the assault landing on Dog White sector of Omaha Beach as part of the invasion of Normandy, General Norman Cota (assistant CO of the 29th ID) approached Maj. Max Schneider, CO of the 5th Ranger Battalion and asked “What outfit is this?”, Schneider answered "5th Rangers, sir!" To this, Cota replied “Well, goddamit, if you're Rangers, lead the way!” From this, the Ranger motto—"Rangers lead the way!"—was born. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WWII_Ranger_Patch.svg

Remembering D-day

 

[5RWill]

Re: Remembering D Day

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I think he passed away at 96, he was a great man.</div></div>

That is the problem, we are loosing these great men at an alarming rate, never to be replaced.

I miss talking to my father (he dies in '86). He didn't talk much about his service (he was an infantryman in the SP) except when I was on leave inroute to Vietnam, he passed on some advice about an infantryman's life in the jungle, but other then that, nothing about his experiences.

</div></div>

I cant agree more, it's incredibly sad to seem them go and there will never be another group like them.

 

[canman]

Re: Remembering D Day

Many years ago I spent about an hour in Pennsylvania at a Flag dedication talking and having coffee with Gino Merli, MOH WWII. He said his first day of combat was Omaha beach. He then said "It was as good a place as any to start". Most unassuming man I've ever met. He never mentioned The Medal and how he got it. We all later got copies of his Citation in the mail. Truly the real deal.

 

[RJW]

Re: Remembering D Day

Just got back from a D Day celebration ( celebrations means bourbon or martinis) with 4 WW II Vets, who live at the same assited living center. One served with Patton. One was at Utah Beach. One was at Pearl Harbor and the 4th served as a Marine in the Pacific theatre. No stories are told. We just sit, drink and enjoys each other company. Today I could see their memories on their faces as we toasted brother and sister past and present who served bravely.
Still have some ceiling dust in my eyes. I am so thankful to know these guys and many other WW II vets who have passed.

 

[no1special]

Re: Remembering D Day

my dad,still with us, didn't get there for the invasion. he was there, however, for the winter "sports" in the ardennes. first to the relief of bastogne with patton's 3rd.

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Re: Remembering D Day

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I think he passed away at 96, he was a great man.</div></div>

That is the problem, we are loosing these great men at an alarming rate, never to be replaced.

I miss talking to my father (he dies in '86). He didn't talk much about his service (he was an infantryman in the SP) except when I was on leave inroute to Vietnam, he passed on some advice about an infantryman's life in the jungle, but other then that, nothing about his experiences.

</div></div>

Jeeeezzz, Kraig !!!
Most of them are in their 90's. They're going to die. My Daddy is one of them. Tail gunner on a B-24 in the Pacific. Holy Moley, he's already picked out his pall bearers and has a lunch for them once a month.

He's a real piece of work.

 

[Killer Spade 13]

Re: Remembering D Day

I saw so many of these men's sons take that same honor and spirit into the jungles of Viet Nam.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Remembering D Day

I have been blessed to have worked with many of the "greatest generation". So many have gone on, so many stories, told and untold. There is seldom a day I do not think of the Pearl Harbor vet, the Navy engineer ( ships sunk twice and damaged once by Jap torpedoes), the tanker that served under Patton in the Saar.

As a young twenty something then, and far side of fifty now, what these men saw and did... many in their teens, I am humbled, and honored to have known them.

 

[Early Cuyler]

Re: Remembering D Day

I love listening to interviews of WWII vets. It amazes me how most speak of their service simply as a duty to be expected. The amount of pressure on those men during D-Day was incredible. Their ability to shoulder and face it, even more so.

I wish more were around today. They were of a different generation. Driven by pride in God, Country, and self, those men willingly faced an Evil not seen before in the world.

"The fates of war and freedom await their performance."

 

[DoubleGobble00]

Re: Remembering D Day

Amazing post... Thanks for that...

 

[canman]

Re: Remembering D Day

The street I grew up on almost all the men were WW2 vets. My Dad was in the Pacific in the Navy and there were guys from the European campaigns. They would come home from work and play ball with us. Neighborhood BBQ's they were all there just being our Dad's. We had no clue what they had done. Sometimes after a few beers they would talk and maybe one would be visibly upset. They would all get him through it. Heros. No other description fits

 

[1stIDvet]

Re: Remembering D Day

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Killer Spade 13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I saw so many of these men's sons take that same honor and spirit into the jungles of Viet Nam. </div></div>


...and their sons in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighting spirit passes through the blood lines.

 

[rero360]

Re: Remembering D Day

My hat goes off to all those great men, my grandfather served in the Navy fire control during Korea but his two older half brothers served in WW2, the one died in the pacific, never learned how or even what branch he was in.

The other brother served in Europe as an airborne infantry man, lied about his age to enlist and became a POW during the Battle of the Bulge. My grandfather told me that when his brother was released and got back to the state he tried to by some beer at a local mom and pop store there in NYC but was still under aged and was denied. As the story goes he got upset and trashed the store and spent his first night back in the USA in jail haha.

Unfortunately he passed away before I was born so I never got to meet him, although my grandfather has a story about how when his brother passed, he was cremated, and since they both were frugal with money, a burial plot was never purchased. Story is my grandfather snuck into the cemetery late at night and buried his brother's ashes above his wife's casket.

Well it was discovered the next morning, my grandfather received a visit from the local police and he was forced to buy a plot for his brother.

The old man is getting on in age and his health isn't doing to well, I'm hoping to be able to get back east before the year is over to pay him a visit, listen to his tales of the Navy in Korea and all his other wild stories.