D DAY

[Welder1]

I know it's a early but I'd like to remember the soldiers that fought for our country on D Day. Unfortunately I won't get to hear the stories first hand from my grandfather this year.

 

[Silver Dollar]

When I was practicing in the Air Force during the 80s, there were loads of retired military guys who went through WWII and D Day. They told such fantastic stories about what went on during Overlord. Now, you're lucky if any of them can even remember D Day itself.

 

[Backlighting]

I can't think of anything more terrifying than being on one of those landing vessels, gate flung open & being on the receiving end of all those machine guns.

 

[peyton]

John, my father in law, was in the Army but served on a ship in the pacific as a radio operator during WWII. He was on duty when the message was sent that the Normandy invasion occurred. He took the message to the ship Captain, woke him up in order to deliever the message. The Captain read it and then said "John, get on the PA system and make the announcement". John told us after making the announcement people were scrambling to find a map in order to figure out where Normandy France was!!

Hubert was my mother in law's brother, made the D-Day invasion as an infantryman and ended up walking and riding through the rest of the war and ended up in Germany somewhere.

Both men had been born and raised on the ranches near San Angelo Texas and had never traveled further than what a horse could carry them in one day.
They like so many others came home, returned to their brides (John actually admitted to being "a little AWOL" he hopped a train, came home and married, and then when to the west coast to catch a ship.
Both of them led productive lives and have passed on and I miss them both greatly.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Folks, there were a lot of D-days all over the World at War, rougher than parts of the Normandy invasion, Tarawa comes to mind. In the 1970s a Platoon leader (W-3) in my unit, 190th Maint Co. was one of the men who climbed the cliffs his combat patch was Amphibious Engineers.
Geoff
Who notes his Sainted Father went ashore in the Philippines with his field hospital unit.

 

[walnutred]

Folks, there were a lot of D-days all over the World at War, rougher than parts of the Normandy invasion, Tarawa comes to mind.

They are gone now but my American Legion Post used to have a couple D-Day Veterans. In June when they would start talking about D-Day those who had been in Italy or the Pacific, often since 1942, would laugh and say something to the effect of “We were hoping you would eventually join our war.” It was good natured ribbing by those who had earned the right to rib and was taken as such. When I think of almost any battle anniversary I remember a comment my 8th grade history teacher once said. “Most battles are fought by kids who don’t want to be there and are doing a job they really don’t want to do, but are doing it anyway to the best of their ability.” He had left a body part on a Pacific island but unfortunately I do not remember which island.

 

[SteveA]

My dad was in the 16th Inf, 1st ID, enlisting at 17 in 1943. He's 87 now and sharp as a tack. He went back for the 60th and last night while we were discussing it, he said he was making plans to go next year for the 70th. I've no doubt he will.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

They told such fantastic stories about what went on during Overlord. Now, you're lucky if any of them can even remember D Day itself.

Unfortunately, I think you're lucky if you can find many people of the Post WW-II period that know what D-Day is, or was.

My elderly mother-in-law is a German lady (yeah, she was on the losing side), and is 91 years old and sharp as a tack. She's currently in the hospital for some illness, and inpatient to return home to her retirement center. About a week ago, her hospital release date was scheduled for today, and I told her: "well, I guess we know what D-Day will be for you - right?" She immediately knew what I meant, and it gave her a good chuckle. Lovely woman, I hope she makes it home one more time.

It continues to sadden me that so many of us so readily forget the sacrifices of others to keep this country strong and free. God bless all of those good men and women who gave so much to keep our country great.

Regards,

Dave

 

[shouldazagged]

My dad was a war correspondent with one of the first units in the first wave on Omaha Beach, and had an amphibious vehicle shot out from under him. He would never talk about it.

Dad died twelve years ago at 90. I think about him a lot more on this date every year.

 

[Backlighting]

Redirect Notice

 

[Davwingman]

A few years ago Cousin Dale sent me a photo dated 6 June 1944. He had returned to Okla. on June 5th after flying 27 missions in a B-17 as a radio operator. He was on many of the early daylight raids including the first one to bomb Berlin, where the losses were very high.
Back about 1998 while touring the Air Museum at Wright Patterson, I bought a VHS tape which showed war time footage of how they prepared for & executed those raids. When I next visited Dale I asked if he would like to view it & he said OK. Shortly into he he started crying & said " I knew a lot of those fellows''. He then told me how some of them had perished.
He passed a few years ago at 88, still a hero to me !

 

[Silver Dollar]

They told such fantastic stories about what went on during Overlord.

One of the patients that I treated was in the 82 Airborne Div. on D-Day. He was one of those who parachuted into Utah Beach and St. Mere Eglise. He gave me a piece of his parachute he jumped with on that mission. I still have that piece of chute he gave me put away for posterity.

 

[semperfi71]

God rest the souls of those who died for freedom.

God watch over those who still live and are awaiting their place in Heaven.

 

[Black_Sheep]

My old fishing buddy Ted "Barney" Barnhill went in on the initial assault of Omaha beach. I had no idea until one morning over coffee when the topic of the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan" came up, he said "I don't have to see the movie because I was there. Ted got pretty emotional while recounting his experiences that day, especially when he began to recall the friends that never even made it to the beach. He was in an armored unit, I guess those DD tanks floundering in the surf made easy targets for German 88's. He went on to fight across France and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. When he finally returned stateside he lived a quiet life and worked as a house painter until retirement. God bless Ted and his Brothers in Arms, the young men (boys really) that answered the call of duty and all to often gave their last full measure for the freedom of others. They truly are the "greatest generation", may the sacrifices they made never be forgotten...

 

[mg357]

I had an uncle participated in D-Day he was an army combat engineer was in the 3rd wave into Omaha beach. Aka bloody Omaha he saw his best friend killed right in front of him. He also participated in the battle of the bulge were he earned a bronze and a silver star. He died in July 2003 at the age of 79

 

[Engine 21]

Those of the "Greatest Generation" showed what real Hero's are made of - Courage, Tenacity, Integrity, and Humility. We as a nation should stop today and other special days for a moment and say a pray and thank them. This nation is losing the Greatest Generation reportedly at a thousand a day now. Thank them while we still have them. God Bless them all.....*

 

[Aticus]

Memorial day one of the cable channels broadcast "The Longest Day" and I got to thinking it had been since high school that I had read the book. I finished it last night and realized this am that it was the anniversary of D-Day. Seems to be appropriate to me.

On another note; if my math is correct isn't this July the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg?

 

[Sayoc01]

I asked three young people what today was...they didn't know!!
I then said June 6!! Meant "NOTHING"!! I then told them what happened on this day in history......reaction was......they THOUGHT they remembered reading something about that!! Nothing was mentioned in THE MIAMI HERALD either!I'M PISSED!!
Jim

 

[Road Rat]

Bless Them All!

 

[shouldazagged]

On another note; if my math is correct isn't this July the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg?

Yes it is.