Lest we forget: D-Day, 1944

[Engine 21]

I said something about D-Day at work last nite after midnight and the younger deputies didnt know what it was.one of our great moments as a nation.

The Greatest Generation is leaving us with an ever quickening pace now and sadly it won't be long before they are gone. They did what they had to do - no bravado, always humble and respectful and kept there nightmare memories to themselves. The young Leo's don't know what these brave men did on this day 67 years ago. By this time tonight 2500 brave men were dead and 4000 more wounded on the shores of Normandy and this was just the first day. The battle of the hedgerows was next. God Bless them all.

 

[sw44spl]

my mom and her family was going to church when they heard about pearl harbor. and she remembered hearing about D-Day when it happened.my stepdad joined the army air corp in early 1946. then they became the air force. so I grew up with ww2 era vets in my family and I highly respect them.

 

[handejector]

Lee, you may be right. Since the picture is in black and white, it's difficult to tell - could be a training mission. The carbines are correct for the WWII period (no bayonet lugs) - in the black shoe army, they would have had lugs. That carbine looks brand spanking new; in the postwar period it would probably have seen a lot of wear; the one I was issued certainly had! Corcoran jump boots were darker than the standard brown... These were "barracks polished" so it could well have been a training mission. I see that the soldier on the right carries an M1 Garand bayonet in what appears to be a (modified?) British-issue scabbard for the P14 Enfield - apparently the Brits were helping out with equipment including often providing Sykes-Fairbairn stilettos!

I'm pretty certain the leather in that pic is black.
Yes, I've seen and even owned some brown Corc's.
As for the bayo lug having to be on a carbine post-war- maybe, maybe not. A large machine like the Army is not perfect in every detail.

Note that in most pics, paratroopers are wearing standard issue boots.
I don't know if Corc's were issued in WW II or if troopers had to buy them. I can state positively that they were NOT issued 1968-71, and I DID have to buy them. They were a good boot for jumping, not as good for walking. I would not have worn mine to combat.
They DID look good, and kept pants bloused better.

I think during the late 50's and early 60's a Corcoran-looking boot with a capped toe was issued. (maybe made by Corc)
It seems like my older brother in law was issued capped toes in that period, and he was armor. As I recall, his toe caps did not have the row of holes between the stitches that real Corc's had.

 

[Nightowl]

The really sad part of today was that my local newspaper did not have one word about the significance of June 6, 1944. Nothing in there last year either. Several years ago there was an insert that chronicled experiences of several of our local veterans who were in WWll. Don't recall whether it was for Dday or Veterans day, but it was very intriguing reading. My hats off to all those who fought in that war. Actually, my hat is off to those fighting today as well.