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ncbearman
06-05-2014, 08:29 PM
Startin to think about those guys that 70 years ago this evening were preparing for something they had no idea how big it would end up being. Dad was in the 2nd wave to land at Normandy. He died 12 years ago. It wasn't until about 2 years before he passed that he talked about it. He would go to the reunions and I don't think even then did they talk about it (much anyway). When he told me some of the experiences he had in the war I was astonished that I am even here. He was a forward observer in Pattons 3rd army. He told me he directed "tons" of artillery fire at the enemy.
He got 2 battlefield commissions from Patton himself (2nd then 1st Lt.) He said when he got 1st Lt. he only had time to change his "uppers" or his shirt and jacket. When he showed up like that Patton was not pleased until his Captain told him my Dad had just come from behind enemy lines. At that point he said the General lit up like a proud father and hurried the commission and sent him back.
He was on the 3rd tank to go into Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Bronze Star, Purple Heart w/2 clusters, Marksman, Distinguished Service Medal.
He would be embarrassed if he knew I were telling all this. He was a good man and a better Husband and Father. Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" opened my eyes. There were so many men with stories just like my Dad's. Hundreds, maybe thousands. Whether it be a relative, neighbor or just in general. Give some thought this evening and tomorrow about those men and try to put yourself in their place. They were all heros in my book.
To those of you that may be on this forum that were involved with the invasion THANK YOU! Land sea, or air it would not have happened without all of you.
It would be great if you could share a little with us about that if you feel so inclined. I miss my Dad and I wish he would have been able to share more with me so I could understand a little better but I understand him not wanting to. Love you Dad!

Russ

DCP
06-05-2014, 08:45 PM
They were all heros in my book

Yes they were

ghh3rd
06-05-2014, 08:49 PM
When I see someone wearing a commemorative hat or other memorabilia, or a uniform, I always walk over and shake their hand and thank them for their service. I was proud of my 16 yr old son when I observed him doing the same thing.

Goatwhiskers
06-05-2014, 08:50 PM
Russ, if you want to gain a foothold in understanding, try to go to the D-Day Museum in New Orleans. I can't really put this in words, but my Dad and an uncle both served, but never talked about it much, other than a few funny stories. After going to the museum (twice) I have a much deeper understanding of what that generation went thru, then came home to take up their lives. Truly the greatest generation. GW

500MAG
06-05-2014, 08:55 PM
Everyone should teach their children about D-day. I asked everyone at work today that was under the age of 30 what was the significance of June 6, 1944. Not one of them answered correctly. It's a shame that so many died fighting for our country and these kids don't even know.

bdicki
06-05-2014, 09:01 PM
Here' a good read.
http://users.cloudnet.com/jfb/

Mik
06-05-2014, 09:08 PM
Everyone should teach their children about D-day. I asked everyone at work today that was under the age of 30 what was the significance of June 4th, 1944. Not one of them answered correctly. It's a shame that so many died fighting for our country and these kids don't even know.

If they all knew the invasion was on June 6th and took place in France I would be surprised. They don't teach military history in school anymore. You get a lot about the geopolitical environments that cause a war, you learn about the contributions women made by getting jobs in manufacturing.

You learn nothing about teenage kids coming ashore under a hail of machine gun fire, some of them never to see home again.

Too violent

CastingFool
06-05-2014, 09:16 PM
When I watch the documentaries about D-Day, and see the real photos, and see what went on that day, and what our guys had to go through, all I can do is shake my head in amazement, and thank God for them.

fouronesix
06-05-2014, 09:32 PM
When I watch the documentaries about D-Day, and see the real photos, and see what went on that day, and what our guys had to go through, all I can do is shake my head in amazement, and thank God for them.

You got that right! My neighbor is 92. He landed at Utah Beach. His landing craft was hit by an artillery round and he was one of the few or the only one who survived it. Later he was hit by shrapnel inland in the fight up through Normandy and spent some time in a field hospital. He rejoined his unit just in time to be held back so "DG" could march into Paris... triumphant. Ugghhh. I can't post his words. I went over and visited him yesterday- still going strong, working on his irrigation and tractor. Fewer and fewer left.

Bad Water Bill
06-05-2014, 10:20 PM
Lets not forget the sailors and Coast Guard that lost their lives trying to get those brave soldiers to shore.

What a fantastic generation that was.

Prospector Howard
06-06-2014, 11:03 AM
ncbearman, thanks for bringing this up and the info about your dad. My dad was also in the big one and I lost him 9 years ago. He was the best hunting, shooting, and fishing buddy a guy could have. He wasn't at D-Day but was in the Pacific theater in the Navy. He was a .50 Cal ball turret gunner in the TBF torpedo bomber. Went in the Navy in '42 and saw alot of action from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. I still have his flight log in my gun safe and look at it once in awhile. He sure went on alot of bombing missions. Here's a couple of pictures with him and his crew. First picture in front of the folded wing of his plane left to right: (Futufski) his radioman, dad in the middle, and his pilot (Mcdonald). Second picture on the wing (his radioman, not sure what his name was), dad in the middle, and the pilot (Mcdonald). This is a good place for eveyone that had a close relative in WWII or were in the war to tell their story and put up some pictures. Would love to hear and see more from other members. ncbearman, if you can put any pictures up of your dad please do.

fatnhappy
06-06-2014, 11:53 AM
Let's not forget all the Marines killed in France storming the German position June 6th.......... 1918. Today marks the 96th anniversary of Belleau Woods.

DxieLandMan
06-06-2014, 11:58 AM
My great uncle on dad's side hit the beach at 0630. Omaha beach, 1st day, 2nd wave. He would never talk about it unless he had been drinking heavily. He was wounded in action D-day+7.

ncbearman
06-06-2014, 01:31 PM
Katya posted this once and I have watched alot of the interviews..............................amazing men! Land, air and sea.
"Old men start em', young men fight em'"

http://www.witnesstowar.org/content/view.php?g=t&c=NE&v=357

43PU
06-06-2014, 02:27 PM
Every D-Day I take my M1 Carbine and M1 garand out that was used in D-Day. I got the carbine off of a guy who dropped in in the 101 in G company, and the Garand was given to me by my neighbor in college who was an armor who was shipped in afterwards and he was issued it, but he sent it home

w5pv
06-06-2014, 02:49 PM
All of my relatives that were in WWII are now passed>All I have now is a Ham Radio buddy Norm Risgby K5LYO whom I try to talk tp every day.He was wounded on D day patched up and sent into Germany and escorted the prisoners from jail to the Newinbourg trials.I have seen quite a few of his pictures he has in an album.These should go to a WWII memorial some where.He is 90 years old just had a birthday this month.

trapper9260
06-06-2014, 02:52 PM
I had lost a uncle in WWII but not on D day but in the south sea islands ,I have his flag that has 48 stars that was on his coffin and I also had other uncles that fought in france and germany and other places.They had the will and way to get things done then and made due with what they had.I been told some stories about there and some of the things that happened.For how they are today for how things are now.i wonder how they back then would think of todays ways of life.One service could not do it with out the others.

DCP
06-06-2014, 03:20 PM
My Uncle

Charles K McMullen 93 when he passed
Fought with Patton and lost a eye when a tank blew up

Most gentle man I ever met.

DougGuy
06-06-2014, 05:16 PM
These images are amazing, I won't post each one here but click on the link and enjoy the time morph photography of photos from now, superimposed with photos from then, in 1944.. Pretty cool stuff..

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/06/d-day-landing-sites-pictures_n_5458026.html?1402052492

Digger
06-06-2014, 07:15 PM
NRA Life of Duty-Normandy ....... good vid , please take a moment and watch.
http://www.nralifeofduty.tv/home/video/frontlines-normandy-a-hero-returns/list/todays-popular-videos

monge
06-06-2014, 07:53 PM
when this country was great and the people were strong and they believed ! Sorry to say we could not fight another world war the GOV. is week .Politics and corp America rule if we were ever faced with that again we don't have the Indusrtial nation behind us. what will we do ask china to build our tanks and ships? Very SAD!

robertbank
06-06-2014, 08:33 PM
Two uncles and my Father in Law landed on Juno Beach, one other had been wounded in Italy at Ortona and had been sent home (Lost an eye). One uncle landed there two days later. All but one went on through Holland to Germany. The one who didn't was badly wounded in Holland and spent the remainder of the war in England.

My Cub Master was with the Regina Rifles - he survived the Dieppe Raid and D Day and beyond.

All have joined their comrades.

Rest in Peace

Take Care

Bob

tygar
06-06-2014, 08:52 PM
I think about my dad & his 2 brothers, my moms brother & 2 uncles married to my dads sisters who were in WWII, & my granddad who was in WWI. What those guys went thru makes what we went thru in VN pale in comparison.

One uncle was in the Navy when WWII started & was one of only 12 survivors when the USS Wilkes went down in the North Atlantic. He had bad frostbite & broken back & was medically retired. He was the oldest of my dad & his 3 brothers (one was too young to serve).

The next oldest was in the Airborne, was in North Africa, Italy & jumped in Normandy & all the way to Germany. Needless to say he was highly decorated.

My dad joined the Navy when he was 17 & was in all the major campaigns in 44-45 as a coxswain of the landing boats & shore party raiders. (the only one of all them not to be wounded)

My moms brother also joined at 17 & was in the Normandy landing (sometime the 3rd day I think) & fought until the end of August when we was very badly wounded & spent 3 yrs in Army hospitals.

2 uncles married to my dad's sisters were in the Coast Guard & Army but the Army guy was too young & never left the states, & the Coast Guard was on patrol duty in US waters.

There were 5 PHs, 4 BSs, & 1 SS between them plus a bunch of the other stuff.

I never knew what dam hero's they were until they were well into their 70s & their kids made them do shadow boxes & saw pics of them & when I read my dad's journal after he died.

Those guys were tough & really went thru some heavy battles.

Without them we would all be speaking German or Japanese.

Bad Water Bill
06-06-2014, 09:23 PM
I have known hundreds of those heroes and every one of them went to their graves without one complaint about serving.

No we could never fight another war like that one again.

ghh3rd
06-09-2014, 07:46 AM
Katya posted this once and I have watched alot of the interviews..............................amazing men! Land, air and sea.
"Old men start em', young men fight em'"

http://www.witnesstowar.org/content/...g=t&c=NE&v=357

Thanks NCBearman for the link... very interesting listening to all of the experiences of war.
http://www.witnesstowar.org/content/view.php?g=t&c=NE&v=357

bayjoe
06-09-2014, 10:26 AM
My dad was in the 2nd Division rangers. He was in Company E, third boat to hit the shore at Point De Hoc. He was wounded at the battle for San Lo. He never talked about it.

StrawHat
06-10-2014, 06:32 AM
June 5, 1944, my Dad celebrated his 27th birthday in the engine room of a ship going over to Normandy. He commented it was not much of a celebration as the fireworks were scheduled for the next day.

He was a merchant sailor, usually on tankers, and had several ships torpedoed from under him. We lost him in 1999. Mom was also a WWII vet, Navy. She rejoined Pop in 2009.

StrawHat
06-10-2014, 06:33 AM
Lets not forget the sailors and Coast Guard that lost their lives trying to get those brave soldiers to shore.

What a fantastic generation that was.

I was not aware of Coast Guard partricipation.

Mik
06-10-2014, 07:21 AM
I was not aware of Coast Guard partricipation.

They drove the Higgins boats.

StrawHat
06-11-2014, 07:13 AM
They drove the Higgins boats.

I had to google that! Thank you for the information. Did not realize the USCG was there also.

DCP
06-11-2014, 09:01 AM
Marvin J. Perrett
World War II Coast Guard Veteran

One of many Hero’s of all services during WWII

He was a veteran of the invasions of Normandy, Southern France, Iwo Jima and Okinawa
and he even survived the "Exercise Tiger" debacle prior to the Normandy invasion

http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBORALHISTORY/Perrett_Marvin_Oral_History.pdf
http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBORALHISTORY/Marvin_Perrett_Oral_History.asp

youngmman
06-11-2014, 11:31 AM
My Father and Uncle enlisted together and my Uncle had been in the Marine Corps for 5 years in the early 30's so he was assigned as my Fathers platoon first sergeant. They both landed at Normandy, went through France and were caught in the Bulge and ended up as rifleman in Patton's third army, went across the Rhine and were among the first entering Dachau.

My Father died in 1995 and in the early 80's Ronald Reagan, when President, sponsored a tour of the battle fields in Europe for veterans. I offered to pay for the trip for my Father and Mother. He told me there is no way in Heaven or Earth he would EVER set foot on that cotenant again, ever.

ncbearman
06-11-2014, 04:12 PM
My Father and Uncle enlisted together and my Uncle had been in the Marine Corps for 5 years in the early 30's so he was assigned as my Fathers platoon first sergeant. They both landed at Normandy, went through France and were caught in the Bulge and ended up as rifleman in Patton's third army, went across the Rhine and were among the first entering Dachau.

My Father died in 1995 and in the early 80's Ronald Reagan, when President, sponsored a tour of the battle fields in Europe for veterans. I offered to pay for the trip for my Father and Mother. He told me there is no way in Heaven or Earth he would EVER set foot on that cotenant again, ever.

Sounds like we have a veteran connection. Normandy, Patton's 3rd, the Rhine, all things my Dad said too. He also would not go back. In fact for some reason he was upset with the French too. No offense to any French gents on here. I'm not real sure what that was about.

tygar
06-11-2014, 10:00 PM
Marvin J. Perrett
World War II Coast Guard Veteran

One of many Hero’s of all services during WWII

He was a veteran of the invasions of Normandy, Southern France, Iwo Jima and Okinawa
and he even survived the "Exercise Tiger" debacle prior to the Normandy invasion

http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBORALHISTORY/Perrett_Marvin_Oral_History.pdf
http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBORALHISTORY/Marvin_Perrett_Oral_History.asp

There was a Coast Guardsman that received the Medal of Honor.

DCP
06-12-2014, 07:12 AM
There was a Coast Guardsman that received the Medal of Honor.

Here you go

Douglas Albert Munro

http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/munrodouglasindex.asp

youngmman
06-12-2014, 09:48 AM
Yes, it sounds like a direct veteran connection. I didn't really understand my Dad not wanting to go back because he didn't say but I think I found out after going to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles. There was a presentation regarding the concentration camps and one part focused on Dachau. It was located in the Rhineland just across the river a few miles. It said the men of Patton's army who liberated it had been in combat for 511 days, I was in Viet Nam and can't hardly relate to that, but as hardened as they were they could not believe what they saw. They rounded up the guards that remained and were holding them against one of the perimeter fences when somebody gave the order of "no prisoners" and they were shot, 93 of them. The pencil neck's wanted to prosecute the troops who did it and presented the evidence to Patton. Patton threw it in the trash can and said he NEVER wanted to hear about it again, God Bless Him, then had the ranking Sargent of that group transferred stateside.

Fast forward to when I asked my Dad what it was like to see Dachau and he couldn't speak, this was years before I went to the museum, so I asked if there were guards there still and he said "yes", "what did you do with them", "we shot them". I have always wondered..........................Among his souvenirs is a small black and white photo of an 18-19 (guess) y o German soldier he took from the pocket of one of them, a small German song book and a grab bag of insignia torn off of uniforms.

I apologize if this is to granular for some but it's the God's truth. War is the worst business in the world at any level. The only ones who have the luxury of thinking otherwise never pulled a trigger.

tygar
06-12-2014, 10:03 AM
I apologize if this is to granular for some but it's the God's truth. War is the worst business in the world at any level.

***The only ones who have the luxury of thinking otherwise never pulled a trigger.

I've been debating how or if, I should address the "moderator" who castigated me for using the phrase "Saying it's "bad". Well for anyone who actually was "in" combat, that is nothing more than how "combat" was referred too. I would suspect that anyone that is offended by that hasn't ever been in said

As for saying that Obummer is throwing all that away, & is a scumbag puke, I'll stand by that every time but will apologize for offending any Opukeama lovers on this site.

If that will get me kicked off OK cause I don't want to be anywhere where the thought police are so offended by common usage.

So goodbye if I'm fired for being a combat Marine & a patriot!

Silfield
06-12-2014, 10:36 AM
I went to see my pal yesterday as he has just arrived home from the D-Day commemorations. He goes every year and usually takes along a couple of vehicles from his collection-this year he had 2 DUKW's and the Dodge there.
He said that the atmosphere was fantastic and he managed to take a good few Veterans out to sea and back up the Juno beaches in the DUKW's-must have brought back some memories for the hero's that had to do it on the day.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/850/j784.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/nmj784j)
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/842/s4wjm.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/nes4wjmj)
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/834/mlm65.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/n6mlm65j)

He was hoping to have had the Sherman finished in time to go but it is still a way off being finished - maybe next year!

ncbearman
06-12-2014, 10:54 AM
WAIT............WHAT he not only restores those things but takes them to France? Your kidding me. That is amazing. Those things are awesome. I would love to hear from the vets that went out in the DUKW's. WOW I had no idea. People are absolutely amazing. High five your buddy for me and my Dad! That is so cool.

107543

Silfield
06-12-2014, 11:42 AM
He certainly does! He has two fully restored runners, another that is being restored atm and another two that are future projects.
We are in Norfolk, England so its not too much of a trip to get to the beaches from here. Drive them onto the flat-beds and onto the cross-channel ferries to France. Heres a couple more "work in progress" shots.

107554

107555

And another regular visitor to the D-Day beaches.

107556

jaysouth
06-12-2014, 10:12 PM
Two uncles and my Father in Law landed on Juno Beach, one other had been wounded in Italy at Ortona and had been sent home (Lost an eye). One uncle landed there two days later. All but one went on through Holland to Germany. The one who didn't was badly wounded in Holland and spent the remainder of the war in England.

My Cub Master was with the Regina Rifles - he survived the Dieppe Raid and D Day and beyond.

All have joined their comrades.

Rest in Peace

Take Care

Bob

Robert:

Here some pictures of Juno that I took a couple of years ago. I have family that lives in St. Aubin-sur-mer which is the town that got in the way of the invasion.
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12087-Copy_zps6101c08f.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12087-Copy_zps6101c08f.jpg.html)

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12088-Copy_zps42a2d732.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12088-Copy_zps42a2d732.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12082-Copy-Copy_zpsa756c168.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12082-Copy-Copy_zpsa756c168.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12081-Copy-Copy_zpsa94e96c5.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12081-Copy-Copy_zpsa94e96c5.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12080_zpseadc17f2.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12080_zpseadc17f2.jpg.html)

jaysouth
06-12-2014, 10:17 PM
I have been to the Normandy battlefields a number of times and always leave awestruck.

On my last trip, I saw something at the American Cemetery at Normandy that changes the way that I had always thought about the French. There was a French priest sprinkling holy water on American graves. There was a group of school children with him praying over graves with hands folded. I keep replaying that scene and wonder if you could ever see anything like that in a US military cemetery.

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Normandy/Unknownsoldier.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Normandy/Unknownsoldier.jpg.html)

jaysouth
06-12-2014, 10:21 PM
As of 2012, Red Buttons was still hanging from the side of the church, St. Mere Eglise:

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Normandy/Europe12116.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Normandy/Europe12116.jpg.html)

robertbank
06-13-2014, 01:42 AM
Robert:

Here some pictures of Juno that I took a couple of years ago. I have family that lives in St. Aubin-sur-mer which is the town that got in the way of the invasion.
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12087-Copy_zps6101c08f.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12087-Copy_zps6101c08f.jpg.html)

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12088-Copy_zps42a2d732.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12088-Copy_zps42a2d732.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12082-Copy-Copy_zpsa756c168.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12082-Copy-Copy_zpsa756c168.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12081-Copy-Copy_zpsa94e96c5.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12081-Copy-Copy_zpsa94e96c5.jpg.html)
http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd507/jaysouth100/Juno%20Beach/Europe12080_zpseadc17f2.jpg (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/jaysouth100/media/Juno%20Beach/Europe12080_zpseadc17f2.jpg.html)

Thanks for posting those pictures. In the last picture in the background is what looks like the house in front of the first landing craft that hit the Juno beach. The film was shot by a National Film Board cameraman. You see the footage in virtually all D Day footage. I know Mr. Lane was fortunate to survive both Dieppe and D - Day. Went across northern Europe in the Infantry and never got a serious scratch, he spoke about. I want to go over in the next couple of years and visit Juno Beach, Ypres, The Sheldt Estuary and lastly Vimy Ridge. Grand dad was at Vimy, 49 Edmonton Battalion - Later to be named the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. He was in that war from May 25th to the end of hostilities in the infantry. Somehow survived the carnage although he had lingering problems from the gas.

Take Care

Bob

youngmman
06-13-2014, 10:00 AM
Bless you Brother