D Day

[Sgt H]

79 Years ago 10's of thousands of Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe from nazi tyranny. My father was among those landing on Omaha beach. Very few of these men are still with us, thousands never left Normandy. Thanks to all those who served in all theaters for the world would be a far different place if not for their dedication and sacrifice.

[Kestrel4k]

My father was in the Pacific during WWII, but certainly held D-day in the highest regard.
I still have his copy of "The Longest Day", which I may have read as a teenager and certainly hope to get through again.

[deltaenterprizes]

Thank God for the “Greatest Generation “!

[Alex_4x4]

From Wikipedia:

"The coast of Northern France, Belgium and Holland was defended by the German Army Group B" (commanded by Field Marshal Rommel) as part of the 7th and 15th armies and the 88th separate corps (a total of 39 divisions). Its main forces were concentrated on coast of the Pas de Calais, where the German command expected the enemy to land.On the coast of the Seine Bay, on a 100-kilometer front from the base of the Cotentin peninsula to the mouth of the Orne River, only 3 divisions defended.In total, the Germans had about 24,000 people in Normandy (by the end July, the Germans sent reinforcements to Normandy, and their number grew to 380,000 people), plus about 1,000,000 more in the rest of France.

The Allied Expeditionary Force (Supreme Commander General D. Eisenhower) consisted of the 21st Army Group (1st American, 2nd British, 1st Canadian Army) and the 3rd American Army - a total of 39 divisions and 12 brigades. The US and British Navy and Air Force had absolute superiority over the enemy (10,859 combat aircraft versus 160 from the Germans [source not specified 4023 days] and over 6000 combat, transport and landing craft). The total number of expeditionary forces was over 2,876,000 people. This number later increased to 3,000,000 and continued to increase as new divisions from the US regularly arrived in Europe. The number of landing forces in the first echelon was 156,000 people and 10,000 pieces of equipment [7]."

The fact that the Anglo-American allies of the USSR in the anti-Hitler coalition in June 1944, after many years of promises, finally opened a "second front" in Europe, can only be welcomed. A low bow to the participants of those battles (living and dead).

Only the main battles of that war were on the eastern front.

History does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but if the allies had not landed in Normandy in the summer of 1944, then for Nazi Germany the result would have been the same - defeat and surrender. Only the price of victory in the Great Patriotic War for the USSR would have been different - more bloody.

[pworley1]

My dad lost an eye as a child and was never issued a weapon, he spent the war processing those who were being issued weapons. His brother landed on Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Both are gone now. The last of the soldier I knew that went ashore on D-day died last year. This is a book he wrote "An Infantryman's Memories Of Ww2" Troy D Cox Author/Soldier

[Winger Ed.]

and over 6000 combat, transport and landing craft)..

A lot of our movies of historic events put in short little reenactments of things and quotes that actually happened.
There is a movie about 'D-Day' where a German soldier on duty watching the coast called in and reported he saw Allied ships approaching.
He was asked, "How many"? He replied, "All of them".

Growing up in the 1960s, there was several Normandy vets around. Teachers, relatives, friend's parents, etc.
They were a tough, no-nonsense bunch. Some landed there, and more or less walked to Berlin.

One guy said they didn't really care much about the local population at the time, but it was real important for them to capture villages.
If you & your buddies captured a village, then there were basements to sleep in and get out of the cold and rain.

[farmerjim]

My father arrived late in the day June 6 on LST 75. They did not go to the beach that day because all the obstructions were still in place. They were a sitting target. A JU88 dove on them and they shot it down. They wanted to leave and go back to England but they were still full of the soldiers equipment and duffel bags. The Higgins boats kept passing them up, so they put out a signal that there was a case of beer with each load. They were unloaded in no time. They went back to England and returned several days later and put the bow of the LST on land for downloading.

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN...ST/LST-75.html

[Alex_4x4]

A lot of our movies of historic events put in short little reenactments of things and quotes that actually happened.
...

This is a familiar picture. And the more time passes from that war, the more fantasies and legends about it. Facts are forgotten, and legends multiply.

History is a funny lady - those who forget her lessons, she makes them learn them again. And now, a few hundred kilometers away from me, the Leopard tanks with badly painted crosses on the towers are again blowing up the fat black soil with their caterpillars. And in the information reports, the same settlements as more than seventy years ago.

[farmerjim]

I am 76. I listened to all the personal war stories told by those who were there. The pilots, the seamen, marines. I worked with someone who survived the bataan death march. He hated the Japanese till the day he died. Another rode in a glider on D day. The pilot was killed when the plane hit a tree. And many others.
Most are now gone, I miss their stories of survival.

[Winger Ed.]

History is a funny lady - those who forget her lessons, she makes them learn them again. .

I've always had a pashion for history, and as time moves on there is more and more of it.

I never got deep off into studying European or Russian history, but have had a mild fascination about it.
From the revolutions, persecutions, a war for every generation, the murder of royal and political figures, and on & on-
I see a common thread going through almost all of the history in that part of the world, including all the lines drawn on maps"
It is all written and drawn in blood.

[Rapier]

70% or so of the senior NCOs and Officers in the 101st in the early to mid 60s were veterans of the war in Europe, Korea, Vietnam or all three, having 3-4 bronze stars on their jump wings, one for each combat jump, was common. Or command Sgt Major was Paul Huff, first parstrooper to recieve the MOH, the ExO was General Mann, the first officer into St Mere Anglaise, May father in law turned right, went down the Carentan Peninsula, trapping a German Army Group, at tye end the fighting was fierce, got down to entrenching tools, sticks and rocks.The 101st took Carentain, the town, the night /morning of june 5-6 and the cross roads and held it. Our division combat patches, right shoulder, were interesting, 101st, 82nd, 11th, 17th, 173rd, SF, Rangers, SOG, etc We had some of the few survivors from some battles.
This a buddy, lived down the street, a Chief MSGT in the USAF/Army, 3rd Army. He carried a Thompson from Normandy to the end. Had an epellets to bottom of pocket 3rd Army ribbons then down past the pocket USAF ribbons from the AF Air Commandos in Vietnam. Was married to a Bird Colonel/ WW II ferry and Korean war transport pilot. They were a pair....to have at a party.
Forrest G. "Jim" Tilton
Autor of Lugers Unlimited
200 Magazine Articles
President of the Ohio Muzzle Loading Rifle Association

[Sgt H]

In July 2012 I was on the way back to TX form my bucket list motorcycle trip to AK. I stopped at the rest area at Dead Man pass, OR to take a break and have a sandwich. As I pulled in I noticed a pristine BMW airhead with a custom side car. I struck up a conversation with the owner a quite elderly gentleman initially about the BMW. I noticed an embroidered B-17 and unit designation on his hat an asked about it. He was a B-17 pilot in WW2 and survived his 25 missions. I was able to get him to talk a bit about his experience and appreciated it greatly. Seems a lot of the WW2 vets did not want to talk much about the war, my father was that way. He was also among those who served in WW2, Korea and Vietnam. I later saw this gentleman being interviewed in a WW2 documentary. I remain impressed by this generation, at the time I met the pilot he had to be near age 90 and was still out riding a motorcycle. Very tough indeed.

[huntinlever]

79 Years ago 10's of thousands of Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe from nazi tyranny. My father was among those landing on Omaha beach. Very few of these men are still with us, thousands never left Normandy. Thanks to all those who served in all theaters for the world would be a far different place if not for their dedication and sacrifice.

I bend in honor of your father, Sergeant. We can never repay his selfless valor, but we should try.

[panhed65]

How many people under say the age of 50 do you think have a clue of anything in history that may have happened on June 6. I would say we would be lucky if it is 10%. I am 74, and everyone I went to school knew all about it. One of my uncles was there, lost both legs above the knee. Served with the First Infantry Division. a unit I would serve with from 1968-1970. I am sure it is not even mentioned in most schools now days. sad.
Barry

[BLAHUT]

THANK YOU; to all VETERANS for your service. Past and present....

[BLAHUT]

Both my mother and father were in the Pacific during WW11, Father was awarded the bronze star, neither talked about the war, I found out about dad's award after his death, when cleaning out his belongings.

[contender1]

My Dad,, and 3 of his brothers,, (4 out of 7 boys in the family that were eligible,) were in WWII. Much of my family is either a Vet, or is/was married to a Vet. I too served,, but of course,, not WWII.

Out of the 4 in WWII,, 3 returned home. One,, my uncle Fred "Freddie" Phillips,, died 79 years ago today, in Normandy.

[WRideout]

My uncle Francis Randall was killed shortly after D-Day by a German shell. He is buried in Margraten Cemetery where the Dutch commemorate the American war dead every year. He was the uncle I never knew.

Wayne

[Pete57]

Thanks for sharing

[shootingblanks00]

My dad was a motor machinist mate in the navy and served in the pacific. He died 7 months before I was born in '61