https://twitter.com/...417728011657217?s=09
Everything about this is horrifying, the thought of what they’d committed to, the arrival, not making the beach and having to keep moving forwards. my grandfather was there - never discussed it. Two of my grandmother’s brothers died, one as a glider pilot at arnhem
Europe would look different 75 years on were it not for them
They are called The Greatest Generation for a reason. What they did was unimaginable.
My entire right arm is a WWII themed tattoo. It includes a number of images, some quotes, and a few newspaper headlines. Across my bicep is the first line from his headline, in the same type – NYT, June 6, 1944.
Whenever D-Day comes up, the first thing that comes to my mind is the guys jumping off the boats in water over their heads, and drowning with all that gear holding them down, never had a chance. Of course a lot of guys died all kinds of ways on that day, taking a bullet the second the doors dropped, but that one always freeks me out. I guess the water thing is especially horrific for me. Those were some brave men, and boys. And yes, Europe would look a lot different if not for that day, well the world actually I suppose…
I can’t find the words to say how important this mission was and how brave those soldiers were.
Whenever D-Day comes up, the first thing that comes to my mind is the guys jumping off the boats in water over their heads, and drowning with all that gear holding them down, never had a chance. Of course a lot of guys died all kinds of ways on that day, taking a bullet the second the doors dropped, but that one always freeks me out. I guess the water thing is especially horrific for me. Those were some brave men, and boys. And yes, Europe would look a lot different if not for that day, well the world actually I suppose…
Ditto.
They went there to fight and never got a chance. Sadly, the ultimate numbers game.
Aside - my (step)father, age 18, was shot down over Belgium on a bombing mission a few days after D-Day. Fortunately, for him the only other survivor was a full bred Native American. He led my father on a 8 month trek across occupied France. No idea why it took that long. Like most, he wouldn’t talk much about it and I had to pry that much from him. He talked about writing a memoir but sadly never did before he past.
I hung the flag this morning and gave them all a salute. This being the 75th Anniversary seems to have effected me more than others.
President Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer reminds us of what the “Greatest Generation†did to save the free world. And it reminds us, too, of the strength and humility of a U.S. president who understood the power of prayer and who asked the American people to join him in praying to God during freedom’s darkest hour.
“My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home – fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas – whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too – strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.”
Good article in the NYT about this. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/magazine/d-day-normandy-75th-ernie-pyle.html
Had the landings failed–this is the note Eisenhower had in his pocket ready to issue…
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”
You don’t see moral courage like that very much from our senior leadership these days.
A Day of Days.
Airborne and Rangers Lead the Way!
/r
What a great clip. So inspiring to listen to Harry Billinge.
No, you dont
It’s pretty elusive on both sides of the atlantic
I wondered where you were. It’s been quiet
The thought of being 18-19 years old and either having the door of the landing craft open while all hell is literally happening around you, or jumping from a plane at night with flak exploding around it and then seeing tracers zing past you as you descend, only to miss the drop zone and wind up behind enemy lines is completely unimaginable. And yet these guys still did it.
I have so much respect for these people and Normandy is at the top of places I want to visit one day.
It’s been playing non stop for two days
It’s amazing, and some of these men, and women (from Bletchley Park) seem far fitter and healthier than subsequent generations
(though to be fair, if you are in your mid 90’s and jumping out of planes you are probably at the right side of the bell curve)
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D’Wife’s Uncle Vinnie is there today
He’s on the far right, in Navy blue
https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/world-war-ii-veterans-travel-normandy-hoping-closure-63488072
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I’ve been in Afghan helping some guys get some stuff done. But I’m home now and taking a knee finally. No more deployments for me.
Just back from romantic reunion vacation with the Mrs 
Those are always great but don’t know if they recoup the pain as you’re driving to the airfield to say ‘good by’ yet again?
So now binge re-watching Band of Brothers on HBO. Those guys signed up for the war’s duration. No email; no ‘Facetime’; no golden hour MEDEVAC off the battlefield straight to top level trauma care. Children of the Great Depression, they just saw it through.
getting dusty in here
take good care
/r
Welcome back. Glad you are safe.
Welcome back, bro.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00050nt
This was really interesting. Not specific to D Day but interviews of that generation that played a part.
The thought of being 18-19 years old and either having the door of the landing craft open while all hell is literally happening around you, or jumping from a plane at night with flak exploding around it and then seeing tracers zing past you as you descend, only to miss the drop zone and wind up behind enemy lines is completely unimaginable. And yet these guys still did it.
I have so much respect for these people and Normandy is at the top of places I want to visit one day.
When you go this should be the first place you visit, as it was mine.
Followed by Omaha Beach. Can you imagine charging towards these fortified positions?
On par with the first wave of beach landing for psychologic horrificness and fear to me are the solders who were pulled in inside of the “flying coffins”. https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/aerospace-defense/the-flying-coffins-of-world-war-ii