80 Years Past D-Day
80 years ago today (last night) was the apex of the largest military sea assault/invasion the world had ever seen of Axis occupied Europe and particularly the Atlantic coast of France known as Normandie. This massive project was years in the making. After accumulating a staggering number of men, equipment, vehicles, planes, ships, LSTs, and supplies in England, the conditions were as "right" as they were going to be for a couple of more months, and after pulling off one of the most effective deceptions in military history, the Allies dropped the hammer. Though the operation looked "iffy" in the first few hours, Allied forces, mainly Americans, gained a toehold onto the continent. Over the coming days the amounts of war materiel pouring into Europa was mind-boggling. The Germans had waited too long to send their Panzers to repel the invading allies. Unknown at the time to either side, but this would be another huge nail in the coffin of German armed forces and the NAZI regime. Between the drops of large airborne forces by parachute and thousands of other soldiers landing by glider, the Allies had secured the way for even heavier vehicles and artillery pieces, supplies, and more men. God bless all who stepped forward and answered the call. My paternal grandfather could be any of the Americans in the combat photos as he was at Omaha Beach in the first wave. I think he, along with other millions of Allied soldiers, sailors, airmen who fought in this battle and WW2 in general would have trouble recognizing (if at all) the country they defended today.
Thank you for posting this. I have been on those Beaches several times. I am always in awe of what they did there. You stand on the Beach facing the Sea, then turn around and see the Bluffs. And you shake your head and wonder how they did it. I have walked above the Beaches, Point Du Hoc. And the Cemetary. Brings you to tears.
ReplyDeleteSure did.
Delete⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DeleteAbsolutely concur. Awe inspiring, and somber.
DeleteThis was the War that proved the American soldier was a breed apart and there was some goodness in our government. After '45 the soldiers became game pieces and the government a gig to make reprobates wealthy.
ReplyDeleteNever forget all the D-Days that paved the way for that landing in North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, and the Pacific (Attu, Hollandia, Aitape, Los Negros among many others),
ReplyDeleteYes, back in the time when we learned from prior experience.
DeleteI find it hard anymore to cheer the awesome achievements of our determined soldiers and the terrible price they paid, when I look around at the broken, lost nation they sacrificed themselves for.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't trade one man we lost that day for this nation full of man bun sporting, dress wearing, candy-assed, commie liberal pussies that we have become!
working at the VA in phily, I got to meet a few of the band of brothers guys. didn't get a picture or anything other than a hand shake. really humble guys really. as they saw it, just doing their job at the time.
ReplyDeletenot many of them left anymore. and that is a damn shame as there are few like them today.
I still remember wild Bill going down the hallway on crutches faster than most guys walked it. dave in pa.
Good info in post Jeffery, thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteGreatest Generation. Thank You all, Gentlemen for your courage and sacrifices. You accomplished a fete many thought impossible. Till Valhalla, till Valhalla.
ReplyDeleteThe men that effected the Normandy landings were the bravest of the brave. God Bless them.
ReplyDeleteNemo
Where are the men now…
DeleteTo all those who say "just say no"
Be informed:
They are making detailed plans to deliver their life-saving patented vaccines by air and in all food; via skin, gut, eyes, lungs... name it, they are developing delivery methods that cannot be circumvented by refusing consent.
Sorry, but this is how they operate
https://x.com/denisrancourt/status/1798837488242331866
"...We'll maybe have great men, but we'll never have better..."
Delete--Down by the Glenside
I read a story this AM about the assault at Point Du Hoc. According to the story, 250 Rangers were tasked with scaling the cliffs and taking out the guns. At roll call on June 7th, there were 90 men left. The rest either dead or wounded, mostly dead. Thank God for men like these.
ReplyDeleteNemo
To borrow from Peadar Kearney: Glory-O...Glory-O to the bold Ranger Men!
DeleteA different time, a different world, a different people. Daddy's still alive (hell, I'm officially "elderly" so what's he?); he's not pleased with the result.
ReplyDeleteA different time, …world, …people - indeed.
DeleteI’d like to see them pull this off today
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2SA0WwxBw1Q&t=148s
Mission (utterly) impossible. Yet they succeeded beyond wildest expectations.
Also - though my dad (1st Matines, Guadalcanal) is no longer with us he also would not have been pleased.
I just rewatched Saving Private Ryan today. I know it’s not history but it gave a vivid idea of what they went through on the beaches. Absolutely incredible.
ReplyDeleteThere’s a fantastic documentary “WWII in HD” it’s worth every minute to watch. Don’t be put off by it being on The History Channel. It really is good.
DeleteThis is also worth watching.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=07Zd0Oy8JyQ
…as his show on the victoria cross that he mentions.
Enjoy.
The Greatest Generation, indeed
ReplyDeleteSaw the story below, and shook my head...
https://news.sky.com/video/d-day-80th-anniversary-british-paratroopers-met-by-french-customs-as-they-parachute-into-normandy-13148453
Guess there was no one available to check passports in June of 1944
I went there in 2007. Saw a few spots and want to go back. We got to the American Cemetary, as seen in Saving Pvt. Ryan, officially U.S. territory as a gift from France. While it has a sense of awe and deep solemnity, I felt no reluctance to walk among the grave markers. So many so very young. Others who died long decades later but who wanted to be laid to rest with their brothers. I stood on the low wall overlooking the beaches; you cannot get really close as the cliffs are not stable. But, if I had a good pitching arm, I could have thrown a baseball into the surf. Man, the Germans were that close all along the front.
ReplyDeleteI heard that just in the last few days, as U.S. service members and vets were arriving in one town, French high school kids greeted them with songs and chants of U-S-A! Not ingrates, which to me is THE worst character trait, those kids.
That MG 42 implacement has room enough for 2 or 3 of them
ReplyDeleteIt was truly a World War, with many battles, tragedies and victories! All around the world Americans were doing what needed to be done and get back home ASAP! My father was a US Marine and lost an eye and was shot by a Japanese machine gun as well as a mortar round exploded and killed numerous Marines! He was found lying on the bodies. For as young boy growing up, he rarely talked about it with exception of how the Jungle and the Islands were beautiful! It took a very long time for him to tell us kids what really happened! I have Uncles who served in Europe (all have pasted as well as my father) They never really said anything about the war, they just wanted to live as best they could. An amazing generation who was raised in the depression and went to war and come home to live as best they could!
ReplyDeleteBig Nasty, My father was the same. Marine yet never spoke of the war. He did bring home two Japanese rifles and two swords. It was after his passing that I found a treasure trove of photos of his "brothers". Sad we never had a chance to ask who they were or maybe reach out to find them. I believe he just wanted all that in the past. The story he told when we were young was how he got his hand cut in hand-to-hand combat with a Japanese. It was later in life one day he was telling how he was in the back of a jeep, while troops were moving forward he was driven back to the medic and everyone was moving aside, "wounded solider coming through". Well, one day he was telling the story of how he cut his hand slicing a pineapple... I said, wait! What? The islands were beautiful in the pictures...
ReplyDeleteAs long as we continue to honor their courage and devotion to God and Country, there is still hope for us as a Nation. Freedom is not free.
ReplyDeleteMy father was one of the first chosen to be in Carlson's Raiders and fought all over the Pacific. He was in the states, preparing to become a 2nd Lt and lead the shore assault on Japan. When the war ended he was asked if he'd like to be commissioned and saty in the Marines. He said no, got a train ticket and was home by the end of August. He rarely spoke of his battles until after I was grown and left home. By then he and other Marines were beginning to open up.
ReplyDeleteAnd a family friend, a local farmer, was in the D-Day attack as an infantryman. As the war ground on, he carried, on foot, .50 cal ammo to Patton's tanks. He helped liberate one of the death camps. Small guy, maybe 5'5 or 5'6 and 130# then. Tough as nails. He had no 'stories' either, for about 20 years.
I wish both of them had said more.
My oldest Uncle was in Europe and was Army attached to Patton I believe as part of his supply group, but he never would talk about the War. My next oldest Uncle was on the Missouri from when it was commissioned until 47 and was on the gun crew that they signed the surrender under, but he never talked about the War. Neither were injured.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad went into the Marines at 17 in 43 and Island Hopped until he was severely wounded on Okinawa and spent the next year in traction in a Naval Hospital. My Dad's scars were from the left shoulder to his ankles and he would never talk about the War. My Dad had to go into the VA every 6 months to go into traction and have his back straighten out plus he always had jungle rot on his feet. All of my Uncles, Aunts, my Dad, and My Mon have died of old age. One thing is they grew up in the depression with nothing and came home poor and gave us a great life.
Someone’s probably already said this but…
ReplyDelete….and Europe’s more screwed up than it ever was.
Amen Anonymous. I totally agree. Europe may have to pass through another "Dark Ages" period before it rebounds and that possibility is "iffy".
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