D Day 75th Anniversary

[robby denning]

The older I get, the more I appreciate what these soldiers did. I can’t imagine sitting in the front of that boat waiting for the gate to drop so I could run straight into war hell. I’m sure glad they did, though.

*photo courtesy of pixabay


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[Trial153]

The greatest Generation for sure

 

[flyinsquirel]

Everyone one of those men had unimaginable courage.

 

[Buckman]

They deserve the UTMOST RESPECT. Thank You.

 

[EastMT]

My late grandfather fought. One time talking with him I told him my generation could never do it, the disregard for our country and love of self is too strong. I don’t think I ever seen the passion in his eyes stronger or him more animated than the next few minutes.

He said neither could we, until we had to, and this country is full of men who don’t know they can do it. He said when you are there, you aren’t fighting for your country, your family, or freedom. You are fighting for the guy next to you, you don’t have time to think about the big picture, it’s the ones you’ve learned to trust, trained with, become brothers.

The war changed his life so much. He spent decades with nightmares, to the point they had separate beds for the rest of their life. He had saved up enough to buy a little farm on a small Missouri river, spent the rest of his life there, fishing, hunting, drinking a lot of Hamms hahaha. I spent as much of my summers possible catching catfish, running trot lines at the farm with grandpa.






I have yet to be begin to procrastinate.

 

[AKDoc]

Absolutely unimaginable...Normandy...Iwo Jima...Guadalcanal...Okinawa............................

The veterans from those battle campaigns that I have met in my life have always been impressively very humble.

 

[scp]

My late grandfather fought. One time talking with him I told him my generation could never do it, the disregard for our country and love of self is too strong. I don’t think I ever seen the passion in his eyes stronger or him more animated than the next few minutes.

He said neither could we, until we had to, and this country is full of men who don’t know they can do it. He said when you are there, you aren’t fighting for your country, your family, or freedom. You are fighting for the guy next to you, you don’t have time to think about the big picture, it’s the ones you’ve learned to trust, trained with, become brothers.

The war changed his life so much. He spent decades with nightmares, to the point they had separate beds for the rest of their life. He had saved up enough to buy a little farm on a small Missouri river, spent the rest of his life there, fishing, hunting, drinking a lot of Hamms hahaha. I spent as much of my summers possible catching catfish, running trot lines at the farm with grandpa.






I have yet to be begin to procrastinate.

“He said neither could we, until we had to, and this country is full of men who don’t know they can do it.”

Nothing is truer than this statement by your grandfather.

 

[100percent]

Thanks for this post! When you consider the hardships endured and the sacrifices these men made to secure our freedom, it sure gives one pause to complain of our petty grievances and misfortunes! Thanks to our fighting men past and present!

 

[Milestone522]

SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN OF THE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you.

In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German War machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battles, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground.

Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight D Eisenhower

 

[Slymongoose]

I couldn't be more thankful for their bravery!

 

[robby denning]

SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN OF THE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you.

In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German War machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battles, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground.

Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight D Eisenhower

Thank you for posting this!


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[Milestone522]

Thank you for posting this!


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Welcome!
I thought it would be an appropriate post to add to your photo, putting the contents of the letter from Ike that each one of those liberators carried into battle. There is not a day that goes by that I do not appreciate their sacrifice and the freedom they provided me at such a terrible cost.

I wish everyone went to France at least once in their life to visit the cemetery at Normandy. I have been to all the American Military Cemeteries in Europe and all are very moving. But there is something about the one in Normandy at Omaha Beach that will take the wind out of you.

Thanks for reminding the forum of the significance of today.

 

[Olsolitaire1]

The Day of Days!, Thank you for the post to share for those who don't remember or know. Interesting to see only 201 views.
We need to pass on this history of the Greatest Generation, my parents were. My father served in the Pacific Army Airborne 503rd PIR/RCT with 4 combat jumps wounded badly twice in combat. He was kind and funny, hard working had nightmares and bouts of malaria, never bitter towards the enemy's. I learned so much from him about life. Especially those talks to prepare me when I became that age (18) to know the other side of that life in combat what he seen and had to do. He was just one of many and now There are so few left.

God Bless them all !

 

[Milestone522]

The Day of Days!, Thank you for the post to share for those who don't remember or know. Interesting to see only 201 views.
We need to pass on this history of the Greatest Generation, my parents were. My father served in the Pacific Army Airborne 503rd PIR/RCT with 4 combat jumps wounded badly twice in combat. He was kind and funny, hard working had nightmares and bouts of malaria, never bitter towards the enemy's. I learned so much from him about life. Especially those talks to prepare me when I became that age (18) to know the other side of that life in combat what he seen and had to do. He was just one of many and now There are so few left.

God Bless them all !

Your father jumped Corregidor then, brutal jump into a brutal fight. Wow !

 

[Elk97]

I always call my Dad on DDay and thank him for his service. He was in the Canadian Air Corp stationed in England flying back and forth across the channel in shot up planes that weren't anywhere close to being airworthy. But they all did what they had to do. He's never really talked much about it, even though my brother and I have asked many times.
I called Dad today (he's 97 and in FL, I'm in WA). He didn't sound too good and actually had a hard time understanding what I was saying. Got a call a couple of hours later, he'd had some kind of stroke and had been taken to the hospital, couldn't talk, trembling. He's much better now, talking and hopefully will be sent home in the morning. If not, I'll be on a plane.
Thanks for your service Dad, and to all veterans. We owe their generation a debt that can never be paid.

 

[Olsolitaire1]

ELK97 Thanks to your Dad's service and our prayers be with you and your family!

Your father jumped Corregidor then, brutal jump into a brutal fight. Wow !

Yes he did and had his 30th birthday there! Rock Force! Low jump, high winds, half a stick on a pass, shredded trees, rebar & concrete

I hope you don't mind me sharing a few photos of him and the other Band of Brothers

 

[robby denning]

Share that stuff any time @Olsolitaire1
Without those guy's sacrifice, not sure what language we'd all be speaking now, if any.

 

[prm]

I was flying back from my son’s wedding Memorial Day weekend and had the honor of having a D-Day veteran on my flight. He was headed to Normandy for the celebration. He looked great!

My grandfather went into France not too long after D-Day and fought through France, the Maginot Line, into and through Germany, and was amongst the first troops to liberate Dachau. I have a few of the souvenirs he brought back. Swords, and helmets including an SS helmet.

 

[sneaky]

Robby, I met a widow of an Iwo Jima Marine in Idaho Falls a couple weeks ago. Her husband went back to Iwo in 2015 on the Honor Flight program, passed away about 3 weeks after coming back. She said it was closure for him. Much respect to that entire generation, Lucky Strikes and no filter Camels fueled them on to victory.

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[LookinforDirt]

Very sad to think the WWII generation is leaving us. They approached life in a way that is fading away and leaves me wistful. Like many things. But I agree with Coop’s grandpa. Not something I take for granted but, we could get it done again. White, black, Hispanic, Asian, will be shoulder to shoulder ripping the enemy a new *hole. Hope we never need too. The next one will wreck the place.