June 6, 1944 D-Day Normandy France

There were many D days during WWII, over 100 in the Pacific, but this was arguably the most important of them all. I found it sad that Google remember the 79th anniversary of the first drive in movie on their website, an event which certainly altered the life of many Americans, rather than an event that altered the course of the history of the world. This was the beginning of the end of the thousand year reich. The information below was copied off the internet from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/sfeature/sf_info.html

An invading army had not crossed the unpredictable, dangerous English Channel since 1688 -- and once the massive force set out, there was no turning back.

The 5000-vessel armada stretched as far as the eye could see, transporting over 150,000 men and nearly 30,000 vehicles across the channel to the French beaches. Six parachute regiments -- over 13,000 men -- were flown from nine British airfields in over 800 planes. More than 300 planes dropped 13,000 bombs over coastal Normandy immediately in advance of the invasion.

By nightfall on June 6, more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were dead or wounded, in addition approximately 2500 paratroopers were lost but more than 100,000 had made it ashore, securing French coastal villages. And within weeks, supplies were being unloaded at UTAH and OMAHA beachheads at the rate of over 20,000 tons per day.

Great post and very true. My father in law(God rest his sole) was a paratrooper during that movement and was captured. He spent 26 months in a German POW Camp. By the time of thier release at the end of the war, he weighed only 80lbs. He never forgot that and to his dying breath would recall many memories. The one that always got me was the respect he had for the Germans. You see, he was brought up on a farm in an era were nothing was wasted and he respected them for thier ability to use everything. On the other side of the coin, they also respected him for not giving in and always rebelling against them. He suffered from Dementia when I first met him and he was always speaking german to me because I could speak back to him.

I also have a painting done by James Dietz who is a militaria painter called "We happy Few" the link up of Omaha and Utah Beach. Awesome painting, hanging in the living room where everyone can see and remember the men that were lost in that advancement. Thanks for posting and remembering.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."
All the best.
Mike

This is also my grandmother's Birthday in 1916. She celebrated her June 6, 1944 Birthday with three brothers serving. One Army, Two Navy, all three in the Pacific Theater. She said her Birthday started with "Happy Birthday, the Allies have landed at Normandy France" along with many prayer sessions no doubt for the men that day.

To all the men who made the invasion a success I am forever in your debt. Without you there is no liberty for the world. I like this movie and love the marching song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff4ci...feature=fvwrel

Here are some great sites about D-Day:

http://www.army.mil/d-day/

http://www.dday.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings

God bless our troops and grandma, have a happy Birthday in the arms of the Lord.

Thank you for this post....

Although I am generally a happy person, I get cranky about things more than I did in my younger days. Yesterday Google remembered the anniversary of the first drive in theatre, Refdesk.com which I use as my home page remembered RFK, who will be remembered as a great American but one man. It was a sad commentary, in my mind, that no where I saw a remembrance of the thousands of young men who jumped from the sky or waded ashore on Omaha beach, or any other the other less murderous landing sites. Without the bravery of these young men, the majority were in their teens and early twenties, we would now live under the oppression of Nazism. The entire world would be a sadder place had they not put their fears behind them and waded ashore or jumped from a C-47 or C-46 too frequently into a barrage of enemy fire. With the possible exception of some of the battles during the Revolutionary War, the battle on the shore of Normandy was the most important in the history of modern civilization.

Well said Jesse

Did anyone see a news report or hear a soundbite wherein our CIC acknowledged June 6th as a historical day and express gratitude for those who served, were wounded, and lost their lives on that day? I didn't but I didn't expect to.

Allan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Allan

Did anyone see a news report or hear a soundbite wherein our CIC acknowledged June 6th as a historical day and express gratitude for those who served, were wounded, and lost their lives on that day? I didn't but I didn't expect to. Allan

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Let's not open that can of worms.

We would have not a country, the liberties we enjoy in it today, or the right to complain about it's problems, had it not been for the men and women who have shed their blood for it.

Ralph

I decided to cut slack for not commemorating this event in 2012. I won't cut slack if it happens in 2014, even though we'll then have very few survivors of that day alive to hear our words of gratitude.

Brad,

Ias there some hidden meaning why you skipped 2013?

Allan

No hidden meaning. This was the 68th. 2013 is the 69th. 2014 is the 70th.