Today is the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The allies stormed the beaches through treacherous surf and relentless enemy fire, or came from the sky via parachute or glider; many died before their boots touched French soil. With each passing year the events of WWII become more distant and perhaps, to those not directly connected to the greatest generation, less relevant.
In addition to the historical importance, D-Day should be remembered as the finest example of what the United States is capable of accomplishing when we all come together. D-Day took place a scant 18 months after the December 7, 1942 attack on Pearl Harbor; during that time we built the most powerful force the world has ever seen.
Lee D, post: 375802, member: 7971 wrote: ... a scant 18 months after the December 7, 1942 attack on Pearl Harbor ...
Better check your date on that, then your math. Still, point taken. Amazing.
You're right, of course... as an amateur WWII historian I can't believe I boffed that one lol. December 7, 1941; thirty months.
A lot of our industries had already geared up due to the Lend / Lease program, but what was accomplished in those 30 months is nothing short of miraculous.
My father was the co-pilot of a B-17 in the Eighth Air Force, and got me hooked on WWII history at a young age.
