68 years ago today. Most of these old timers (WWII Vets) are passing away. In April, we flew flags at half staff for the passing of last 2 members of the 1st SSF (Devil's Brigade) who still resided in the state.
If you get a minute to stop and reflect today- it's all pretty sobering...:-|
In years past, I had spoken with many 8th AF veterans who flew up to three missions that day to bomb the Germans along the coast of Normandy. The resistence that was put up by the Germans despite our aerial attack to help those on the ground was incredible. I have one of the leaflets that was handed out to the Allied soldiers that day prior to the invasion.
We are losing/lost a great generation. It's a truly solemn day, and yet it is also my son's birthday today. Bitter Sweet.
> 68 years ago today. Most of these old timers (WWII Vets) are passing away. In April, we flew flags at half staff for the passing of last 2 members of the 1st SSF (Devil's Brigade) who still resided in the state.
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> More info here
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> If you get a minute to stop and reflect today- it's all pretty sobering...:-|
So very, very true.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower's (Ike) D-Day Message:
Soldiers, Sailors and 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 battle, 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 and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
That leaflet would be interesting to see.
One of my uncles went through Omaha Beach in the middle of the afternoon. Not quite like the morning, but still no picnic with continued artillery fire and pockets of German resistance. In a letter to his father he said he saw one of our armored vehicles taken over and used to gun down US troops. Later he was in the Battle of the Bulge less than a mile from where US troops ran out of ammo, surrendered, and were massacred. He heard the shooting stop and a little while later long bursts of machine gun fire.
I only heard that story when I overheard him talking to one of his army buddies. He talked very little about the war except to tell the funny stories.
My favorite is the one about leading a convoy from the coast to the front for Ike's (Bradley's?) troops, beating General Patton's jeep to a crossroads, and running the MP's roadblock so they wouldn't get delayed by the tanks.
"Captain, we got the supplies but you may hear some things about us."
"Something about a crossroads?"
"Yes, sir."
"We heard about that, Sergeant. Carry on."
They literally saved the world......
Off topic, but I remembered the town he was near in the Battle of the Bulge - Malmedy.
If you want to listen to the days news flashes, go here: http://archive.org/details/1944RadioNews
You can pick and choose by date in the box or you can download all you want in the lower section. The entire CBS/NBC broadcasts are at the bottom of the page.
I had an uncle (gone now) who landed about 11 in the morning. He was driving a tank with a bulldozer blade. He was about the tenth one out of a transport ship, and the nine in front of him sank. He drove ashore over the sunken ones with his drowning buddies inside... He only spoke of it once during his entire lifetime, and I was fortunate enough to hear the account, which changed my life. What those boys did for their country, and so many others...
If you ever get a chance to visit Normandy, there's still a tremendous amount of remnants and sites that will take you back 68 years. Truly fascinating and humbling.
When I'm feeling too content or selfish or sorry for myself I browse over to one of the MOH sites and randomly browse through the award citations to wake myself up.
Here is one dedicated to D-Day and the ensuing days afterwards:
