This day in history 1944

[Ryanh1801]

The Normandy Landings were the first operations of the Allied Powers' invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during World War II. D-Day for the operation, postponed 24 hours, became June 6, 1944, H-Hour was 6:30 am.

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

 

[Revvy]

Thanks for remembering this...It didn't even occur to me that today was the 6th.

I still haven't been here, and I wish my dad was still alive so I could take him, but here's some pics of the WWII memorial in DC.

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=pictures.asp

 

[Ryanh1801]

Thanks for remembering this...It didn't even occur to me that today was the 6th.

I still haven't been here, and I wish my dad was still alive so I could take him, but here's some pics of the WWII memorial in DC.

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=pictures.asp

I got the chance to visit the WW II memorial, very very Emotional place.

 

[Orfy]

Respect to these old folk.
They deserve it.

 

[Alamo_Beer]

yeah the WWII memorial is cool.....one of the coolest parts of DC imo

 

[Revvy]

Oh great Ryan, now you got me all perklempt thinking about my dad, he died 2 years ago....He fought in the Pacific Theater....

He's the tall guy on the right.

 

[Ryanh1801]

Oh great Ryan, now you got me all perklempt thinking about my dad, he died 2 years ago....He fought in the Pacific Theater....

He's the tall guy on the right.

Sorry to hear that. My grandpa died Three years ago , he was also a WW II vet, European theater though.

 

[Revvy]

If you guys can ever lay your hands on it, My Father's War; a son's journey by Peter Richmond is an amazing book.

In a profoundly moving work that is part history, part search for identity, Richmond retraces his father's path through the South Pacific during World War II. Visiting the islands where his father saw action, Richmond seeks to understand the man he knew so briefly--Tom Richmond died in 1960 when son Peter was only six--and wonders what it means to be ready to die for one's country

I read it after his death (I actually had given it to him for father's day several years before.) My dad, and it turns out a lot of vet's from that war, never talked about their experiences. In fact I was never able to learn why he won 2 Bronze Stars. This book is about a son's journey to fill in the pieces. Good Read.

 

[dirtymike1]

I still haven't been here, and I wish my dad was still alive so I could take him, but here's some pics of the WWII memorial in DC.

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=pictures.asp

I got to walk Normandy beach when I was 11 years old and I lived in Germany. It was VERY surreal...There are still pieces of the landing craft and the tank obsticals on the beach. It was very eerie when the tide went out and you could look out and see quite a few hulls out there....

I can't remember the beach were they had to climb the sheer rock face, but that was an amazing feat that was accomplised.

Cheers to you, the fallen warrior. I will raise one for you all

 

[dirtymike1]

I will try to track down some photo's from when I was out there. I also visited Dachau at one point...I couldn't even walk through the gate, it just felt like hands stopping me...very very eerie....Germany is a place of incredible history and misery. The village I lived in, Schopp, had markers for the vet's of WW II but the people tried to forget that it ever happend.

Anyways thats just a lot of memories spilling out...

My dad's father served during the battle of the bugle.

 

[zoebisch01]

Much respect and gratefulness to them!!!

 

[Ryanh1801]

I will try to track down some photo's from when I was out there.

I would love to see them. That is the one place I want to visit before I die.

 

[Jared311]

I can't believe that Google isn't recognizing today as D-Day on their logo...

 

[EdWort]

I can't believe that Google isn't recognizing today as D-Day on their logo...

Yeah, like most anti-war people who look down on soldiers, even those that sacrificed everything to liberate Europe. We've come a long way since then.

Here's how it would go today.



My thanks & respect goes out to all those still living today and their surviving families.

 

[menschmaschine]

I also visited Dachau at one point...

Same here. It's hard to describe the eeriness in words. It's amazing how the horrible history of a place can be felt decades later. I also visited the Beach in Boulogne and got a firsthand look at a pillbox. Powerful.

That photo in the OP is a powerful image. Hats off to our D-Day vets!... and the greated sense of honor and respect for those who didn't make it home.

 

[mrfocus]

For those of you interested in WWII, there is a great book (most likely an autobiography, but the other never said, seeing the controversy the book brought in Germany): The Reader, by Bernhard Schlink.

It is about how one German man lives through the acceptation of realizing that his elders assisted Nazi Germany. Great philosophical read if that's your type of novel.

And hats off to all the WWII vets. Without there valiant courage, who knows how long the war would have lasted. Cheers!

 

[Flyin' Lion]

I spent the weekend up at my Father in Law's house (no internet) and found the book Band of Brothers, so I spent the weekend reading. I was surprised to find the book is only 320 pages and very close to the mini-series.

The mini series actually went into more detail on some scenes and the book differs in places as well.

A good read, though.