[ARCHIVED THREAD] - June 6th... D-Day (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 6/6/2008 2:34:33 AM EDT
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Take some time to chat with some of the vets if you can. You may make their day.  About a week ago in Sam's I noticed a man with an US Army Air Corps hat... I thanked him and inquired when and where he flew. He did 36 missions over Japan as a tail gunner on B-29's... He teared up. Google could have put a nice graphic up for the D-Day commemoration... but noooo, some graphic about Diego Velazquez (an excellent painter in his own right). |
Thats beyond balls. 
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I'd like to think that most people on this board would do it. |
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I am SO thankful for those men...I will always be grateful for their courage and sacrifice... I was honored to have met and known someone, Ernie Zayat of the 237th Combat Engineers, who went ashore on Omaha beach...he had some really unbelieveable stories...his LT & SGT were both killed right in front of him... Again, I really appreciate these men and what they did for our Freedom...
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Here is a good link for you to check out at your leisure. This gentleman has done an outstanding job on his website. Good maps and all. Enjoy.
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You would be suprised what you are capable of, these were ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances that I hope represent the resolve of the American people. |
One of the very rare Hollywood efforts that really made me feel something. Impossible to imagine the reality of that scene. |
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One of the little things that bothers me, is that there were hundreds of "D-days" during WWII. It's just the military designation of the first day of a mission, with H-hour being the start time (expressed in GMT). The operation that commenced on June 6, 1944 was operation Overlord, the beginning of the invasion of continental Europe. However, if you mention that June 6 was the commencment of operation Overlord to most civvies, the just give you this look  Hell, most give you this look when you mention D-day, anymore  So, follow the OP's advise, go find a WWII vet and tell him thanks. |
That's ture, I made a comment yesterday that "Tomorrow is D-Day" after being asked what today's date was and the girl from work was like "What's D-Day"? I had to give a little history lesson.  |
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Do you know why there is so little actual footage of the D-Day landings? There were several photographers - six or seven (?). One was wounded during the landing. He was going to be sent to a ship for evacuation, so the other photographers gave him the film they had shot, to take back for security. As the wounded photographer was being transferred from the landing craft to a larger ship, the films were dropped into the ocean, which ruined them. The only thing that was left was what was in his camera - the footage everyone has seen. I forget where I heard that, but I believe it is true. Many heroes that day. ETA: Try to be worthy of their sacrifice. |
I certainly agree... |
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www.amazon.com/D-Day-Climactic-Battle-World/dp/068480137X Its an awesome read. I've got two copies. If anybody wants one, pm me some shipping info and I'll be glad to send one of 'em.
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The story I heard is that a good deal of photo negatives were returned, but they had some noob in the developing room who farged up most of them. |
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It is truly sad that most Americans don't know what today is and how important this day was in our history and our freedom. I read Stephen Ambrose's book D Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II several years ago and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about D-Day. What those men did that day was amazing and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. I would also recommend Ambrose's other book Citizen Soldiers: The U. S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany . This book picks up where D-Day left off and tells the story of WWII in Euorpe from D-Day on. Ambrose was great historian and he had a talent for telling the real stories of the Combat Soldiers of WWII and the sacrifices they made for freedom. |
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D-DAY PRAYER Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts. Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen. Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944 |
You are right, there were many D Days. For instance, the 4th Infantry Division had a relatively easy day on June 6th with the landing on Utah Beach with only 200 causalities but then went through hell for the next 199 days of the war. By the time the war the war was over there enough casualties to repopulate the 4th Division three times over. They lost over 5,500 just getting out of Normandy. No other American division suffered more casualties in the European theater than did the 4ID. |
 click pic for larger version link and and additional stories here: POW WOW* *Prisoner Of War - Waiting On Winning "...the only truthful newspaper in Germany." |
eggsactly. how many other things could be found on any other day.. and the one thing that happened on this day 64 years ago seems to be trumped by some painter that no one (~) has heard of and has had no measureable impact on the free world. In fact, the only ones who shouldn't be celebrating this day are the nazi's. |
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I believe it was in 2004 that June 6th fell on Sunday. We had an old, retired Army Colonel in our Church named Tex Young. He had jumped into France on D-Day as a young Lieutenant.. When I saw him that morning and shook his hand, I asked, "How you doing this morning, Tex?" He replied, "A lot better than I was doing 60 years ago,", and winked at me. Tex has gone to his reward. It is a great regret that I didn't talk more with him while I still could. Thanks, Tex, and all your buddies. |
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I sent this to some of my co-workers to reminder them of the significance of today's date in history. Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a 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, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. ~ Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower |