D-Day The Sixth of June

[ic59]

It was 78 years ago, today, when the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy in a great battle that helped bring to an end of WWII in Europe. Just a reminder to say a prayer for those brave men who fought in that battle. As a kid, one month away from his seventh birthday, I can't say that I remember the event but about a dozen years ago I was able to tour Normandy and would recommend it to anyone who gets an opportunity to do so. The cemetery is beautiful and to stand in a German bunker, looking down at the beaches and out to the Channel gives you a great perspective about the Normandy landings. If you get that opportunity, please take it.

[hawaii bill]

Jun 6, 2022 8:51:01 GMT -5 ic59 said:

It was 78 years ago, today, when the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy in a great battle that helped bring to an end of WWII in Europe. Just a reminder to say a prayer for those brave men who fought in that battle. As a kid, one month away from his seventh birthday, I can't say that I remember the event but about a dozen years ago I was able to tour Normandy and would recommend it to anyone who gets an opportunity to do so. The cemetery is beautiful and to stand in a German bunker, looking down at the beaches and out to the Channel gives you a great perspective about the Normandy landings. If you get that opportunity, please take it.

Like Yorktown, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Midway, one of the seminal battles that was existential to our nation. Ike wanted to go on June 5th. The weather precluded that, so he went the next day. I recommend the book "Band of Brothers" to anyone who wants to learn more about D-Day, and if you are disinclined to read, HBO turned the book into a great series, which you can still catch from time to time on the History Channel. Details the exploits of elite paratroopers, Easy Company of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division of the Army (we didn't have an Air Force at that time). These guys dropped in the night before the invasion to take out strategic targets behind the German defenses and keep the Germans from destroying some bridges, etc. A bunch landed near the town of St. Mere Eglise (Holy Mother Church), in disarray as the planes who were to drop them flew in too low and too fast due to anti-aircraft fire and scattered these guys all over the place. Easy Company took out a German bunker that was raking Omaha beach, killing our guys as they came ashore. That was the toughest landing spot for all the invasion forces.

[hawaii bill]

[ic59]

Bill, there is nothing like standing in a bunker, looking down on Omaha Beach and the English Channel, and trying to feel what it was like on June 6, 1944.

[hawaii bill]

Jun 6, 2022 11:00:40 GMT -5 ic59 said:

Bill, there is nothing like standing in a bunker, looking down on Omaha Beach and the English Channel, and trying to feel what it was like on June 6, 1944.

I can't imagine the fear and adrenaline that must have been flowing getting off those landing crafts, not on the beach, but in the water, under heavy fire from the Germans. Given their heavy packs a number of guys actually drowned. Others killed before they even made it to the beach. The heroes of the day were the mid-level officers who told their troops, we have to keep moving up this beach or we will surely die here. Then they had to scale a pretty high cliff to get at the Germans. The Canadians and English to the east at Juno and Sword beaches by no means had a picnic, but Omaha beach was the toughest landing spot.

[hawaii bill]

[ic59]

Bill, a great post. But I have to say that they were ALL heroes.

[ic59]

Also, should mention Point (??) Du Hoc, shown on the above map. An almost impossible rock cliff to climb and attack. And when the Rangers finally scaled it we found that the big German artillery pieces had been removed, or rather moved inland.

[hawaii bill]

Jun 6, 2022 14:53:29 GMT -5 ic59 said:

Also, should mention Point (??) Du Hoc, shown on the above map. An almost impossible rock cliff to climb and attack. And when the Rangers finally scaled it we found that the big German artillery pieces had been removed, or rather moved inland.

If I remember correctly after seeing a big German artillery piece wreaking havoc, a Navy destroyer moved close to the beach, within range of the gun, and obliterated it.

This is it.

hamptonroadsnavalmuseum.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-destroyers-that-supported-d-day.html

[hawaii bill]

Jun 6, 2022 14:46:28 GMT -5 ic59 said:

Bill, a great post. But I have to say that they were ALL heroes.

Yes you are right.

[Z-73]

As a senior at Msgr. Farrell H.S. I went on a trip with our French class to Paris. While there we took a bus trip to Normandy. It was a sight I will never forget. Seeing the line of graves in the U.S. Cemetery was quite sobering. Seeing the cliffs that our men had to scale was breathtaking. The bravery of those men is unimaginable.

59, you are correct the view looking down at Omaha Beach and the Channel is quite impressive. H-bill, Band of Brothers is a must read/see. It always brought a tear to my eye when Captain Winters relates the story: “One day my grandson said to me, grandpa were you a hero in the war? And I said to him no I'm not a hero, but I have served in a company full of them.”

[Cjb]

Brokaw summed it up perfectly, "The Greatest Generation".

[ionagrad83]

Jun 6, 2022 14:53:29 GMT -5 ic59 said:

Also, should mention Point (??) Du Hoc, shown on the above map. An almost impossible rock cliff to climb and attack. And when the Rangers finally scaled it we found that the big German artillery pieces had been removed, or rather moved inland.

The Reagan speech on the 40th anniversary is a fitting tribute

[hawaii bill]

[ic59]

Stancey, God bless you and all your comrades.