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75th Anniversary D-Day appreciation thread

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ukalum1988

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About this time 75 years ago, the young men and boys of the 101st Airborne were making a nighttime drop into France in advance of the D-Day invasion. Just an incredible endeavor by the American military in conjunction with our British, Canadian, and Free French allies. I am in awe of their collective courage and sacrifice.

Ronald Reagan gave an incredible speech at Normandy for the 40th D-Day anniversary in 1984. His speech gives perfect tribute to the men who fought and died that day, and those that continued the fight till the war's end.

 
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Gassy_Knowls

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John Henry

John Henry

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Many of us had family members who were involved in this epic battle of the ages. My mother's first cousin graduated from West Point and was sent to England to prepare for "D-Day". He survived the invasion on June 6, 1944 but was killed on July 5, 1944 by a German sniper while on patrol. He is buried at Arlington next to his father and mother. Rest in Peace and thank God for the bravery of these young men as they fought to set Europe free.



 
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WildcatFan1982

WildcatFan1982

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My grandpa served in the Navy during WW2 so he was in the Pacific and was not involved with DDay, but I also loved talking to him about the war. It always blows my mind how daring and brave the men who served were.

Not DDay, but damn if I was put in this situation I'll fully admit I'd have panicked and cried. Thank god for these men.

 
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rmattox

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I hear people talk about how fearless those guys were, getting out of those boats, being hammered by bullets, etc.... IMO, thinking they were fearless cheapens what they did.

I'm sure some, many were scared shi-less, BUT they had the courage to do what they did anyway. Real men. Brings tears to my eyes to think of what they did.
 
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Tannerdad

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Young Men...real men, faced certain death to destroy Naziism 75 years ago. A historic time where sacrificing over there and at home was part of life.

Today many young Americans have no idea what D-Day even is or means. What a stupid time to be alive sometimes.
 
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John Henry

John Henry

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wildcatdonf said:
Yes, and the anguish that the parents and grandparents were feeling for their loved ones that were out there.
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My grandmother once told me from 1941 to 1945 she spent more time on her knees in prayer than just about anything else. She had 3 sons in heavy combat and all three came home safe. But she also lost several nephews in Europe and the Pacific.

Grandma also said the churches were full for those four years. Lots of people praying.
 
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Xception

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Thankfully the days of gluttonous attrition based wars are over and human loss is a fraction of what it used to be. Technology has replaced throwing hoards of soldiers at a problem. On the flip side it has attributed to a growing overpopulation problem that will have to be addressed at some point.
 
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wildcatdonf

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WildcatFan1982 said:
I think that is why I loved the D-Day scene in Saving Private Ryan. It starts with them on the boats praying and throwing up. Clearly terrified of what was about to happen.
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When we went to see that I remember a lot of older men coming out of there that were drying their eyes. I thought "not me." I was wrong, parts of the movie made me tear up too.
 
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Tskware

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ukalumni00 said:
The heroism those men had knowing they very well may die that day is something that is impossible to imagine.
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It was . . . but what amazes me (not having ever been a veteran, or in combat) is that the courage of D Day is not unique. The men in the Civil War fighting at Antietam or Shiloh or Gettysburg had the exact same qualities, ditto for Belleau Wood and Bunker Hill. I have been to many Civil War battlefields and to think that men charged across open fields against cannon and .57 caliber rifles is hard to imagine, but they did it over and over.

I think the training of soldiers must instill a discipline and willingness to endure for your comrades in arms on either side of you, as well as for your country, is something us civilians just never experience.
 
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UKwizard

UKwizard

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Its pretty much a miracle we took Omaha Beach. The plan went to **** the moment the boats got within the German gun range and everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

I went there in high school in 95. It was pretty sobering even for a 16 year old punk.
 
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MarvinHagler89

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If anyone can afford it or gas time to go, the American cemetery in Normandy is one of the most intense moments you will ever feel or witness. Like an above poster said, viewing over 100 acres of white crosses will leave you speechless
 
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CatOfDaVille

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ThePunk said:
My grandfather passed in 1992 but he was a navigator for the 578th bomb squadron on D-Day. He never would tell us much about it. I have his patch and awards in my office. I miss him every day.
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Same here. My grandfather was at Utah beach on D-Day. He never talked about it, and unfortunately, he died when I was in high school, so I never had enough interest in it at that age to ask him about it.

I wish he was still around so that we could have that conversation. Unbelievable the sacrifices that entire generation made for the greater good. Looking at the world today, we'll never see their ilk again.

Greatest Generation indeed...
 
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MarvinHagler89

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I remember movie critics said that the Omaha beach scene on Saving private Ryan was over the top, but every vet said it was the most real visualization created. Everyone of this men showed remarkable courage.
 
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MarvinHagler89

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Not necessarily DDay related but I was watching Band of Brothers and the interviews of all the Vets, truly makes you tear up. When you seen grown men crying and shaking from remembering puts everything in perspective
 
WildcatfaninOhio

WildcatfaninOhio

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ram1955 said:
I hear people talk about how fearless those guys were, getting out of those boats, being hammered by bullets, etc.... IMO, thinking they were fearless cheapens what they did.

I'm sure some, many were scared shi-less, BUT they had the courage to do what they did anyway. Real men. Brings tears to my eyes to think of what they did.
Click to expand...

I’ve heard it quoted before that, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear”. I think that fits perfectly with those young men.
 
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CatOfDaVille

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KYNC89 said:
I remember movie critics said that the Omaha beach scene on Saving private Ryan was over the top, but every vet said it was the most real visualization created. Everyone of this men showed remarkable courage.
Click to expand...

I also remember hearing that some vets at the early screenings had to get up and walk out because it was so realistic.
 
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gollumcat

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P19978 said:
I watched a docu on DDay a few weeks ago; the casualty rate for the first wave was 90%.

90 effin %.

I have been to the American cemetery in Normandy; you've all seen the pictures. NOTHING will stop you in your tracks faster than looking out at the 172 acres of white crosses.

https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x480ba820276aa5db:0x85f59b047f230905!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttps://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipNLW7CGRJRGjkValVXzsnjTNY2ruO7f_8i1v-Ar=w260-h175-n-k-no!5sd'day memorial in normandy - Google Search!15sCAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipNLW7CGRJRGjkValVXzsnjTNY2ruO7f_8i1v-Ar
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They also had “hometown” companies then. That’s why 24 men died on Omaha from Bedford, VA.
Which I’m guessing had a population of about 3 thousand at the time. There is a fantastic book about this called “The Bedford Boys” by Alex Kershaw.
 
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