68 Years Ago Today

[X Ring]

The greatest invasion armada the world has ever seen delivered Allies Forces to the shores of Normandy.  Thanks to their sacrifice, the Allied Expeditionary Force was was able to end the war in Europe 11 months later.  

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces: 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 hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere are with you...." (General Dwight D. Eisenhower - June 6, 1944. D-Day).





Marty

[Skinhead]

God Bless them!  We owe those heroes a HUGE debt.

[..]

Thank you I had forgotten that today is

"The Longest Day" performed by the Cadet Glee Club of West Point	powered by Aeva

[bassman]

 

[BIG--T]

Yes May God bless them. If it wasn't for them we would be slaves speaking Japanese or German!!

God Bless the USA, Great Britian, and all our allies!!


Thanks Marty for that, usually I hear it on the news but not this time. It looks like the "greatest generation" that kept us free is slowly being forgotten. 

[John Schmidt]

My old buddy across the street, Louie(now 94), was in that invasion force along with three other landings elsewhere in Europe. He can talk about it now a little bit, but said it took him many years to get to that point. Talks about being scared out of his wits, tells of his clothing taking a few hits. The bullets were zinging all around him and tore through his baggy pants where they weren't up against his leg. He chuckles about one that came too close for comfort, tearing through the crotch of his baggy pants. Said that one came within an inch of his daughter Rosalie only being a gleam in his eye. And of course his wife Mary had to add "that bullet ain't the only thing." I chose not to inquire further since both were sitting there giggling about something in their past. Louie will now sit and regale you with many tales of that time in our history. Sometimes, when Mary isn't present and he's feeling a bit nostalgic, he'll tell of a few of his own conquests...mostly in Italy but a few in France. Being Italian by birth he could speak the language.

[fubar606]

God bless them all """"""  now don't let Obama make it all for nothing

[Fudd]

Not many of those guys left that was there on D-Day...

Anytime you catch up to one of these old soldiers, make sure to take a minute to express gratitude for their service to our country.

[bscrive]

I thank those men and women every day of my life.

[Serk]

I'm normally a pretty big fan of Google, but I'm rather disappointed that they chose to honor the opening of the first drive in movie theater on today's date instead of D-Day with a Google Doodle on their main page... It seems D-Day would be a wee bit more important event in history, but maybe that's just me...

[BIG--T]

Not many of those guys left that was there on D-Day...

Anytime you catch up to one of these old soldiers, make sure to take a minute to express gratitude for their service to our country.

Ditto!   

[X Ring]

Thanks Marty for that, usually I hear it on the news but not this time. It looks like the "greatest generation" that kept us free is slowly being forgotten. 

I sent emails to Fox News and WKRG, the CBS affiliate in Mobile, AL.  I chewed them both out for not even mentioning today's anniversary.  While I haven't heard form FOX, I did receive an email from an Executive Producer of the morning news cast at WKRG apologizing for their error and thanking me for bringing to their attention.  Additionally, he wrote that they would have a story about the D Day Anniversary on their Noon Broadcast.  Found it interesting that he forwarded his email to others at the station including the anchors for the morning and noon news broadcasts.

Marty   

[X Ring]

Not many of those guys left that was there on D-Day...

Anytime you catch up to one of these old soldiers, make sure to take a minute to express gratitude for their service to our country.

Whenever I see anyone wearing any article of clothing indicating they served, I will walk up to them, shake their hand and thank them for their service.

When I was doing a nursing school rotation I found out one of my classmates had a WW II Vet as a patient.  Nursing staff told us he was a difficult patient.  I ask our instructor if I could have him as my patient.  She let me and I didn't have a problem with him.  They were amazed.  He was being pretty gruff till I asked him if he served.  When he told me he had, I let him know I had also and his attitude changed.

Marty

[Fudd]

Thanks Marty for that, usually I hear it on the news but not this time. It looks like the "greatest generation" that kept us free is slowly being forgotten. 

I sent emails to Fox News and WKRG, the CBS affiliate in Mobile, AL.  I chewed them both out for not even mentioning today's anniversary.  While I haven't heard form FOX, I did receive an email from an Executive Producer of the morning news cast at WKRG apologizing for their error and thanking me for bringing to their attention.  Additionally, he wrote that they would have a story about the D Day Anniversary on their Noon Broadcast.  Found it interesting that he forwarded his email to others at the station including the anchors for the morning and noon news broadcasts.

Marty   

 The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten. --Calvin Coolidge

[Willow]

I'm normally a pretty big fan of Google, but I'm rather disappointed that they chose to honor the opening of the first drive in movie theater on today's date instead of D-Day with a Google Doodle on their main page... It seems D-Day would be a wee bit more important event in history, but maybe that's just me...

I don't wish to diminish in any way the gratitude we as Americans, Canadians, British and French owe to the warriors, not only of D-Day, but of the entire European and Pacific conflicts.  We would live in a very different world today but for the contribution of them, the greatest generation.

However, Google and other internet entities are wider than these United States and our WW II allies.  I wonder how might our friends from other parts of the world feel about joining in the celebration of our victorious moment?

Nonetheless, for us in this country and for the media that serves specifically us, I think it more than appropriate that we take a moment to remember and thank our fathers and grandfathers who with their sacrifice and heroism changed the course of history for us. 

[old2soon]

Here out of Springfield Mo. the last honor flight left today. Not a misprint-last one. If someone was 17 years old in 1944 when they served they are 85 years old today. One of the newscasters on Memorial Day said something that stuck with me-time is finally doing to our veterans what no enemy bullets or explosions could. We are running out of WWII vets faster now than when they were fighting for our country. May God bless each and everyone of them that helped secure the Victory of WWII. And please do make it a point to thank any veteran you see.

[Chrisj CMA]

God bless them all """"""  now don't let Obama make it all for nothing

AMEN and AMEN!

[BIG--T]

Here out of Springfield Mo. the last honor flight left today. Not a misprint-last one. If someone was 17 years old in 1944 when they served they are 85 years old today. One of the newscasters on Memorial Day said something that stuck with me-time is finally doing to our veterans what no enemy bullets or explosions could. We are running out of WWII vets faster now than when they were fighting for our country. May God bless each and everyone of them that helped secure the Victory of WWII. And please do make it a point to thank any veteran you see.

+1   

[X Ring]

I'm normally a pretty big fan of Google, but I'm rather disappointed that they chose to honor the opening of the first drive in movie theater on today's date instead of D-Day with a Google Doodle on their main page... It seems D-Day would be a wee bit more important event in history, but maybe that's just me...

I don't wish to diminish in any way the gratitude we as Americans, Canadians, British and French owe to the warriors, not only of D-Day, but of the entire European and Pacific conflicts.  We would live in a very different world today but for the contribution of them, the greatest generation.

However, Google and other internet entities are wider than these United States and our WW II allies.  I wonder how might our friends from other parts of the world feel about joining in the celebration of our victorious moment?

Nonetheless, for us in this country and for the media that serves specifically us, I think it more than appropriate that we take a moment to remember and thank our fathers and grandfathers who with their sacrifice and heroism changed the course of history for us. 

Carl, lest you forget, the invasion of Normandy was not a US only operation.  The British, Free French, Canadians, Belgians, Dutch, Poles and Norwegians were there also.  It was an Allied operation and therefore an Allied Forces victory.  All countries involved share the credit.

Marty

[Fudd]

 I cannot find where our Commander-n-Chief gave a D-Day memorial address anywhere today.  I don't care if I'm the only person in this country disturbed by that, but I'm very disappointed in him.

[Willow]

Carl, lest you forget, the invasion of Normandy was not a US only operation.  The British, Free French, Canadians, Belgians, Dutch, Poles and Norwegians were there also.  It was an Allied operation and therefore an Allied Forces victory.  All countries involved share the credit.  

I agree, Marty, though I did fail to mention some of the allies.  My point I was trying to make in a diplomatic way was that for some of the people in the world, the anniversary of our victory is not particularly a reason to celebrate.  Being offended that Google (a global entity?) didn't acknowledge what we, the WW II allies, hold so dear is akin to some of the Yankees being angry because they didn't celebrate the anniversary of the event at Appomattox.

I'd like to reiterate that I believe it totally appropriate that we and our WW II allies should celebrate the success and sacrifice of the greatest amphibious assault of all time.  

Can you imagine, though, how much more spectacular it would've been had the U. S. Marines been involved?      

[BIG--T]

I'm normally a pretty big fan of Google, but I'm rather disappointed that they chose to honor the opening of the first drive in movie theater on today's date instead of D-Day with a Google Doodle on their main page... It seems D-Day would be a wee bit more important event in history, but maybe that's just me...

I don't wish to diminish in any way the gratitude we as Americans, Canadians, British and French owe to the warriors, not only of D-Day, but of the entire European and Pacific conflicts.  We would live in a very different world today but for the contribution of them, the greatest generation.

However, Google and other internet entities are wider than these United States and our WW II allies.  I wonder how might our friends from other parts of the world feel about joining in the celebration of our victorious moment?

Nonetheless, for us in this country and for the media that serves specifically us, I think it more than appropriate that we take a moment to remember and thank our fathers and grandfathers who with their sacrifice and heroism changed the course of history for us. 

Carl, lest you forget, the invasion of Normandy was not a US only operation.  The British, Free French, Canadians, Belgians, Dutch, Poles and Norwegians were there also.  It was an Allied operation and therefore an Allied Forces victory.  All countries involved share the credit.

Marty

Let's not forget the  Australians, they have always been some fierce fighters! 

[BIG--T]

I cannot find where our Commander-n-Chief gave a D-Day memorial address anywhere today.  I don't care if I'm the only person in this country disturbed by that, but I'm very disappointed in him.

Yes I am too, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. 

Obama Not Scheduled to Commemorate D-Day
by KEITH KOFFLER on JUNE 6, 2012, 10:10 AM
It’s D-Day and President Obama is hitting the beaches – of sunny California!

Instead of scheduling a brief event to mark the 68th anniversary of America’s brutal landing on the shores of Normandy, Obama is already on his way to San Francisco, where he will hold two fundraisers before moving on to Beverly Hills to stage two more.

Obama failed to mark D-Day with either a speech or a written proclamation both last year or the year before. He did give a speech in 2009, the 65th anniversary of the event.

First Lady Michelle Obama, who has made much of her “Joining Forces” campaign to support military families, also has nothing planned for D-Day. She’ll be in New York City for a fundraiser and then in Philadelphia to meet with campaign volunteers.

Obama’s failure to mark D-Day in any significant way is both a shame and a political mistake.

According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, two critical swing states – Florida and Pennsylvania, are among the top five states in terms of veterans’ population. Within the top twelve are four others – Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina – all states Obama desperately needs to carry.

Romney:
THE BLOG
Obama and Romney on Veterans
POSTED JUNE 6, 2012 AT 5:34 PM BY CHRISTOPHER SANTARELLI

Comments (0)
With the storming of 160,000 Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy 68 years ago today on everyone’s mind, and in the midst of an intense political campaign season, it’s worth reexamining the positions of both presidential candidates on caring for veterans.
A Gallup poll released at the end of May showed a 24-point lead for Romney over Obama among veterans. During a forum on Mike Huckabee’s Fox News show in the middle of the heated GOP primary in early March, Romney delivered strong answers on veterans benefits and serving as Commander in Chief overseeing the U.S. troops:
In another emotional exchange at the Huckabee forum, David McArthur asked the former Massachusetts governor to look him in the eye and promise that if president, Romney would take care of veterans like his son, a veteran who suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate your son’s sacrifice for our country, and I appreciate your sacrifice, your family’s sacrifice for our country,” Romney said. “To those who put everything on the line, we owe everything they need. And I can tell you if I’m president of the United States, I’ll not be raising co-pays on soldiers that are wounded, on men and women who serve this country. And I will do everything in my power to help your son and the men and boys and women and girls like him.”
Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Co-Chair of Mitt Romney’s Veterans Policy Advisory Group Anthony Principi has said that Romney would be “a president who will ensure that those who have sacrificed so much are now given a chance to find good jobs, live the American Dream, and not be forced into poverty.” Principi says Romney will fix an economy that continues to falter, and will keep our nation’s promise to our veterans.
On Memorial Day the Romney campaign released a video honoring vetarans:

The Romney campaign has also been quick to attack the president’s consideration for those who have served. Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg told the Washington Times recently that the president has quadrupled health care premiums for military retirees, “quadrupled the number of veterans who have to wait months on end to receive their benefits, and created a jobs environment that has put a staggering 20.2 percent of our young returning veterans out of work.”
The Obama campaign though has been quick to defend against such attacks, and stand up for their record supporting veterans. Spokesmen for the president have told the Times that Romney cut veterans services as governor of Massachusetts and supports a House GOP budget that would “slash” veterans funding by $11 billion.
The reelection campaign notes that in November 2011, the president signed the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which gives businesses that hire unemployed veterans a credit of up to $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit which gives businesses that hire veterans with service-related disabilities a credit of up to $9,600 per veteran. The president’s proposed Beterans Job Corps conservation program claims to put up to 20,000 veterans back to work over the next five years. The Obama campaign also claims the president has also fought to expand and improve benefits for veterans and their families from access to the health care to the education they deserve when they return home.

[BF]

I cannot find where our Commander-n-Chief gave a D-Day memorial address anywhere today.  I don't care if I'm the only person in this country disturbed by that, but I'm very disappointed in him.

He went fund-raising instead.  The guy is f'n disgusting.  There's no other way to put it.   

http://nation.foxnews.com/d-day/2012/06/06/obama-skips-d-day-goes-fundraising-instead

[alph]

my wifes grand father passed away last month.  i never knew he was there also.  he served under Patton, was on the beach of Normandy, and i never knew until i read his obituary.  father-n-law never talked about it, wife didn't even know.  so sad that for all these years i had never known i had someone that special so close.

al.

[Skinhead]

Carl, lest you forget, the invasion of Normandy was not a US only operation.  The British, Free French, Canadians, Belgians, Dutch, Poles and Norwegians were there also.  It was an Allied operation and therefore an Allied Forces victory.  All countries involved share the credit.  

I agree, Marty, though I did fail to mention some of the allies.  My point I was trying to make in a diplomatic way was that for some of the people in the world, the anniversary of our victory is not particularly a reason to celebrate.  Being offended that Google (a global entity?) didn't acknowledge what we, the WW II allies, hold so dear is akin to some of the Yankees being angry because they didn't celebrate the anniversary of the event at Appomattox.

I'd like to reiterate that I believe it totally appropriate that we and our WW II allies should celebrate the success and sacrifice of the greatest amphibious assault of all time.  

Can you imagine, though, how much more spectacular it would've been had the U. S. Marines been involved?      

As you well know, Carl, they had their hands full in the pacific.  You can only expect so much from them, but I'm confident they would have been up to the task.   I am always awed by the courage shown by all involved in both theaters.  I can not fathom the pucker factor involve in assaulting a beach where thousands are just waiting to kill you.

[old2soon]

Watching a local(K Y-3)Springfield Mo. T V station. I mentioned yesterday it was the last honor flight out of this area. 3 years-1200 WWII vets and over 1 million dollars raised for the honor flight project. 3 of the WWII vets on the last flight were at Normandy. I lost an uncle at Normandy-dads brother-that i never knew. His name is on a wall at the war memorial in Branson Mo. A salute to all of "The Greatest Generation". I just can not imagine the courage involved in an amphibious landing. Huge cojones just to get in/on the boats. Thank You and R I P.

[X Ring]

Can you imagine, though, how much more spectacular it would've been had the U. S. Marines been involved?  

Iirc and I'm pretty sure I do, they were a mite busy themselves fighting the Japanese.     Of course, they weren't alone, the Army, the Army Air Corps, the Navy plus British, Australians, New Zealanders forces and a few others were assisting.

Marty

[X Ring]

Let's not forget the  Australians, they have always been some fierce fighters! 

I wasn't aware they were involved in the European Theatre.  I thought they had their hands full keeping Hirohito's forces out of ANZAC islands.  Did a little research and discovered RAAF fighter squadrons were involved along with smaller units of the Royal Australian Army.  Thanks for letting me know of a gap in my knowledge.

Marty

[Serk]

Let's not forget the  Australians, they have always been some fierce fighters! 

I wasn't aware they were involved in the European Theatre.  I thought they had their hands full keeping Hirohito's forces out of ANZAC islands.  Did a little research and discovered RAAF fighter squadrons were involved along with smaller units of the Royal Australian Army.  Thanks for letting me know of a gap in my knowledge.

Marty

Thanks for prodding me to learn more myself...

the Australian contribution to the operation included a regular Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadron, nine Article XV squadrons and hundreds of personnel posted to RAF units and RN warships

From - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings

[The Anvil]

Some of the best fighter pilots for the RAF during the Battle of Britain were exiled Poles.

WWII history has been very unkind to the Polish what with all of the jokes and stuff. I mean I still tell them and they're still funny but underneath it all I have a deep respect for the fight the Polish put up against Hitler's unprecedented war ensemble.

[tank_post142]

"Can you imagine, though, how much more spectacular it would've been had the U. S. Marines been involved?"

 Marines were heavily involved in training the army in landings due to their experiences in the pacific and north africa.

there was a company of Marines aboard the USS Texas (bb-35) on d-day(to back up the Rangers ) and a number of Marine observers on landing craft to prepare for the invasion of japan. Marine snipers on many of the Navy ships picked off Germans on shore during the first couple of days of the landings.

during operation Dragoon, the invasion of south France. 700 Germans surrendered to detachments of Marines from the Augusta and the Philadelphia

[BIG--T]

Let's not forget the  Australians, they have always been some fierce fighters! 

I wasn't aware they were involved in the European Theatre.  I thought they had their hands full keeping Hirohito's forces out of ANZAC islands.  Did a little research and discovered RAAF fighter squadrons were involved along with smaller units of the Royal Australian Army.  Thanks for letting me know of a gap in my knowledge.

Marty

Marty I hope you didn't take that personal, but  just making a statment. No, the Aussies had their hands tied in the Pacific and only the RAAF was there at DDay. I am glad ALL our allies were with us or the outcome may been a nightmare! I'm don't claim to be a historian but know  1st hand the Aussies were good jungle fighters!!  And I didn't have to google that! 

[Fudd]

 
As you well know, Carl, they had their hands full in the pacific.  You can only expect so much from them, but I'm confident they would have been up to the task.   I am always awed by the courage shown by all involved in both theaters.  I can not fathom the pucker factor involve in assaulting a beach where thousands are just waiting to kill you.

The allied invasion of France was the largest D-Day, so it was approprate when choosing a date for remembering the lives, spirits and souls of any servicemen that undertook an amphibious assault, June 6th was a good choise.

D-Day was the name given to all the landing assaults, everywhere.

It didn't matter where in the world it happened.  I'm sure the dry lump in each soldier's throat was same, as he heard the artillery and explosions and took a moment to wonder if he would witness another sunrise or ever see his family again.

That terrible boat ride to the beach had to have been mighty long and yet all to quick for everyone.

An old soldier I met at Memorial Day told me a story.  I strained to hear his soft, thready voice as he set in full uniform, in his wheelchair.  His eyes were crystal clear as he stared at me and into a vision in his memory.

He told me about feeling nauseated, it had nothing to do with the boat, he had ridden in them all of his life, having grown up in south Louisiana.  He said he watched as another soldier with binoculars looked over the bow at a landing wave ahead of them.  That soldier said nothing, the look on his face was enough.  Every man on that boat was religious that day, even if they had never prayed before in their life.  He said they all prayed for courage.  They asked that if death was to come, let it be merciful and quick, that no one wanted to suffer.  But mostly, let them be brave, because they all depended on each other.

This soldier made it across the beach, lots didn't.  I fought back tears as I shook his hand and thanked him for his sevice.

[tank_post142]

wikipedia:

Allied land forces that saw combat in Normandy on 6 June came from Canada, the Free French Forces, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the weeks following the invasion, Polish forces also participated, as well as contingents from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, and the Netherlands. Most of the above countries also provided air and naval support, as did the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Royal Norwegian Navy.

[X Ring]

Let's not forget the  Australians, they have always been some fierce fighters! 

I wasn't aware they were involved in the European Theatre.  I thought they had their hands full keeping Hirohito's forces out of ANZAC islands.  Did a little research and discovered RAAF fighter squadrons were involved along with smaller units of the Royal Australian Army.  Thanks for letting me know of a gap in my knowledge.

Marty

Marty I hope you didn't take that personal, but  just making a statment. No, the Aussies had their hands tied in the Pacific and only the RAAF was there at DDay. I am glad ALL our allies were with us or the outcome may been a nightmare! I'm don't claim to be a historian but know  1st hand the Aussies were good jungle fighters!!  And I didn't have to google that! 

I didn't take it personally and I wasn't being sarcastic when I thanked you.  I was being honest.  I was not aware Australian Forces were involved in the Normandy Invasion.  From what I read there were small Australian Army units attached to the British Army during Operation Overlord also.

Marty

[tank_post142]

overlord was the codename of the invasion of normandy

[oZ]

This seems a good place to honor my family's service!

My father, Micheal Paul Scalzi, U.S. Navy Coast Guard. Major contribution escorting convoys to Great Britian. Quote: "I feared the North Atlantic more then the damn U-Boats".

My uncles, Rocco Busco and Victor Pandozi, U.S. Army. Major contribution Pacific Island campaign both wounded several times. Quote: Not offered.

My uncle, Roy Horace Stanard II. U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet, of interest: Pearl Harbor Survivor. Quote: "Had a great Saturday night, Sunday morning went all to hell!" (He was sleeping on deck when the Japanese planes arrived)

My Father-in-Law, U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet. Major contribution keeping sea lanes opened around Australia.

Finally Uncle Odmore, a recluse after losing so much in the major market crash(s) after 1929. His mother and brothers would provide food, haircuts and all his necessities as he never left the house, that is until January 1943 when with amazement from all his family he got up, out and joined the Army Air Corp. Spent the duration as an aircraft mechanic serving in the Pacific.

Upon his release from active service, he again went back to being a recluse. My family and I saw to his needs until the end of his life in 1984.

Today he would be diagnosed with Agoraphobia and I can't imagine how terrifying it was for him to serve.

Odmore left his World War II memorabilia to Karen and I. Stuff with so little value means so much too us.

A common thread I now think about is how little they talked about the war, if anything was said it was about their comrades and humorous anecdotes.  

My mother spent the major part of the war rebuilding Pratt & Whitney Radial Engines used in B-17s

Did you have family or friends in World War II?

[X Ring]

My Great Uncle Tom, my Dad was named after him, was an Infantry officer in WW II during the Italian campaigns.  Before joining the Army, Uncle Tom attended the University of Missouri but did achieve the business success of his classmate, Sam Walton.  Uncle Tom never had any kids.  In Italy, he stepped on a bouncing betty mine and it took care of that.

Marty

[czuch]

I was amazed by the lack of recognition by the History chanel, and our elected tormentors.
I had a Dodge power wagon,1944, WC-26. ( Weapons Carrier). It looked like a Suburban. That was a cool truck rated at 3/4 ton. I had two caddie 500's in the back, and it just barely civilized the ride.
ANYWAY,, I was calmly sitting at a light when this hysterical little old lady pulled up hollerin "Pull over"
 I thought something must have fallen off and she hit it. As I got out of the truck, rapidly figuring what I was gonna say, she stated she had built those during the war. They made alot of them but she hadnt seen one in many years. You can bet I gave her a good long ride and we both kinda had a tear. She was so honored when I bought a Sharpie and had her sign the dash board.
She didnt even skip a step when some rust fell out of the roof into her hair.