June 6, 1944

[ScriptOhio]

i win!

No you didn't win. You would have won only if had you guessed it first (i.e. before 4 other people did). I think you finished 5th (and got it after I posted the answer).

 

[SanAntonioBuck]

R.I.P. to all the brave soldiers who lost their lives fighting for our freedom against the Axis Powers.

I second it!

 

[Zurp]

No you didn't win. You would have won only if had you guessed it first (i.e. before 4 other people did). I think you finished 5th (and got it after I posted the answer).

If coming in 5th place after finding out the right answer isn't "winning," then I never want to win.

 

[OCBuckWife]

June 6th, 1944, World War II
The Allied invasion of the European continent through Normandy began about 12:15 A.M. today.

Many thanks to my grandpa and probably yours too. Mine was a pilot for a glider plane that dropped some of the original paratroopers. His stories inspired me when I joined the Army to become a paratrooper myself. The plate in his head used to always set off airport metal detectors.

Thanks again, Grandpa.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

thank all of you who have ever served our country, also thank all of you who are currently serving.

 

[sandgk]

Has anybody visited the museum in New Orleans that features the Higgins boats? I'm pretty sure that's what those boats in the pictures were called. I haven't been there, but have wanted to see it. Here's a link:

higginsboat

I did visit some great museums in France a few years ago. One is in Caen, and I also went to the American cemetery right near Omaha beach. Those are legitimate reasons to visit France.

I have been there - and frankly, for family reasons, I probably dwell too much on that period.
They very nearly didn't build those boats and it took the silver tongued Higgins considerable powers of persuasion to make those craft a reality.

They are still running - several of them - in and around the Bayou.

As for the family reasons ...

Mum was a WRN (wren) in WWII, of course she did not participate in the D-Day landings nor do anything particularly brave. Still, she had the honor of working at SHAEF - those responsible for planning and executing the plans for D-Day. She literally walked amongst giants, when she wasn't running code. Some of my most prized possessions come from when my sister and I went through the family chest after her passing. There was a significant stash of material from those days at SHAEF, including a truly touching story the coding WRNs helped build over time. Styled as an homage to the Knights of The Round Table, the piece unfolds in a manner that lets you point to the characters described and say, yes- that one sounds like Monty, and this one - he must be Patton. Rich in loving detail the entire fantastic story.

 

[Wells4Heisman]

Yeah my Uncle died at Caratan " I think thats how its spelled " In a fight after the landings at Normandy.

 

[BuckeyeSkins]

My Dad was a WWII vet but he didn't participate in the Normandy invasion. He was sent to Southeast Asia which at that time was known as the CBI theatre (China Burma India). He was with Merrill's Marauders.

 

[cincibuck]

True Story and one to remember when we are so fond of bashing the French.

1985: Kathy and I had finished touring Mt. St. Michele and decided to take a peak at the landing areas before returning to our hotel as we would be spending the next day there. I'm low on gas so I pull into a country gas station... more of a crossroads with two or three buildings on one side, post office, gas station on the other. I get out and as the attendant approaches I say, "Pardonnez moi, parles vous Anglais?"

"Non Mssr." Comes the reply... anyway, he goes about filling me up and I try again,

"Avez Vous une carte de Normandie?"

"Non Mssr."

Now what to do or say as I'm almost out of my horse shit French. I only took one year and aside from still being able to sing the Marseille I didn't take much with me. "Mon Oncle arrive (ah rih vay) dans le cote de Normandie, suiss June quatre quarant..."

I have no idea how close/correct that is, but I will never forget what happened next. The Frenchman lit up, his own old maps appeared, phone calls were made, where to go, what to see, with him talking into the telephone and then handing it back to me so the English speaking person on the other end could translate.

I do not know exactly what he said to me before I left his station, but his eyes were misty and I could see and hear the gratitude pour out from his heart.

If you go to visit the cemetary (which rests on the bluff above Omaha) be sure and also see the obelisk erected by the Society of the First Infantry Division above the beach at Omaha Landing Site. It stands atop the center of the German lines and looks straight down onto the beach where the 16th Infantry and 116th Infantry Regiments, 1st and 29th Infantray Divisions came ashore. How anyone made it is beyond me. Bless 'em all.


Duty First!

Cincibuck
Member, Society of the First Infantry Division

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[Honor&Glory]

flyover of C - 47’s at Wright Patterson scheduled for tomorrow.

 

[Best Buckeye]

How does one face interlocking machine guns and synchronized mortar/artillery fire? Maybe a fierce sense of duty to country and unit. Add patriotism and commitment. Only those who have done it know.
God bless them all.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

True Story and one to remember when we are so fond of bashing the French.

1985: Kathy and I had finished touring Mt. St. Michele and decided to take a peak at the landing areas before returning to our hotel as we would be spending the next day there. I'm low on gas so I pull into a country gas station... more of a crossroads with two or three buildings on one side, post office, gas station on the other. I get out and as the attendant approaches I say, "Pardonnez moi, parles vous Anglais?"

"Non Mssr." Comes the reply... anyway, he goes about filling me up and I try again,

"Avez Vous une carte de Normandie?"

"Non Mssr."

Now what to do or say as I'm almost out of my horse shit French. I only took one year and aside from still being able to sing the Marseille I didn't take much with me. "Mon Oncle arrive (ah rih vay) dans le cote de Normandie, suiss June quatre quarant..."

I have no idea how close/correct that is, but I will never forget what happened next. The Frenchman lit up, his own old maps appeared, phone calls were made, where to go, what to see, with him talking into the telephone and then handing it back to me so the English speaking person on the other end could translate.

I do not know exactly what he said to me before I left his station, but his eyes were misty and I could see and hear the gratitude pour out from his heart.

If you go to visit the cemetary (which rests on the bluff above Omaha) be sure and also see the obelisk erected by the Society of the First Infantry Division above the beach at Omaha Landing Site. It stands atop the center of the German lines and looks straight down onto the beach where the 16th Infantry and 116th Infantry Regiments, 1st and 29th Infantray Divisions came ashore. How anyone made it is beyond me. Bless 'em all.


Duty First!

Cincibuck
Member, Society of the First Infantry Division

This is essentially the basis for my friend's documentary. Basically a love story of the French for the DDay forces as told through the French perspective... It all started with her tagging along with her son (101st) a couple of years ago on a DDay good will mission and was taken back by the outpouring of love, respect, knowledge of and gratitude the locals had for those who helped liberate their land. When we were over a couple of weeks ago for the premier of her documentary it was evident to me in ways that were never apparent to me before... and mind you, I've traveled Europe many times growing up as my mom is a Luxembourger. Never before have I seen that kind of welcome and gratitude as an American.

I'm looking forward to the general release of her work. When done, I'd be happy to share. Obviously, depending on what happens with distribution rights... but for now, if you're interested https://www.normandystories.com/ Hit the blog section. Her husband has a bunch of good posts. He's a good friend going back years of coaching lacrosse together. Damn funny guy.

I'll pull some pix off my phone and post when I get a chance as well.

 

[cincibuck]

I spent the spring of 2017 tracing my uncles on their journey through France - one came ashore with Patton on D-Day plus 17. The other two arrived in late November with the 75th and 99th Infantry Divisons and were on the line just prior to December 16th when the German Ardennes attack began.

Below is the monument/marker of the dividing line between the 116th's zone of Omaha beach and the 16ths. The beach slopes down from the bluffs for more than 100 to 300 yards depemding on the tides

 

[cincibuck]

Something there is that didn't want me to add more photos. So, phase 2: German gun position, the cliffs the rangers climbed to knock out artillery covering the beach, monument to the rangers, the view down the beach towards Omaha from Pont Le Hoc. D-Day map at the cemetery, monument to youth, the cemetery. I deliberately framed this with a Star of David, to remind myself and others that those buried here included Jews, agnostics, African - Americans, Mexican - Americans, Army nurses and Red Cross volunteers (Donut Dollies) served and died here, not just White Christians.