70 years ago right now

10;00 pm CST, 5 am in France.....thousands of American paratroopers were on the ground in Normandy, France engaging German infantry, seizing bridges and generally raising all sorts of hell. Tens of thousands more were already loaded into landing craft from larger ships off the beaches of France and were heading for the landing beaches, or were waiting to load to head into the cauldron of Omaha Beach or the relatively easy landings on Utah. Several thousand Americans who woke up on this day in June 6,1944 would never live to see the sunset of that day.

God bless them all.

10;00 pm CST, 5 am in France.....thousands of American paratroopers were on the ground in Normandy, France engaging German infantry, seizing bridges and generally raising all sorts of hell. Tens of thousands more were already loaded into landing craft from larger ships off the beaches of France and were heading for the landing beaches, or were waiting to load to head into the cauldron of Omaha Beach or the relatively easy landings on Utah. Several thousand Americans who woke up on this day in June 6,1944 would never live to see the sunset of that day.

God bless them all. Originally Posted by timpage

The Greatest Generation

As a veteran, I can identify with those men, many cast into a roll that they did not ask for, but never the less fulfilled with bravery and resolve.

Let us never forget.

"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here."

Col. George A. Taylor, Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_A._Taylor

10;00 pm CST, 5 am in France.....thousands of American paratroopers were on the ground in Normandy, France engaging German infantry, seizing bridges and generally raising all sorts of hell. Tens of thousands more were already loaded into landing craft from larger ships off the beaches of France and were heading for the landing beaches, or were waiting to load to head into the cauldron of Omaha Beach or the relatively easy landings on Utah. Several thousand Americans who woke up on this day in June 6,1944 would never live to see the sunset of that day.

God bless them all. Originally Posted by timpage

Amen to that.

10;00 pm CST, 5 am in France.....thousands of American paratroopers were on the ground in Normandy, France engaging German infantry, seizing bridges and generally raising all sorts of hell. Tens of thousands more were already loaded into landing craft from larger ships off the beaches of France and were heading for the landing beaches, or were waiting to load to head into the cauldron of Omaha Beach or the relatively easy landings on Utah. Several thousand Americans who woke up on this day in June 6,1944 would never live to see the sunset of that day.

God bless them all. Originally Posted by timpage

Watch the beginning of Saving Private Ryan with a surround sound system at full volume with the bass all the way up for the tiniest taste of what it must have been like.
Hearing the constant banging of machine gun fire on the landing craft's front door right before it drops.
Men pushed beyond bravery to stop a true tyrant, men willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to that end.

I am writing this in our rental about a mile and half west of Point du' Hoc. Been here since Monday, participation by almost exclusively French re-enactors, literally thousands in period uniforms and vehicles of every kind, jeeps, deuce and a halfs, motorcycles, ambulances, and even a few Shermans is really a site to see. Last night had a coordinated fireworks show up and down the coast from Utah Beach to as far east as we could see.

Seeing the veterans, most in wheel chairs, is really a humbling site. Starting to tear up. God Bless them all!!!!!!!!!!!!

A soldier who was 18 in 1945 is 87 today. That generation is passing away. There are still opportunities to see them and talk with them--to tell them "thank you". Most were never professional soldiers or sailors. They did their duty when needed and went back to their lives, but the unity of purpose still keeps them getting together for reunions of different kinds. Taking the time to talk with them is a very rewarding experience.

There is a big reunion every year in Dayton OH. WW-II vets and Korean Vets. Interesting--and somewhat sad--to see the difference six years made. And those from a decade later might as well be in a different universe of reality. I am in Ohio often--and try to be there during that reunion; I am not part of it in any way but I spend the evenings in the lobby talking with them. They always stay at the Crowne Plaza downtown. Every year the numbers are less--and for me it makes the urgency to return the following year even more.

10;00 pm CST, 5 am in France.....thousands of American paratroopers were on the ground in Normandy, France engaging German infantry, seizing bridges and generally raising all sorts of hell. Tens of thousands more were already loaded into landing craft from larger ships off the beaches of France and were heading for the landing beaches, or were waiting to load to head into the cauldron of Omaha Beach or the relatively easy landings on Utah. Several thousand Americans who woke up on this day in June 6,1944 would never live to see the sunset of that day.

God bless them all. Originally Posted by timpage

+1 Amen.

D-Day By The Hour......interesting..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...ened-live.html

At 12:15 pm Churchill goes on the radio to broadcast:

I have also to announce to the House that during the night and the early hours of this morning, the first of the series of landings in force upon the European Continent has taken place.
In this case the liberating assault fell upon the coast of France. An immense armada of upwards of 4,000 ships, together with several thousand smaller craft, crossed the Channel. Massed airborne landings have been successfully effected behind the enemy lines, and landings on the beaches are proceeding at various points at the present time.

My father was there. He` made it off the beach but died in the battle of the bulge.

Really sorry RoDog, God Bless your father and family. My Dad was more fortunate; he spent the war fighting the battle on the "Potomac" - Boiling Field....but my mom (in the WACs) spent a year of her WW II service overseas (Italy, Egypt, Palestine, Africa).

My father was there. He` made it off the beach but died in the battle of the bulge. Originally Posted by rodog44

Messenger217, your first post and it is this thread ?

I regret I didn't see your post immediately.....very heartfelt to hear from someone real time in France paying their respects..........if you can post follow up and more info, it would be appreciated.

Thanks for the taking the time to share....

I am writing this in our rental about a mile and half west of Point du' Hoc. Been here since Monday, participation by almost exclusively French re-enactors, literally thousands in period uniforms and vehicles of every kind, jeeps, deuce and a halfs, motorcycles, ambulances, and even a few Shermans is really a site to see. Last night had a coordinated fireworks show up and down the coast from Utah Beach to as far east as we could see.

Seeing the veterans, most in wheel chairs, is really a humbling site. Starting to tear up. God Bless them all!!!!!!!!!!!! Originally Posted by Messenger217

I am writing this in our rental about a mile and half west of Point du' Hoc. Been here since Monday, participation by almost exclusively French re-enactors, literally thousands in period uniforms and vehicles of every kind, jeeps, deuce and a halfs, motorcycles, ambulances, and even a few Shermans is really a site to see. Last night had a coordinated fireworks show up and down the coast from Utah Beach to as far east as we could see.

Seeing the veterans, most in wheel chairs, is really a humbling site. Starting to tear up. God Bless them all!!!!!!!!!!!! Originally Posted by Messenger217

I was fortunate enough, while stationed in Germany, to take a "staff tour" of Normandy and the cemeteries and museums,. from St. Mere Eglese to Pegasus Bridge to Omaha and Utah, and Pont Du'Hoc. It was amazing to see all the bomb craters they left there from the war and the gun emplacements the Rangers climbed the cliffs to assault. But of all of that, the meticulous and ordered rows of alabaster crosses at the National cemetery was the most sobering. An amazing generation is passing. My father-in-law that was in WWII passed a couple years back. We need to take the time to listen and say thanks before they are all gone.