Today is June 6th, the 63rd annaversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Take some time and think of all those who fought and gave their all on this "longest day".
My grandfather, now pushing 90 and suffering from Alzheimer's, was in the 115th Infantry. The 115th was in the first wave ***ault on Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. Nearly 80 percent of the men were killed. 80%. Think about that. He said that they called it the "Red Beach"... and that wasn't because the rocks were naturally red. He said that each man got a small packet of supplies... including a condom. My favorite quote from him regarding the war was "Did they expect us to fight or **** our way up the beach?" They didn't expect many to make it past the beach, so they didn't get many rations. He has a purple heart from when he was shot through the upper thigh, and a medal of valor... but he can't remember why. Last time I saw him he was talking about the war a lot because that is his strongest memories. UNfortunately, they are horrible memories, and they don't always make sense. He was talking about cutting Hitler's head off, but I think he was actually talking about knocking statues over. It seems like his only memories these days are the horrors of war, and his love for my grandmother.
Read Stephen Amrose's book on D-Day. He said the Americans were the only country that could've pulled off the invasion, and that was because we didn't know it couldn't be done. This country could do with another load of that kind of ignorance. God bless those boys.
My humble thanks to all that served and to those that gave all that day! My Father was D-Day plus 6 at Omaha beach. He never really talked much about his time there or exploits. This I do know: Landed D-Day plus 6 onto a twenty mile beachhead. Didn't piss for three days. Most of his company was knocked out. Was part of the "Breakout" and fought hand to hand at St. Mere Eglise. Part of the race to Paris. Took part in the relief of Bastogne after Patton turned elements of the Third Army on a 90% axis disengaging a separate front. He did say it was a mighty cold race to Bastogne. Sat on his hands at the Elbe river with everyone else while the Russians were allowed to take Berlin. Waited in Germany to be shipped out to the Pacific Theater for the invasion of Japan. Luckily the "Enola Gay" took care of that. Did make it to Inchon for the party the Red Chinise gave, but that's another story. Made it back to France in '53 to meet and marry my mother and have me. Also visited Normandy on his honeymoon and took that piss.... Nice post Mike, thank you. Joel
My Grandfather was there at Normandy. He was in the Army, but I'm not sure about much else, as he would NEVER talk about it. All I know was that he was a Staff Sargent. I would try and ask for some stories every once in a while, but he would just tell me that it was nothing that I would ever want to know. He only told me of the places he was, but not what he did or what he saw. I know he fought in Bastogne, and it was notoriously cold. I've read Stephen Ambrose's book, seen Band Of Brothers too many times to count, read as much about WW2 as I possibly can, and visited the WW2 Memorial in Washington D.C twice. Everytime I think that something is hard, or maybe my life isn't going great, or when I'm at work on an outdoor job in the winter or a job that isn't heated in the winter and I feel like complaining that its freezing out, I think of my Grandfather in Bastogne, or Germany, or France freezing his *** off, no winter clothes, no food or rations...fighting for our great country. And he and his friends volunteered and were more than happy to do it. It kind of makes you feel like a chicken **** when you complain its cold out and you're wearing Carharts.
There are some really cool shows on today about it on the History Channel. Been watching them most of the day here. I think my generation (I'm 30 and a child of a Vietnam vet) is the last to actually really 'care' and 'connect' with WWII and the results and actions ***ociated with it. I may be wrong, and generalizing, but I am basing some observations on what I see my own kids doing whenever something like this comes on. I have a DVR with my DISH package, and often record 2 things at once. If a program like this comes on and supercedes cartoons or some of those other stupid ***ed shows, my kids will disappear. They just don't care, and of course, there seems to be little 'thirst' for knowing just because it is part of history. I wish my grandfather was still around. He was in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He was a radio operator who joined the day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. I wish I could spend more time with some of those individuals who were actually there and do some video taped interviews of them. They are the last truly authentic walking and talking history do***entation of what actually went on over there. Hellfish, if you have the opportunity, I would love to have a video of your grandfather relating some of what happened. There is also a website out there (dunno where) that is chronicling an oral and video history of the veterans of the conflicts the US has participated in. It is something to check out and participate in. My heartfelt thanks goes out to those boys and men who were killed that day. Thank you for your sacrifice so that others may rest easier on the rights you so gallantly protected for us.
So would I, but unfortunately, there are fates worse than death. Because of the Alzheimer's, he barely knows who I am anymore, and when he was well, he never talked about the war. I only heard 2-3 stories from him and those were funny little things that happened... like his friend swatting at "bees" in a field... bees that were actually bullets. It's hard to make sense of what he says now, but you can see the pain in his eyes.
For lack of better words, that ****s. My heart goes out to you and for having to see this general decline. I'd still love to aquire these kinds of tapes in an effort to aquaint my future students with this information from authentic firsthand sources.
My father in law was also a Radio operator on P-40's. He was over there from Operation Torch in North Africa (1942) all the way thru Italy to Burma (1945). (No rotation for groundpounders) He p***ed 5 years ago today, I sure miss his war stories and a Shiner.
My father in law was in the 3rd wave on Omaha. He fought through the hedge rows, and ended up in Bastone. He came through it with only a case of frostbite that he got at Bastone. He's been gone for 3 years now, and never told anyone about D Day until I asked him where he was when it happened, on the 50th aniversary. He looked at his wife who was waiting for an answer, and said "wher the hell do you think I was: I was right in the middle of it." He was a tough old guy.
That's why those men and women are often called The Greatest Generation. I can't even imagine running up that beach on that cold morning with those machine guns aimed at you. My grandfather who p***ed on when I was about 12 years old was there and I would give anything now to sit and talk with him now that I am older and understand better what occured back then. The beginning of "Saving Private Ryan" was the most terrifying movie theatre experience of my life. God bless them all. It is a gift today that we can still actually hear first hand accounts from the soldiers that were there on that day but the day is coming in the near future when ALL these heroes will be gone and only live on in our memories.
They were indeed " The Greatest Generation "!! But let us not forget all the great men and women now serving in Combat, underappreciated by many, fighting under bizarre "Rules of Engagement". I wish we had leaders now like those of WW2. whose concern was.....WIN.
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