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Remembering 63 years ago...

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aerog

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Today is the 63rd anniversary of the allied invasion of and start of the liberation of Europe, and the loss of roughly 3000 allied soldiers in the process.

Thought I'd mention it.

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My Dad was a decorated combat Medic in Germany in WWII. Too many have forgotten (or worse have never been taught about) the sacrifices that generation made to secure the freedoms so many seem to take for granted these days. A day worth remembering for sure.
 
+1!

I hope we never forget.

"Allied casualties on D Day were heaviest at Omaha Beach (2,500) and lightest at Utah (200).American airborne divisions incurred 2,499 casualties. Canadian losses were 1,074; British, 3,000. Of a total of more than 9,000 casualties, approximately one-third were killed."

Over on Wikipeda under the Battle of Normandy:
June 6th through Aug 25th 1944.
United States: ~29,000 dead & 106,000 wounded & missing.
British: 11,000 dead & 54,000 wounded & missing.
Canada: 5,000 dead & 13,000 wounded or missing.
France: 12,000 dead & missing.

Germany: 23,000 KIA, 67,000 wounded and about ~198,000 MIA or captured.

While in the early part of the landings it could have gone much worse than it did and it's success was in doubt – especially at Omaha Beach. In the end the Allies put almost one and a half million men in to France between June & the end of August. An amazing human endeavor given the fragile toe hole we started out with.
 
My wifes father was there but he would never talk about it. Found out he was decorated from her mothers brother and he even said nothing about the invasion. Sadly both are gone now..
 
Me O'l Fella went ashore +1, with anti-aircraft. He was a gunner with quad 50's on a truck. Got blown out of the mount by an 88 round after they'd gone as far as just across the Rhur.

Those folks were tough as nails. I stand in awe.
 
My Dad was a tank commander, came ashore D Day afternoon. Dad got two tanks shot out from under him on the way to the Siegfried line. Said the closest he came to getting wounded was when he was riding in a half track and got a boot heel shot off. He's been gone from this world for 21 years now and I still miss him.

Regards John
 
John said:
He's been gone from this world for 21 years now and I still miss him.
Click to expand...

Mine left th' table in '94. Best counsel I ever had. My hardest taskmaster as a child and finest friend when I was an adult. Miss 'im as well.

A toast to "The Greatest Generation"! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif
 
The D-day memorial in Va. is terrific. If you have a chance to visit, be sure you get a guide. They are volunteers and the tour used to be free. I guess it still is.

If you do not have a guide you will miss a lot of the symbolism. It is really moving.

Pete
 
I recently visited the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia with the Miata Club. I was very impressed. Today, though, I was saddened with NO mention of D-Day at the hospital where I worked (named "Memorial" hospital in honor of WWII soldiers who died) and no mention on the evening television news.
 
These were taken 6/6/06. One of things I attempted, to take my understanding of what happened that day, was to wade out up to my neck at low tide and see how long it took me to get to the shingle.
I had little clothing on, nothing much to weigh me down and I ran in a straight line. It took 15 minutes. Running up to the top of the bluffs took another 20, by that time, I was exhausted.
15 Minutes is not even close to imagining a couple of hours under the heaviest of fire. The greatest generation is almost an understatement, I can't say enough to praise them.
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P.S. 10 pts for naming the guy above at St. Mare Eglise, and Red Buttons doesn't count.
 
Lost my father in 1954 when I was only 4 years old. He has always been the biggest influence in my life as he left me writings and medals from the war. To this day, everyone I meet who knew him says he was the nicest man they ever met. Tough legacy to follow, can only hope I'm half as good as him.
Dave (with reverence for all those guys)
 
My dad and uncle were on the same ship, the John Ireland, that entered the harbor in the first wave in Naples Italy just after the Germans were pushed back. The harbor was mined so heavily, they had men on the bow and down the sides of the ship with M-1's shooting at every mine they saw. They got into port ok. The ship was a floating bomb. They were carrying 1000s of gallons of av gas and ammunition. They were more worried about snipers on the beach than the mines. They could see the mines. After the Sullivan brothers were killed, a rule came out in the Navy, that no brothers were allowed to serve on the same ship. My dad and uncle were separated. They're both alive today, I'm proud to say.
 
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