[Marinevietvet]

Let us remember it was 69 years ago today brave men crossed those French beaches and despite terrible losses they kept moving forward, moving forward, moving forward until they achieved victory.

I have wondered over the years if I would have had the courage to keep moving forward as they did. I just don't know.

I enlisted as a Marine exactly 25 years after D-Day on June 6, 1969.

 

[Reddrage]

Agreed. HUGE numbers lost their lives in this landing so that we may enjoy the libertys that we currently enjoy. Cant celebrate this day, but certainly can remember all that sacrificed.

 

[gbusmech]

 

[rcflyer]

We had 11,000 casualties on D-Day, 2500 dead. Our fathers and grandfathers were incredibly brave men the landed on those beaches. We are forever grateful for their sacrifices. Too bad we have pissed it all away...

 

[Sekol]

Thank you for the reminder! I am ashamed that I had not rememebered it was D Day. My FIL landed on June 7th, one day after - otherwise, he would probably not have made past the beach. I will spend some time reflecting on this tonight. Again - thank you!

 

[Plano Mark]

I just can't imagine what thoughts went thru those soldier's minds as they approached and landed on the beach.

And they still came through.

 

[TXEric]

Unbelievable courage and sense of duty. Indeed, the Greatest Generation.
I have "Saving Private Ryan" DVR'd, I might have to watch that this evening, just to remind myself what hell they willingly walked into.

 

[tservice]

D-Day - June 6, 1944 - the United States Army

 

[rcflyer]

Take the D-Day quiz

Quiz: The D-Day Invasion - US News and World Report

I got 8 out of 8

 

[Texheim]

Bill Millin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Love a crazy Scot!

Millin states that he later talked to captured German snipers who claimed they did not shoot at him because they thought he was crazy.

 

[Lance0812]

Some movie trivia:
"The Longest Day" is considered one of the best war movies ever made.

Neither Richard Burton or Roddy McDowell were supposed to be in the movie. Both were in Rome shooting "Cleopatra" but the star, Elizabeth Taylor, was ill - thus bringing the production to a halt. Both actors voiced their boredom to Darryl Zanuck so he brought them to the location of "The Longest Day" and gave them roles to play.

Because of the cost overruns associated with Taylor's illnesses, "Cleopatra" would have bankrupted 20th Century-Fox. The astounding box office success of "The Longest Day" saved the studio.

 

[kruizer]

I can't begin to imagine the courage those boys mustered in that landing.

 

[wapiti4me]

I always fly "Old Glory" on D-Day. My father-in-law went in on Utah Beach---D-Day + 1. He was nearly disemboweled by from a line mine. The GI next to him stepped on it. My sister in law's father was on Omaha. She was a new born baby, she never knew him & he never saw her. He didn't make it off the beach. He's buried there. Joanie & Jim went to Normady several years ago. They found his grave site, placed a wreath. The French were really helpful. They got his name, found the grave site & escorted them to the site. It's very well kept.

Must be pollen in the air, my eyes are misty. Bob

 

[texastaurusguy]

Perhaps the best post-D Day speech ever spoken, in the history of ever. My gosh I miss him.

 

[BangBang]

No man is truly gone until he is forgotten....

Don

 

[Wingshot]

My late FIL would have been gearing up and packing his chute right about now I imagine. Ready to unexpectedly get blown off his LZ. By the next day they had liberated St. Mare-Eglese(sp). From there it was 33 days of non stop combat without an inch of ground given. R.I.P. Jack

correction, I'm a day behind, he jumped the night of June 5th, he was already up to his ass in alligators by this time on the 6th!

 

[Lance0812]

About 25 years ago, I used to get my hair cut at a one-man barber shop. Always tried to get there when he opened so I wouldn't have to wait.
But on this day I was running about half an hour late and when I got to the shop there was one man in the chair and three others waiting - two of them elderly men. My thought was that they were certainly rtired and could have come any other day, whereas I had a job I need to get to.
Still, more angry at myself than them, I sat down and jerked open a newspaper I really had no interest in reading.
Then I overheard the conversation between the two geezers.
One had gone onto Omaha Beach on D-Day; the other on D+1. One had swept minefields all across Europe, from Normandy to the Rhine River. The other was a rifleman who had carried a loaded weapon all across Europe.
I couldn't wait any longer, but I left with a new respect and a warm place in my heart, not just for them but also for the ones who may never tell their stories within our hearing; those who did things that some of us don't know whether we could ever do.
I didn't leave because I was late for work. I left because all the words in that newspaper were suddenly blurred..

 

[oldbull360]

Let us remember it was 69 years ago today brave men crossed those French beaches and despite terrible losses they kept moving forward, moving forward, moving forward until they achieved victory.

I have wondered over the years if I would have had the courage to keep moving forward as they did. I just don't know.

I enlisted as a Marine exactly 25 years after D-Day on June 6, 1969.

MarineVet, those were brave men, and you would have had the courage to have moved forward too.

 

[Marinevietvet]

Perhaps the best post-D Day speech ever spoken, in the history of ever. My gosh I miss him.


Normandy Speech: Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day 6/6/84 - YouTube

A great man and a great President.

A President for all the people.

 

[Riverkilt]

I used to date a local Navajo lady. Her father came ashore on D-Day as a Combat Engineer with the 4th Infantry. Being Native American he was called "Chief" and put out front to be scout. He fought on the beach and he led his guys through the hedgerows, then on across France. Sadly, he had a resentment against the Navajo Marine Code Talkers in the Pacific. Once their secret was out they got all the glory. To him they were in the rear...he was out on point and got no recognition. But he survived, came back to the rezlands, and raised a family. I'm glad he survived so I could one day date his daughter.