I thank God for the men who took part in the fight against the Axis.
D Day
- Thread starter arfmel
- Start date
Ah yes.
55 years ago my fiancé and my best friend's dad - a retired colonel - pinned the bars on my shoulders.
Presidio of San Francisco Officer's Club, 1970.
All of us there were well aware of the significance of the day.
55 years ago my fiancé and my best friend's dad - a retired colonel - pinned the bars on my shoulders.
Presidio of San Francisco Officer's Club, 1970.
All of us there were well aware of the significance of the day.
I was watching a show War Wrecks on Roku. They had a long segment on the duplex drive tanks. It was hard to watch in some places.
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2nd Lieutenant John Butts was killed in Normandy. He was in the 9th Infantry Division and landed on D+4 June 10th 1944. His was 1 of 12 Congressional Medals of Honor given for the Normandy Campaign. He was 21 years old at the time of his death. Lt. Butts was wounded on 3 separate occasions, any of the 3 he could have been evacuated from the area and sent back to England for treatment. He refused and kept on fighting.
How many 21 year olds today are made of what John Butts was made from?
How many 21 year olds today are made of what John Butts was made from?
To answer the question of "how many", the answer has always been enough. It still is. Most actions go unseen or unremarked yet contribute to the overall victory. I'm pretty proud knowing my eldest stayed in the fight at Nasiriyah after he was wounded. Then again, that's pretty much standard operations for Marines. Still, I wish he had gone off to the hospital.
A friends dad dropped into a flooded field 81 years ago. He made his way out , was alone and took a family hostage before joining up with others that day.
A few weeks later he stepped on a mine and lost part of his foot.
A few weeks later he stepped on a mine and lost part of his foot.
In Memory of the Bedford Boys
My home town of Bedford Va. had a population of about 3200 people in 1944.
As money was tight after the depression many men at the time would join the National Guard to earn some extra money, and when the war broke out their unit was activated, they were part of Co A, 116 Inf. Regiment, 29 Div. They were part of the first wave to hit Omaha Beach, out of the 34 men from Bedford 19 were lost on D-Day, . they became known as the "Bedford Boys”. Our town suffered the highest per capita loss of any community in the country. Everyone knew one or more of the families that lost their loved ones that day. Their sacrifice is why I have the their insignia as my avatar, as tribute to their courage and sacrifice that day. I hope to visit Normandy and Omaha Beach at some point in my lifetime to pay tribute to those men but for now I bow my head in prayer.
I highly recommend that if you ever have a chance to visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford Va. that you do so, it is a very humbling and memorable experience.
My home town of Bedford Va. had a population of about 3200 people in 1944.
As money was tight after the depression many men at the time would join the National Guard to earn some extra money, and when the war broke out their unit was activated, they were part of Co A, 116 Inf. Regiment, 29 Div. They were part of the first wave to hit Omaha Beach, out of the 34 men from Bedford 19 were lost on D-Day, . they became known as the "Bedford Boys”. Our town suffered the highest per capita loss of any community in the country. Everyone knew one or more of the families that lost their loved ones that day. Their sacrifice is why I have the their insignia as my avatar, as tribute to their courage and sacrifice that day. I hope to visit Normandy and Omaha Beach at some point in my lifetime to pay tribute to those men but for now I bow my head in prayer.
I highly recommend that if you ever have a chance to visit the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford Va. that you do so, it is a very humbling and memorable experience.
The Museaum that Son got the Beechcraft Staggerwing from also had a very nice C-47.
The C-47 flew from WA to England/Normandy for the 75th Anniversary of D Day.
Son brought me a T Shirt with this on it which is very nice.
The C-47 flew from WA to England/Normandy for the 75th Anniversary of D Day.
Son brought me a T Shirt with this on it which is very nice.
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ProfessorWes
Hawkeye
Heh. This is almost as good as the "Temper, temper" Korean War story of USS Wisconsin when she was briefly - very briefly - challenged by a battery of North Korean 155s and gave them a full broadside salute in reply.
My first real boss was a paratrooper on D Day. After the was and Korea broke out, he said he and a buddy decided to go. Told his wife he was drafted. Really nice mellow guy.
ProfessorWes
Hawkeye
contender
Ruger Guru
And I too never forget the day.
I lost an uncle I never knew on D-Day in Normandy.
I lost an uncle I never knew on D-Day in Normandy.
Bully Bully dad would be proud!
All my father would say when I asked him about his jump on D-day were these few things: his rank was corporal, he carried the radio for his squad, and he had a 1911 .45 that he took from a dead officer.
And he shared this with me when I asked him if he killed any Germans - he quietly replied "I fired my weapon". That was the only conversation that he and I ever had about the war.
Peace and God bless.
And he shared this with me when I asked him if he killed any Germans - he quietly replied "I fired my weapon". That was the only conversation that he and I ever had about the war.
Peace and God bless.
old breed
Single-Sixer
i was fortunate to meet many of these men of my fathers generation. they would be hesitant to talk to just anybody . being prior service and a listener they would sometimes talk, tell me stories, usually the humorous things. seldom the awful. the things they hid from family and buried in their subconscious. my father in law was on Okinawa. he told me many things .i found out after he passed i was the only one that he shared with. i wrote those stories down for posterity. he gave me a shinto prayer box filled with things he brought home. he earned one purple heart and a piece of japanese grenade that he carried till death. he received another wound but refused to be evacuated to a hospital ship. because he witnessed the blood on the off white walls in the gangways ,the death and despair on his first visit. a generation that loved freedom and honor more than life. so it has been with all of our warriors in our country's history. i'm glad to see so many of these men and women enter politics. their sacrifices and knowledge hopefully protecting us from protracted wars with no good end that drain our blood and resources. may we never die in vain. remember with gratitude not regret with bitterness
I had an uncle who piloted a glider on D-Day, then became just another infantryman in his unit. He remained unscathed until the Battle of the Bulge, losing an eye to German artillery at Bastogne. He had a tough and seemingly very unhappy life. In Vietnam I served as a Captain in my uncle's old unit, the 101st Airborne Division and I was told that he bragged to everyone he knew about his nephew being an officer in his WWII unit. I was a young officer, with a growing family, and more than a busy life and I so regret not getting to know this uncle a bit better, and maybe I would have had the chance to hear from him some of his experiences during WWII. He died a relatively young man in his early fifties.
I just got back from Reading, PA, WW2 days with my wife and two grandsons (ages 11 and 8). It was a soggy day, with rain on and off. Planes were grounded, but they were able to board a C47 and walk around it. The reenactment was cool, but they uttered the words " AWESOME.” even though we got through half of the vendors, displays, and planes before the rain kicked us out, my grandsons were already talking about coming back next year.
This is the first time in 15 years I've been here, but before moving to TX and AZ, I was a regular. Met with many of the BOB, WW2 aces, and plenty of Rosie the Riveteers. Even guys who flew the Red Tails. No doubt, the greatest generation!
This is the first time in 15 years I've been here, but before moving to TX and AZ, I was a regular. Met with many of the BOB, WW2 aces, and plenty of Rosie the Riveteers. Even guys who flew the Red Tails. No doubt, the greatest generation!
old breed
Single-Sixer
my uncle was a crew chief on a c-47 6 or 8 air medals from normandy jumps to the resupply at the bulge. . my mother was a TWA stewardess on the DC-3 early 40's.( civilian version) they probably still fly those things somewhere
ProfessorWes
Hawkeye
As a certain former co-star of Doohan's would later say: "Fascinating."
He certainly would have been. Shame Jr died in France about a month after the landing. Not combat related.
I live about 30 minutes from Sagamore Hill and been there probably close to ten times over the years. In fact we’ll be taking my wife’s nephew there in the near future. It’s how I grow solid straight backed Republicans.
Although I didn't have any relatives involved with D-Day, I have good reason for remembrance and gratitude. I'm proud to say this day marks 28 years of being alcohol free.
Free from one tyranny just like the soldiers ,sailors airmen of D day freed Europe from a different Tyranny/Although I didn't have any relatives involved with D-Day, I have good reason for remembrance and gratitude. I'm proud to say this day marks 28 years of being alcohol free.
Wow. Congratulations ++++++Although I didn't have any relatives involved with D-Day, I have good reason for remembrance and gratitude. I'm proud to say this day marks 28 years of being alcohol free.
24 years for me. One day at a time
