D-Day.
Because. Just because.
By Moe Lane Posted in Miscellanea | Normandy | World War II — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
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. The fire of the shore batteries has been largely quelled. The obstacles that were constructed in the sea have not proved so difficult as was apprehended. The Anglo-American Allies are sustained by about 11,000 firstline aircraft, which can be drawn upon as may be needed for the purposes of the battle. I cannot, of course, commit myself to any particular details. Reports are coming in in rapid succession. So far the Commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan! This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever taken place. It involves tides, wind, waves, visibility, both from the air and the sea standpoint, and the combined employment of land, air and sea forces in the highest degree of intimacy and in contact with conditions which could not and cannot be fully foreseen.
There are already hopes that actual tactical surprise has been attained, and we hope to furnish the enemy with a succession of surprises during the course of the fighting. The battle that has now begun will grow constantly in scale and in intensity for many weeks to come, and I shall not attempt to speculate upon its course. This I may say, however. Complete unity prevails throughout the Allied Armies. There is a brotherhood in arms between us and our friends of the United States. There is complete confidence in the supreme commander, General Eisenhower, and his lieutenants, and als6 in the commander of the Expeditionary Force, General Montgomery. The ardour and spirit of the troops, as I saw myself, embarking in these last few days was splendid to witness. Nothing that equipment, science or forethought could do has been neglected, and the whole process of opening this great new front will be pursued with the utmost resolution both by the commanders and by the United States and British Governments whom they serve.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Speech to the House of Commons, June 6, 1944
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D-Day. 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
is far to whiny and mellow for the topic.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
I want bagpipes, drums, and other music to focus on the danger and risk and goals of what I am to fight for.
But I do like Irish music. A lot. Just not mellow laid back music during a battle.
...was the graveyard at the end, not the battle photography. Possibly because the latter were photos, and thus static.
Or something.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Remember
Who we were
What our forefathers did and sacrificed
What they fought for
Why it is important that we preserve it.
Reflect Upon
How we can honor their sacrifice for us.
What we have lost
How the spirit that animates this country can be kept alive.
Finally Realize
What we have and enjoy is not granted. It is not guaranteed We preserve freedom and liberty at great cost. A cost that every generation is asked to pay.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Here is a great video of FDR's D-Day prayer to our nation. I guess I should spend this weekend watching "The Longest Day" or "Saving Private Ryan".
but war proves ordinary men can do extraordinary things.
"A man does what he can and endures what he must."
My wife's uncle was 82nd Airborne during WWII. He was part of the African and Italian invasions and was then re-assigned to the 504th(?) that jumped on Ste. Mare Eglise on this day 64 years ago.
When I asked him over Thanksgiveng where he was in 1944 on that day he said Belgium (leading up to the Bulge).
He had been hit on 2 different occassions by German machine gun fire, one was a tracer round in the leg (from which he has an increasingly painful limp as he ages).
But as he spoke just this few minutes about his experiences, you could visibly see him standing more erect, his eyes were more focused and his voice a bit stronger. While he never really discusses it, he carries a deep and well earned pride in those accomplishments.
We still have such men in this country, but sadly they are increasingly not of this country. The support and admiration of that nation sustained the soldiers.
Today dissent is patriotic.
Somehow, I don't believe Uncle William agrees.
Thanks for posting this rememberance.
My father-in-law, Walter Davis was at Normandy. He with Patton's Army and went through France into Germany.
He was an honest, trustworthy dedicated patriotic American and rarely spokeabout the war, as did most of his generation.
He volunteered at the age of 30 and late one evening I asked him why he had gone to the draft board 3 times and was told he was needed at his present job. The last time he went, he told them he was quitting his job, regardless and they then accepted his service.
I asked him why he did that, and he said "I didn't know what I would tell my son when he grew up and when he asked what I had done during the War." It touched my heart and still does.
He was an extraordinary, man, Father, and I thank God that my sons had such a Grandfather.
I know there are young men like him today because I see them in the present war we fight, but sometimes I wonder how we would fare today if there was a world war. Our high schools and academic institutions seem to be educating our children to discard such honor and patriotism.
"Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it."
-- Mark Twain.
Hate to make a political point here, as I don't want to detract from the remembrance, but I think this deserves to be said.
(and though I have read this site for a very long time, this is my first post, so it's kind of important to me).
I have read this morning some very great tributes to this anniversary on RedState, Townhall, Human Events, etc.
For the heck of it, I wandered over to some of the leading liberal counterparts (you know where they are).
To my disgust (and lack of surprise), not a single mention of the significance of this day. Not one.
Not that I expected excerpts from a Reagan speech or anything, but maybe just one note on why June 6 is an important day for America. Hell, quote FDR if you want. But no. No thanks for the sacrifice of so many who have guaranteed their freedoms to this day.
That tells me all I need to know.
(And it leads me to one question: How long in an Obama administration before we are no longer comemmorating 9-11, let alone some of the more distant historical moments of this nation?)
Anyone who doubts voting for John McCain, I hope that clears things up for you, as "imperfect a servant" as he may be.
Anyway, thanks for putting this up here today.
I wonder how many of Obama's youthful supporters even know about D-Day. While they heard of Hitler and World War II, I doubt that even one in three could give a reasonably accurate account of the course of that war.
I remember that when the movie "Pearl Harbor" came out, a lot of young people actually thought that America had gone to war against China.
Do public schools even teach military history of America prior to Vietnam in history class?
I saw a friend in the grocery store. He mentioned that some 60-odd years before, his dad had been in a C47.....headed for France.
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Vote McCain....and give the bad guys nightmares.
in awe of the sacrifices that were made on this day in '44, and the selflessness the Allied troops displayed to the world.
I hope some day to meet one of those that took part.
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised