D-Day June 6th 1944

[2012Bearcat]

One of the greatest accomplishments in American history.

Anyone ever visited Normandy? Wife and I along with my mother, sister in law and brother in law went on a WWII themed trip back in 2018. Having visited the beaches and seen what our troops had to contend with, I am still in awe of the bravery and sacrifice those men had and gave during a perilous time in our history. Walking down to the waters edge and looking back I still have no idea how anyone made it across those beaches alive.

 

[Rdcldad]

The storm safeguards the sanctity of their sacrifice

They don’t get to sell this great country out and not pay the price

Patriots are in control

 

[2012Bearcat]

I find it sad that a large chunk of this country doesn't recognize the sacrifices that made the country what it is. They take everything for granted.

 

[Ohhellya]

And to think you threw away everything your forefathers died for to let a billionaire nepo baby **** it all up.

 

[22LR]

One of the greatest accomplishments in American history.

Anyone ever visited Normandy?

My late Father did. In a P47 Thunderbolt. He flew 23 sorties that month.

 

[fairdinkem]

One of the greatest accomplishments in American history.

Anyone ever visited Normandy? Wife and I along with my mother, sister in law and brother in law went on a WWII themed trip back in 2018. Having visited the beaches and seen what our troops had to contend with, I am still in awe of the bravery and sacrifice those men had and gave during a perilous time in our history. Walking down to the waters edge and looking back I still have no idea how anyone made it across those beaches alive.

I visited Normandy well before I saw 'Saving Private Ryan'. During that opening 30-minutes & thinking back on that visit nearly made me nauseous. For all of my internal "I can handle anything that comes along" mindset, that movie made me question that tenet to the point of discomfort. Those were truly the definition of what a hero is.

Both of my grandfathers were in the Navy in WWII & they told me stories but nothing like that beach scene.

 

[windriverrange]

And to think you threw away everything your forefathers died for to let a billionaire nepo baby **** it all up.

You're an idiot. A full blown moron...yea because voting for people like the ex-rodent in chief obysmal, biden or heels up harris is such a more gratifying picture for all those who have served, are serving and will serve. Funny how this administration is such a harbinger of doom for the nit-wits, yet 3 months early the army has met its recruiting goal.

I really wouldn't do many dangerous things clown....there are a lot of Darwin award winners out there and you are on the fast track.

 

[2012Bearcat]

And to think you threw away everything your forefathers died for to let a billionaire nepo baby **** it all up.

The men that stormed the beaches of Normandy would be embarrassed you exist.

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

And to think you threw away everything your forefathers died for to let a billionaire nepo baby **** it all up.

Now you’ve gone full lowlife. Politicizing a D-Day thread. Clearly the best part of you ran down your mama’s leg.

 

[COWBOYintheUK]

Operation Overlord was the greatest Amphibious assault ever launched. It was a tremendous multinational operation. There were several things that were not part of the actual landings that were truly amazing, even by today's standards, such as the weather forecasting and the deception plan just to name a couple. Everyone involved in any way should be proud of their accomplishments and should always be celebrated by the free world.

 

[windriverrange]

Operation Overlord was the greatest Amphibious assault ever launched. It was a tremendous multinational operation. There were several things that were not part of the actual landings that were truly amazing, even by today's standards, such as the weather forecasting and the deception plan just to name a couple. Everyone involved in any way should be proud of their accomplishments and should always be celebrated by the free world.

If I remember correctly you’re an Air Force veteran right? One of the more interesting tidbits about the Air Force prep bombings before June 6th, 1944 was that the runs were perpendicular to the shoreline and targets. The rational was that it exposed the air crews to the least amount of ground fire possible.

Afterwards the after action reports determined that even though the risks to the air crews was higher if bombing runs had been parallel to the coast many more targets would have been destroyed on Omaha beach and US causalities would have been much less.

I believe during operation Cobra (breakout from the bocage around St Lo) the same tactic was used and a number of US troops were killed and wounded by shorts. General Leslie McNair (sp) being one of the KIA.

 

[JimmyBob]

There was a 102 yr. old veteran on today's noon news who survived this and several other battles. His classic comment
was: somebody up there, really, really, likes me!!

 

[LAY THE WOODY]

There was a 102 yr. old veteran on today's noon news who survived this and several other battles. His classic comment
was: somebody up there, really, really, likes me!!

I hope the government he defended is taking care of this strongest of strongest warrior. Ain't too many of the greatest generation left. Lots of lessons were hopefully taught and takin to heart. My grandad was a WWII Navy fighter pilot. He never shared a clue of his experiences in war, he was a farmer in sentinel, ok.

 

[fairdinkem]

As a long time voracious reader of all aspects of combat/warfare, I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I did not know this.

Teddy Roosevelt Jr.: Son of the Rough Rider and a Hero at Normandy

On this day, 81 years ago, tens of thousands of young men from ordinary backgrounds hit the beaches of Normandy and faced the most intense fire any group of attackers has ever faced in the history of modern warfare. | Politics

www.breitbart.com

 

[2012Bearcat]

As a long time voracious reader of all aspects of combat/warfare, I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I did not know this.

Teddy Roosevelt Jr.: Son of the Rough Rider and a Hero at Normandy

On this day, 81 years ago, tens of thousands of young men from ordinary backgrounds hit the beaches of Normandy and faced the most intense fire any group of attackers has ever faced in the history of modern warfare. | Politics

www.breitbart.com

I had never heard this story before we visited the Cemetery in Normandy. The private tour guide we were with shared the story with us along with many others.

 

[windriverrange]

I had never heard this story before we visited the Cemetery in Normandy. The private tour guide we were with shared the story with us along with many others.

when I took a private tour the young french hottie guiding me around was a 3rd generation French Person working at the Normandy US Military Cemetery. Her grandfather after the war was an ambulance driver and would drive the bodies of our soldiers to Cherbourg, for shipment home, if the family decided they wanted their loved one brought back to the US for burial. Her dad had been the head grounds keeper at the cemetery and she was a guide. Still many grateful people in Europe not only in France but also the Netherlands, Belgium and so on.

Its much nicer driving around normandy and visiting the various museums, historical sites and spending time at Omaha, Utah beach and Point du Hoc. Paris sucks, avoid at all costs except to see some of the really nice museums or go to Versailles. The rest of the town absolutely sucks.

 

[OUSOONER67]

Very cool!
I had not heard of this story until recently and it still blows my mind. Talk about someone up there really liking him. Wow.

During World War II, a B-17 ball turret gunner named Alan Magee fell 22,000 feet without a parachute, survived, and even lived to be 84 years old. He fell from his damaged B-17 after it was hit by flak and spun out of control. Magee crashed through the glass roof of a railroad station, breaking his leg and suffering other injuries, but he lived.

Elaboration:

• The Incident:
  On January 3, 1943, Alan Magee, a ball turret gunner on the B-17 "Snap Crackle Pop," was on a daylight raid over St. Nazaire, France, when his aircraft was hit by flak. The B-17 sustained further damage when a German fighter shot off its right wing, causing the plane to spin out of control.
  
  
• The Fall:
  Magee blacked out from lack of oxygen and was thrown from the plane. He fell over 22,000 feet without a parachute, ultimately landing on the glass roof of a railroad station in St. Nazaire.
  
  
• The Survival:
  The glass roof shattered, mitigating the force of impact, and Magee survived the fall. He suffered multiple injuries, including a broken leg and a badly cut arm.
  
  
• Aftermath:
  After being captured by the Germans, Magee was treated for his injuries and later released as a prisoner of war. He was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious conduct and the Purple Heart. Despite the harrowing experience, Magee continued to fly after returning to the US, earning a pilot's license.
  

This video tells the story of Alan Magee's miraculous survival:

 

[2012Bearcat]

when I took a private tour the young french hottie guiding me around was a 3rd generation French Person working at the Normandy US Military Cemetery. Her grandfather after the war was an ambulance driver and would drive the bodies of our soldiers to Cherbourg, for shipment home, if the family decided they wanted their loved one brought back to the US for burial. Her dad had been the head grounds keeper at the cemetery and she was a guide. Still many grateful people in Europe not only in France but also the Netherlands, Belgium and so on.

Its much nicer driving around normandy and visiting the various museums, historical sites and spending time at Omaha, Utah beach and Point du Hoc. Paris sucks, avoid at all costs except to see some of the really nice museums or go to Versailles. The rest of the town absolutely sucks.

Yea we flew into Paris from London, Paris has turned into a third world shithole. Wife and I were in Paris back in the early 90s and absolutely loved it. When we were there in 2018 it was sad to see how it had changed. Wife said she never wanted to go back to Paris.
Everyone we met in Normandy was extremely nice and went out of their way to show their appreciation. Some of the nicest people I've ever met.

 

[Sunburnt Indian]

Yea we flew into Paris from London, Paris has turned into a third world shithole. Wife and I were in Paris back in the early 90s and absolutely loved it. When we were there in 2018 it was sad to see how it had changed. Wife said she never wanted to go back to Paris.
Everyone we met in Normandy was extremely nice and went out of their way to show their appreciation. Some of the nicest people I've ever met.

Two all white grandchlidren are fluent in French. They're from our adopted daughter we got when she was three. Granddaughter visited Paris recently but hasn't geven me a full report yet.

 

[JimmyBob]

I am totally interested in the family and other stories related to this war. My mother was a "Rosie the Riveter" and worked
at Douglas OKC making C-47's during the war. Her youngest brother graduated from OU in '42 and spent 30 years in the
Army before retiring back to Norman. (Europe WWII, Korean War, two Nam tours). Would like to hear more from others.

 

[Sunburnt Indian]

I am totally interested in the family and other stories related to this war. My mother was a "Rosie the Riveter" and worked
at Douglas OKC making C-47's during the war. Her youngest brother graduated from OU in '42 and spent 30 years in the
Army before retiring back to Norman. (Europe WWII, Korean War, two Nam tours). Would like to hear more from others.

I flew from San Antonio to Lawton Regional on a commercial C-47 Gooney Bird. Nice and quite. I flew from Hickam AFB, HI to Gay Bay on a C-124 Globemaster. Unbelievably noisey. We couldn't play pinoucle cards.

 

[SUPERPOKES]

One of the greatest accomplishments in American history.

Anyone ever visited Normandy?

I’m going next month.

 

[SUPERPOKES]

I find it sad that a large chunk of this country doesn't recognize the sacrifices that made the country what it is. They take everything for granted.

On June 6 every year, I make a Facebook post encouraging people to watch Saving Private Ryan to understand the sacrifices made by American soldiers that day.

 

[Cordellhall83]

My great Uncle that I never got to know....most American family has WW2 story.

Lieut Ralph M. Hart (1921-1943) - Find a Grave...

Obituary, The Oklahoman, June 9, 1948 Services for Lieutenant Ralph M. Hart, 1139 North Ellison, who was killed in New Guinea in 1943, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Rose Hill Cemetery. A squad of service men from Tinker Field will serve as bearers and Reverend F. R. Dudley will officiate...

www.findagrave.com

 

[LAY THE WOODY]

My great Uncle that I never got to know....most American family has WW2 story.

Lieut Ralph M. Hart (1921-1943) - Find a Grave...

Obituary, The Oklahoman, June 9, 1948 Services for Lieutenant Ralph M. Hart, 1139 North Ellison, who was killed in New Guinea in 1943, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Rose Hill Cemetery. A squad of service men from Tinker Field will serve as bearers and Reverend F. R. Dudley will officiate...

www.findagrave.com

I salute your great uncle.

 

[COWBOYintheUK]

As all military people know, nothing goes according to plan during battle ("no battle plan survives contact with the enemy"), Operation Overlord was no different, the liberation of Caan , bombing our own troops, problems having to fight in the Bocage....ie.....but I read one chilling problem that the highest level American and British leaders had to consider that I never thought about. The first V2 Ballistic missiles were not used until September 1944, but, the allied intelligence services knew of their existence and their progress (Allied bombing of Peenemunde in August of 1943). The development of the V2 along with Germany starting its Nuclear weapons program 2 full years before the US ( Britain had started earlier than the US also) , we had very little information on their Nuclear program. A major concern was that they were close to finishing a nuclear weapon and were ready to arm a number of V2s with the warheads and take out the entire allied force......Germany had some of the best Physicists in the world ( although many had fled the country) and it was a major concern