Normandy!!!!!!!!!

big tee

Well-known Member
D-DAY+75
cvphoto25456.jpg

Many went ashore.
cvphoto25457.jpg

Many never went home.
cvphoto25458.jpg

Normandy American Cemetery--REST IN PEACE--THANK YOU---Tee
 
WW2 shaped the society we live in today. So many things are very different in the post WW2 world compared to the preWW2 world. I have wondered what our lives would have been like if the Axis powers had not been stopped. I believe we owe our freedom to the soldiers, sailors and airmen, who went to fight. As well as the contributions made by the tens of thousands who worked to build the tools they needed. WW2 laid the foundation for the great lives we have enjoyed, and one of the biggest stones laid in that foundation was put in place on D-Day , June 6 1944
 
What is even more impressive is that in a 30 day period of time the Allies landed at Normandy, we landed at Biak in Dutch New Guinea and the Mariana islands (Saipan & Guam). A very impressive comeback from the dark days right after Dec 7 1941. So much for Hitler's belief that the US and our allies would not be able to fight a major war on 2 fronts.

The Normandy invasion was a superhuman effort. Anyone who has the opportunity to tour the Normandy beachhead area and to honor those who died there should do so. It is something that will stay with you for life.

Rick
 
My dad would have turned 100 years old last October. If he was still living he would be glad to see the recognition being given to this turning point of our history. He missed the big day on June 6 but landed in Bayeux a month later. He got to see the results of that battle and often talked about it. I put some of his memories together here to preserve a little history.
WWII Memories
 
(quoted from post at 10:51:49 06/06/19)
Can I ask? Why is June 6th not a National Holiday?

Because June 6 did not end the war.

We don't have a holiday to celebrate the battle of Gettysburg. Way more dead than 6 Jun 44. Nor do we celebrate the end of the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War or any other wars.

Heck the end of WWII isn't celebrated.

Rick
 
Yes Bruce, well put. It amazes me the amount of stuff the U.S. produced and got to to the front to win the war on two fronts. I like to read about WW II and enjoy learning about it as long as it isn't dry, has to be in the form of a story. A recent book about tanks around the time of the Battle of the Bulge, Spearhead, was really good, worth a trip to the library. Couldn't put it down. And another favorite is Wars End, about the atomic missions to Japan. Another couldn't put it down.
 
(quoted from post at 11:38:32 06/06/19)
(quoted from post at 10:51:49 06/06/19)
Can I ask? Why is June 6th not a National Holiday?

Because June 6 did not end the war.

We don't have a holiday to celebrate the battle of Gettysburg. Way more dead than 6 Jun 44. Nor do we celebrate the end of the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War or any other wars.

Heck the end of WWII isn't celebrated.

Rick

And which of the day(s) would you celebrate for Gettysburg? Also, to use your logic, it didn't end the war. I am a Civil War buff and enthusiast, but I don't believe that Gettysburg holds the same relevance to history that D-day does. Also, ever heard of Armistice Day? We now refer to it as Veteran's Day. It was originally established to commemorate the end of WWI.

I'm assuming we'll agree-to-disagree on this one.
 
(quoted from post at 12:02:48 06/06/19) Yes Bruce, well put. It amazes me the amount of stuff the U.S. produced and got to to the front to win the war on two fronts. I like to read about WW II and enjoy learning about it as long as it isn't dry, has to be in the form of a story. A recent book about tanks around the time of the Battle of the Bulge, Spearhead, was really good, worth a trip to the library. Couldn't put it down. And another favorite is Wars End, about the atomic missions to Japan. Another couldn't put it down.
The US was an amazing producer of war material, trucks, planes, weapons etc. The industrial might of the US, once harnessed, could not be stopped.
 
Fagen of Granite Falls, Minn, has a museum with a lot of history from that time frame. He has a replica of soldiers exiting one of those landing crafts with his Dad leading them off. He brought sand from the Omaha Beach and has it in place in front of the craft. Several airplanes, engines partially cut away to see their innards, glider used to haul troops inland. Lot of stuff.

It is located south of town at the local airport in several hangers.
 
(quoted from post at 12:50:32 06/06/19)
(quoted from post at 11:38:32 06/06/19)
(quoted from post at 10:51:49 06/06/19)
Can I ask? Why is June 6th not a National Holiday?

Because June 6 did not end the war.

We don't have a holiday to celebrate the battle of Gettysburg. Way more dead than 6 Jun 44. Nor do we celebrate the end of the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War or any other wars.

Heck the end of WWII isn't celebrated.

Rick

And which of the day(s) would you celebrate for Gettysburg? Also, to use your logic, it didn't end the war. I am a Civil War buff and enthusiast, but I don't believe that Gettysburg holds the same relevance to history that D-day does. Also, ever heard of Armistice Day? We now refer to it as Veteran's Day. It was originally established to commemorate the end of WWI.

I'm assuming we'll agree-to-disagree on this one.

Yea I know. Thing is if we celebrated every major battle fougt in every war that was significant we be on holiday 1/2 the year or more. You can start with Breeds and Bunker hill, battle of Monmouth, Yorktown and go right up through all the major engagements of WWII. Plus lets not forget the indian/mexican/spanish wars too.

What I'm saying is D Day was important but not nearly as important as VE day. Besides, Germany was fighting in Italy, on the Russia front and against resistance fighters in nearly every occupied country. Normandy/France just opened up another front.

I'm not saying we should not celebrate those days. I'm saying that there are just too many.

Rick
 
Looking out the front end of a Higgins Boat into enemy gunfire.

American industry built over 23,000 Higgins boats in about three years. Most were powered by a single Gray Marine 6-71 GMC diesel and could make 10-12 knots if everything was up to snuff and the water was not too bad.

Aside from the ramp, most of the boat was made of plywood, offering little protection to the soldiers inside. At close range, even small arms fire could kill you.

Still, they were very enormously valuable in both the European and Pacific theatres.

SDT
 
The first person from Richmond, VA to be killed on D-Day was Winfield Nelms Kyle, Jr. He was my grandmothers cousin and was killed when the landing craft was piloting hit an underwater mine. He was 21!
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top