June 6 1944- All gave some, Some gave all

[perdidobay]

A must watch video, thank you veterans.

I couldn't help but cry as he reads the letter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JYTJInVT6Q&feature=player_embedded

 

[BalooTheBear]

GOD Bless all the men and women of the Greatest Generation!!! If not for their unselfish sacrifices and courage - where would we be? All heroes in my book!!!!!!!


D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944
YOU ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK UPON THE GREAT CRUSADE TOWARD
WHICH WE HAVE STRIVEN THESE MANY MONTHS. THE EYES OF
THE WORLD ARE UPON YOU…I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN YOUR
COURAGE, DEVOTION TO DUTY AND SKILL IN BATTLE.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/

 

[Deb in IA]

With each year, so many of them leave us.


The world will never forget what they did that day on the bloody beaches of Normandy.

 

[Quiksilvr]

My grandfather was there. 29th Division, Omaha Beach. According to him, he was just a terrified 20-year old kid with an automatic rifle. I recall him saying that the only positive thing he could remember thinking from that day was "at least I don't get seasick."

He died several years ago. He lost friends on those beaches, and saw (and did) things in Europe with which he was never able to come to peace. He was never meant to be a killer, but Uncle Sam had different plans. I'm grateful for his willingness to serve.

 

[perdidobay]

My grandfather was there. 29th Division, Omaha Beach. According to him, he was just a terrified 20-year old kid with an automatic rifle. I recall him saying that the only positive thing he could remember thinking from that day was "at least I don't get seasick."

He died several years ago. He lost friends on those beaches, and saw (and did) things in Europe with which he was never able to come to peace. He was never meant to be a killer, but Uncle Sam had different plans. I'm grateful for his willingness to serve.

I too am grateful for his willingness to serve. God bless him and all other veterans who have passed.

 

[Geoff_M]

If you haven't already done so, go read "D-Day" by Stephen Ambrose. Ambrose interviewed over 1,000 participants (on both sides of the battle) for this seminal work on the Normandy invasion. The book is mind boggling. If you've seen "Saving Private Ryan", you'll recognize the book as most of the events of the first 30 minutes of the film were lifted from the book (Ambrose was the technical adviser for the film). Not long after I read it I sat at a wedding reception with a man I'd never met before who was at D-Day and I made a point of personally thanking him for this efforts.

 

[Silent1CB]

Pass the tissues.

 

[perdidobay]

If you haven't already done so, go read "D-Day" by Stephen Ambrose. Ambrose interviewed over 1,000 participants (on both sides of the battle) for this seminal work on the Normandy invasion. The book is mind boggling. If you've seen "Saving Private Ryan", you'll recognize the book as most of the events of the first 30 minutes of the film were lifted from the book (Ambrose was the technical adviser for the film). Not long after I read it I sat at a wedding reception with a man I'd never met before who was at D-Day and I made a point of personally thanking him for this efforts.

Thanks for the book suggestion, I'll definately read it.

 

[cinderellascastle29]

If you haven't already done so, go read "D-Day" by Stephen Ambrose. Ambrose interviewed over 1,000 participants (on both sides of the battle) for this seminal work on the Normandy invasion. The book is mind boggling. If you've seen "Saving Private Ryan", you'll recognize the book as most of the events of the first 30 minutes of the film were lifted from the book (Ambrose was the technical adviser for the film). Not long after I read it I sat at a wedding reception with a man I'd never met before who was at D-Day and I made a point of personally thanking him for this efforts.

I agree. I read this for a research paper and it is a must read for sure. Thanks to all the Veterans out there, you are our heroes!

 

[Geoff_M]

Thanks for the book suggestion, I'll definately read it.

If you like it, also check out Ambrose's "Citizen Soldiers" as it's a continuation of "D-Day". "D-Day" covers the time line of the decision to invade Normandy through D-Day plus 14 days. "Citizen" covers Day 15 through the German surrender. The title is derived from Ambrose's contrast of the "professional" career German military against the supposedly inferior "citizen" allied troops.

 

[BalooTheBear]

If you like it, also check out Ambrose's "Citizen Soldiers" as it's a continuation of "D-Day". "D-Day" covers the time line of the decision to invade Normandy through D-Day plus 14 days. "Citizen" covers Day 15 through the German surrender. The title is derived from Ambrose's contrast of the "professional" career German military against the supposedly inferior "citizen" allied troops.

I've read this one (excellent)... D-Day is on my reading list. It is amazing that throughout the book(Citizen), all the soldier's thought of themselves as being one of many and that they were all there to do what they had to do. It is a very good perspective on the fact they were all just ordinary American citizens....