D-Day

OldMcDonald · Jun 4, 2019

I was 75 four weeks ago. This week is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Every year around now I try to apply some of my "thinking" time to those events, but as I become older tend to let my thoughts wander too much and not concentrate on the effects of those landings. This year I am slightly in front - possibly thanks to the President of the USA currently visiting the UK and going on to Normandy.

Anyway, whilst I doubt anyone reading this was a participant in the landings, there are one or two still alive, and maybe some readers are descendants of, or at least nephews etc. of some of those who took part. I merely want to record my lifelong gratitude to those who did take part, many losing their lives, and especially the very young men from the US who died. Without them my life would probably have been very different.

I am not diminishing the efforts of others involved in the landings of course, and my favourite is Piper Billy Millin, piper to Lord Lovat. He is generally recognised as Scottish although born in Canada of Scottish lineage so Canadians can also claim him as one of theirs.

Thank you all.

buckeyefarmer · Jun 4, 2019

My dad arrived on omaha beach a few days later, he was in an artillary replacement company. He is now 95, and had no desire to go back and visit. Only recently has he spoken more about the war.

ArlyA · Jun 4, 2019

We had a veteran paratrooper in our church who was dropped behind the beach. He died a few years ago but I did hear him say a few things about his war experiences. These are the people we need to speak with, before they're all gone....... My name sake never returned from WWII European theater.

Big Chief · Jun 4, 2019

I meet a navigator on one of bomers from D day. 95 yrs old He came into my office looking for some work to be done. I don't remember how I found out that he was a navigator on those bombing raids but none the less after talking to him on several occasions and some of the stories that he was telling me I was amazed at what these young guys did.

He left without a bill and I was happy to do that
Thank you vets....

jajiu · Jun 4, 2019

My Uncle, my father's brother, was in the Army and wounded in North Africa and sent to England to recover, he was in hospital during D-Day thus missing the invasion, however he recovered in time to be included in the Battle of the Bulge where he was wounded again. This time he was sent home. My father was 8 years younger than his brother and entered the Navy at the end of the war. Both men are gone now but I think of both of them always and more so this time of year. My Uncle always held a special connection with me as we were the only ones of both sides of the family to join the Army, all the others joined the Navy, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Molalla1 · Jun 4, 2019

jajiu said:
My Uncle, my father's brother, was in the Army and wounded in North Africa and sent to England to recover, he was in hospital during D-Day thus missing the invasion, however he recovered in time to be included in the Battle of the Bulge where he was wounded again. This time he was sent home. My father was 8 years younger than his brother and entered the Navy at the end of the war. Both men are gone now but I think of both of them always and more so this time of year. My Uncle always held a special connection with me as we were the only ones of both sides of the family to join the Army, all the others joined the Navy, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Most all of my family (males) were in the service of our country for all of that war . . . females worked in the shipyards . . . grandpa/grandma took care of us kids.

Steppenwolfe · Jun 4, 2019

I try and honor these men everyday, we owe them all. Special thanks to my mentor, who saved my worthless butt at 16 years old, and taught me what it was to become a man. Thanks, Mitch. Miss you, buddy.

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ovrszd · Jun 4, 2019

War isn't a big deal until the bullet is coming toward you. These Soldiers faced that in unmeasurable volume.

We have Soldiers today that are facing obstacles that the D-Day Soldiers couldn't comprehend.

War is a very personal experience.

bunyip · Jun 4, 2019

My Father was a Paratrooper with the British Army during WWII, never ever ever talked about it but I know that he went to Palestine shortly afterwards.
As stated, war today is somewhat different, no uniforms and you have no idea who is who, booby traps, suicide bombers etc etc, not saying it is any different for the troops, pressure is pressure regardless of what is coming your way.
I was in Vietnam, a lot at work know that and for some reason have concocted the idea that I was either a fighter or bomber pilot, I was on Caribous, the most dangerous thing they could inflict was deafness.
I have also worked with rabid pacifists who seem to think that if they submit to all there will be world peace, I don't know what they are smoking but I would like some.

thekkfan · Jun 4, 2019

My great uncle was a medic on the beach that day. Most of the whiners and protesters today don't have a clue to the horror that the living endured that day and those that followed.

Never talked about any of it until probably his last year of life. He's been gone about 8 years now. We love and miss you Tommy!