How are you remembering D-Day?

[arspeukinen]

I'm remembering it, but not celebrating. Normandy was the final nail in the coffin that was called Europe.
Western allies should have allied with Germany against the monster, Soviet Union. Now they helped it enslave half of Europe for half a century.
When I see images of those young soldiers embarking from the landing craft I can't help but to think that a big percentage of them gave their life only moments later for Stalin.

 

[Tommygunn]

I'm remembering it, but not celebrating. Normandy was the final nail in the coffin that was called Europe.
Western allies should have allied with Germany against the monster, Soviet Union. Now they helped it enslave half of Europe for half a century.
When I see images of those young soldiers embarking from the landing craft I can't help but to think that a big percentage of them gave their life only moments later for Stalin.

And after Russia lost more lives in WW2 than others and we ourselves had fought both the Japanese on one front, and the Germans & Italians on another, do you really think a nation exhausted from war should have then taken on the Soviet juggernaut?
Somehow, I do not believe that was going to happen ... despite it being Patton's desire.
While I agree that history, as it actually unfolded, did leave eastern europe in the thrall of the Soviets, I just don't think it was possible for America (even with allies) to fight every battle at the same time.
The Cold War defeated the Soviets.


And if we're not careful that history will repeat itself ....Thank You Putin.

 

[medic15al]

Yesterday on June 6, I went to the range and fired my CMP M-1. Granted it is a HRA 1954 ish date but still, My grandfather trained and used that rifle design, tho he had the Thompson M-1 when he landed on Omaha. Survived the whole mess.

 

[Ignition Override]

Watched an excellent History Channel show one or two days ago. About eight years ago we took my son to stay in Caen, and visited both the US cematary at Omaha Beach, and tried to also imagine the Rangers who climbed up the Pointe Du Hoc (which we visited), with barely enough ammo for the two-three days they fought among the shattered German pillboxes.

We visited the square at St. Mere Eglise and were captivated by the life-like dummy which hangs from the parachute on the church steeple.
Can't imagine how the original paratrooper (actor Red Buttons in the movie) played dead so convincingly.

I try not to forget about the huge number of French civilians who also died during this operation in Caen and elsewhere.

 

[PabloJ]

I'm doing it by reflecting on my grandfather who, while he did not participate directly in Operation Overlord, served as a bomber waist gunner in the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

One of the greatest things we can do to honor those of his generation who sacrificed so much to preserve freedom is to actually exercise those freedoms proudly.

To that effect, I'll be exercising the freedom his generation sacrificed so much to preserve by building an AR carbine this afternoon, and taking out my M1 Garand out to the range this weekend.


.

This was used to train WWII fighter pilots and bomber gunners.....

I have no use for 30" 12ga with full choke, but I bought it just to have something associated with WWII. Unlike trench guns, 1911s and some battle rifles this one was quite affordable.

 

[Robert]

Today is the 9th. Let's get back to our regularly schedule programing.