The Sixth of June. For ALL the heros...

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I met a paratrooper who jumped into Normandy on the night of 5 June 1944 about 18 months ago. He also jumped into Holland a few months later. I thanked him for his service, and asked him if it was all worth it. He replied that knowing then what he knows now, he would still have done it. He was 18 years old at the time, and is still proud to have been a paratrooper!

Hooah!
 
Here's an example of the type of man that fought:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090605/en_afp/uspolice

It's a story about the oldest serving cop who just died. He was 84 years old, was on Omaha beach, and did not leave his post after Katrina like so many others did. He slept in a car for a month following the hurricane.

I hope that my kids are a hundredth as tough as he was. He sounds like he could be an example to us all.
 
Some of us still care about what they did !
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I hope the world never forgets the heroes who saved civilization from the forces of evil. We could never repay the debt we owed these men, but that generation was never the type who would feel they were owed anything.

As a proud grandson of a WWII Marine I'll always appreciate what they did for me.
 
My father in law was an army signal operator on a ship in the Pacific. He was on watch and received the message that the invasion had started. He ran to the Captains quarters, woke the Captain and gave him the message. Captain said, "John you get on the ship intercom and announce this" FIL still remembers this, he was so proud to announce the news to the ship crew. He is 88 and recovering from a stroke. His brother who was infantry started on Omaha beach and came home in 1946. My grandpa fixed aircraft that was used in the invasion somewhere in Britain.
 
Awesome stories guys...My stepdad past last year, he was at D-Day, I know some of the beaches got hit real hard, an some didn't..I asked him how it went when he landed..he said what beach they hit, an said they were lucky, the worse that he got was wet feet...but it would be a long road to the end though...
 
I knew a 2nd Ranger who went up the cliffs at Point du Hoc. He taught me to shoe horses, I still use the tools he gave me. When he died his obituary read 2 Silver Stars and 3 Purple Hearts. I have his Winchester 30WCF and scabbard, a 1911 fancy holster.
Later I was lucky to meet another who served on a supply ship at Normady. He taught me ground school for my Private Pilot Lic. When they were not unloading they doubled as a mine sweeper.
Good men, I remember them in many ways.
 
All veterans, while engaged in combat, think of how their effort will make the world a better place for all regardless of the price they themselves have to pay.

God Bless Our Veterans
 
My Uncle is a D-day vet, piloted a landing craft on Omaha...he is currently in the grips of Alzheimers...never would say much about what he did/saw. Wish my aunt could have convinced him to write it down, so much is being lost with each passing day.

God bless us all.
 
My grandfather served in the pacific for a considerable chunk of WWII. I managed to record him talking about his experiences (whatever he was willing to talk about). Was able to get a couple of hours on tape. And as far as I'm concerned, it's GOLD.
 
Rellian - check out the Library of Congress' Vets' History Project (www.loc.gov/vets. They're building a giant database of interviews and documents from vets of all conflicts. I've done many WWII interviews myself. They want digital audio recordings or video - plus original docs and photos - but maybe your recordings can be converted?

Anyway, I urge all with an interest in history and preserving the precious record of our veterans, and esp. those who know WWII vets (incl. civilians with direct connection to war activities back home) to check out this project.

Makes a great tri-generation activity (grandpa, son/daughter, grand-kids) that ensures the new generation hears about their own heritage directly from a family member.
 
My Uncle Ed was a Combat Engineer who went ashore with the first wave to hit Omaha Beach, at this time my Dad was on a destroyer in the Pacific,my Uncle Phil was somewhere in the Pacific as a SeaBee and my cousin Tommy was also out there with the First Marine Div, they're all gone now & if they ever spoke about their experiences it was only amongst each other.
 
16in50calNavalRifle

Thanks for the link I'll check it out. They actually have been converted for several years now. (I gave out copies to some family members).
 
My Grandfather landed in France in a glider the night before D-Day. He passed away four years ago. The world is a poorer place for his loss.
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I'm sorry for your loss. Do you know what division and regiment he was in?
 
Here is a pic of my grandfather, first wave in Bougainville, one of 26 to walk away from that assault alive of his entire company and then many other pacific assaults in the pacific. Killed more men then he cares to talk about and waters up when we ask him about it. A great Marine, a Dad, a Grandfather, and now, with the aid of yours truly a "great" Grandfather. Funny how an entire name sake could and was wiped out by inches on beaches all over this planet. We feel very fortunate to be here, and I personally thank him every veterans day. Its about all the time he is willing to talk about it.

Not D-Day but just as bad............

Funny he still gives my Uncle a hard time about being in the Navy.....:D


DSC_1029.jpg
 
The youngest person who went ashore on D Day was probably 17 at the time and was there because he told a tall tail about his age. Today he'd be 82. I wonder if some of these survivors of that era are pleased with the politics of today where we seem to be our own worst enemy. I trust the efforts and sacrifice of these persons will not be forgotten.
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There were many troops that landed on Omaha Beach that were younger than 17. I know of one here in my VFW post that was there and he just turned 80. This guy was in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and retired in 1974 at age 55 with a total 30 years of service. I joined before I was of age and served from Feb 1953 to Aug 1977 and retired at age 39 with 24 years 6 months and 11 days of service.

The dislike of our elected leaders of today is so bad among the veterans in my VFW Post that we don't talk politics at the open bar.


God Bless America
 
My Dad lied about his age and joined the Marine Corps several years before WWII. He kept getting busted down in rank for fighting in bars.

He served in the pacific theater and fought on Guadacanal. My brothers and I never learned of his service or his record until he was made the Commandant of his VFW. He never talked about it.

Two purple hearts and a silver star with oak leaf clusters. We buried him June of last year in Arlington.

Semper Fi, ya mean old bastard.
 
I was enjoying reading this thread until yours _DammitBoy_. Maybe you are kidding or showing respect for your dad in a way I don't understand.

Military life changed many men (and women, I'm sure). Some for better, some for worse. Don't know your story, don't need too. But I hope you can work it out and be a peace w/your dad.

Those we hate, control us.

Best wishes and prayers.
 
Hi Ready Rob,

Maybe you are kidding or showing respect for your dad in a way I don't understand.
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I rather think the latter. Dad called Gramps 'the Old Sargent' for years. What Dad's brother called him is unprintable in a polite forum. Gramps called his sons squawking chickens that didn't have what it took to be all American. (Dad and my uncle were 101st Airborne while Gramps was 82nd. Exact quotes changed for content.) What my Dad and uncle called each other was often worse and frankly it took me years to realize what was really happening. The expressions of affection between father and son or brother to brother are at best incomprehensible, that makes them no less valid for lack of our understanding.
 
June 6-1944

All those M1's that went ashore in France.
We are killing so many people in other countries today
JUNE 6--1944 does not even get a mention in the news anymore.
 
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