June 6 D Day a forgotten day

[Meetzos]

A little late in the day, but I was looking at the calendar and noticed the date. June 6 DDay. I didn't see any mention on the news or in the local paper. I guess the they just want to forget about it, seeing that most of the participants are gone. Wonder what the big "Obombus" did to commorate the day, anyone hear or see anything?

[minimus]

"And many are the dead men, too silent to be real."

- Gorden Lightfoot

[REO 54]

....wait till Dec 7th rolls around... "crickets"

[graspAU]

This is a great set of historic pictures:

http://life.time.com/history/d-day-rare-color-photos/#1

[WhyKnow]

My dad was born on D-Day. Grandpa called home to tell Grandma that it was D-Day and she said, "You're right. It IS dee day." Grandpa died last year. WWII generation is dying off.

[TomD]

My Dad was a company commander in the 101st Airborne, he got shot up pretty badly during the invasion.

Other very important things happened on this date in WWII, this is the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway.

[Gold Rush]

I was up to the VA Hospital earlier today for some tests, noticed when I set down that two Vets setting across from me, had WWII Veteran hats on..I told each Thank You! and shook each of their hands..one old guy was 87. and the other was 91..the 91yr old gent spent the next 20 min talking about memories from France after the invasion..some amazing stories.. took a few minutes to google todays celebrations for D Day..not too much listed here, or anything about Obamie..other then he was fund raising two days ago..Today same as every year there was a big ceremony in France for D DAY..They haven't Forgotten!

[Mr Paradise]

My Grandfather and his SS unit would be moving into the Caen area right about now, trying his best to drive the invaders back into the sea. In less than three months he'd be a POW.

[BoatingAccident]

I've always been fond of wwII history. While not d-day related, my grandfather was in the navy at the time. His ship was set to sail for the south pacific, as the lines were being cast off, he was pulled off the ship for station duty. Seems he was the closest man around who could type, of all things, and they pulled him off the ship for that reason. That ship sank months later, torpedoed by the japanese, and the casualties high. It's humbling to think that you possibly have this gift of life, all because your grandpa could type on a typewriter.

[Meetzos]

My Grandfather and his SS unit would be moving into the Caen area right about now, trying his best to drive the invaders back into the sea. In less than three months he'd be a POW.

I read a book few years ago called The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sager, interesting story about the average mans expierence of the war from the axis side.

[Mantokir]

I've always been fond of wwII history. While not d-day related, my grandfather was in the navy at the time. His ship was set to sail for the south pacific, as the lines were being cast off, he was pulled off the ship for station duty. Seems he was the closest man around who could type, of all things, and they pulled him off the ship for that reason. That ship sank months later, torpedoed by the japanese, and the casualties high. It's humbling to think that you possibly have this give of life, all because your grandpa could type on a typewriter.

If you really wanna warp your mind, think about the entire chain of events that had to happen to put you on this planet. All the people who had to survive to reproduction, the people who had to survive disasters that wiped out entire bloodlines, the people who survived wars, or even just the caveman that survived a winter.

And that's just the people... if we came from monkeys and all the way back to one cell organisms, that's a whole other length of chain....

As for D-Day, I noticed the same thing here, didn't even know about it till I came on these forums....

[<===Foolsgold]

My Dad was a 19yo "kid" involved in the battle of the bulge. These dates are not forgotten by me.

My Dad was driving a fuel truck during the battle of the bulge and the first time he unit came under attack, he sought cover under the truck, until a someone with better sense pulled him out of there. Dad wouldn't talk much about his experience during the war, he saw to much death.
He was discharged while he was in California waiting to be part of the invasion force sent to Japan. My Mom would not hesitate to tell you it was a good thing the bomb was dropped on Japan.

[AgBar]

Both my grandfathers were involved in Overlord.

My dad's dad was an aircraft mechanic in the US Army Air Corps. Stationed in England, he eventually came to work on the wooden gliders that slipped troops and supplies over the channel. He was also part of the recovery teams that flew over to France to bring them back and turn them around for another run. After WWII, he retired, came back to the States, and worked as a machinist and tool-master for Chevrolet for many years. He later had his femur shattered in a car accident. The doctors wanted to amputate at the hip, but he told them to f*** off; he walked with a cane for the rest of his life, but he walked.

My mom's dad lied about his age (he was 17) to enlist in the Army. Infantry. He was sent to England, and landed in France on D plus 3 as part of the re-enforcements*. He fought with 3rd Army, all the way thru until Germany surrendered. He received a field commission during the Bulge: he was one of a small handful from his unit to survive some action, so they gave him bars and rebuilt it around him. Wounded, bronze star.

Then they transferred him to Japan in the late 40's (he wore both army of occupation medals on his uniform). He was in Japan at just the right time for the start of Korea. He landed at Pusan and was in combat within hours. He fought -- on foot -- all the way up the peninsula, and then much of the retreat back to the 38th. Left his second war as a Captain and company commander. Wounded twice more, another bronze and a silver star.

I have an old photograph of the young Captain taken shortly after he came back to Japan. I never really understood the phrase "thousand yard stare" until I saw that picture. Of all his decorations, the only one he was really proud of was his combat infantry badge. He had a heart as big as the planet, and what he saw and what he had to do haunted him for the rest of his life.


No, they're not forgotten, at least not by all of us. They're just passing into history, is all.



* his best friend from back home was part of the invasion itself: he survived Omaha. I met him once, years ago.

[TomD]

My Dad was interviewed for the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion for News Week Magazine. He was shot two times before the big one but in the days before medivacs you kept at it if you could.

[Gold Rush]

My Dad was interviewed for the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion for News Week Magazine. He was shot two times before the big one but in the days before medivacs you kept at it if you could.

Thank's to You and your Father Tom, for sharing those memories..I'm a big advocate of Veterans who want to share their story too do so..It's important too history...it tells a living story of what happened, and what it was like at the time.. I was out walking with my oldest son yesterday, my oldest boy is 22 yrs old with his own punk rock band, but he wanted to know all about the places I had been and about my combat service..it meant alot to me, that he was interested

[Mr Paradise]

. I read a book few years ago called The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sager, interesting story about the average mans expierence of the war from the axis side.

He was 19 years old in 44 he told me joined the SS because they were considered elite and he liked the uniforms.
He was just like any other teenager fighting for his country. He told me once he was ready to get back at the allies for all the bombing raids he had to endure growing up. His unit went up against mostly British and Canadian troops and from what I've researched they put up a pretty good fight.

[smooth]

Thank's to You and your Father Tom, for sharing those memories..I'm a big advocate of Veterans who want to share their story too do so..It's important too history...it tells a living story of what happened, and what it was like at the time.. I was out walking with my oldest son yesterday, my oldest boy is 22 yrs old with his own punk rock band, but he wanted to know all about the places I had been and about my combat service..it meant alot to me, that he was interested

2nd that, thanks for sharing Tom

[hammerhead]

Thanks Meetzos.

The LCS guy I deal with, he was there. Saw him Wednsday and didn't realize what the day was to him. Kinda feel bad about it. Will take up a conversation with him about it when I see him again.

Don't know if it is patriotism or knowing that my Dad served during that war in the South Pacific, but I do feel gratitude for the courage and sacrifices that all had given during that time.

[minimus]

Another forgotten WWII beach, another story ... Return To Tarawa

[RUSH2112]

He was 19 years old in 44 he told me joined the SS because they were considered elite and he liked the uniforms.
He was just like any other teenager fighting for his country. He told me once he was ready to get back at the allies for all the bombing raids he had to endure growing up. His unit went up against mostly British and Canadian troops and from what I've researched they put up a pretty good fight.

Your making this sound like your grandfather was a victim. No sympathy from me.

[WhyKnow]

TomD, thanks alot. Wars make generations grow up fast--your dad seemed to have a good perspective. Did your dad ever get to track down that little french boy that threw the rock?
Whenever I read old or new history, the one thing I think is how people never change.

[Mr Paradise]

Your making this sound like your grandfather was a victim. No sympathy from me.

In war, all participants are victims. Whether they know it or not.