Today is one of those days where you sit back and really appreciate what you have in life, and re-evaluate what is “bad ass” because… You could be storming a beach.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Today is one of those days where you sit back and really appreciate what you have in life, and re-evaluate what is “bad ass” because… You could be storming a beach.[/quote]
So true.
True dat.
Also,… it’s National Donut day, so pop into a Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kreme and enjoy.
S
Juno Beach - The Canadians On D-Day
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, â??Operation Overlordâ??, the long-awaited invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe, began with Allied armies from the U.S., Britain and Canada landing on the coast of Normandy. On D-Day, the 3rdCanadian Infantry Division landed on Juno Beach. The Canadian assault troops stormed ashore in the face of fierce opposition from German strongholds and mined beach obstacles.
The soldiers raced across the wide-open beaches swept with machine gun fire, and stormed the gun positions. In fierce hand-to-hand fighting, they fought their way into the towns of Berni�¨res, Courseulles and St. Aubin and then advanced inland, securing a critical bridgehead for the allied invasion. The victory was a turning point in World War II and led to the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Fourteen thousand young Canadians stormed Juno Beach on D-Day. Their courage, determination and self-sacrifice were the immediate reasons for the success in those critical hours. The fighting they endured was fierce and frightening. The price they paid was high - the battles for the beachhead cost 340 Canadian lives and another 574 wounded. John Keegan, eminent British historian who wrote Six Armies in Normandy, stated the following concerning the Canadian 3rd Division on D-Day: â??At the end of the day, its forward elements stood deeper into France than those of any other division. The opposition the Canadians faced was stronger than that of any other beach save Omaha. That was an accomplishment in which the whole nation could take considerable pride.â??
This site is a tribute to the men and women who served in the Canadian Army during D-Day and World War II. To these people, we owe the freedom that we take for granted. Let us never forget their sacrifice. God bless them all.
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
– Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”
The note Eisenhower wrote in case the landings failed.
The note was written in pencil, and was originally “The troops have been withdrawn”. Those words were crossed out and Eisenhower wrote instead “I have withdrawn the troops”.
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.
Not to derail this, but next month is the 100th anniversary of World War 1’s beginning. There’s no vets left from that war, but if you ever get to talk to any men who have served, just stay quiet and listen. Their stories are beautiful and incredibly haunting at the same time.
Some links:
93 year old vet parachutes onto Utah beach 70 years after he did it the first time:
Veteran, 89, found in Normandy after he was reported missing from care home:
D-Day Broadcast:
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Damn,… I’m just rereading that a couple of times and letting it sink in.
S
[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Damn,… I’m just rereading that a couple of times and letting it sink in.
S[/quote]
They also told them that most of the fortifying units had been wiped out by the Allied air bombardment prior to the landing. In reality however, the air bombardment had been largely ineffective as soldiers soon realized once they saw how many defenders they were up against.
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Imagine what would have happened if-
1- Hitler didn’t have to send troops to the Eastern Front.
2- Hitler didn’t fall for all the deception plans used to weaken the defense at Normandy.
3- Rommel wasn’t on fucking leave.
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Imagine what would have happened if-
1- Hitler didn’t have to send troops to the Eastern Front.
2- Hitler didn’t fall for all the deception plans used to weaken the defense at Normandy.
3- Rommel wasn’t on fucking leave.[/quote]
Arguably the reason we got involved… but
1- Roosevelt didn’t have to send troops to the Pacific.
A good friend of mine was a radio operator on a B-17. His mind is sharp as a tack but his body is failing. When you read about the casualty rates of the 8th Air Force bomber crews you realize it’s a miracle that he made it back without a scratch on him. I read some historians claim that strategic bombing was a waste but they’re idiots.
My grandfather didn’t participate in D-Day, but he did fight I the Battle of the Bulge, and got overrun, and the guys in his unit who surrendered were executed by the SS. No wonder he never talked about it. He was laid to rest 10 years ago.
A friend of my dad’s was a Marine who fought on Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and I don’t know where else, and never got a scratch but I’m sure he carried his scars. One of the nicest guys you could ever meet. But he was laid to rest almost 30 years ago.
Count yourself lucky that you ever knew such men!
Absolutely. God bless them all.
It humbles me when I hear of WW2 vets or any other war veteran for that matter, refusing to talk about their experiences or keeping it to themselves, particularly in today’s social media bukkake fest.
[quote]AliveAgain36 wrote:
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Imagine what would have happened if-
1- Hitler didn’t have to send troops to the Eastern Front.
2- Hitler didn’t fall for all the deception plans used to weaken the defense at Normandy.
3- Rommel wasn’t on fucking leave.[/quote]
Arguably the reason we got involved… but
1- Roosevelt didn’t have to send troops to the Pacific.
[/quote]
or hitler takes Moscow instead of going after Stalingrad.
D-Day is one of the most heroic and horrific events of the war, but compared to the eastern front it’s kinda a walk in the park.
as a card holding member of the cupcake generation i cant even begin to comprehend what happen back then, in any theater of combat. Arguably the worst period in the history of our civilization.
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Imagine what would have happened if-
1- Hitler didn’t have to send troops to the Eastern Front.
2- Hitler didn’t fall for all the deception plans used to weaken the defense at Normandy.
3- Rommel wasn’t on fucking leave.[/quote]
1- We’d be bulking with bratwurst.
2- Hairy armpits reeking of death would be a normal female attribute.
3- Being cold, uptight and devoid of humor would be considered cool.
On a serious note, the Germans would not have just rolled over England and ventured west occupying the entire land mass east of the Mississippi.
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]csulli wrote:
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose said that the US sent primarily un-blooded units to take the Normandy Beaches because experienced troops would have refused to leave the landing craft when they saw how well fortified the beaches were.[/quote]
Imagine what would have happened if-
1- Hitler didn’t have to send troops to the Eastern Front.
2- Hitler didn’t fall for all the deception plans used to weaken the defense at Normandy.
3- Rommel wasn’t on fucking leave.[/quote]
Amphibious assaults are among the most difficult military operations to conduct. As Mearsheimer posits, the stopping power of large bodies of water stymies the power projection capabilities attacking forces.
[quote]csulli wrote:
Some links:
93 year old vet parachutes onto Utah beach 70 years after he did it the first time:
Veteran, 89, found in Normandy after he was reported missing from care home:
D-Day Broadcast:
https://archive.org/details/Complete_Broadcast_Day_D-Day[/quote]
Great finds … If you haven’t clicked on the links, you owe it to yourself …
It would be a great pleasure to be able to buy these two old STUDS a drink … Or 12
[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
A good friend of mine was a radio operator on a B-17. His mind is sharp as a tack but his body is failing. When you read about the casualty rates of the 8th Air Force bomber crews you realize it’s a miracle that he made it back without a scratch on him. I read some historians claim that strategic bombing was a waste but they’re idiots.
My grandfather didn’t participate in D-Day, but he did fight I the Battle of the Bulge, and got overrun, and the guys in his unit who surrendered were executed by the SS. No wonder he never talked about it. He was laid to rest 10 years ago.
A friend of my dad’s was a Marine who fought on Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and I don’t know where else, and never got a scratch but I’m sure he carried his scars. One of the nicest guys you could ever meet. But he was laid to rest almost 30 years ago.
Count yourself lucky that you ever knew such men! [/quote]
I had a barber for a while in town who lied about his age and joined the Marines in 1943 at 17. Survived multiple beach landings, including Iwo Jima.
I was lucky to have known him.