70th Anniversary of D-Day

[Llama_Shepherd]

I just thought it would be nice to have a thread about this, and I didn't see one. There's a very good chance that this is going to be the final significant anniversary with large numbers of men who actually took the beaches.

So if people want to talk about the largest amphibious invasion in history performed mainly by American, British and Canadian forces, or any continental hypsters about the liberations of their nations or maybe even just little historical tidbits we now have a thread.

 

[C. Lee]

As my wife grew up, she knew her father had been in the army...but knew nothing of what he did. He never spoke of it. She had some pics of him in uniform, but that was it. He died around 20 years ago. About 15 years ago her mother brought out some old papers of his to show her. They were his army discharge papers. On them it listed his (I don't remember the exact wording) "areas of action". Normandy was the first one. It also listed him as a medic in charge of 5 other men.

So....he was on the beaches of Normandy, without a gun, saving lives.


What anyone did on that day is humbling. I think what the medics did that day was beyond outstanding.

As far as my wife knows, he never spoke of it to anyone.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Very thankful for the men who fought on that day and the sacrifices they made.

 

[Morg]

History channel going air a 10 days to D-Day at 9 am(eastern time) and at 9 pm D-Day in HD

 

[terry78]

Yeah, that was one of the weirdest days in history ever. They knew what had to be done though, and were all in agreement to boot.

 

[jmc]

Australian and New Zealand forces contributed too under command of the British. I went on a WW2 documentary kick recently, fascinating stuff to watch. I strongly suggest if anyone is interested head over to youtube, there's a bunch of documentaries.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Bodies etched into the sand on the beach at Normandy.

9,000 for the dead on the 1st day landings.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

Ah yes, I can't belive I forgot to mention Imperial/Commonwealth forces.

Sword beach is about to begin the ceremony.

Also, I really like Obama's line: "If prayers could make a sound, the skies of England would have deafened the world".

Whoever wrote that deserves a raise.

 

[jmc]

Live stream on Youtube.

 

[Fallen Angel]

My grandads older brother was part of the regiment who went in before the D- Day landings man the horrors he saw and the stories he told us when he were here. Horrific some of them.

 

[Raelis Shae]

My parents were young children during WW II, and they always remained grateful to those who joined in the struggle to face overwhelming odds. Every year I hope that through these remembrances we keep the memory of the fallen and their sacrifice alive, and so make a better world for other generations to come.

 

[jmc]

My late grandfather fought during the war but I'm not sure where he was saw action, he was one of those men who never wanted to talk about it.

 

[Tempest]

One of the greatest, and worst days, in history. The courage, and sacrifice of these soldiers is awe-inspiring. I am so grateful for what they, and all the soldiers who fought in WWII, accomplished.

Thank you.

 

[Duke]

I'm grateful for all our country's servicemen who serve & put themselves in harm's way to protect our the country I live in.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Hard to believe it has been 70 years already.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Scenes from D-Day: Then and Now
Photo Gallery over at the Atlantic

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

My thanks to the Boys that died ( edit : or not ) to free my country.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Missing Old Man Turns Up In France, With Medals, for D-Day Anniversary

An 89-year-old veteran who went missing from his retirement home in Sussex, England yesterday morning has been located: He showed up today on the beachhead of Normandy, medals pinned to his coat, to take in the anniversary celebration of the D-Day invasion.

The Guardian, which is liveblogging the D-Day 70th anniversary festivities, has the story:

Sussex police were called at 7.15pm on Thursday by staff at the Pines care home, Furze Hill, in Hove, who said an 89-year-old who lived there had gone out at 10.30am and had not been seen since. He had gone out wearing a grey mackintosh and a jacket underneath with his war medals on, police said.

Officers began searching the area, including checking hospitals in case something had happened to him, and spoke to bus and taxi companies, but none of them knew where he was.

Late last night, a younger veteran called the nursing home to let administrators know that he'd met up with the old man on a France-bound bus, and they'd split a hotel room not far from the battlefields of Normandy.

The younger veteran reportedly promised to make sure the codger got safely home, just as soon as they were done celebrating their conquest of the Nazis and the fact that an almost-nonagenarian British pensioner is still such a complete badass.

Update: The Guardian has identified the old man as Bernard Jordan, ex-mayor of Hove, England, and a D-Day vet. His nursing home tweeted out his pic:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/06/d-day-landings-70-years-anniversary-live

Hell yeah, rock on dude! This guy is a total BAMF

 

[ThePhantasm]

93-year-old badass who parachuted into Normandy does it again:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/v...ittermann-france-d-day-the-last-jump.cnn.html

 

[HaplessHenchman]

Thanks to all those brave men who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.

God bless.

 

[Erzengel]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/06/d-day-landing-sites-pictures_n_5458026.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

 

[Marvolo]

Missing Old Man Turns Up In France, With Medals, for D-Day Anniversary

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/06/d-day-landings-70-years-anniversary-live

Hell yeah, rock on dude! This guy is a total BAMF

93-year-old badass who parachuted into Normandy does it again:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/v...ittermann-france-d-day-the-last-jump.cnn.html

Id like to buy both of these badasses some drinks and to set down with them and talk!

All the men who stormed that beach and everyone who helped make that mission a success (both men and women ), we are in debt to them and always will be. Id shake all their hands and thank them in person if I could.

 

[Thundercrack85]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/06/d-day-landing-sites-pictures_n_5458026.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Growing up in Western Europe, I always found it strange to think, how just a few decades ago all the buildings around me had been rubble, and full of dead bodies.

Granted, you could still find war scars if you looked, but it just seemed like something that happened so long ago. When at the time, it was only 50 years earlier...

 

[PalmerTheThing]

As my wife grew up, she knew her father had been in the army...but knew nothing of what he did. He never spoke of it. She had some pics of him in uniform, but that was it. He died around 20 years ago. About 15 years ago her mother brought out some old papers of his to show her. They were his army discharge papers. On them it listed his (I don't remember the exact -+wording) "areas of action". Normandy was the first one. It also listed him as a medic in charge of 5 other men.

So....he was on the beaches of Normandy, without a gun, saving lives.


What anyone did on that day is humbling. I think what the medics did that day was beyond outstanding.

As far as my wife knows, he never spoke of it to anyone.

Great post, perhaps one of my favorite sharing's of yours.

Salute to all who fought in war, and lost their lives in the act of performing such a heroic act.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I wonder, do the German vets go to these things?