Remember D-Day...

[RyanShort1]

63 years ago today.

Ryan

[fotobass]

From something I posted on another board I frequent.

The thread title is I see this guy die pretty often.

And this is the worst version of the footage I've seen. Nonetheless, at about the 48-second point in this video is a few seconds of the surviving footage from the invasion on D-Day.

There's four soldiers moving up the beach loosely grouped together. The guy in front is hit and drops, but starts to get up again by the time the shot is over.

But the fourth man is hit, drops like a stone, and doesn't move. For some reason, out of all the footage I've seen of the Second World War, this man's probable death sticks with me more than any other bit, with this horrifying bit coming in second.

So anyway, that guy dropped 63 years ago today, along with a whole bunch o' others. And in a world where our President doesn't wish us to see caskets of soldiers on their final return flight, it's worth a moment of reflection.

[Elroy13]

[daveymac82c]

This is a day to remember for all of history.

-David

[BLR]

My Mom's cousin, Private Leslie Neufeld, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion RCIC died on D-Day. He was in one of the companies that parachuted in behind the German lines to secure the area for the invading force.

I read the letter he wrote home on June 5, the day before the invasion. There was not much in it other than the usual pleasentaries but he stated he was excited but scared about the pending invasion and wanted to say goodbye just in case. Very sobering.

Brian....

[mlenoch]

And in a world where our President doesn't wish us to see caskets of soldiers on their final return flight, it's worth a moment of reflection.[/quote][/quote]

To be fair, every President, including and since Roosevelt, have had the same wish. FDR was sharply criticized for some of the actions of the censors in his day.

Notwithstanding, a solemn moment of reflection is truly worthy.
VL

[retroaviation]

When I step into my back yard, I see the remains of a D-Day vet. It saddens me that I was unable to save the entire airplane, but I'm proud to have at least a small piece of something that represents a turning point in W.W.II. When I step into the cockpit of that ol' C-47 (43-15137, ship #40 to drop paratroopers on D-Day), I cannot help but to feel remorse for the guys that once stepped out of that very airplane, under parachute, knowing that they would likely not make it out of there alive. Those were truly some great men and machines.



Gary

Last edited by retroaviation on Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jesse C.]

A day the whole world should never forget and always remember, the day freedom of mankind hung in the balance. A day that courage and bravery was the order of the day and not the exception.

Many paid the ultimate price and should be thanked and never forgotten.

God Bless Them All

[Bill Greenwood]

Great post Ryan, and great photo Elroy. I have thought a number of times what it would have been like when that boat ramp dropped. Were they seasick and ready to get off, or just young and scared? Could you hear bullets hitting the ramp armour, maybe mortars around you? If you were Brits or Canucks on Gold or Juno or Sword,maybe you had a decent chance to live, at least to get off the beach. If you were American at Omaha, the odds weren't so good. In any case, I think those men would have known they were doing something of vital importance and maybe worth that risk to free Europe from the Nazis.

[clangjr]

Great post Ryan, and great photo Elroy. I have thought a number of times what it would have been like when that boat ramp dropped. Were they seasick and ready to get off, or just young and scared? Could you hear bullets hitting the ramp armour, maybe mortars around you? If you were Brits or Canucks on Gold or Juno or Sword,maybe you had a decent chance to live, at least to get off the beach. If you were American at Omaha, the odds weren't so good. In any case, I think those men would have known they were doing something of vital importance and maybe worth that risk to free Europe from the Nazis.

In addition to your thoughts and questions, I ofte wonder what went through these young boys heads. Did the really know the dangers? Both of the Nazi regime as well as the beach ahead of them?

Some of the accounts I've read of the 17 year olds faking their age to get in are amazing. Disguising or hiding disabilties just to be able to join. The ones who were denied entry to the military and commit suicide because of it. What a different era. In many ways I wish I were a part of it.