D day.

[Task Force]

Tomorrow (on the US east coast here) is the (I think) 65 anniversary of the normandy invasion... I thank all those brave men who went into the battlefield to fight the germans.:salute:

http://pictures.deadlycomputer.com/d/19690-1/d-day.jpg

[CastleBravo]

Even now the paratroopers were airborn 65 years ago.

My we always remember the sacrifice.

[Oberon]

Right at this moment, 65 years ago, elements of the US airbourne were on the ground in Normandy and already in combat with the enemy. In less than five hours time, the naval invasion begins.
God bless all of them, and to all of them, my deepest thanks. :salute:

[Onkel Neal]

Salute to the Allied troops. Democracy came at a cost, and they paid it. :shucks:

[nikimcbee]

Even now the paratroopers were airborn 65 years ago.

My we always remember the sacrifice.

Rangers lead the way:

I got to attend a Band of Brothers reunion and meet several of them:
Don Malarkey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ato3VUMt3bU

Forrest Gueth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwRJ9vW6M-s

:salute:

[nikimcbee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IrB68Xs4kU
:salute:

[Oberon]

65 years ago at this moment the naval part of Operation Overlord was underway, the beaches of Normandy were now a scene of a naval invasion the scale of which will never be repeated.
I am 25 years old, 65 years ago I would very likely have been on that beach, those men died so that I may type this in peace from my home on the East Anglian coast. I am just returned from laying some flowers at the local war memorial, those men who fought today, have my eternal gratitude.
God bless them, all of them. :salute:

[Contact]

Salute! For me it's the most impressing Allied invasion of all times :up:

Thinking of watching "Saving private Ryan" again today :)

Also watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5lnR8DmoLc

[Kapitan_Phillips]

One of my grandfathers stormed Gold, the other stormed Sword. If only I had chance to listen to the one's stories.

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

A tribute to the Band of Brothers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtctYpXkoL0. And the slip of paper from Ike that everone got on D-Day.

Soldiers,Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark the Great Crusade, toward which we
we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world
are apon 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
ourselfs 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 States have inflicted upon the
Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air
offensive has seriouly redueced their strength in the air and on
the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming
superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed our
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 blessing of Almighty God
upon this great and noble undertaking.

Dwight Eisenhower.


On D-Day some 2,900,000 Allied troops from the US, Britian and Her Commonwealth and other nations that where now a part Nazi occupied Europe. Not one of the solders, sailors, and airmen could know if they would see the end of The Longest Day. Some perished in the planes and in the landing craft, others lived though the war. But those who are living and dead, who took part in this operation deserve a specal place in history. June 6, 1944 THE LONGEST DAY.

[HunterICX]

D-Day is one of the parts in World War II that touches me the most
twice I've been to Normandy and it left an impresion on me.

I salute all who took part in the battle. :salute:

HunterICX

[TarJak]

Their sacrifice honours all who came after.

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun
And in the morning.
We will remember them

Lest we forget.:salute:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Juno Beach - The Canadians On D-Day

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, “Operation Overlord”, 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 3rd Canadian 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 Bernières, 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.

http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/images/juno-1-0.1-Queens%20Own%20landing%201%20tn.jpg


http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/index.htm


Salute to all the Allied Troops :salute:

[Schroeder]

The victory was a turning point in World War II and led to the liberation of Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany.


Actually the turning point was Stalingrad and Germany would have been defeated by the Soviets anyway. ;)
But I too am grateful for those who gave their lives there. They ended the Nazi tyranny and made it possible that I was born in a free and democratic (as much as western democracies are democratic;)) Germany.

[August]

They ended the Nazi tyranny and made it possible that I was born in a free and democratic (as much as western democracies are democratic;)) Germany.

And allowed my father, a US Soldier and my mother a German Fraulein to meet 9 years later, fall in love and become man and wife in a marriage that lasted until my fathers death in 1998.

It's strange how life works sometimes... :salute:

[Task Force]

Wounder what would have happened if the envsions would have went completly rong for the allies.:hmmm:

[Oberon]

Wounder what would have happened if the envsions would have went completly rong for the allies.:hmmm:

Probably best not to consider it, and thank god and the men who fought that day that it did not.

[Schroeder]

Wounder what would have happened if the envsions would have went completly rong for the allies.:hmmm:
I would be speaking Russian now (together with the rest of continental Europe).

[Task Force]

Thank god for the atlanic ocean then... lol

[Raptor1]

Actually the turning point was Stalingrad and Germany would have been defeated by the Soviets anyway. ;)
But I too am grateful for those who gave their lives there. They ended the Nazi tyranny and made it possible that I was born in a free and democratic (as much as western democracies are democratic;)) Germany.

*cough* Some might argue that the true turning point was at Kursk *cough*

Anyway, kinda late salute :salute:

[Jimbuna]

Juno Beach - The Canadians On D-Day

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, “Operation Overlord”, 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 3rd Canadian 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 Bernières, 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.

http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/images/juno-1-0.1-Queens%20Own%20landing%201%20tn.jpg


http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/index.htm


Salute to all the Allied Troops :salute:

My father was on that beachead (Courseulles Le Mar)....I rang him today and thanked him....especially for getting home safely to my mother...otherwise I wouldn't be here :DL

Tomorrow I visit them as usual and we have a right old chin wag.

THEY WERE ALL BRAVE AND IT IS ONLY RIGHT AND FITTING THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND REMEMBER THEM.

~SALUTE~

[Oberon]

Thank him from me too Jim :salute:

[ReallyDedPoet]

My father was on that beachead (Courseulles Le Mar)....I rang him today and thanked him....especially for getting home safely to my mother...otherwise I wouldn't be here :DL

Tomorrow I visit them as usual and we have a right old chin wag.

THEY WERE ALL BRAVE AND IT IS ONLY RIGHT AND FITTING THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND REMEMBER THEM.

~SALUTE~

Say thanks from me as well :salute:

[SteamWake]

http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/24691/wwii-dday-and-operation-overlord

[Sledgehammer427]

I made D-day burgers...
i lined them up on the grill, and cut the cheese off so it would look like the normandy coast
then, after I got done, i put them on the bun, left the top off, and drew in little landing boats and stuff...(with ketchup and mustard, i hate lettuce, tomato and the like)

I get bored okay?

[Task Force]

lol... sounds good... D day burgers... never thought of that.

[sharkbit]

Saw a crawl on Fox News Saturday:
"D-Day was formerly known as Operation Overload" :-?

What a bunch of boobs!:88)


I salute all of those who took part. It was probably one of the defining moments of the 20th century.:salute:

I've visited the area a couple of times myself. Quite a moving experience.
:)

[Raptor1]

Saw a crawl on Fox News Saturday:
"D-Day was formerly known as Operation Overload" :-?

What a bunch of boobs!:88)


I salute all of those who took part. It was probably one of the defining moments of the 20th century.:salute:

I've visited the area a couple of times myself. Quite a moving experience.
:)

Overload? That makes it even worse...

[Q3ark]

Wounder what would have happened if the envsions would have went completly rong for the allies.:hmmm:

If it was going to go wrong, it would have happened here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_Bridge .

This was an operation to secure the eastern flank of the invasion by capturing two bridges, one over the Cean canal and another over the river Orne. The river and canal run paralel to each other. The idea was to take and hold the bridges, preventing Col Hans Von Luck's 21st panzer division reaching the invasion forces on the beaches.

There is a good book about the operation by Stephen E Ambrose. I have recently read it and can say it is well worth a look.

[Raptor1]

If it was going to go wrong, it would have happened here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_Bridge .

This was an operation to secure the eastern flank of the invasion by capturing two bridges, one over the Cean canal and another over the river Orne. The river and canal run paralel to each other. The idea was to take and hold the bridges, preventing Col Hans Von Luck's 21st panzer division reaching the invasion forces on the beaches.

There is a good book about the operation by Stephen E Ambrose. I have recently read it and can say it is well worth a look.

I'll have to disagree, Overlord could have gone wrong at any point, it was a massive gamble.

The failure of the OKW to react to the invasion (Of course, under Hitler's directive to keep forces at the Pas de Calais) was one of the greatest strategic blunders of the war (I rank it slightly under the idiotic decision to launch Operation Citadel). The Germans had numerous frontline divisions in the area which could have been redeployed to drive the Allies out of Normandy before they could unload all their troops, but command disagreements, lack of communication and the usual botching by Hitler kept nearly all of those out of combat for days, by which point it was too late.

[OneToughHerring]

I made D-day burgers...
i lined them up on the grill, and cut the cheese off so it would look like the normandy coast
then, after I got done, i put them on the bun, left the top off, and drew in little landing boats and stuff...(with ketchup and mustard, i hate lettuce, tomato and the like)

I get bored okay?

D-Day...burgers? Nice idea but I'm not sure if I'd serve them to a US D-Day veteran. :DL

"Look gran-daddy, this is Omaha beach where you were, it's where I put all the ketchup"

"...!"

[nikimcbee]

Not to change the subject, but the history channel had a great show about Wake Is with the 5 Wake Is survivors (the show was on june 6th). Pretty interesting show.

[Contact]

Flash!

[Task Force]

Ah look Mc bees sig is a big ugly red X.:rotfl:

[Dowly]

Flash!

Thunder!

EDIT:

From the Life link:

Capa took 106 pictures on D-Day but a LIFE photo technician in London ruined all but 10 of them.

Just... wow... :o

[Contact]

Thunder!


Good catch :up:

[mookiemookie]

Good catch :up:

I'm thinking of buying one of these: http://www.airbornecricket.com/

[Jimbuna]

I'm thinking of buying one of these: http://www.airbornecricket.com/

We used to get something made of plastic that did the same job in bags of sweets when I was a schoolkid :DL


http://www.familypetconsultants.com/TabbedYellowTopclicker.gif