D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
Sixty-three years ago on this day allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in what is still, to this day, the largest seaborne invasion in the history of the world. Just a little historical oddity, but the name for the overall operation to retake Western Europe from Hitler's Nazis was Operation Overlord. The name for the actual June 6th invasion of Normandy was Operation Neptune. Neptune began on June 6, 1944, and ended 24 days later on June 30th. The allied forces suffered about 10,000 causalities on D-Day. About 2,500 of those casualties were deaths. The U.S. forces casualty figure was 6,603, inducing 1,465 dead, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing and 26 captured.
There was a time when you didn't have to engage in a mini history lesson on D-Day. This was something the American people were actually taught in school, or something they remembered personally. Not so today, unfortunately. If you care to know more here are some links from the D-Day Museum and from Wikipedia that seem very thorough.
Something else you might not have known about D-Day. As the allied troops were landing on the beaches of Normandy, President Roosevelt was reading a prayer on America's radio stations. For those of you who don't know anything about it or have never heard it, here it is:
[align=center]Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day without rest - until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a countenance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.
Pres. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, June 6, 1944[/align]
You have to wonder if our country, today, with our politicians and leftist news media, could possibly prevail in such a conflict.
__________________ "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." -Thomas Paine
So I said "Do you love me?" & she said, "No, but that's a really nice ski mask."
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
If it was the present, the troops would still be waiting in England while Germany was handed its 30th UN resolution to withdraw from France and quit attacking others. The German munitions factory system would be thriving because the rules of engagement would not permit widespread bombing of factories in near proximity to civilian populations. And, in anticipation of the invasion, the U.S. JAG corps would be preparing for a military court system crowded with American soldiers under indictment for violating rules of engagement like returning fire at Nazi sniper firing from church bell towers. And WWII war would be all Bush's fault.[:@]
__________________
"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
We must neverforget D-Day or the troops whofought to keep the USA free. Had a lot of friends who landed on the coast of France on D-Day. Lot of others fought in the Pacific, North Africa and other places. Now most of them are gone. Had a first cousin who escaped from ***anese imprisonment after the surrender at Corregidor, went to OCS and died at St. Mere Eglis on D-Day.
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
Quote:
There was a time when you didn't have to engage in a mini history lesson on D-Day. This was something the American people were actually taught in school, or something they remembered personally
I am 37 and the my father is a WWII vet (Navy, Pacific Theatre). In school there was just a rudimentary overview of WWII. Since then I have become somewhat of a history buff especially interested in all things relating to WWII. One thing I can say is Thank God for the History Channel. No amount of classroom presentations can match the lifelike perspective that the history channel brings to bare on a variety of subjects. I think that it has caused a semi-resurgence in interest in history among many. I watched a couple of hours on D-Day just this morning and it was awesome.
__________________
Looney tunes deductive reasoning:
--Me smell Mohican burning
--Me last Mohican
--Must be me!!!
--EEEOOOWWW!!!!!
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
Quote:
ORIGINAL: hillbillyhunter1
Quote:
There was a time when you didn't have to engage in a mini history lesson on D-Day. This was something the American people were actually taught in school, or something they remembered personally
I am 37 and the my father is a WWII vet (Navy, Pacific Theatre). In school there was just a rudimentary overview of WWII. Since then I have become somewhat of a history buff especially interested in all things relating to WWII. One thing I can say is Thank God for the History Channel. No amount of classroom presentations can match the lifelike perspective that the history channel brings to bare on a variety of subjects. I think that it has caused a semi-resurgence in interest in history among many. I watched a couple of hours on D-Day just this morning and it was awesome.
The History Channel is a life saver! I watch so much of it and it bores my wife to death.
__________________ "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it." -Thomas Paine
So I said "Do you love me?" & she said, "No, but that's a really nice ski mask."
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
On time-on target Falcon. Thiscoming weekendIwill begoingto Pilot Mountain, NC to put a flag and wreath on my great-uncle's grave, who passed away in 1997. Heserved as a infrantryman in the 1st Infantry Division from 1941 until he was discharged in 1946. He landed in North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy.
To the greatest generation.
__________________
1 SHOT-1 KILL: NOT JUST A MOTTO, IT' S A WAY OF LIFE.
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
Been watching it for 3 hours on the history channel, really an amazing event.Had two grandpas in it but they never talked about it much, theyre both gone now.
RE: D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
My dad and one uncle were there. I was three before my dad ever saw me. My Uncle was a Medic, he never really got over the things he saw on that day. We owe a hugh debt to those men who laid it on the line knowing the odds they were up against. God bless them and keep them.
D-day A/k/a Operation Overlord And The Battle Of Normandy
