D-Day, June 6, 1944

[tummyman]

On this day in history....66 years ago, the Allies conducted the largest invasion of WWII to liberate France and Western Europe from occupation. It is sad that many news organizations have had little note of this event today and the lives and sacrifices made on that day. Rest assured we should NEVER forget!! My dad was in the second wave at Omaha Beach as a Navy Corpsman on that fateful day...he was a lucky one to survive until his 90's but he never ever forgot the horrible memories etched in his brain of the death and wounded casualties that lay on that beautiful sandy beach in France. May he and all that followed and have passed on with age Rest in Eternal Peace and may this country always remember the high cost of freedom that our soldiers have given and continue to give in many many wars and events for us to live FREE.

[RailroadJoe]

I agree with it all. Too bad our politicians don't understand what freedom is. Ex vet from Korea.

[Lakesrider]

I just got home and was able to reply to this as well. I think it is shameful. Downright disgustingly shameful that D-Day was not remembered by more of the news media today. I watched several different channels and not more than a minute or two on any of them. Some not at all. Something is really wrong when we can't remember the Day that over 9,000 of our allied troops perished in a bid to free Europe from the grasp of an evil man. It was also the day that Hundreds of thousands began that trek to freedom, as well as to many of their deaths.
How can anyone ever forget that. Maybe the news folk did.....Myself....Never.

[upthesaukee]

There are so many other things that those who write and report the news would rather talk about, hoping to increase their ratings. How is 2 minutes on D-Day going to help our ratings anyway?

This thought process is the reason we see men continuing to wear their ball caps (whether worn with the bill in the front or back) when: 1. The National Anthem is played; 2. Gun salute and Taps played; 3. Flag passes them during a parade; 4. Wearing said hat during meals at a restaurant; 5. The Pledge of Allegiance is being said (when allowed ); etc.

As a society, we are too complacent and Pride in America has waned, in my opinion.

I guess the list can go on, but unfortunately, and perhaps fortunately, this forum really isn't the place to get into this discussion.

Of course, those who gave their lives at D-Day and countless other battles in the years to come are the reason we do have this forum. So, thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and thanks to those who lived to tell us about it.

[AB_Monterey]

Truly, the greatest generation.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

"...As a society, we are too complacent and Pride in America has waned, in my opinion...Of course, those who gave their lives at D-Day and countless other battles in the years to come are the reason we do have this forum. So, thanks to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and thanks to those who lived to tell us about it..."

1) We are indeed too complacent: US defense secrets appear on the front pages of today's newspapers.

2) Months before D-Day, General Eisenhower kept secret the disastrous news of a one-day "practice invasion", which lead to the deaths of 700 US servicemen on a beach in England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3656939.stm

(The actual D-Day landing sites were truly remarkable in that they were kept so successfully secret).

3) D-Day also featured tanks that floated themselves ashore:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD_tank

4) My Dad (now) talks of his WWII experiences. (In an endeavor more dangerous than infantry and losing five aircraft in WWII operations).

5) Thanks, too, to those non-combatants in my own family who readily tell of the hardships endured during the London Blitz—and of the invasion by National Socialists—and resultant starvation in Holland.

To me, the telling of such personal experiences is a regular reminder of how dithering by our government's leadership can have incredibly disastrous consequences.

[CrawfordCentury]

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

I just got home and was able to reply to this as well. I think it is shameful. Downright disgustingly shameful that D-Day was not remembered by more of the news media today. I watched several different channels and not more than a minute or two on any of them. Some not at all. Something is really wrong when we can't remember the Day that over 9,000 of our allied troops perished in a bid to free Europe from the grasp of an evil man. It was also the day that Hundreds of thousands began that trek to freedom, as well as to many of their deaths.
How can anyone ever forget that. Maybe the news folk did.....Myself....Never.

I agree with the sentiment expressed here, but would like to note that most media are driven by anniversary dates ending in a zero or a five.

There was quite a bit about the 65th anniversary last year. I would expect that there will be a fair amount of VJ Day coverage leading up to 8/14.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by tummyman

On this day in history....66 years ago, the Allies conducted the largest invasion of WWII to liberate France and Western Europe from occupation. It is sad that many news organizations have had little note of this event today and the lives and sacrifices made on that day. Rest assured we should NEVER forget!! My dad was in the second wave at Omaha Beach as a Navy Corpsman on that fateful day...he was a lucky one to survive until his 90's but he never ever forgot the horrible memories etched in his brain of the death and wounded casualties that lay on that beautiful sandy beach in France. May he and all that followed and have passed on with age Rest in Eternal Peace and may this country always remember the high cost of freedom that our soldiers have given and continue to give in many many wars and events for us to live FREE.

After my wife and I married we were fortunate enough to share a 2 family house with my uncle who also landed on Omaha Beach on that fateful day. He never talked about it and I really only know where and when he served through his service records.

I visited the American Cemetery on the 60th anniversary of the Invasion and was humbled by it. The statue below is titled "Spirit of American Youth"

[SIKSUKR]

The people we memorialize in the media is shamefull. If it's not Michael Jackson then it's the most recent Gary Coleman. Why? Because they were "STARS"? The real heroes for the most part go uncelebrated and they are the men and woman serve this nation with their lives. God bless all of them and thank you, thank you, thank you for making me very fortunate to grow up in this country.

[SteveA]

You are so right on!

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

The people we memorialize in the media is shamefull. If it's not Michael Jackson then it's the most recent Gary Coleman. Why? Because they were "STARS"? The real heroes for the most part go uncelebrated and they are the men and woman serve this nation with their lives. God bless all of them and thank you, thank you, thank you for making me very fortunate to grow up in this country.

This man was best friends with my Dad, from Saugus Mass. My Dad has passed on, but Arthur's twin brother Ray is still alive. Funny thing, his brother Ray or my Dad rarely spoke of his story. They were are are "The Greatest Generation".

*DEFRANZO, ARTHUR F.

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Vaubadon, France, 10 June 1944. Entered service at: Saugus, Mass. Birth: Saugus, Mass. G.O. No.: 1, 4 January 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, on 10 June 1944, near Vaubadon, France. As scouts were advancing across an open field, the enemy suddenly opened fire with several machineguns and hit 1 of the men. S/Sgt. DeFranzo courageously moved out in the open to the aid of the wounded scout and was himself wounded but brought the man to safety. Refusing aid, S/Sgt. DeFranzo reentered the open field and led the advance upon the enemy. There were always at least 2 machineguns bringing unrelenting fire upon him, but S/Sgt. DeFranzo kept going forward, firing into the enemy and 1 by 1 the enemy emplacements became silent. While advancing he was again wounded, but continued on until he was within 100 yards of the enemy position and even as he fell, he kept firing his rifle and waving his men forward. When his company came up behind him, S/Sgt. DeFranzo, despite his many severe wounds, suddenly raised himself and once more moved forward in the lead of his men until he was again hit by enemy fire. In a final gesture of indomitable courage, he threw several grenades at the enemy machinegun position and completely destroyed the gun. In this action, S/Sgt. DeFranzo lost his life, but by bearing the brunt of the enemy fire in leading the attack, he prevented a delay in the assault which would have been of considerable benefit to the foe, and he made possible his company's advance with a minimum of casualties. The extraordinary heroism and magnificent devotion to duty displayed by S/Sgt. DeFranzo was a great inspiration to all about him, and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces.

Read more here, about all of the US Army Medal of Honor recipients from the Normandy Invasion.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2027257/posts