:o pretty much sums it up.
From the loss of life to the sheer enormity of the engineering projects (portable port for one)
There's really nothing small about this event.
Visited the beaches a couple of years back, gives you even more idea of the scale of the operation and what those guys had to get through.
On the network news last night they interviewed a 90 year old
Veteran who para-jumped onto the beach before the invasion.
He's going back this year to JUMP AGAIN into the same
Place he landed 70 years ago. I wish I had 10% of that
Intestinal fortitude.
I've been eating it up. There are just so many stories and tails of the best and worst of the worlds people.
PBS has also been playing a bunch of specials on what the Nazi's did and built. So many crazy weapons, bunkers and schemes that I had no idea about. In my extensive (or what I thought) reading of WWII history I've not come across many of these things. It's amazing how many fascinating technological advances during that period of time.
Rebar in concrete...
I have been watching some of that stuff too. How about the Dam Buster Bomb that skipped across the water?
Hope everyone takes a moment and honors this D-day and what it means to the world and all of us. My late father in law landed at Normandy in those first waves and saw almost all of his friends cut down before his eyes. He wouldn't talk about it to my wife (his daughter) or his son but for some reason would open up a little about it and talk to me. It was an honor just to sit and listen and have him pick me to tell those stories to.
He also went through two other landings in Italy. I can't remember which ones now but I know my brother in law knows about them. Just hate to talk to that yahoo about anything but knowing more about his Dad's beach landings would make it worth suffering through his BS.
My late father saw no combat action but he was an instructor in the old Army Air Corp. So he helped in his own way.
Again, take some time today out of your busy life to reflect on what this day means. The greatest generation indeed. [thumbsup] [wine] [bow_down]
Quote from: fastwin on June 06, 2014, 06:02:12 AM
It was an honor just to sit and listen and have him pick me to tell those stories to.
[clap] [clap]
93 years old and there is no tarnish on his...ego.
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/05/world/europe/d-day-paratrooper-jumps-again/ (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/05/world/europe/d-day-paratrooper-jumps-again/)
http://thechive.com/2014/06/06/our-grandfather-and-his-journey-to-the-beaches-at-normandy-55-hq-photos/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=chivetrafficfacebook (http://thechive.com/2014/06/06/our-grandfather-and-his-journey-to-the-beaches-at-normandy-55-hq-photos/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=chivetrafficfacebook)
our (american) version of d-day is largely centered on Omaha Beach and the airborne jumps. Does anyone know if there are movies/books worth watching/reading that talk about other allies' landings?