D-Day 80 years

[Llarry]

80 years ago today, the Allies landed in Normandy and that began the beginning of the end for the Nazis in the West. Of course the Soviet Union was also making great inroads in the East.

Pet peeve on the U.S. media: "80 years ago the United States invaded Normandy and started the process of saving the world." Uh, nope -- the USA was in some ways the "arsenal of democracy" during the war, but the combat effort was multinational. The USA did its part, but so did the Commonwealth nations, the Free French, etc.

And -- at the risk of redundancy -- I would remind everyone again that at the very same time that the gargantuan Allied effort was made at Normandy, there was a huge invasion fleet (this one almost exclusively U.S.) that landed in the Japanese-held Marianas Islands in the Pacific.

The world had never seen the likes of this before, and I think it is unlikely that the U.S. or any other country could replicate the feat in the future.

[CLTMDA]

A visit to Normandy should be on everyone's bucket list. There are houses that still fly the US flag outside in appreciation.

Interesting story - My wife was buying a book/pamphlet in the church in Bayeux (close to Normandy beaches) and she was fumbling for the correct change. The elderly lady at the cash register in charge of the small shop inside the church told her not to worry about it, gave her the change, and said thank you for what your country did during those years. It made an impression is all I can say.

I can also say a trip to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans is worth a couple days as well. It is well done and they take their responsibility seriously. It was the dream of two history professors, one of which was Stephen Ambrose (RIP) who wrote the Band of Brothers.

[SW111]

We visited Normandy in 2016 and 2022. Point du Hoc, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery. Amazing places. The cliff at Point du Hoc that the Rangers climbed under fire is awe inspiring. You still see American, British, and Canadian flags everywhere. The French haven’t forgotten.

Edit: Photos won’t upload. I’ve posted them here before. Check out my other posts for photos.

[other_evolved]

My grandfather was on a destroyer (USS Thompson) for the D-Day invasion. His task group, along with many others, was tasked with pounding the beaches and further inland prior to the invasion. He passed away at 100 years old a few years back. Thinking about this day always gives me goosebumps thinking about the massive feat the days leading up to, and the actual day of the event.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by SW111

The cliff at Point du Hoc that the Rangers climbed under fire is awe inspiring.

40th Anniversary speech:

[F32Fleet]

Interesting fact .

Approx 50,000 French died to Allied bombing on D-Day. The leaflets telling people to evacuate were blown away by the wind. Shell shocked the French civilians had mixed feelings about the US/UK.

[tcphoto]

I’m amazed how relevant Reagan’s words are today, we cannot forget the sacrifices those soldiers made eighty years ago. My own grandfather found in Europe and was in Cologne when it fell, he came home and worked hard for his family and I worry now what we’ve become.

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Interesting fact .

Approx 50,000 French died to Allied bombing on D-Day. The leaflets telling people to evacuate were blown away by the wind. Shell shocked the French civilians had mixed feelings about the US/UK.

~20,000 civilians, not 50,000. And not on D-Day alone, but for the entire monthslong assault. Nonetheless horrific. It's far too reductive to write "French civilians had mixed feelings about the US/UK". Most French understood the conflicting requirements of liberating France or staying under the German occupation.

Nice article with quotes from French survivors: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/a...ion-rcna154463

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by DieselDiner

~20,000 civilians, not 50,000. And not on D-Day alone, but for the entire monthslong assault. Nonetheless horrific. It's far too reductive to write "French civilians had mixed feelings about the US/UK". Most French understood the conflicting requirements of liberating France or staying under the German occupation.

Nice article with quotes from French survivors: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/a...ion-rcna154463

I was pulling from an article in the WSJ.

" On Wednesday, the French president commemorated the more than 50,000 civilians who died from American and British.."

At the time there was a strong communist pull in France.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...gs/ar-BB1nF1PU

[vreihen16]

Did anyone see the news/video of how France had immigrations officers standing by earlier this week to check the passports of every British paratrooper who jumped in the anniversary re-enactment?????

[tturedraider]

I don’t want to hijack or derail this thread, but the enormity of what we and the allies did made me think of this. Llarry, and others, what is your opinion or thoughts on the strength of the U.S. military today? I was reading comments on Reddit, bastion of accuracy that it is, commenting on the enormous power of the U.S. military and, in particular, the conversation turned to the logistical force of the U.S. military that makes it so good!! I will always remember the saying that the thing that makes us so good is that we know how to keep our troops supplied with beans and bullets.

One overriding topic was our massive air superiority across all of our military services. Someone said only the United States would give all their services an air force, particularly give their navy an air force and then give their navy’s air force an army (the marines). I thought that was interesting. I found this interesting, too, and I had never thought about it. The U.S. Air Force is the largest air force in the world. The U.S. Army has the second largest air force in the world. The U.S. Navy has the fourth largest air force in the world. And the U.S. Marine Corps has the seventh largest air force in the world. And there was discussion about that our air superiority has the capability to completely decimate some entire countries.

There was also talk about the Immediate Response Force that can have boots on the ground within 18 hours anywhere in the world. I just read that force numbers over 4,000 troops.

Anyway, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about our capabilities and I was kind of surprised. It also surprises me that thinking about our ability to respond to aggression around the world actually makes me feel very patriotic and emotional.

Llarry, I know you keep up with this kind of information.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I don’t want to hijack or derail this thread, but the enormity of what we and the allies did made me think of this. Llarry, and others, what is your opinion or thoughts on the strength of the U.S. military today? I was reading comments on Reddit, bastion of accuracy that it is, commenting on the enormous power of the U.S. military and, in particular, the conversation turned to the logistical force of the U.S. military that makes it so good!! I will always remember the saying that the thing that makes us so good is that we know how to keep our troops supplied with beans and bullets.

One overriding topic was our massive air superiority across all of our military services. Someone said only the United States would give all their services an air force, particularly give their navy an air force and then give their navy’s air force an army (the marines). I thought that was interesting. I found this interesting, too, and I had never thought about it. The U.S. Air Force is the largest air force in the world. The U.S. Army has the second largest air force in the world. The U.S. Navy has the fourth largest air force in the world. And the U.S. Marine Corps has the seventh largest air force in the world. And there was discussion about that our air superiority has the capability to completely decimate some entire countries.

There was also talk about the Immediate Response Force that can have boots on the ground within 18 hours anywhere in the world. I just read that force numbers over 4,000 troops.

Anyway, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about our capabilities and I was kind of surprised. It also surprises me that thinking about our ability to respond to aggression around the world actually makes me feel very patriotic and emotional.

Complex topic and I am getting ready to head to the airport and will not be on the forum next week, but here's my hot take...

The USA has by far the strongest, most capable military forces in the world today, outstripping all others in virtually all categories. But I worry about the industrial base that those forces rely on. I worry that the USA industrial base *may* not be up to the task of responding to a truly critical national defense emergency.

I also worry that a rapid expansion of military personnel in a critical national defense emergency may be difficult: How many young people are physically and mentally qualified to serve? Very few presently choose to serve and should circumstances require, how quickly could we bring large numbers of qualified persons in and get them trained and proficient? I've long felt that the USA should have a universal service program whereby young people -- if qualified -- should be "drafted" for a period of service, with that service being military, police, fire, public works or other public service -- even examples like Peace Corps or school teaching or public health in underserved areas. Such a program could be quite broad and could inculcate a tradition of service to country (and community) that we haven't had for a long time.

This topic is fertile ground for further discussion.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Like other's here...I have visited Normandy twice. Once while I was serving on Active Duty in Germany and once after I retired. Breath taking all the way.