June 6th: D-Day

[Dutch]

https://scontent-atl1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/l/t1.0-9/p320x320/11406482_10153068153698558_8211706940260017548_n.jpg?oh=ea06e8732123cd2be53990efdf22991a&oe=55FB0B8C

No generation of Americans has ever been asked to sacrifice more.

[JPhillips]

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/128373915" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>

This is a bit long, but it's a great visualization of the extreme costs of WW2.

[Peregrine]

Great video.

[miami_fan]

I know several people have made threads about traveling to and around Europe. If anyone can fit it into their itinerary, I highly recommend visiting the Beaches of Normandy. I have been there several times and each time the silence is deafening. I had the honor to go last year with some returning veterans from 1st ID. One of the most amazing experiences of my military career.

[NobodyHere]

No generation of Americans has ever been asked to sacrifice more.

Just to nitpick but I think Americans of the 1860s were asked to sacrifice just a tad bit more.

[AlexB]

No generation has ever been asked to sacrifice more.

Slight edit on the quote: It wasn't just you guys, although your help was and still is greatly appreciated :)

[Dutch]

I agree and take it back. I should've just kept it at "The Greatest Generation" where everybody pitched in and that thoughtfulness was much more far reaching than just casualties sustained. (And that does extend to the entire team effort, not just Americans).

[Kodos]

Wow, that video was incredible, and the sacrifice these people made was incredible as well.

[miami_fan]

Bump. 75 years folks. 75.

[tarcone]

Hard to believe it has been that long ago. There wont be many veteran from that war around much longer.

So much sacrifice by so many.

Did you see the paratrooper vet parachute onto the beaches kike he did 75 years ago? That was cool.

[Butter]

Had the opportunity last year to visit Normandy region, including Pointe du Hoc (between Utah and Omaha beach), the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach, the Memorial Museum at Caen, and Juno Beach.

It was an incredibly humbling and terrific experience. We spent a good bit of time in Paris at the Holocaust Museum and the Army Museum in the WWI and WWII exhibits.

Highly recommended for anyone that has the means or interest, really just an indescribable feeling to walk in the footsteps of those who basically saved the world and were walking into near certain death, and did it willingly for the greater good.

[TCY Junkie]

Hard to believe it has been that long ago. There wont be many veteran from that war around much longer.

So much sacrifice by so many.

Did you see the paratrooper vet parachute onto the beaches kike he did 75 years ago? That was cool.

Was at WWII museum in New Orleans, guy said they get about 10 veterans a day come. Asked because sign said WW veterans get in free, thought there can't be too many coming. Really amazing museum.

[Butter]

Was at WWII museum in New Orleans, guy said they get about 10 veterans a day come. Asked because sign said WW veterans get in free, thought there can't be too many coming. Really amazing museum.

Agreed! We visited that when Clemson was in the Sugar Bowl a couple years back. Really well done, the submarine was incredible.

[nilodor]

It's crazy to think about what the guys in the first wave went through. Some of the field journals have been published and it's pretty... sad. I had a great uncle who was involved in the landings at Juno and apparently he was never the same.

Here's an article from 1960 about the first wave at Omaha
First Wave at Omaha Beach - The Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1960/11/first-wave-at-omaha-beach/303365/)

[bhlloy]

Thanks for sharing that article, incredibly written and completely sobering