June 6th 1944
 

D-Day. 9,000 Allied soldiers and sailors were killed or wounded in Normandy 68 years ago today.:(
Your sacrifice is not forgotten. Thank you and all WW II Veterans. Normandy Invasion, June 1944

Time of the landings from the sea.--Starting from 0600 hours in the morning, fully visible. Before the landing there was a heavy bombardment of extraordinary intensity from the sea and the air, with weapons of all calibers. The consequence was that all field defenses were more or less knocked out and "ploughed down," so that for the most part only the solid fortifications remained intact. The enemy seeped in through the gaps without trying to attack the fortifications and big strong points. These strong points held out in cases for over a week and therefore split up enemy forces. By holding out to the last they helped their own leaders very much to gain time and to prevent a breakthrough of the enemy from the bridgehead.

Field Marshal Von Runstedt.

D-Day, the Normandy Invasion, 6-25 June 1944

An acquaintance of mine who is still living was a marine on one of those beaches. A finer man I've never known. Thanks Hack!

Larry,

To the best of my knowledge, there were no USMC units in combat at Normandy, or anywhere in the ETO. Your guy most likely was Army.

I was there a few years ago and was kind of disappointed at how it really hasn't been very well preserved (Omaha Beach) . There are a few pillboxes left ( you can even get in them) and wander over Pointe du Hoc, but most of it has been developed. Pity.

Maybe so. I have no idea which beach either.

There were, but a very small number of specialists. snipers, gunners and OSS hell-raisers. See below:

" Assigned to the secretive world of spies and saboteurs were 51 Marines who served with the U.S. Office of Strategic Services to engage in behind-the-lines operations in North Africa and Europe from 1941 to 1945.

These OSS Marines served with partisan and resistance groups in France, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy, Austria, Albania, Greece, Morocco and Egypt; on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia; in Rumania; and in North and West Africa. Ten of these OSS Marines also served with forces in Ceylon, Burma, Malaya and China.

Marine Colonel Peter J. Ortiz was twice awarded the Navy Cross for heroism while serving with the French Resistance.

Shipboard detachments of Marines served throughout the landings in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Normandy invasion as gun crews aboard battleships and cruisers. A 200-man detachment was normally carried aboard a battleship, and 80 Marines served aboard cruisers to man the secondary batteries of 5-inch guns providing fire for the landing forces.
During the June 6, 1944, Normandy invasion, Marines, renowned as expert riflemen, played a vital role reminiscent of the days of the sailing Navy when sharpshooters were sent to the fighting tops. Stationed high in the superstructures of the invasion fleet, Marine riflemen exploded floating mines in the path of the ships moving across the English Channel to the beaches of Normandy.

On Aug. 29, 1944, during the invasion of southern France, Marines from the battleship USS Augusta and the cruiser USS Philadelphia went ashore in Marseilles harbor to accept the surrender of more than 700 Germans who had fortified island garrisons.
Although few, these proud Marines played a vital role in the Atlantic, African and European campaigns of World War II. "

may we never forget

They don't call the people from that era the "Greatest Generation" for nothing.

My late Father spent time in the Atlantic during the war, but was a member of the Secretary of the Navy staff at war's end. He was in DC on VE AND VJ day. He told me about the partying that went on celebrating these two occasions. He never thought it was a big deal, but I was always fascinated.

He was in the Nations Capital for two of the biggest celebrations our nation has ever seen.

Those people came out of tough circumstances with the depression still in effect while at the same time, they had to gear up to fight a serious war. The vast majority of the country were involved in the war. If not in the military, they were involved in building war goods or any number of endeavors.

Had it not been for the Greatest Generation, we would be speaking German or Japanese in this country today.

My grandfather was supposed to go in on d day but he was injured in a prior incident so he was out of commission. From what I understand, not many of his unit were left afterwards.

Yep, the odds wouldn't have been real good for Grandpa.:(

I stand corrected... and thanks for setting me straight. :)

You know, this week is a big one in US Naval history. The 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway passed quietly by on Monday June 4th. The Navy stopped Japan's eastward momentum and crippled their Naval Air power greaty.

On a sadder note.....

Friday, June 8th marks the 45th anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty.:mad::mad:

IMMEDIATE PRIORITY
DTG 062349Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO: LIBERTY

INFO: CINCUSNAVEUR/USCINCEUR/JCS/CNO/DIRNSA/CINCLANTFLT/
DIRNAVSECGRU/DIRNAVSECGRUEUR/ASSTDIRNAVSECGRU/
DIRNAVSECGRULANT/HQ NSAEUR/COMFAIRMED/COMSERVLANT/
COMSERVON EIGHT/CTF 60/CTF 64/NFOIO/NAVCOMMSTA
MOROCCO/CINCLANT/CTF 63/CTF 67/
NAVCOMMSTA GREECE/NAVCAMS MOROCCO/NAVCOMMSTA SPAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L

USS LIBERTY OPERATIONAL CONTROL

A. CINCUSNAVEUR 061357Z JUN 67 NOTAL
B. JCS 011545Z JUN 67 NOTAL
C. CINCUSNAVEUR 311750Z MAY 67 (MOVORD 7-67) NOTAL
D. CINCUSNAVEUR 011305Z JUN 67 NOTAL
E. COMSIXTHFLT OPORD 1-66 NOTAL
F. CINCUSNAVEUR P03120.5B NOTAL

1. UPON CHOP TO COMSIXTHFLT AT 070001Z, CONDUCT OPERATIONS IAW REF B,
C AND D.

2. IN VIEW PRESENT ARAB/ISRAELI SITUATION AND UNPREDICTABILITY OF UAR
ACTIONS MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE AGAINST ATTACK OR THREAT OF ATTACK.
REPORT BY FLASH PRECEDENCE ANY THREATENING OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS DIRECTED
AGAINST YOU OR ANY DIVERSION FROM SCHEDULE NECESSITATED BY EXTERNAL THREAT.
ADVISE IF LOCAL SITUATION DICTATES CHANGE IN AREA OF OPS ASSIGNED BY REF B.

3. KEEP COMSIXTHFLT AND CTF 63 INFORMED OF LOGISTIC NEEDS SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE
TO ENABLE ORDERLY LOGSUP PLANNING. MAIL DELIVERY WILL BE ARRANGED IF FEASIBLE.

4. INCLUDE COMSIXTHFLT AS INFO ADDEE ON REPORTS REQUIRED BY PARA 2 REF B
AS MODIFIED BY REF C AND D.

5. SUBMIT REPORTS OF CONTACT WITH SHIPS AIRCRAFT AND SUBMARINES WHICH ARE
UNIDENT, HOSTILE, OF INTELL INTEREST OR ENGAGE IN HARASSMENT, IAW REF
F. EMERGENCY PLAN CHARLIE NOW IN EFFECT IN SIXTHFLT.

6. COMSIXTHFLT OPERATIONAL DOCUMENTS ON ALERTS, EMERG ACTIONS AND NUCLEAR
RELEASE WILL NOT BE PROVIDED. THEREFORE, ACTION IS NOT REQUIRED ON NATIONAL
EXERCISE AND DRILL MSGS IDENTIFIED BY FLAG WORD WHITE OR BLUE DELTA.
NO ACTION REQUIRED ON NATO EXERCISE MSGS. IN EVENT OF ACTUAL ALERT
OR OTHER EMERGENCY,
COMSIXTHFLT WILL SEPARATELY DIRECT LIBERTY BY CLASSIFIED MSG.

7. COMMUNICATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANNEX CHARLIE REF E.
A. COPY KR BROADCAST. ADVISE IF CARDS AVAILABLE TO COPY XRA BCST.
B. IF PERMENANT TERMINATION REQUIRED WITH MED COMM STA SUBMIT REQUEST
IAW APPENDIX XVI TO ANNEX CHARLIE TO REF E.
C. ALTHOUGH NOT ASSIGNED TO TF 60 UTILIZE TF 60 TACTICAL CIRCUITS AS REQUIRED.
D. AUTRGRA TO ENTER SIXES ALFA AS REQUIRED.

8. ACKNOWLEDGE.

GP-4

The boys of Pointe du Hoc: Normandy Speech: Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-Day 6/6/84 - YouTube

I knew a man who stormed the beach. He didn't talk about it much, but he said you would be amazed how efficient a shovel a belt buckle could be when one was sufficiently motivated. Motivation was high.

Thanks for the reminder.

My wife gave me Tom Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation” as a Christmas gift in 1998. As I read it, it gave me chills. Let me explain why.

My Dad was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corp. After training in Laredo, Texas, Ft. Myers, Florida, and Lowry Field, Colorado, he shipped out to England. He was assigned to a heavy bombardment group, and served as a waist-gunner in a B-24 Liberator. He flew his first combat mission when he was 19 years old on a ship named "Liberty Run". From February to August, 1944, he flew twenty-nine bombing missions over France and Germany. The targets included the German cities of Achmer, Frederickshaven, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Osnabruck, Zeitz, and Berlin (four missions), among others, as well as several French cities. Four of these missions were on June 4, 5, and 6 (two on the 6th). The records I have list these targets as "Secret, Invasion Coast, France. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after helping his crew bail-out over the North Sea on the way back to England from Hamburg. He told me they were picked up within minutes by the Royal Navy. If not for the Royal Navy he told me, the cold water would have killed them all. He settled in the suburbs of North Jersey, and spent the rest of his short life working on Wall St. He died in 1976.

My Uncle John served in the U.S. Army with the 315th Regiment. He landed at Utah Beach, D-Day + 3. He was awarded the Bronze Star for helping evacuate wounded soldiers from behind enemy lines. He raised his family in Bellerose, Queens NY, and worked for many years as a handy-man in several apartment buildings in Manhattan. He was very proud of serving in the U.S Army, and went to nearly all of the re-unions. He retired to Garden City, Long Island where he died in 2009.

Uncle Bill served in the U.S. Navy aboard a destroyer in the Pacific (not sure which one). He never talked about the war. He spent the rest of his working years selling appliances, TV’s, and stereos in North Jersey. He enjoyed a long and healthy retirement. He took good care of his home, always making sure the lawn looked good. He never needed help doing anything around the house, even in his late eighties. He died last year.


My other Uncle John served with the Second Marine Division in the South Pacific. He was one of the funniest guys in the world. He settled in Woodside, Queens NY, and had a fine career with the NYPD. He died in 1984.


I hope that current and future generations of Americans will remember these lessons of pride, compassion, and humility, personified by our "Greatest Generation".

Thanks VERY much for this post!

I was born in 1949. Growing up in the fifties and sixties it seemed like most all of the people my age had parents who were involved somehow in the war. I took their service very much for granted.

Today, I realize just how Golden these people were, and just how precious the gift that they gave us.