The Longest Day...

[WILMASBOYL78]

Tomorrow, June 6th marks the 80th Anniversary of the allied landings at Normandy. It is hard to comprehend the scope of this heroic effort and the impact it had on so many people.

Lest we forget :flag: :flag: :flag:

-wilma

[AnthonyS]

Hear, hear!

[Pro Stock John]

My great uncle died there, he was a medic.

[Crush]

If you’ve never watched the series band of Brothers, I highly recommend it, as a details this day along with many days after.
God bless our troops!

[RPOLS3]

:flag:

[Lynn]

A total of 4,414 Allied troops were killed on D-Day itself, including 2,501 Americans. More than 5,000 were wounded. In the ensuing Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied forces were killed and 153,000 wounded.

Unbelievable sacrifices made by so many.

Even 20,000 French civilians were killed, mostly by allied fire into villages where Germans were hiding out.

[TimG]

John, have you ever been able to visit your uncles grave? I wish I was going to be in Normandy tomorrow.

[Pro Stock John]

John, have you ever been able to visit your uncles grave? I wish I was going to be in Normandy tomorrow.

I have not but my cousin has.

Uncle Walt was one of 12, here is a pic of him (bottom left) along with his other brothers who served in WW2:

[napa68]

These posts are so humbling. The sheer selflessness of these men is overwhelming:flag:

Thanks for posting

[169indy]

Thank You for posting this; We SHALL not forget. What a time it must have been to muster the courage of a generation.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Just received this narrative on how D-Day unfolded...hour by hour. It is a good outline of the event.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13497447/How-D-Day-unfolded-hour-hour-80th-anniversary-Operation-Overlord-MailOnlines-scintillating-visualisations-recount-daring-mission-liberate-Nazi-occupied-Europe-forensic-detail.html

[BJCHEV396]

My three uncles,Gordon,Ernest and Elroy Kelly were Combat Engineers in the Canadian Army.All three landed on Juno Beach June 6,1944.They fought their way thru France,the Netherlands and into Germany.All three made it home and like most WW2 Vets never talked about their experiences.In 2010 my wife and I took a trip to Europe and high on our list was was a visit to Normandy.We stayed in Bayeux and took a one day excursion to Omaha and Juno Beaches.It was a little surreal walking on the beaches where so much death and suffering took place cause except for a few bunkers it was peaceful and quite.People swimming and kids playing.Then we had the honor of visiting the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer and the Canadian Cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer.It was very sobering and brought tears to our eyes.So many young men cut down in the prime of life.My uncles have passed.So to them and all of our Allies who perished in the War R.I.P. You were truly The Greatest Generation!

[earntaz]

I watched a two hour Expedition Unknown last night ... amazing how many things that are being discovered to this day on how D-Day occurred.

[x77-69z28]

Remember the Heroes. Our freedom is because of those brave men!
Buddy

[LT1vette]

My Father in law was in the Queens Own Rifles. He made it in the front door of the house on the beach. Some of the older TV coverage of D day events shows a couple of his buddies who carried his casket when he passed away. My wife was with her parents at the 50TH anniversary in France, massive crowds she tells me.
The beach was MUCH wider back then (low tide). But to defy the odds to make it across that beach and lived to fight the rest of the war and return home. He was injured once.

My father also served in Europe. In Holland and France from what I can remember. Like most WWII vets, they hardly ever talked about......