June 6, 1944, 65 years later....

[Coach]

Saturday marks the anniversary of "D-Day," referring to the D-Day invasion in Europe in 1944. This year commemorates the 65th anniversary of Operation Overlord, or "D-Day," when thousands of American and British troops landed on the shores of Normandy with the objective of securing it from Nazi Germany, through additional land and naval support of other Allied nations.

The assault, the largest seaborne invasion in history to that time, is considered to be the turning point in the war toward the Allied victory, but it was not without cost. Total Allied casualties on D-Day are estimated at 10,000, including more than 2,500 dead.

Today, 65 years later, as our World War II veterans of our greatest generation are passing on, Americans reflect on the significance of June 6, 1944, and the historical importance of Operation Overlord. More than 330,000 Wisconsin service members served in World War II, with close to 43,000 of them alive today; only a certain percentage of them took part in Operation Overlord.

The National World War II Memorial on the national mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated five years ago, on May 29, 2004. The National Honor Flight Network is bringing World War II veterans and terminally ill veterans to visit the memorial. There are several flight hubs in Wisconsin with future flights being planned.

Also in keeping the historical significance alive, the Wisconsin Veterans Museum preserves the materials and memories of all Wisconsin veterans, including those at D-Day, through the Wisconsin Veterans Oral History Project, as well as archives and object collections.

Let us all remember the importance of the heroic invasion 65 years ago on "D-Day."

Article

[gblowfish]

http://myfivebest.com/five-famous-pe...ught-on-d-day/

[jspchief]

I watched an interesting show on PBS a week or so back about the Civil Conservation Corps. It was part of Roosevelt's New Deal.

One of the living participants talked about how it essentially gave hundreds of thousands of American men a jumpstart on military structured life.

When I hear the phrase "greatest generation", this is the type of thing that comes to mind for me. These men were working in hard labor camps, doing jobs created by the government, required to send 5/6 of their earnings back home, and they were simply happy to have 3 meals per day. They rebuilt America to put food on their family's table, and in doing so unknowingly prepared themselves for WW2.

It's not by chance that these men had the grit to do the things they did. They were brought up in hard times, and no doubt had more respect for the things they fought for than us later generations can even guess at.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by jspchief

I watched an interesting show on PBS a week or so back about the Civil Conservation Corps. It was part of Roosevelt's New Deal.

One of the living participants talked about how it essentially gave hundreds of thousands of American men a jumpstart on military structured life.

When I hear the phrase "greatest generation", this is the type of thing that comes to mind for me. These men were working in hard labor camps, doing jobs created by the government, required to send 5/6 of their earnings back home, and they were simply happy to have 3 meals per day. They rebuilt America to put food on their family's table, and in doing so unknowingly prepared themselves for WW2.

It's not by chance that these men had the grit to do the things they did. They were brought up in hard times, and no doubt had more respect for the things they fought for than us later generations can even guess at.

Well said, sir.

[MIAdragon]

Bump

[Dave Lane]

Should have never got involved.

/Ron Paul

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Should have never got involved.

/Ron Paul

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by whoman69

famous vet of Normandy

Moral fibre? I invented moral fibre! Pappy O'Daniel was displaying rectitude and high-mindedness when that egghead you work for was still messing his drawers!

edit: meh, the pic of Charles Durning isn't showing....

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by jspchief

I watched an interesting show on PBS a week or so back about the Civil Conservation Corps. It was part of Roosevelt's New Deal.

One of the living participants talked about how it essentially gave hundreds of thousands of American men a jumpstart on military structured life.

When I hear the phrase "greatest generation", this is the type of thing that comes to mind for me. These men were working in hard labor camps, doing jobs created by the government, required to send 5/6 of their earnings back home, and they were simply happy to have 3 meals per day. They rebuilt America to put food on their family's table, and in doing so unknowingly prepared themselves for WW2.

It's not by chance that these men had the grit to do the things they did. They were brought up in hard times, and no doubt had more respect for the things they fought for than us later generations can even guess at.

Interesting.
A friend of mine owns land with a test pit dug by this same program. He found out by searching through the local city library’s archives and actually came up with pictures of the work camp on what is now his land. These test pits were dug all over this area and are a big part of why both Monarch and Ash Grove Cement have plants here.

[Garcia Bronco]

(sniff)

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by raybec 4

The people of that generation made sacrifices of a personal nature that most of us can only imagine. The patriotism and sense of belonging to something special they exhibited, whether they fought in the war or bought war bonds or just rationed all of their personal purchases, it was astounding.

^

[crazycoffey]

Should change the OP to 68 years.

A memorial day in its own right. RIP to the lives sacrificed that day.

[saphojunkie]

For the past year, I have been writing something about the post-war experience, and the amount of research I did on WWII has left me...adjusted.

I don't know, maybe there is nothing noble about dying. There sure as hell isn't anything noble about killing. But there is immeasurable nobility in doing what needs to be done, when no one else is willing or can.

I think we carry a significant amount of pride and devotion to that war, because it was the last war that you could look at and say, "There! There is the villain! And we MUST be here. We must fight. It isn't a choice, or a strategy, or based on ulterior motives." No war since has carried such clear justifications and necessity.

And yet, even then, the horror of it all isn't diminished one damn bit.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

For the past year, I have been writing something about the post-war experience, and the amount of research I did on WWII has left me...adjusted.

I don't know, maybe there is nothing noble about dying. There sure as hell isn't anything noble about killing. But there is immeasurable nobility in doing what needs to be done, when no one else is willing or can.

I think we carry a significant amount of pride and devotion to that war, because it was the last war that you could look at and say, "There! There is the villain! And we MUST be here. We must fight. It isn't a choice, or a strategy, or based on ulterior motives." No war since has carried such clear justifications and necessity.

And yet, even then, the horror of it all isn't diminished one damn bit.

You writing a book?

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by Otter

Or you could partake in a local memorial to honor them and help make sure this government takes into consideration what what they fought and died for when deciding what's best for us as if we were children that couldn't fend for themselves.

Or watch a movie.

Pipe dream fool. Don't be dumb.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Should have never got involved.

/Ron Paul