Life June 6th, 1944. These men had balls of steel. 70th anniversary. - Page 5

teedubya · 05:19 PM

War is hell. I don't like war. Sometimes war is necessary. And Hitler was one son of a bitch who had to be stopped. All politics aside. The 70th anniversary of this is in a couple of weeks. Let's have a good memorial of these great heroes who gave their lives, so that we could have our lives that we have now.

Balls of Steel.

All Divisions Involved in D-Day >> http://www.army.mil/d-day/divisions.html

June 6th, 1944. 70 years ago.

Pennywise · 06-06-2014, 08:26 AM

https://archive.org/details/Complete...cast_Day_D-Day

Kaepernick · 06-06-2014, 08:42 AM

Happy D Day!

God Bless all the Vets of D Day. Just citizen soldiers. Not born killers, just regular guys asked to do a dirty job.

There aren't many left anymore. I'm grateful to have met some of them in 2004 when I went to the 60th Anniversary commemoration in France. You don't get over seeing the Cemeterie Americain. Saw the German cemetery as well.

Too much death.

Thank you to all our Vets for keeping the world safe for democracy and defeating the evil Axis powers. That was a just war.

**BigRedChief** · 06-06-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

yeah I saw a brief interview with the 93 old. they asked him why and he said something to the effect of "Ego. I wanted to prove at 93 I could still do it. and, to show that just because you're 93 you don't have to sit around waitng to die".

that's a cool MF.

HonestChieffan · 06-06-2014, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

I'd never seen that before until now. Thanks for sharing, teedubya.

I wonder how many Americans don't know that there were three other beach landings that day, not just Omaha and Utah.

Amazing place to visit. If anyone interested in a tour of a lifetime check out http://matterhorntravel.com/wwII-normandyweekend.html

MOhillbilly · 06-06-2014, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otherstar

Yeah, those guys were heroes! I read a history of the SEALS recently and about the job the underwater demolition teams had before the Normandy invasion: small teams of guys in rubber rafts had to sneak up on the beach and try to blow up the underwater defenses and mines that would have kept the landing crafts from hitting the beaches at all...seriously crazy stuff!

The other factor in WWII that is getting overlooked in this thread is that NOT ONLY were US troops committed to the war in Europe against the Nazi's AND the Italian Fascists, but troops and naval resources were also committed to fighting in the Pacific against a very dedicated Japanese military. The US successfully waged a war in multiple theaters of operation simultaneously! (and often with inferior equipment -- the M4 Sherman tank was inferior to the Panzer's the German's had during the Battle of the Bulge).

My Grandpa was a udt/frogman.

teedubya · 06-06-2014, 02:45 PM

**gblowfish** · 06-06-2014, 03:05 PM

I thought this was cool, from British Website:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarr...n-and-now?bffb

Cheater5 · 06-06-2014, 03:53 PM

Partial quote from Ronal Reagan's sppeech 30 years ago on the men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion:

"We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but 40 years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.

The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers — the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to climb over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe.

Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After 2 days of fighting, only 90 could still bear arms.

Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there.

These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war."

**srvy** · 06-06-2014, 04:59 PM

^^^ One of the best Memorial Speeches ever on a pedestal just slightly under The Gettysburg Address IMHO.

Peggy Noonan wrote it and Reagan delivered it masterfully with no teleprompter.

**gblowfish** · 06-08-2014, 11:02 AM

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014...ust_reloaded=1

WilliamTheIrish · 06-07-2016, 08:39 AM

The 72nd anniversary of D Day passed without much fare here, so I thought I'd share something that you might find interesting.

My Dad was on a troop carrier headed for Saipan and Tinian (two islands that had to be taken in cave to cave combat).

Yesterday I was sent images of a letter from my Dad to my Mom as he was on that ship headed to what I can only presume he thought to be his death.

It's a letter I hadn't seen before and it immediately shook me to think a young kid from a tiny town in KS was writing this as maybe a last letter to the love of his life.

"Well dear, this will probably be the last letter you receive from me until after the operation. I must write to Mom and the kids before long too.

Hon, you better keep your fingers crossed for me and wish me a lot of luck, cause I'm probably going to need it.

So long for this time.

All my love,

Randallflagg · 06-07-2016, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

The 72nd anniversary of D Day passed without much fare here, so I thought I'd share something that you might find interesting.

My Dad was on a troop carrier headed for Saipan and Tinian (two islands that had to be taken in cave to cave combat).

Yesterday I was sent images of a letter from my Dad to my Mom as he was on that ship headed to what I can only presume he thought to be his death.

It's a letter I hadn't seen before and it immediately shook me to think a young kid from a tiny town in KS was writing this as maybe a last letter to the love of his life.

"Well dear, this will probably be the last letter you receive from me until after the operation. I must write to Mom and the kids before long too.

Hon, you better keep your fingers crossed for me and wish me a lot of luck, cause I'm probably going to need it.

So long for this time.

All my love,

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. My Father, although he was not at D-Day, was with the 2nd Armored from North Africa through Germany.

Those were MEN. God bless each and every one of them.

The greatest generation this country has ever (or will ever) know.

05-27-2014, 05:12 PM
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	June 6th, 1944. These men had balls of steel. 70th anniversary. War is hell. I don't like war. Sometimes war is necessary. And Hitler was one son of a bitch who had to be stopped. All politics aside. The 70th anniversary of this is in a couple of weeks. Let's have a good memorial of these great heroes who gave their lives, so that we could have our lives that we have now. Balls of Steel. All Divisions Involved in D-Day >> http://www.army.mil/d-day/divisions.html June 6th, 1944. 70 years ago. Last edited by teedubya; 05-27-2014 at 05:19 PM..
Posts: 36,652

06-06-2014, 08:26 AM	#61
Pennywise pew pew madafakas Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Derry, Maine Casino cash: $1944400	https://archive.org/details/Complete...cast_Day_D-Day __________________
Posts: 7,797

06-06-2014, 02:45 PM	#66
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002
Posts: 36,652

06-06-2014, 03:05 PM	#67
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17666178 VARSITY	I thought this was cool, from British Website: http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarr...n-and-now?bffb
Posts: 40,834

06-06-2014, 03:53 PM	#68
Cheater5 Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Folly Beach, SC Casino cash: $5047550	Partial quote from Ronal Reagan's sppeech 30 years ago on the men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion: "We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but 40 years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance. The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers — the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to climb over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After 2 days of fighting, only 90 could still bear arms. Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war." Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 3,070

06-06-2014, 04:59 PM	#69
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1611250	^^^ One of the best Memorial Speeches ever on a pedestal just slightly under The Gettysburg Address IMHO. Peggy Noonan wrote it and Reagan delivered it masterfully with no teleprompter.
Posts: 24,384

06-08-2014, 11:02 AM	#70
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17666178 VARSITY	http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014...ust_reloaded=1
Posts: 40,834

06-07-2016, 08:39 AM	#71
WilliamTheIrish Champion Golfer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $6010607	The 72nd anniversary of D Day passed without much fare here, so I thought I'd share something that you might find interesting. My Dad was on a troop carrier headed for Saipan and Tinian (two islands that had to be taken in cave to cave combat). Yesterday I was sent images of a letter from my Dad to my Mom as he was on that ship headed to what I can only presume he thought to be his death. It's a letter I hadn't seen before and it immediately shook me to think a young kid from a tiny town in KS was writing this as maybe a last letter to the love of his life. "Well dear, this will probably be the last letter you receive from me until after the operation. I must write to Mom and the kids before long too. Hon, you better keep your fingers crossed for me and wish me a lot of luck, cause I'm probably going to need it. So long for this time. All my love,
Posts: 34,636