Misc Almost exactly 64 years ago... June 6, 1944

Adept Havelock · 11:03 PM

This may strike some as a little silly, but I had a thought I wanted to share.

Sitting at the computer just now, I checked the time on my desktop. I realized it was just about now, 64 years ago, that several hundred thousand American, British, French, and a number of other nations soldiers were launching one of the greatest military efforts in human history.

Several thousand American and British paratroopers were already engaged in one of the great clusterfucks of military history. Scattered units, many without their commanders, were fighting confused actions in the dark. With the odds against them, they never stopped fighting to achieve their objectives. They knew tens of thousands of their countrymen that would be landing shortly depended on them. The courage of those men turned a potential disaster into a great success.

It was just about now that elements of the 1st and 29th Divisions landed on a strip of Hell on Earth known as OMAHA. Their courage will be marked in history with the heroes of Thermopylae, Tours, Gettysburg, Verdun, and other great turning points. US Rangers were assaulting the Pointe Du Hoc, and countless other allied troops were fighting for a beachhead at GOLD, JUNO, SWORD, and UTAH.

At the end of the day, 2,500 Allied Soldiers from the invasion wave would lie dead. Another 10,000 wounded.

They paved the way for a force of over 2 million men that helped to vanquish one of the greatest evils mankind has ever inflicted on itself.

If you have the inclination as your day passes, please take a moment and honor these brave folks. If you are fortunate enough to know anyone who participated in that day, give them a call and thank them.

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Order of the Day
June 6, 1944

06-05-2008, 10:29 PM	Topic Starter
Adept Havelock Obligatory Thoughtcriminal Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Flux,awaiting an observer Casino cash: $10004900	This may strike some as a little silly, but I had a thought I wanted to share. Sitting at the computer just now, I checked the time on my desktop. I realized it was just about now, 64 years ago, that several hundred thousand American, British, French, and a number of other nations soldiers were launching one of the greatest military efforts in human history. Several thousand American and British paratroopers were already engaged in one of the great clusterfucks of military history. Scattered units, many without their commanders, were fighting confused actions in the dark. With the odds against them, they never stopped fighting to achieve their objectives. They knew tens of thousands of their countrymen that would be landing shortly depended on them. The courage of those men turned a potential disaster into a great success. It was just about now that elements of the 1st and 29th Divisions landed on a strip of Hell on Earth known as OMAHA. Their courage will be marked in history with the heroes of Thermopylae, Tours, Gettysburg, Verdun, and other great turning points. US Rangers were assaulting the Pointe Du Hoc, and countless other allied troops were fighting for a beachhead at GOLD, JUNO, SWORD, and UTAH. At the end of the day, 2,500 Allied Soldiers from the invasion wave would lie dead. Another 10,000 wounded. They paved the way for a force of over 2 million men that helped to vanquish one of the greatest evils mankind has ever inflicted on itself. If you have the inclination as your day passes, please take a moment and honor these brave folks. If you are fortunate enough to know anyone who participated in that day, give them a call and thank them. SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. General Dwight D. Eisenhower Order of the Day June 6, 1944 Last edited by Adept Havelock; 06-05-2008 at 11:03 PM..
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