D-DAY Remembrance Thread

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

https://goo.gl/images/s0sWj9

God bless all those brave Americans who stormed the beaches for the freedom of others.

Feel free to share any stories you have. (Family members present, visiting the battlefield etc)

[WhawhaWhat]

[MoreBeer]

Awesome pic!! Had to possess balls of steel to land on that beach...God bless those that fell that day-

[BleedingRed]

It's amazing to think about what those guys went through,

- No tank support (Poor bastards in tanks)
- Low Tide (much more land to cover)
- Pre-sighted Mortars and MG nests with double and sometimes triple crossfire zones
- Tripod mounted MG42's (One of the best machine guns ever built 2,000 round per minute)
- German Artillery that was not hit from bombing
- A harden German position with a combat harden German unit instead of conscripts (can you even believe what D-Day would look like if Utah/Juno/Sword/Gold would have been just as bad as Omaha?! Would have been talking 20-50K dead in one day)

Thank god at least at Omaha some Naval Captains literally BEACHED their destroyers to direct fire on the pillboxes.

I've read alot of great books about D-Day but my favorite will always be...

[Strongside]

I was fortunate enough to visit Normandy last April with my wife. We did the full D-Day tour, and then did a guided "Band of Brothers" tour where we followed in the footsteps of Easy Company from Normandy to Bastogne. It was incredible, awe-inspiring, and humbling.

Setting foot in the places where so many men gave their lives in the fight against true, unconditional evil is something I'll never forget.

We had visited Oscar Schindler's factory and Auschwitz in Poland just days prior, so seeing first had what these men were fighting for made it all the more impactful.

Pointe Du Hoc was insane. The US Government owns the land, and it is a protected battlefield site – it has literally not changed since the war. The battlefield is littered with craters and bunkers – most of which are riddled with bullet holes on the inside. If you don't know the story of Pointe Du Hoc, look it up. It gives me goosebumps. The 2nd and 5th US Army Ranger battalions assaulted the point, which is a 100+ foot vertical cliff. Even though the site had been under heavy bombing, it was still heavily occupied by the German 352nd. The Rangers climbed the cliff with a ****ING GRAPPLING HOOK and stormed the bunkers. Their reinforcements launched late due to timing issues, and accidentally landed on Omaha, far down the shoreline. This left nearly 300 Rangers pinned against the shoreline with limited supplies and ammo. Days later, when reinforcements were able to work around behind the Nazis, the 2 battalions had been reduced to around 90 men. The bunkers are FULL of bullet holes. The wooden ceilings are charred from flame throwers. It's unreal.

The cemetery at Omaha Beach is beyond words. I have two great uncles from opposite sides of my family buried there, which I knew going in...but I was shocked to see that these two men were buried just 4 graves from one another. They both died on the same day, D-Day, and were the same age. Imagine that. These two guys who never met one another stormed a beach and gave their lives so that their family members could eventually cross paths and make my existence possible. That's incredible.

The most powerful thing we witnessed, without a doubt, was a rendition of the National Anthem at the cemetery. In attendance were about 8 veterans who had fought on the beach. From the vantage point, you overlook the cemetery, and down below...the beach. All of them stood to salute the flag, sobbing. One man was wheelchair bound, and his son and grandson held him upright at his request.

They call these guys the greatest generation for a reason.

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I was fortunate enough to visit Normandy last April with my wife. We did the full D-Day tour, and then did a guided "Band of Brothers" tour where we followed in the footsteps of Easy Company from Normandy to Bastogne. It was incredible, awe-inspiring, and humbling.

Setting foot in the places where so many men gave their lives in the fight against true, unconditional evil is something I'll never forget.

We had visited Oscar Schindler's factory and Auschwitz in Poland just days prior, so seeing first had what these men were fighting for made it all the more impactful.

Pointe Du Hoc was insane. The US Government owns the land, and it is a protected battlefield site – it has literally not changed since the war. The battlefield is littered with craters and bunkers – most of which are riddled with bullet holes on the inside. If you don't know the story of Pointe Du Hoc, look it up. It gives me goosebumps. The 2nd and 5th US Army Ranger battalions assaulted the point, which is a 100+ foot vertical cliff. Even though the site had been under heavy bombing, it was still heavily occupied by the German 352nd. The Rangers climbed the cliff with a ****ING GRAPPLING HOOK and stormed the bunkers. Their reinforcements launched late due to timing issues, and accidentally landed on Omaha, far down the shoreline. This left nearly 300 Rangers pinned against the shoreline with limited supplies and ammo. Days later, when reinforcements were able to work around behind the Nazis, the 2 battalions had been reduced to around 90 men. The bunkers are FULL of bullet holes. The wooden ceilings are charred from flame throwers. It's unreal.

The cemetery at Omaha Beach is beyond words. I have two great uncles from opposite sides of my family buried there, which I knew going in...but I was shocked to see that these two men were buried just 4 graves from one another. They both died on the same day, D-Day, and were the same age. Imagine that. These two guys who never met one another stormed a beach and gave their lives so that their family members could eventually cross paths and make my existence possible. That's incredible.

The most powerful thing we witnessed, without a doubt, was a rendition of the National Anthem at the cemetery. In attendance were about 8 veterans who had fought on the beach. From the vantage point, you overlook the cemetery, and down below...the beach. All of them stood to salute the flag, sobbing. One man was wheelchair bound, and his son and grandson held him upright at his request.

They call these guys the greatest generation for a reason.

One of my bucket lists is to go see this, I bet I would be moved to tear like I was at Arlington cemetery

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

One of my bucket lists is to go see this, I bet I would be moved to tear like I was at Arlington cemetery

Do it man. It's worth whatever $$ it takes. And whenever you do go, do guided tours. I have studied up enough on WW2 to know a lot. But I was shocked at how little I did know compared to the experts.

That, and they have access to private farms and battle sites that are not publicly accessible.

You'll be shocked at how much rural France looks like the Kansas City countryside. That, and how little it's changed since the war. There are still mass amounts of buildings with holes in the sides of them, or bullet holes in stone walls, etc.

The other amazing thing is that, in Paris, they don't care much for Americans. In Normandy, they love us. One waiter we talked to actually told us "I'd be speaking German if it were not for Americans."

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Strongside

The other amazing thing is that, in Paris, they don't care much for Americans. In Normandy, they love us. One waiter we talked to actually told us "I'd be speaking German if it were not for Americans."

Spent a week in France, and all but one day of it in Paris. This was not my experience at all. Just FTR.

The one day I didn't spend in Paris was spent travelling to Normandy to take a tour of the D-Day beaches, etc. It was fantastic. Very interesting, informative, humbling etc. One day is pretty rushed, and it' s a long day if you do it as a day trip out of Paris, but I highly recommend going there one way or another.

Note, while there you (unlike me ) should check out the Bayeux Tapestry.

It's RIGHT. DAMN. THERE. And yet we just could not squeeze it in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry

[saphojunkie]

If anyone ever needs any tips or travel advice, I lived in Normandy. Going back in January. My buddy got his grandfather's serial number tattooed there. Pretty special experience.

I'll tell you this: folks in Normandy remember and appreciate the American sacrifice in a way people here don't.

[DCTwister]

Hey I am going to Normandy next summer with my teenage son. I’ve been to France several times but never been to the beaches. Looking forward to it. Any specific advice for how to spend let’s say 3 days in Normandy?

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

If anyone ever needs any tips or travel advice, I lived in Normandy. Going back in January. My buddy got his grandfather's serial number tattooed there. Pretty special experience.

I'll tell you this: folks in Normandy remember and appreciate the American sacrifice in a way people here don't.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by DCTwister

Hey I am going to Normandy next summer with my teenage son. I’ve been to France several times but never been to the beaches. Looking forward to it. Any specific advice for how to spend let’s say 3 days in Normandy?

Absolutely. The city of Cherbourg is about 200,000 people and great. It's right on the channel at the northern coast of the Normandie peninsula. I actually love that place. It's about 1.5 hour drive on the freeway (you drive on the right, super easy, but renting a car in France can be a BITCH). it has bars, restaurants, one of the best chocolatier/pastry chefs in france, a big square, a casino, shopping, and boats. What's not to love? There's even a McDonald's there. yes, I had a royale with cheese. Yes, I was hung over.

Closer to Omaha Beach is the town of Bayeaux. This has an old castle and great atmosphere. Do you like oysters? If not... I suggest you learn to. The oysters in Normandie are ****ing outstanding. Bayaux isn't as big as Cherbourg, but it's super pretty, a million years old, and has restaurants and stuff to do. It's in the heart of the invasion, so everyone speaks and is used to English. If you learn to say "je suis desole, je non parle pas francais. (I'm sorry, I don't speak French) everyone will smile, be super thankful that you learned to say one thing in their native tongue, and happily talk to you in as much English as they know, which is often quite a lot.

For three days, I'd give yourself one full day to hit Utah and another to go to Omaha. Omaha and Utah beaches are both on the east coast of the peninsula, whereas Cherbourg is at the top. Hiring a guide is great. When you get closer, let me know. There is a kick ass guide there. British dude who is just a junkie for all things D-Day. He has reunited survivors with the families of soldiers that died saving them. he also has "enough guns to arm a small African rebellion." (his words lol). I think he also has his own plane. Dude was amazing and a wealth of knowledge. A plane went down in what is now his back yard and he learned every crewman's name, how they died and where, and where they were from. He was kick ass.

You want to see the town of Saint Mere Eglise, which is where the paratrooper was stuck on the roof of a church for a whole day. They still have a dummy hanging from it to honor him.

The best way to get to Normandie is fly into Paris, take a $50 cab or $30 uber to the train station SAINT-LAZARE. From there it's a 3 hour train ride to Valognes or Cherbourg - one stop away from each other. Don't bother springing for first class - it doesn't matter. Just sit anywhere that doesn't have a light on above it.

The important thing to know about the peninsula is that it's super accessible by freeway, but everything closes by 7PM. Nothing is open on Sundays. Never order anduoillette (unless you love eating soft pig intestines). Stick to seafood everywhere you go, and you won't go wrong. Promise.

For staying, I'd actually recommend that you stay in Cherbourg and drive to the beaches, as opposed to staying near the beaches and driving to Cherbourg. There is a museum at both Utah and Omaha, but Omaha is pretty damn conclusive.

If you decide to stay near the beaches, then Bayeaux (pronounced like Scott Baio) is a great choice. there are hotels and air bnbs galore. Again, great oysters and seafood in general. Beef? well... let's just say they aren't from KC.

I'll be back there for a few months in January, feel free to hit me up for any other info, and I'll drop it here if I think of it.

[Shag]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I was fortunate enough to visit Normandy last April with my wife. We did the full D-Day tour, and then did a guided "Band of Brothers" tour where we followed in the footsteps of Easy Company from Normandy to Bastogne. It was incredible, awe-inspiring, and humbling.

Setting foot in the places where so many men gave their lives in the fight against true, unconditional evil is something I'll never forget.

We had visited Oscar Schindler's factory and Auschwitz in Poland just days prior, so seeing first had what these men were fighting for made it all the more impactful.

Pointe Du Hoc was insane. The US Government owns the land, and it is a protected battlefield site – it has literally not changed since the war. The battlefield is littered with craters and bunkers – most of which are riddled with bullet holes on the inside. If you don't know the story of Pointe Du Hoc, look it up. It gives me goosebumps. The 2nd and 5th US Army Ranger battalions assaulted the point, which is a 100+ foot vertical cliff. Even though the site had been under heavy bombing, it was still heavily occupied by the German 352nd. The Rangers climbed the cliff with a ****ING GRAPPLING HOOK and stormed the bunkers. Their reinforcements launched late due to timing issues, and accidentally landed on Omaha, far down the shoreline. This left nearly 300 Rangers pinned against the shoreline with limited supplies and ammo. Days later, when reinforcements were able to work around behind the Nazis, the 2 battalions had been reduced to around 90 men. The bunkers are FULL of bullet holes. The wooden ceilings are charred from flame throwers. It's unreal.

The cemetery at Omaha Beach is beyond words. I have two great uncles from opposite sides of my family buried there, which I knew going in...but I was shocked to see that these two men were buried just 4 graves from one another. They both died on the same day, D-Day, and were the same age. Imagine that. These two guys who never met one another stormed a beach and gave their lives so that their family members could eventually cross paths and make my existence possible. That's incredible.

The most powerful thing we witnessed, without a doubt, was a rendition of the National Anthem at the cemetery. In attendance were about 8 veterans who had fought on the beach. From the vantage point, you overlook the cemetery, and down below...the beach. All of them stood to salute the flag, sobbing. One man was wheelchair bound, and his son and grandson held him upright at his request.

They call these guys the greatest generation for a reason.

I didn't do a formal tour, but did some of the BoB tour on my own, and had the same experience - harrowing, to put it mildly. Pointe du Hoc was absolutely unbelievable - the size and quantity of the craters was insane, and the idea of scaling that cliff is crazy. Walking on Omaha, and seeing the pillboxes still in the bluffs was incredibly humbling - it's almost inconceivable the beach was taken. The feats of that day are truly incredible.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by Shag

I didn't do a formal tour, but did some of the BoB tour on my own, and had the same experience - harrowing, to put it mildly. Pointe du Hoc was absolutely unbelievable - the size and quantity of the craters was insane, and the idea of scaling that cliff is crazy. Walking on Omaha, and seeing the pillboxes still in the bluffs was incredibly humbling - it's almost inconceivable the beach was taken. The feats of that day are truly incredible.

Agreed. So, so humbling. Visited a few years ago. Looking out the pill boxes on Omaha with the tide out and I teared up. Our guys were sitting ducks... Not to mention the church where US medics took care of german and Allied wounded and there is still blood stains on the pews with stained glass windows featuring American paratroopers...

[BleedingRed]

Originally Posted by Shag

I didn't do a formal tour, but did some of the BoB tour on my own, and had the same experience - harrowing, to put it mildly. Pointe du Hoc was absolutely unbelievable - the size and quantity of the craters was insane, and the idea of scaling that cliff is crazy. Walking on Omaha, and seeing the pillboxes still in the bluffs was incredibly humbling - it's almost inconceivable the beach was taken. The feats of that day are truly incredible.

I'm a WWII buff I have read so much stuff and it's still not even scratching the surface.

But one cool bit about D-Day is that several Naval Captains literally BEACHED their destroyers on Omaha to train their guns right at the Pill Boxes.

People don't seem to understand that the entirety of the 1st wave was almost wiped out completely. (here is a picture they did to illustrate it)


The is mention of it in the book "The Longest Day", but there is also a book from a German perspective. Two German pilots took off in their FW-190 and came over the landing sites....... The German pilot lead literally said something to the affect of "The war is already over" when he saw the 4,000+ ship fleet

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I was fortunate enough to visit Normandy last April with my wife. We did the full D-Day tour, and then did a guided "Band of Brothers" tour where we followed in the footsteps of Easy Company from Normandy to Bastogne. It was incredible, awe-inspiring, and humbling.

Setting foot in the places where so many men gave their lives in the fight against true, unconditional evil is something I'll never forget.

We had visited Oscar Schindler's factory and Auschwitz in Poland just days prior, so seeing first had what these men were fighting for made it all the more impactful.

Pointe Du Hoc was insane. The US Government owns the land, and it is a protected battlefield site – it has literally not changed since the war. The battlefield is littered with craters and bunkers – most of which are riddled with bullet holes on the inside. If you don't know the story of Pointe Du Hoc, look it up. It gives me goosebumps. The 2nd and 5th US Army Ranger battalions assaulted the point, which is a 100+ foot vertical cliff. Even though the site had been under heavy bombing, it was still heavily occupied by the German 352nd. The Rangers climbed the cliff with a ****ING GRAPPLING HOOK and stormed the bunkers. Their reinforcements launched late due to timing issues, and accidentally landed on Omaha, far down the shoreline. This left nearly 300 Rangers pinned against the shoreline with limited supplies and ammo. Days later, when reinforcements were able to work around behind the Nazis, the 2 battalions had been reduced to around 90 men. The bunkers are FULL of bullet holes. The wooden ceilings are charred from flame throwers. It's unreal.

The cemetery at Omaha Beach is beyond words. I have two great uncles from opposite sides of my family buried there, which I knew going in...but I was shocked to see that these two men were buried just 4 graves from one another. They both died on the same day, D-Day, and were the same age. Imagine that. These two guys who never met one another stormed a beach and gave their lives so that their family members could eventually cross paths and make my existence possible. That's incredible.

The most powerful thing we witnessed, without a doubt, was a rendition of the National Anthem at the cemetery. In attendance were about 8 veterans who had fought on the beach. From the vantage point, you overlook the cemetery, and down below...the beach. All of them stood to salute the flag, sobbing. One man was wheelchair bound, and his son and grandson held him upright at his request.

They call these guys the greatest generation for a reason.

Wow! This is unbelievable and had me in tears. Such amazing stories, thank you so much for sharing. I absolutely HAVE to do this someday.