Normandy

[ness]

A little side note: A friend of mine's uncle was killed over Normandy a short time before the landings. He was on a plane that was shot down. The pilot steered the plane away from a school before crashing likely saving the lives of those inside. 

Two years ago my friend and other family members of those who died were invited over to commemorate the event. Some of the children from the school were in attendance for that and the families got to meet them. He also got to see his uncle's marker at the Normandy American Cemetery an received a flag flown over it. 

[dpitt]

17 hours ago, ness said:

We just got back from a two week vacation in Switzerland and France. Our last stop was a bucket list item for me: The Normandy beaches. Our first day there we did a guided tour of the main American sectors: Omaha and Utah, then we did some on our own after that. I thought folks might be interested in some pics.

It's hard to put into words the feeling you get here. First, the sadness that comes from knowing how many men died right here. Men who went into this knowing there was a really good chance they'd never go home. I can't really fathom the bravery of these guys. The historical significance of the place too: An exceptionally complicated invasion with 150,000 troops followed by a couple million more. 200,000+ Allied casualties and many more as the we moved forward. It's somber, it's moving. I teared up multiple times. 

80+ years later and the French are still grateful. Along the coast where we were there are probably as many American flags as French. I asked our guide if the young people understand, and he said as part of school they come to learn, and he said they do get it. Farther to the east, were the British and Canadian sectors, where I'm told it's the same. And, all along the way are flags of other countries who contributed: Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and many others.

Omaha Beach is hard to capture in a photo: Its almost 6 miles long and the beach is quite wide. Imagine running across this while under fire... See the people on the right for scale. I think casualties were something like 40 percent. 

There were many units involved, but I didn't remember the 1st Infantry Division, AKA The Big Red 1, out of Fort Riley, Kansas, was one of the major players at Omaha. 

West of Omaha is Utah, and at the edge of that is Pointe du Hoc, where Army Rangers famously scaled the 100+ foot cliffs to take out the heavily fortified bunkers above. Again, pretty heavy casualties, but they did it. 

 

Normandy American Cemetery where 9,000+ Americans are buried, including 300 plus unknowns. Another 1,500 missing in action are commemorated. As recently as 2011 a body was discovered nearby and the remains identified by DNA testing. His spot in the memorial, along with the others identified after the memorial was built in the 60's, is marked with a ruby-colored marker. 

Tomb of one of the unknowns. It's hard to read but the stone says: 'Here lies in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God.' Lump in throat.

A main objective was to capture the crossroads of Sainte-Mere-Eglise to prevent German reinforcements from getting to Omaha and Utah. Paratroopers were dropped here in the middle of the night before the landings. Like so many aspects of the invasion, it didn't go exactly as planned. Paratroopers were to be dropped outside town while everyone was asleep. But there was a house fire and all the townsfolk were out doing a bucket line to put it out, and the dang Germans were awake too. Paratroopers dropped right into the town, including one named John Steele who got snagged on the church tower. He hung there for several hours pretending to be dead before the Germans figured it out and captured him. This is commemorated with a parachute and mannequin on the church tower. Look to the right and below the clock.

The stained glass also commemorates the paratroopers. Look closely to the left and right of Mary and Jesus.

I hope you enjoy and maybe reflect.

 

 

Very thought provoking, thank you for sharing.

[BilletHead]

8 hours ago, ness said:

Yeah, there's an emotional, somber feeling there. But, as I thought about it, it is just one of thousands of battles in THAT part of THAT war. We've been doing this s%#t to each other since the begging of civilization. 

          That was what I was trying to say about your post. I hate to say it, but all wars start because of greed, religion or politics. I wish it would end. In the famous words of the Kingston trio.  "Someone will set the spark off and we will all be blown away"

                 

 

[Terrierman]

Thanks Ness.