D-Day:+70

[DaveP]

Had a great moment yesterday while I was on the "Normandie" waiting to return to the UK from France.  The Dock at Ouistrenham overlooks Caen and the Normandy beaches.

First a couple of Spitfires flew over on a dummy run, then four USAAF C130's dropped parachutes over the Pegasus Bridge area, I guess today they will do it for real.  Security very tight, there are enormous marquees on the beach and pyrotechnics for simulated landings.

Then the Queen Mary 2 passed us on the way across the channel, her namesake was a troopship during the war so I guess she is taking part too.

The Normandie had an exhibition on board and flew the French, USA, Canadian and UK flags, this is the last "big one", most of the remaining veterans are in their 90's now.

best
DaveP

 

[ruffrecords]

Tearful day for me today. My Dad went over on D+6. Even then there was heavy fighting. He was in a tank regiment and his first job was to clear a minefield using a tank fitted with rotating flailing chains. His tank was very slow and when he was half way across a Panza appeared and blew the turret off his tank. My Dad called this 'getting brewed up'. He managed to jump out and ran for cover.

That was just the start. For the next six months and more he pushed across the continent, fighting every inch of the way towards Belgium and beyond to Belson. He never talked about it much, but when I turned 18 we went on holiday to Scotland. He and I went on a boat trip together (my mum and sister stayed behind) and I guess he thought I was old enough to be told about some of his exploits. A few years before he died, he was interviewed by the Imperial War Museum who were trying to collect memories from the then surviving members of various tank regiments. I have 4 CDs worth of my Dad's voice. He died 11 years ago aged 87. I still miss him every day.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Spiritworks]

Heroes all, from what I truly believe was the greatest generation.

 

[DaveP]

Ian,

My Dad was in the Rifle Brigade which went to North Africa with the Yanks in Operation Torch in '42.  He went on to Italy and Monte Casino, they were in Brengun carriers.

I completely understand the bit about your Dad not talking about it, mine was exactly the same.  That generation did not want to waste their precious words on their sons until they were "of age".  After seeing "Saving Private Ryan" I could understand why.  Those memories of the unspeakable could not be degraded on ears that were too unfeeling/stupid/young to understand, I include myself in that of course.

Your Dad was lucky to survive!  Our tank crews were hopelessly out-gunned by German Panzers and were picked off at will by 88's.
We lost about 200 Shermans in an afternoon when trying to encircle Caen.  The only decent tank we had was the "Firefly" conversion which was in very short supply.  Brewing Up was generally when a tank was hit setting off the ammunition and incinerating the occupants, your Dad was a very brave guy indeed.

best
DaveP

 

[pucho812]

The Original queen Mary now resides in Long Beach harbor and has been converted into a hotel.  I took my folks there for dinner at a restaurant called Sir Winston's. It was lovely and my dad remarked how he remembers seeing the Queen Mary back in New York harbor as a child. This would have been 1930 something.  Aside from the Hotel they have turned it  into a very nice museum with tours and lots of old photos. They claim it is haunted as several people died on it's voyages across the Atlantic.

 

[keefaz]

Funny 

Bernard Jordan: the great Normandy escapade

Bernard Jordan, who served with the Royal Navy during Operation Overlord, had been looking forward to joining the events in northern France to pay tribute in person to his comrades who fell during the invasion.

But on being told by staff at the residential care home in Hove that they had not been able to get him onto an organised coach trip for the anniversary events, he took matters into his own hands.

Pinning on his D-Day campaign medals under his raincoat Mr Jordan, 89, set off under his own steam and headed for Normandy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/10882005/Bernard-Jordan-the-great-Normandy-escapade.html

 

[horvitz]

I was a little early for a meeting in Boston yesterday so I walked down to the waterfront and there was the Constitution going by in front of me doing a short turnaround in honor of D-Day.  I've seen it before, but it's an amazing and inspiring sight every time.

 

[helterbelter]

As a dutchman I remain grateful for all the help we (europeans) got from the world against the Nazi's. 

Here's a newsflash which I enjoyed :
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/05/world/europe/d-day-paratrooper-jumps-again/

 

[DaveP]

God, that guy is fit!

He said "You don't have to sit and die, just because you get old"

There's a lesson for us all there  8)
best
DaveP

 

[L´Andratté]

As a dutchman I remain grateful for all the help we (europeans) got from the world against the Nazi's. 

As a german too. :'(

Mr. Jordan did like a truly free person.

 

[helterbelter]

As a dutchman I remain grateful for all the help we (europeans) got from the world against the Nazi's. 

As a german too. :'(

That's why I explicitly said "Nazi's", not "germans". I already considered to mention this. . I like most german people, I'd wish most dutch people would have more the german mentality ! Most of the german people show more hospitality, and are more down to earth than the dutch people.

 

[EEMO1]

My late grandpa and my grandma's brother both went to defend Finland during ww2 (winter war + continuation war) at a very young age.

My great uncle was five years on the front. 5 years is a long time for someone around 20 years of age... d-day to surrender of germany was what? under a year?


My grandpa wasn't for that long because he was so young he coudn't join before that. Im not that close with my great uncle, but you can tell even now that they never got over it. I guess they learned to cope with the horrors etc, but it wasn't the same anymore for the rest of their lives. Or at least that's how I see it from a distance.


I think the reality is so terrifying that no movie or documentary can really portray it. I have a lot of respect for them and them putting themselves on the line like  that when they we're about 18-20 years old, sometimes lying and really being 16. Maybe not the killing, but the sacrifice. I think I barely could wipe myself without help at that age, let alone go to war.


salute!