TommorowToday is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. While I have no personal connection to the day, as my late father served during the Korean War and his brother, my uncle served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. In fact, the only distant connection I have to D-Day is having been a fan of James Doohan who served in the Canadian Army and was injured in his leg, his chest and hand during the D-Day assault.
During his acting career, he was able to hide his injuries usually by carrying tools or other props in his injured hand.
However, while the day is worth remembering, it has become a sort of “lesser” memorial day. And as such, it deserves to be remembered with respect.
Please share widely!
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers 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, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
…I believe I have read that in the draft statement Ike wrote to be used in the event of failure he said “the troops have been withdrawn” and then consciously crossed that out and substituted the active voice “I have withdrawn the troops.”
same as Truman – the buck stops here.
A friend of mine was D-Day+ a few days and described seeing ships all over the horizon.
It was likely his greatest speech of his presidency, I still watch it every so often. I hope BMG puts the video of Reagan’s speech up tomorrow.
“The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers — the edge of the cliffs — shooting down at them with machineguns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders 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 two 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.”
http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/reagan-at-normandy-1401968701?mobile=y
As I recall he gave a good speech in response to the Challenger disaster too. GWB was difficult to listen to, but I wondered if my aversion to his policies biased my feelings about that. When Reagan died and the news replayed many of his statements it confirmed that it was the speaking style. Agree or not on the merits Reagan was physically easy to listen to.
I cannot listen to more than about 10 seconds of Ronald Reagan
He was a Tech Sargent in an engineering battalion – I have a copy of the book his unit made of their exploits in the war, called “Pack Up and Move!”
On Omaha beach – it was carnage ?
Every decade or so I reread Churchill’s 6-volume account of the war.
Normandy a critical fulcrum, towards which the Allies had struggled for years, but best appreciated in the context of the amazing global sweep over time.
(And the man could write.)
Maybe that should my next series of books to read – I know he could speak and turn a phrase. Just finished Omaha Beach D-Day – well written – and sad.
http://www.amazon.com/Omaha-Beach-D-Day-June-1944/dp/0811733769