Posted on 06/06/2009 2:37:31 PM PDT by Michael Eden
It was the time of the Final Solution. It was the time of Hitler, Stalin, Tojo and Mussolini. It was the time when tyranny and totalitarianism, and a form of government determined to dominate every aspect of the human spirit, threatened the world.
And all who stood against the conquest of the human spirit were the fighting men of the Allied Forces.
June 6, 1944 was a day that great men changed the future. It was the day that American, British, and Canadian fighting men began to pry the claws of Adolf Hitler off of Europe, one finger at a time.
Imagine for a moment what the world would have been like had the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese won. Imagine the gas chambers and the ovens coming to your neighborhood. Imagine the Rape of Nanking coming to your neighborhood.
No one can ever know what would have happened to the world had Hitler's "Thousand Year Reich" prevailed. And the reason that no one can ever know is that good men rose up and put his tyranny and madness to an end.
Most of the men who rose up and stopped Hitler and Tojo did not think of themselves as "great men." They were ordinary men who came from ordinary cities and towns. And up until the day that they were called to stand up as one to fight the greatest evil the world had ever known, their lives were as ordinary as the lives of men from any other generation.
The history of D-Day should be written not just in history books, but in the hearts and minds of every single American.
As the historic D-Day invasion of the Normandy beachheads were underway, FDR addressed the nation. He said:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:On that day, men and women and children - in homes, in schools, in factories, in offices, wherever they were, all across the nation - got down on their knees and prayed to their God for the safety and the victory of the men who stormed those dreaded beaches. Landmines, machine gun fire, and artillery rained down on men who had nothing but their rifles, and nowhere to hide across an open stretch of the most deadly beach in human history. There was no "separation of church and state" on that day.Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest--until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home--fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too--strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment--let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace--a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
A title of a book by Bernard Fall that described another conflict later to come in Indochina at Dien Bien Phu applied equally well to Normandy: it was Hell in a Very Small Place. But an inch at a time, a foot at a time, a yard at a time, our fighting men ultimately prevailed. And following that day they had to prevail again and again as the war dragged on for another year.
I often think it was ultimately faith - very much like the faith of the great saints of the church - that kept driving them forward.
We should remember D-Day and all the events surrounding that day. We should remember that there is such a thing as genuine moral evil, and that there come a time when one either fight it and defeat it, or join it. We should remember that war is a terrible thing, and that once we make the decision to fight, we should never undermine our cause by questioning and criticizing. We should remember that there is a time for suffering and sacrifice, and that while every generation should pray that they are not called to make such sacrifices, every generation should be ready to answer the call if and when the need arises. We should remember that if we fight, we should fight to win. And we should remember that war is not limited to the men fighting on the front lines, but that it should involve every American - in their work, in their giving, in their saving, and most of all in their prayers.
For ultimately it was not merely the men on the beaches that were great on D-Day. It was the country that equipped them and supported them.
If we as a country have the same attitude, the same courage, and the same faith that got our men over the cliffs and across the beaches at Normandy, we can truly prevail over anything.
Please say a prayer for the men of D-Day, for the men of World War II, for the men of Korea and Vietnam, and for the men of all of our wars right up to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that our warriors are fighting even now.
And pray for yourself, that you might have the spirit to share in some way with the sacrifice of our men and women who are fighting on the front lines. For every single one of us who loves freedom has, in his or her own individual life, the duty to help perpetuate democracy and liberty.
That's a great way to put it. I salute those brave men "who stormed those dreaded beaches."
>The history of D-Day should be written not just in history books, but in the hearts and minds of every single American.<
.
How can that be when most Americans were not even born when WWII took place or were too young to remember those days. Not many left of the Greatest Generation.
I hear what you’re saying and I agree with you, but most Americans today have other worries to think of. And then there are those, many of them, who downright hate this country.
I myself get the sniffles when I watch the end of “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers”.
“It was the day that American, British, and Canadian fighting men began to pry the claws of Adolf Hitler off of Europe, one finger at a time.”
One could argue that the campaign in Italy and the bomber offensive pre-dated the “beginning of claw prying”.
Nice article from the Orange County Register about a D-Day veteran who works at Wal-Mart:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/brincho-war-customers-2447415-see-frank
I’ve been trying to watch the “Patton 360” programs on the history channel. And you are entirely right: the Italian campaign was intended to begin to force German troops to where Eisenhower (et al) wanted them to prepare for the invasion of Europe.
Some of it was also done at the insistence of Stalin, who wanted to relieve some of the pressure on his army by setting up a second front in Europe.
But I think you’d agree that the REAL beginning of the liberation of Europe as a serious, determined, sustained effort was initiated at D-Day. And the Italian campaign was done to help set up D-Day.
How can that be when most Americans were not even born when WWII took place or were too young to remember those days. Not many left of the Greatest Generation.
I hear what you’re saying and I agree with you, but most Americans today have other worries to think of. And then there are those, many of them, who downright hate this country.
I myself get the sniffles when I watch the end of “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers”.
- - - - - - - -
I watch interviews and hear how abysmally historically ignorant average Americans often are on major events in history and I never cease to be shocked.
I believe that one can best learn the future by understanding the lessons of the past.
For instance, right now we are plunging headlong into socialism because we are so incredibly freaking ignorant of the lessons of the first half of 20th century America.
I believe that what I said about D-Day, the American effort that brought us victory in WWII stand: we would be a better, stronger, more courageous, and more noble people if we took those lessons to heart.
I understand that what you are essentially saying is not that you don’t WANT that to happen; you just don’t think it WILL happen. And I agree that it probably won’t. But it’s a damn shame.
Can America still produce “great men who change the future”? Ordinary men who don’t think of themselves as “great” or “brave” but who step up and do their duty, with honor, when called upon to do it? Are we turning out men like that? That is the question, isn’t it? Decades of decadence have eroded our moral fiber. Untruthful education and the baleful influence of trash entertainment have turned minds to mush and spines to jello. I see too few great men on the horizon.
D-Day: Eisenhower and the Paratroopers
The thesis Eisenhower was more than just a political general is certainly not new. However, I had not thought carefully about the subject until retirement. Now I get to pick a subject, like on WW II in Western Europe, and read all the books I have accumulated on that subject from estate and garage sales, and used book and thrift stores.
Eisenhower arrived in London with less than five months until D-day. That is one month less than I had as Finance Director to lead our college management team in preparing the annual operating and capital budgets. His experience occurred in another world I cannot adequately imagine.
A popular historical portrayal describes General Dwight Eisenhower managing a political/military alliance, but reminds us he never lead troops in combat. However, his leadership sustained many unprecedented initiatives for successful Normandy landings. The air assault examples the frightful uncertainties of many critical hazards run on this “Day of Days”.
The night before D-Day, 20,400 American and British paratroopers dropped behind the Normandy beaches from 1,250 C-47 aircraft plus gliders. This massive assault was attempted just 17 years after Charles Lindberg flew the Atlantic solo for the first time.
To the last moment Ike’s air commander, British Air Chief Marshall Leigh-Mallory, saw tragic forebodings reinforced by memories of American problems in North Africa and Sicily, and the German catastrophe on Crete. He anticipated hundreds of planes and gliders destroyed with surviving paratroopers fighting isolated until killed or captured.
The planes would arrive in three streams each 300 miles long, allowing the Germans up to two hours to reposition night fighters and anti-aircraft artillery for maximum slaughter of unarmed transports. Most pilots were flying their first combat mission. Leigh-Mallory had specific intelligence the German 91st Air Landing Division, specialists in fighting paratroopers, and the 6th Parachute Regiment had inexplicably moved into the area around St. Mere-Eglise, where American divisions were to land. Could these movements mean the deception plan directing attention to Pas de Calais was breaking down?
Ike remained strategically committed to airborne assault, but compassionately devoted to the men. The evening before D-Day, Eisenhower left SHAEF headquarters at 6 PM, traveling to Newbury where the 101st Airborne was boarding for its initial combat mission. Ike arrived at 8 PM and did not leave until the last C-47 was airborne over three hours later.
In My Three Years with Eisenhower Captain Harry C. Butcher says, “We saw hundreds of paratroopers with blackened and grotesque faces, packing up for the big hop and jump. Ike wandered through them, stepping over, packs, guns, and a variety of equipment such as only paratroop people can devise, chinning with this and that one. All were put at ease. He was promised a job after the war by a Texan who said he roped, not dallied, his cows, and at least there was enough to eat in the work. Ike has developed or disclosed an informality and friendliness with troopers that almost amazed me”.
In Crusade in Europe General Dwight Eisenhower says, “I found the men in fine fettle, many of them joshingly admonishing me that I had no cause for worry, since the 101st was on the job, and everything would be taken care of in fine shape. I stayed with them until the last of them were in the air, somewhere about midnight. After a two hour trip back to my own camp, I had only a short time to wait until the first news should come in”.
One of the first D-Day reports was from Leigh-Mallory with news only 29 of 1,250 C-47’s were missing and only four gliders were unaccounted for. That morning Leigh-Mallory sent Ike a message frankly saying it is sometimes difficult to admit that one is wrong, but he had never had a greater pleasure than in doing so on this occasion. He congratulated Ike on the wisdom and courage of his command decision.
The above represents only one of many crushing anxieties Eisenhower persevered through. President Roosevelt understood the enormous risks, and asked the nation to pray for the coming invasion. Resting today in the luxury of historical certainty prevents us from perceiving the dark specters hovering about nearly all invasion planning aspects.
Omaha Beach landing - Saving Private Ryan
Charles,
I used to doubt that we could. But since the beginning of the Iraq War I have seen our soldiers as simply magnificent. I am so proud of them!
We are still able to produce such young men and women.
I think the very real question is whether we are able to produce ENOUGH of them to sustain us through another period like that of WWII. We can send in enough great young men to serve the cause in Iraq and Afghanistan. But what about Russia or China, for example?
Here is where I doubt.
Even worse, what about the rest of Americans, those who DON'T go to the front? Are THEY anything like the men and women who outproduced the rest of the world combined in factories even as they stoically rationed their own food and their own raw materials so the boys at the front could have the most and the best?
I don't see it.
Wasn’t there a Drill for D-Day where a TREMENDOUS amount of men died also???
That is a great piece and a great tribute to Ike.
He is going to have a memorial built in his honor celebrating many of these very things you describe, I heard on Fox News just a little while ago.
We needed great generals to lead us, and men like Eisenhower and Patton were there for us.
And let us thank God for General Petraeus today!
THANK YOU!! I was looking for the number of deaths, and there were competing numbers, so I have no idea if it was 550+ ot 750+.
Ditto Ditto...I completely agree with you.
Americans have no greater worry than their pervasive ignorance and their tolerance of the very enemy these citizen soldiers fought against.
The old adage, “if don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it”, is being played out in spades in this country.
I wonder if there is still time to turn it around?...I truly do not know the answer to that question.
Thanks for a great post.
Then women, blacks, and old people voted for Obama and screwed it all up.
>Can America still produce “great men who change the future”?<
.
Hmm, interesting question. Why don’t you have a look at who we have in government today and what their priorities are for this country. Then let me know the answer.
Ditto Ditto...I completely agree with you.
Americans have no greater worry than their pervasive ignorance and their tolerance of the very enemy these citizen soldiers fought against.
The old adage, “if don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it”, is being played out in spades in this country.
I wonder if there is still time to turn it around?...I truly do not know the answer to that question.
Thanks for a great post.
- - - - - - - - -
Thank you, Blessings.
As a religious man, I think in terms of God. I believe that when a nation pursues God and morality to at least some degree, God will bless that nation. And one of the ways He blesses such a nation is to protect them from themselves.
You think of all the “little things” upon which history turns. Great battles that hung in the balance and could have gone either way “but for” some small event that happened or didn’t happen.
My prayer has often been, “Lord, please don’t give us the leaders we deserve.”
Personally, I look at the Obama presidency as a sign that God has withdrawn that divine protection to keep us from screwing up. I see all the things that happened or didn’t happen during the campaign (including the economy tanking, which I think was a staged event designed to help Obama) and shake my head.
It’s NEVER too late for a person, or for a nation - if they turn to the Lord. But will we? Or have we reached such a point of moral velocitization (by which what was immoral yesterday is accepted today and “moral” tomorrow), and such a point in a vicious cycle, that we have just shut ourselves off from the God who made this nation great to begin with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.