Posted on 06/06/2012 11:41:15 AM PDT by Retain Mike
A footnote;
It was not until years afterward that the troops in the gliders were considered “airborne.”
Manhood, courage and virility personified. On all sides.
I never get tired of hearing this magnificent story of Ike visiting the fabled 101st on the eve of Normandy.
God bless all our fighting men and women - and, especially, the 101st Airborne Division.
BTTT
Yes. Thank you for reminding me.
and hey, what about that moving tribute to D-Day given by Obama today...uh, oops...never mind.
(if the Normandy invasion had been led by a gay platoon, he’d be all over it...)
I know one of those pilots who flew the paratroopers over that night (also involved in invasions of Sicily and Italy). The stories he recounts are both heartening and gut-wrenching.
At Sicily, German planes had attacked our ships minutes before his squadron flew the paratroopers in to invade the inland. Allied ships thought his squadron were more German planes, so a bunch of his buddies got blasted out of the sky by our own ships.
During the practices for Normandie (nighttime, of course), there were some horrific mid-air accidents that almost cost him his life.
Yet they all did their duty at tremendous cost. I’m just glad my kids have had a chance to learn from him.
The 101 is a first class fighting outfit, no doubt about it. But to be fair, in all of WW2 the Screaming Eagles only made two combat jumps. The 82nd. made five.
....anybody seen Obama’s D-day thought of the day?...anybody?.anywhere?
re: “The 101 is a first class fighting outfit, no doubt about it. But to be fair, in all of WW2 the Screaming Eagles only made two combat jumps. The 82nd. made five.”
Hear! Hear! Absolutely correct. God bless the 82nd as well. Forgive my memory which gets worse the older I get.
That is a real privilege. Before my son entered the Marine Corps he had the chance to know a family friend who landed the first day on Tarawa.
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the 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 and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
I also left my comment at YT for people to see....*grins*
I got to visit the D-Day beaches in 2006. It is an experience I will never forgot. Brought some sand back from Omaha Beach.
You know the 82nd was in that invasion also don't you? Why not bless them also, I am sure God has.
Thanks!
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