Posted on 06/06/2025 5:54:23 AM PDT by Leaning Right
I’m going to watch that again tonight!
I was an engineer officer in a USAR unit in San Antonio. My boss was a Col, Engineer and he had enlisted using a cousins birth certificate. At the end of the war they found out he still was under 18 and could not go back to HS. He was with Rudders Ranger unit on Normandy. Great boss.
RIP to your brave dear departed, PGalt.
You’re very welcome, rktman.
You are most welcome.
The 45th Infantry Division, also known as the “Thunderbirds,” participated in multiple landing operations during World War II, including D-Day in Normandy.
While the 45th is well-known for its role in the Normandy invasion and subsequent battles, their D-Day experience actually began earlier.
They also participated in the Sicily landing in July 1943 and the Anzio landing in Italy in January 1944.
D-Day Involvement:
My Dad was an injured WWI vet and his cousin who was like a younger brother was severely injured in Normandy and some how he survived with a metal plate in his skull for the rest of his life.
Both served in the 45th:
The 45th Infantry Division, also known as the “Thunderbirds,” participated in multiple landing operations during World War II, including D-Day in Normandy. While the 45th is well-known for its role in the Normandy invasion and subsequent battles, their D-Day experience actually began earlier. They also participated in the Sicily landing in July 1943 and the Anzio landing in Italy in January 1944.
D-Day Involvement:
Joe was an older gentleman in our church about 1984. He was friendly, relatively outspoken, and quick to help. He was also a known d-day vet. He would never talk about it. Not to anyone. If asked, he would just nod his head and remain silent. As I said, he was a friendly man. But he simply would not talk about d-day.
Joe was an older gentleman in our church about 1984. He was friendly, relatively outspoken, and quick to help. He was also a known d-day vet. He would never talk about it. Not to anyone. If asked, he would just nod his head and remain silent. As I said, he was a friendly man. But he simply would not talk about d-day.
Ike was 54 years old in that picture. Look how fit he was, with a slender waist and flat belly. His body language is so affectionate towards the troops he is sending out to what, for many, would be their final mission. We owe them so much.
I'm really ticked off that postimages.org has ditched two of my images of long-dead presidents last week for D-Day. If postimages.org hates America so much, they ought to say so on their opening page. I'm done with them.
There was probably a copyright issue that the owners complained.......................
After 81 years?
I'm wondering if they say the soldiers are in black face and they do not allow such images? Given the low state of historical knowledge these days, I would not be surprised.
Maybe Disney owned them.....😁
We’re not supposed to post Getty images here on FR but people do. Sometimes they get pulled..............
Love the post! Including FReeper Pookie in case he wants some of them for his Today’s Toons.
Omgosh -- you're probably right. Rolls eyes, smacks forehead
It was pulled by postimages.
I remember seeing some footage of this event, Eisenhower speaking to glider troops before the D-Day launch.
It was great! Some of the guys had their hair cut in a Mohawk and black paint on their faces.
SO cool!
Eisenhower's prepared statement if Operation Overlord should fail:
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”
How the heck did we devolve from an Eisenhower to a Newsom?
I visited an elderly couple from our church at the nursing home where they were pretty much shut in.
The woman was VERY talkative, while her husband sat in his chair not talking, other than “Hello” when I first came in and shook his hand.
Looking at his tattoo on his bare bicep I asked “Oh - you were in the navy I see.” Trying to spark up a conversation to include him.
His wife said “Yes. Harry drove a landing craft.”
“Oh - a Higgins boat?”
The husband looked up “Not many people know that is what they are called.”
The wife: “Harry was at D-Day!”
I looked in awe and amazement at this aging man, slumped in his chair. I got up and shook his hand again. I don’t recall if I said anything or not.
I changed the topic to what did he do after the war and now HE was the one that was quite talkative. (Getting married, children’s pictures, started a company, etc.)
My old man was on a mine sweeper in the Pacific. He never saw any action, but he had a few benign stories that were interesting.
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