Anniversary of D-Day June 6, 1944

June 6 2026 | Jolla

[Jolla]

Raise the 48 Star Flag and put on the Longest Day or Saving Private Ryan. Its time to remember one of the greatest military events in all of history and an invasion which will never be eclipsed. That day when so many brave and very young men walked into hell, they should never be forgotten.

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TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 19440606; dday; history; military; thebigredone; ww2

[Jolla]

One of the great days in American History. Been to the Normandy American Cemetery 3 times, never fails to move me.

[Gay State Conservative]

I remember when Saving Private Ryan was first released a number of veterans of D-Day were interviewed and they said that the first scene...the first 15-20 minutes...was incredibly accurate. IIRC one or two of them even said that seeing it caused them to have flashbacks and nightmares.

[DFG]

“The Longest Day” trivia:

In the movie, Richard Todd played Major John Howard who led the Pegasus Bridge attack. On 6 June 1944, as a Lieutenant, Richard Todd participated in Operation Tonga during the D-Day landings. Todd’s Battalion were the reinforcements that parachuted in after the gliders landed and captured Pegasus Bridge to prevent German forces from crossing and attacking. Todd was promoted to Captain five days after D-Day. Richard Todd is also in the 1956 movie “D-Day the Sixth of June”.

22 year old Joseph Lowe scaled the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc on D-Day. He scaled the cliffs again 17 years later in the movie.

Lt Col Benjamin Vandevoort was 29 years old on D-Day. He was played by 55 year old John Wayne in the movie. This part was originally offered to 38 year old Charlton Heston and also William Holden.

Gen James M. Gavin was 37 years old on D-Day. He was played by 52 year old Robert Ryan in the movie.

Pvt John Steele (played by Red Buttons) landed on the church steeple to witness the Ste Mere Eglise massacre. He played dead for 2 hours (not 10 as said in the movie) before being taken prisoner. 4 days later he escaped captivity and rejoined his unit. Today a full-size mannequin of Steele hangs from the same church steeple to commemorate him. Red Buttons was cast after he ran into producer Darryl Zanuck in a Paris cafe.

The real Theodore Roosevelt Jr (played by Henry Fonda) died of a heart attack in France just a few weeks after the Normandy invasion.

[equaviator]

Ike: Countdown To D-Day. If it’s not on today something is wrong.

[exPBRrat]

A day to remember. Thank God it was pulled off successfully.

[arkfreepdom]

Currently on Omaha Beach! :)

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. R.I.P. Uncle Bill Warner.

[neverevergiveup]

Considering what is happening in Europe now, D-day is particularly sad.

[OrangeHoof]

My father served but it was in the units that came up through North Africa and Italy up into Germany. I inherited a cane he bought while he was in France. May God bless all who served and paid the ultimate price.

[Psycho_Runner]

Last Tuesday I saw the movie “Pressure”. I highly recommend the movie.

[Pocketdoor]

let’s not forget The battle of Midway.

[telescope115]

I can’t wait to see it!

[scrabblehack]

They made a plot point of it being General Marcks’ birthday — was that deliberate planning on the part of the Allies or was it coincidence?

[ealgeone]

It’s available on youtube. Highly recommend watching.

[TTFlyer]

At the same time the US began Operation Forager, the invasion of the Marianas. An invasion force of 500 ships and 300,OO0 men launched from Hawaii across 3,000 miles of ocean. A logistical feat that dwarfs even Overlord.

Not only that, at the same time the USN engaged the Imperial Japanese Navy Mobile Fleet which was enroute to the Marianas to attack the US invasion force. The result was a massive defeat of the IJN(two fleet carriers sunk)with the loss of so many hundreds of Japanese aircraft the battle was named “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”.

But D Day gets all the glory.

[Delta 21]

D-day. Operation Overlord. Much like Memorial and Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor, I get overcome with emotion real bad. It hurts to see G.I.s getting mowed down and killed when todays generation cant tie their own shoes. Makes me kinda mad sometimes.

Hand Salute.

[Delta 21]

Very nice!