Posted on 06/05/2009 6:44:25 PM PDT by doug from upland
D-DAY - June 6, 1944: the greatest generation saved the world from the Nazis
dday dot org ^ | 6-5-07
Posted on 06/05/2007 8:57:58 AM PDT by doug from upland
D-Day: It is hard to conceive the epic scope of this decisive battle that foreshadowed the end of Hitler's dream of Nazi domination. Overlord was the largest air, land, and sea operation undertaken before or since June 6, 1944. The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men.
After years of meticulous planning and seemingly endless training, for the Allied Forces, it all came down to this: The boat ramp goes down, then jump, swim, run, and crawl to the cliffs. Many of the first young men (most not yet 20 years old) entered the surf carrying eighty pounds of equipment. They faced over 200 yards of beach before reaching the first natural feature offering any protection. Blanketed by small-arms fire and bracketed by artillery, they found themselves in hell.
When it was over, the Allied Forces had suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 were dead. Yet somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been breached.
After you have finished reviewing this site, return to this page and click the links below to find out more about D-Day.
The terms D-Day and H-Hour are used for the day and hour on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. They designate day and hour for an operation when the actual day and hour have not yet been determined or announced. The letters are derived from the words for which they stand, “D” for the day of the invasion and “H” for the hour the operation actually begins.
When used in combination with figures and plus or minus signs, these terms indicate the length of time preceding or following a specific action. Thus, H-3 means 3 hours before H-hour, and D+3 means 3 days after D-day. H+75 minutes means H-hour plus 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Planning papers for large-scale operations are made up in detail long before, specific dates are set. Phased orders are planned for execution on D-Day or H-Hour minus or plus a certain number of days, hours, or minutes.
According to the U.S. Army’s Center of Military History, the earliest known use of these terms is in Field Order Number 9, First Army, American Expeditionary Forces. It is dated September 7, 1918: “The first Army will attack at H hour on D day with the object of forcing the evacuation of the St. Mihiel Salient.”
D-Day for the invasion of Normandy was set for June 5, 1944, but it actually occurred on June 6. Therefore, D-Day, as it applies to Overlord, is June 6, 1944.
Source: The General Service Schools, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Combat Orders (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: The General Service Schools Press, 1922).
Here is a great history lesson
http://www.dday.org/public/useruploads/file/Countdown%20to%20D-Day.PDF
Read the whole paragraph. The 1500 (American KIA) figure has been used and accepted for decades but they are now making a major effort at getting a more accurate count and it has resulted in the higher American KIA numbers. It is a very poorly written piece and I had to sort it out also. Most prose dealing with these numbers is confusing. I have used the 1500 number for years and found it to be suspiciously low when contrasted with the eyewitness accounts.
Now, if you really want to see some conflicting numbers try to find out how many Japanese were killed by, or later died from, the atomic bombs.
That was a fantastic read from the Great Communicator. Thanks for posting!
I understand, I did read the article it states sometime in the future we will tell you how we came about these numbers.
I put a bit more faith in the people that were there at the time counting than I do academics in libraries counting 60 years later. We can disagree. Either way, even if it was 2499 that is a somewhat low number given the tasks. And we will probably also agree, whatever the number, they were each and every one a great unselfish sacrifice.
I read an account about the gal who was researching this and it was impressive. She pieced together from reports and firsthand accounts the names and units of those killed. I understand that the new figures include Rangers and others who died the first day further inland, something that the old numbers didn't.
He had an engagement ring and all to marry her. The rest of his life he spent on the streets of Atlanta and the Atlanta jail drunk which were all his friends. He would get drunk go check himself into jail or go to the VA. One night I remember our local police called us and said to my dad we got an old man here that says he is your brother. My dad said, “I will be right there.”
From time to time he would come and stay with us, I LOVED HIM TO DEATH. He was always laughing and not a care in the world.
He has a purple heart my aunt has and served under “The OLD Man” as he called him. My mom has a picture of him by a tank but we can't see enough to make anything out on it.
He passed away in 1973, GODSPEED Uncle Crack I will never forget you.
Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF): The Allied force under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Twelve nations supplied troops and matèriel for the AEF: United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Allies: Countries that fought against the Axis Powers.
Axis Powers: The alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Belgian Gate: A large metal structure hidden by high tides and designed to rip the bottom out of larger landing craft.
Churchill, Sir Winston: Prime Minister of Britain during World War II.
Concrete Bunker: Steel-reinforced concrete casement providing cover and concealment for German guns and gunners.
DUKW: An amphibious 2 1/2 ton utility truck used to deliver supplies, ammunition, and weapons from ship to shore. Pronounced “duck,” the acronym reflects the date it entered the inventory (D[ate]: 1942); the kind of vehicle it is (U[tility], amphib.); its forward drive (K or front-wheel drive); and its rear drive (W or two rear driving axles).
Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force on D-Day. Eisenhower was named commanding general of the European theatre in June 1942 and the following November assumed command of the Allied Expeditionary Forces for the invasion of western Europe. In December that year, Eisenhower was promoted to the five star rank of General in the Army. He later became the 34th President of the United States.
Fortitude: The shadow operation conceived to conceal Overlord.
Gooseberries: Artificial harbors created by sinking Allied ships.
Hedgehog: Obstacles hidden by high tides and composed of three metal beams welded together designed to scuttle landing craft.
Homefront: A term used to describe the United States mainland during W.W. II.
LCA: Landing craft, assault
LCI: Landing craft, infantry
LCM: Landing craft, medium
LCT: Landing craft, tank
LCVP: Landing craft, vehicle and personnel - (Higgins Boat) Capable of carrying up to 36 men.
LST: Landing ship, tank
Mulberries: Artificial harbors constructed by the British. They were made from caissons and steel sections that were towed across the Channel and positioned near Omaha and Gold beaches on D-Day.
Nazi: Abbreviation for the National Socialist German Workers Party.
Neptune: The code name for the naval operations supporting Overlord.
Overlord: Code name for the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944.
Panzer: German battle tanks.
SHAEF: Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Teller Mine: German antitank mine. “Waterproof” versions of the Teller mine were mounted atop poles. Hidden by high tides, these mines were formidable obstacles for landing craft.
Tetrahedron: An underwater obstacle taking its name from its geometrical shape; used by the Germans to scuttle landing craft.
UDT: Underwater demolition team.
WAAC: Womens Auxiliary Army Corps.
WAC: Womens Army Corps.
WASP: Womens Air Service Pilots.
I was finishing up 17-week infantry training in Texas on that date. There was a lot of fear? planning? anticipation? at that time. About January of 1944 the Army ended sending new soldiers to college to be trained as engineers, navigators, etc , those already in college were removed, those in air force preparation stopped. They were sent to be trained as infantry replacements or to staff infantry divisions being readied. Obviously the need for infantry was in the forefront of army preparation. They were prepared for the worst. My unit arrived in time for the Battle of the Bulge. Fortunately the Army had enough draftees in uniform to replace the regular army men who were pretty decimated by that time.
Thanks Cincinna!
Did you notice that Google decided to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Tetris rather than the 65th anniversary of D-Day?
http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2009/06/06/googles-puzzling-d-day-honors/
That was very good of you to put it on a webpage and post it devolve. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing the story of your uncle Davey. He was lucky he had people like you who loved him so much!
[A noble salute to an epic sacrifice.]
Thank you much, Phil.
.
You are welcome potlatch
I just pushed a few magick buttons
The ‘right’ ones it seems!
“Wow. If you can share any photos, we’d love to see them.”
My sister has his “campaign” book that I’ll get from her the next time I’m in NJ (whenever that is, I’ a road warrior who moved to NH two years ago).
If I recall correctly, haven’t seen it since I was a kid, it was an Army “yearbook” of sorts for his company, much like the couple I have from my 72-75 West Pac deployments. If I remember correctly, it had a bunch of pictures and I’m sure it is a rare copy.
I do have a couple of things though that I picked up last year from his “box of war stuff” that I scanned into my home computer when I was researching his unit.
One of things I scanned was an original copy of General Order Number 2 that awards the bronze service arrowhead to him (and a bunch or other guys) for the Normandy assault, along with his discharge papers detailing the campaigns he fought in.
He did keep a few photos, but I’ll have to look through them again. I still have his uniform, complete with all his battle stars, ribbons, and the distinguished First Special Engineering Brigade Patches. I need to get a formal picture of that to post.
I remember him telling me that Normandy was tough, (particularly when the bombs dropped on his position near St. Lo), but he always spoke of the Salerno invasion as being the toughest. He was in Company C, the one that almost got completely wiped out there during the first few days.
A close second to Salerno in his mind was the Battle of the Bulge where, and he only said this once to me, and I’ll remember it always, “the last thing you ever want to hear is the order to fix bayonets”.
He was a quite and kind man with a great sense of humor who worked hard to provide for his family.
Can’t wait to see what you are able to find.
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