D-Day: Hove veteran defies ban for Normandy trip

BBC ^ | 6/6/14 | BBC

[sheikdetailfeather]

An 89-year-old WW2 veteran who was banned by his nursing home from going to France for the D-Day commemorations sneaked out and went anyway.

The pensioner left the Hove home at 10:30 BST on Thursday and was reported missing in the evening, police said.

The nursing home received a call from a younger veteran later on saying he had met the un-named veteran on a coach.

The two were on their way to France and said they were safe and well in a hotel in Ouistreham, Sussex Police said.

Hundreds of veterans have been marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France, with events on the beaches of Normandy.

[CrazyIvan]

Sure would have. What a loss. A few years ago I helped move the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa Ia. I got to move several bikes from his collection including the ratty old Indian he rode that he called The Blob.

[Sioux-san]

Well how cool is that!

[MeshugeMikey]

Barrys Pal whithouse something or other Freidman....who called bergdals BETTERS PAYCOPATH.....needs to read this thread!!!

we dont take kindly to maggot brains like him either

there there are flies...there ARE maggots

[muir_redwoods]

I’m glad it wasn’t my job to stop him. I doubt many could.

[potlatch]

Despicable that they are disparaging the other soldiers!!!

Mikey, I think you and I have discovered the mind altering infestation of these liberal idiots! LOL

[MeshugeMikey]

“these boys is maggot brains”

[potlatch]

True dat !! hehehe

[southernerwithanattitude]

Great story! Thank you for posting!

[GoldwaterChick]

Dennis Prager played an incredibly moving piece by a WW II veteran today. My husband and I were in the car going to lunch and stayed to listen to his amazing story. The tears ran down my face listening to him explain what it was like being on one of the boats, waiting to disembark. How scared they all were, not knowing what they were supposed to do. We didn’t hear the beginning so I don’t know the source of it but sure would like to find the audio to pass on to everyone we know. It’s a keeper. The only one I could find was from the BBC, I think, only about 2 minutes long.

[Diver Dave]

Thank you, potlatch for the ping.

I just can’t help but being overwhelmed by our military personnel during WWII.

[potlatch]

You’re welcome Dave. I remember searching for pictures for that slideshow years ago. It was heartbreaking, the sky dark and dreary and so filled with planes of every sort - the sea full of ships and the young men being poured off of the landing craft onto the beach and being shot down like caged animals.

We can’t give those men enough honor!

[itssme]

I'm 72 and I've watched every D-Day tribute on TV this last week, including today when I watched the History Channel and D-Day in High Definition. What horror and hell these truly brave men went through. Every teenage boy and girl and all age groups who are older and know nothing about the WWII (because of socialist/communist/marxist influence in our schools today) should be encouraged to sit down and watch these films. Parents & grandparents should see to it that they are educated on what really happened in WWII. They must be made aware that their grandfathers, great-grandfathers who fought for this country are hero's who did what they had to do to protect our liberty and freedom, and that they were just young kids themselves. And they must continue to be honored. It will be up to us, the older generation, to teach them the truth.

[potlatch]

I agree with every word you wrote. The schools are not teaching history and avoid anything to do with ‘war’ now. I have a close friend whose father fought in The Battle of the Bulge and I found a site that had many pictures of that winter and what they endured. It was unreal!

I lost that link but there are others not quite as descriptive;

American soldiers who spent the terrible winter of 1944-1945 on the front lines in Europe. Browse the faces of some who were at the Bulge.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2075565/Vivid-new-Battle-Bulge-photos-offer-seen-look-war-weary-soldiers-braving-frigid-weather-fight-Nazi-Germanys-major-offensive-World-War-II.html

[itssme]

Thanx for the link. My husband's uncle fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He came home in one piece, very gaunt, with deep set hollow eyes and dark shadows underneath, and a 1000 mile stare. He never talked about his experiences.

[itssme]

Thanx for the link. My husband's uncle fought at the Battle of the Bulge. He came home in one piece, very gaunt, with deep set hollow eyes and dark shadows underneath, and a 1000 mile stare. He never talked about his experiences.

[potlatch]

[He never talked about his experiences]

I’ve read that a hundred times, they never talk about it, but I’ve also read they live with nightmares. They went through hell, God bless them.