[Homer_J_Simpson]

The headline for the Story about Lt. Gen. Bradley awarding the first medals in France is incorrect. A few days earlier, when Eisenhower, Marshall, and Arnold were visiting the Normandy beaches, Eisenhower pinned Distinguished Service Crosses on a number of soldiers who displayed prominent valor on D-Day. There is a famous photo of Gen. Eisenhower and Capt. Joe Dawson, commander of Company G, 16th Infantry Regiment as Dawson receives his DSC.

This must be the photo in question. But the caption gives the date as July 2, twelve days from now.

Courage: Capt. Joe Dawson receives the Distinguished Service Cross from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, July 2, 1944. Dawson rallied troops to move off Omaha Beach and forward up the bluffs, taking out German emplacements.

[centurion316]

It is the photo and the caption apparently has the right date. I had always thought that this ceremony was done on the bluffs above Omaha where the cemetery now is during Eisenhower’s first visit because that was what the veterans remembered to me, perhaps after a few too many drinks. The facts suggest that they may have met Eisenhower twice, first in June and later on 2 July when the medals were awarded.

[colorado tanker]

It's amazing the U.S. had the resources to mount the largest amphibious invasion in history at Normandy and within days on the other side of the world put over 100,000 men on Saipan. And throw in smashing the IJN's fleet air arm for good measure.

Hitler and Tojo had no idea what they had taken on.