FReeper Canteen ~ D-DAY, June 6, 1944 ~ 06 June 2024

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ D-DAY, June 6, 1944 ~

NORMANDY INVASION

May 1944 had been chosen at the conference in Washington in May 1943 as the time for the invasion. Difficulties in assembling landing craft forced a postponement until June, but June 5 was fixed as the unalterable date by Eisenhower on May 17. As the day approached and troops began to embark for the crossing, bad weather set in, threatening dangerous landing conditions. After tense debate, Eisenhower and his subordinates decided on a 24-hour delay, requiring the recall of some ships already at sea. Eventually, on the morning of June 5, Eisenhower, assured by chief meteorologist James Martin Stagg of a break in the weather, announced, “O.K. We’ll go”. Within hours an armada of 3,000 landing craft, 2,500 other ships, and 500 naval vessel, escorts, and bombardment ships began to leave English ports. That night 822 aircraft, carrying parachutists or towing gliders, roared overhead to the Normandy landing zones. They were a fraction of the air armada of 13,000 aircraft that would support D-Day.

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

January 1944 meeting of Operation Overlord Commanders, General Eisenhower, Walter B. Smith, Omar Bradley, Arthur Tedder, Bernard Montgomery, Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Bertram Ramsay. The Eisenhower Presidential Library

GENERAL EISENHOWER’S MESSAGE SENT JUST PRIOR TO THE INVASION

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

-- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

D-DAY AIRBORNE AND BEACH ASSAULT

The Normandy beaches were chosen by planners because they lay within range of air cover, and were less heavily defended than the obvious objective of the Pas de Calais, the shortest distance between Great Britain and the Continent. Airborne drops at both ends of the beachheads were to protect the flanks, as well as open up roadways to the interior. Six divisions were to land on the first day; three U.S., two British and one Canadian. Two more British and one U.S. division were to follow up after the assault division had cleared the way through the beach defenses.

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American Patrol

The Army Air Corps

G I Jive

A Fellow On A Furlough

A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square

CHANCE MEETING BRINGS CAVALRY SERGEANT FACE-TO-FACE WITH D-DAY VETERAN

Sgt. 1st Class Steve Selvage of the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment gets an autograph from 91-year-old D-Day survivor Ralph Manley in Sainte Mere Eglise, France, June 1, 2006. The two met while Selvage was in town to participate in events commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

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AIRBORNE MUSEUM HOUSES ONE-OF-A-KIND ARTIFACTS
THAT HONOR HISTORIC JUMP DURING D-DAY INVASION

SAINTE MERE EGLISE, France - This town loves paratroopers - in particular, American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne and the 101st Airborne Divisions.

It was those two divisions that liberated Sainte Mere Eglise June 7, 1944, making it the first town in France to be liberated during World War II.

To show their appreciation for the veterans, an Airborne Museum opened here in 1964. A non-profit organization, all proceeds go back into the museum to pay for upkeep, new exhibits or extensions. The money is also used to provide decorations and celebrations for the anniversary of D-Day, travel for veterans, and exhibitions outside France. A large donation was also made to The National World War II museum in New Orleans, La.

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Bugle Call Rag

Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree

Jeep Jockey Jump

Moonlight Serenade

Enlisted Men's Mess

SOLDIERS PREP TO SUPPORT D-DAY CEREMONIES FOR
65TH ANNIVERSARY OF INVASION

Senior staff members of Task Force Normandy 65 pose in front of a German gun post at Pointe du Hoc, France. Task Force Normandy 65 is in France providing support and ceremonial command and control for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, June 6. Pointe du Hoc is the site of the 2nd Ranger Battalion's assault on a German stronghold during D-Day. Photo credit Sgt. Fay Conroy, 21st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs

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NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944 and the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery site, at the north end of its ½ mile access road, covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,387 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. On the Walls of the Missing in a semicircular garden on the east side of the memorial are inscribed 1,557 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

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Please remember that The Canteen is here to support
and entertain our troops and veterans and their families,
and is family friendly.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Perfect tune for D-Day! Thanks, Songcraft.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...things we MUST remember! Glad you enjoyed them.

[radu]

Harold McMurran speaks about D-Day

I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Mr. McMurran two years ago when he showed up for a tour at the military museum. He didn't say much about D-Day while he was there but there are a few videos of him talking about his training for and involvement in the events.

He was a very nice man and we enjoyed meeting him. Sadly, he passed away about 6 months later. Rest In Peace, Harold.

[radu]

Oooooooo! Great! That’s a good soaking, and you needed it.

I ate almost half the pizza before I got back home. LOL It’s a few miles to Tullahoma, where I got it, and I didn’t want to wait. It’s long gone now. :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Allegra....80 years since D-Day and none served at the age of zero. God Bless them all!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Finally...hump day is over, and we made it!!

[luvie]

Richard Rodgers~Victory At Sea--D-Day

[stylin19a]

thanx for that.

this one just blows my mind...everything that went into the prep for DDay.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/normandy-landing/32098563#5

It’s worth the download to watch it large on a PC.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless your father in law and we thank him for his service to our country.

[luvie]

Oh, thanks for sharing this!

[ExTexasRedhead]

Military vehicles and aircraft in Normandy after D-Day Veterans arrive by ferry 🏅

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sAHRmypbg8

[Kathy in Alaska]

Nice...both. And we thank your Dad for his service to our country.

[radu]

You’re welcome.

He gets a little choked up at one point and that made my eyes leak. TOUGH memories for those who survived.

[Songcraft]

Thank you.

[Songcraft]

(By the way, Kathy, my Dad passed in 2000.   He's in Heaven now, and I know he'd treasure your appreciation.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

D-Day National Memorial, Bedford VA...

Normandy Visitor Center...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial...

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial Symmetry...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Paratrooper applies war paint...

Bomb craters at Pointe du Hoc...

[linMcHlp]

U.S. Navy Destroyers at Normandy
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/d/destroyers-at-normandy

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First Wave Landings, June 6, 1944
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/100-11/map05.jpg

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Later Assault Landings, June 6, 1944
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/100-11/map06.jpg

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Vierville-St-Laurent Area to Noon, June 6, 1944
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/100-11/map07.jpg

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St-Laurent-Colleville Area to Noon, June 6, 1944
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/100-11/map08.jpg

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World War II - Normandy Invasion - Utah Beach area photos
http://www.stolly.org.uk/ETO/utahbeach8thofjune1944.html

Stolly.org general collection:

World War II European Theater of Operations 1944

EXAMPLE:

Command post of the 5th and 6th ESB's Omaha Beach, on the 10th of June 1944
http://www.stolly.org.uk/ETO/commandpostofthe5thand6thesbsomahabeachonthe10thofjune1944.jpg

That is German gun position, designated WN65 First American Headquarters Omaha Beach

WN65 is a concrete casemate located in the centre of Omaha Beach in the Easy Red Sector.

The casemate housed a 50mm anti-tank gun which is still present today. After it's capture on D-Day it became the first American Headquarters on Omaha Beach.

German defenses and American plans - simplified map
http://www.historyofwar.org/Maps/omaha_plans.jpg

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[luvie]

I totally understand. They all lost so much. Friends, loved ones, their wives or girlfriends. But they did it anyway. For us.