[Vinnie]

My brother was on one of the LCIs. He was in the Coast Guard and brought troops to the beach.

He never really talked about it, not that he wouldn't have if asked.

His oldest son, my nephew, took him to see 'Private Ryan'.

He relived the hell of that day. He needed to talk about it after that experience.

He told me that he was bringing a National Guard unit from Va. to the beach. When he lowered the ramp the Germans simply mowed them down. The boat next to his on both sides were hit with artillery and sank with all aboard.

How could these men face almost certain death and function?

I can't answer that.

My brother went on to become an ordained Presbyterian minister and a missionary, specializing in agriculture. He passed away almost 2 yrs. ago. I miss him.

I need to take a break.

[RaceBannon]

take all the time you need. Semper Fi to your Brother.

[risk]

How could these men face almost certain death and function?

I think the answer is deceptively simple, and comes in two forms:

1. The men knew that they were fighting to choose the destiny of western civilization itself, and the safety of their families. They were fighting for the future of their seed, and the seed of their fathers.
2. They were fighting for freedom. Americans and our allies will always fight for freedom. Ask our troops in Iraq: they would have fought with these kinds of odds as well, if asked. In fact, we didn't know that it wouldn't be so difficult when we sent them.

My father and his brothers, as well as their father were in WW2, but none of them encountered this kind of battle. They are just as much in awe of the men who went to certain death there as anyone.

There's really nothing I can offer to thank these men enough. But I will say this: we must stop teaching our children that WW2 was as bad as it gets, and it was the great war to end all wars. Democracy is never free. The success of freedom will always rile the hatreds of wicked men who want to take what braver souls than theirs have earned. We will have to do this again and again. We must build the martial spirit in each new generation. Otherwise, what these men preserved will soon be lost.

We have men who fought just as bravely in Vietnam, for an equally just cause -- among us on FR today. It's one of the best things about having a chance to participate on this forum.

[dvwjr]

In everything that has been written about Omaha until now, there is less blood and iron than in the original field notes covering any battalion landing in the first wave. Doubt it? Then let's follow along with Able and Baker companies, 116th Infantry, 29th Division. Their story is lifted from my fading Normandy notebook, which covers the landing of every Omaha company.

The 116th Infantry (Virginia), also known as the "Stonewall Brigade" of CSA Civil War fame. When the initial assault divisions were chosen by General Eisenhower he picked the 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions of the "Regular" US Army, and the "National" Divisions (later redesignated Regular) 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. To round out the assault Regimental Combat Teams of the massive operation Overload, General Eisenhower chose the National Guard 29th Infantry Division - the "Blue and Gray", specifically its 116th and 115th RCTs.

He chose well.

dvwjr

[happygrl]

Thank the Lord for men like your brother, who loyally served and lived to go on to fruitful lives.

I'm glad you shared about your brother.