FReeper Canteen ~ D-DAY, June 6, 1944 ~ 6 June 2017

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The Whole 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 vessels—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. 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.

[radu]

I was wondering if another trip was in store this year. That’s why I asked. :-)
I hope the weather is nice so y’all can do what you’ve planned without getting soaked - - by rain OR sweat.

Kittehs have been pretty quiet today. Maybe this soggy weather has tamped down their energy. We’ve had 4 inches of rain the past two days and it’s sure tamped down my energy. LOL!

[mylife]

GRU

[mylife]

MSN just reported there is a “do not disturb while driving App”

Just turn it off fools

Jeepus

[PROCON]

4” of rain will make for a great crop year!

[The Mayor]

Yes, my oldest son spent the day with me, he’s learning how to do what I do.
Makes me very happy. He’s a good man!

[MEG33]

Howdy, radu...Amen

Your kitten pictures were so adorable...Thanks for pinging me.

[MEG33]

I know how pleased you must be!
;o)

[radu]

Indeed it will. We’ve gotten good amounts of rain each month this year and we hope the spigot isn’t turned off. That does happen some years. grrrrr!
Last year, the spigot turned off the end of March and pretty much stayed off the rest of the year.

[radu]

Glad you enjoyed seeing the behbehs. They get cuter - - and wilder - - with each passing day. It’s going to be a madhouse once they’re allowed to come out here with the rest of the cats. We dread the day. LOL

[luvie]

?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...a weird day, but not bad. Homework, but I need a break. Mom is fed and “wandering” her domain.

We got enough rain overnight, and they say some pouring here at the house today, that I don’t have to water. Yippey!

How was your day? More rain? Corn as tall as you yet?

[luvie]

Yikes! Sounds like an evil spirit inhabited your computer! What bird forum had the trojan? I sure don’t need that aggravation!

Glad you got more rain! Wow. Pretty soon y’all are going to go way past what we get in a year...which averages about 13’’ per.

If it keeps up like that, you’re gonna have a bumper crop of corn! is it feed corn, popcorn or sweet corn?

[MEG33]

;o)

[radu]

Dang it! I wasn’t eeeeeeeeeven payin’ attention, obviously. LOL! Eagle owlets are distracting. :-)

WOOHOO! #50 is yours!

[luvie]

LOL! Thanks! They sure are. I went back and watched them devour some big bird and one of them was trying his hardest to swallow the whole wing, but had it in his mouth sideways. Poor guy! All this while the others were filling up on the rest of the meat. LOL!

[radu]

Glad it wasn’t too bad a work day. Would be nice if you’d managed to avoid homework but how often does that happen? LOL

YAY! You got rain at last. They’d promised it over and over again.

Crazy day and not the good kind. Post 33 has the details.
We did get another inch of rain and that was good. That’s 4 inches in two days. The corn isn’t as tall as I am yet but its working on it. All this rain will have it shooting up like crazy when the sun pops out.

[Mears]

“Eagle owlets are distracting. :-)”

—

What do they call baby owls? Eaglets? :-)

.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, my...the area is very “disturbed” and always “unsettled”. You are so right.

[radu]

I was at the Hungarian forum for storks but the Trojan apparently got me via the photo sharing site those folks use. I clicked on a pic to enlarge it and BAM.

We’re shocked at how much rain we’ve gotten and quite pleased. We get good rainfall when a system comes up from the SW like this one did and there haven’t been enough of them lately.

It’s feed corn. Most farmers grow it since Tyson has a feed plant here to sell it to. A few people grow sweet corn and other veggies to sell at the farmers market.

[radu]

If you go back a bit earlier, there were a couple of good food fights over that bird. Dad delivered it just before 4 a.m. and left right away. He never sticks around. Mom showed u about a half hour later to try to take control of the situation.

That was the youngest who was trying to swallow the wing. That poor little bird has missed out on some meals the past couple of days and was hawngree!