June 6, 1944

Dday June 6, 1944.  The secret was shared so sparingly that only a critical few of the participants knew they represented beginning of the end.  For five years Europe had been overrun by troops and tanks of the relentlessly efficient Nazi war machine.  Now, on one day, more than 100,000 American and allied forces crossed the North Sea under a full moon before dawn, exited thousands of flat-bottom boats and waded into the high tide of Normandy beach.  When darkness fell, over 9,000 had fallen, dead or severely wounded.  The tide of war irreversibly turned that long day, leading to the end of World War Two.

It was in fact, not yet the finish, but the start of months of slogging through France into Germany.  On the way our young men from farms, factories and families marched through living hell to reach a goal they little understood.  They only knew they had volunteered to once and for all prevent the world,  their United States of America and loved ones from domination, subjugation or worse.  They knowingly, willingly faced sometimes certain death in the hope of saving a life worth living for others.

Back home it was important that full knowledge of this massive military build-up be minimized in the minds of the enemy.  The words were, “Loose lips sink ships.” as those not fighting faced the task of producing the trucks, guns, ammunition, boats and bombers needed for a series of the biggest battles in history.  Heroic men fought on land, sea and in the air as many valiant American women voluntarily risked their lives as nurses,  transport pilots and military aides.  They were uniformed WACS, WAVES, and WASPS.

After unconditional German surrender May 1945 returning troops told of trudging through  trenches calling, “High ya Muck, High ya Mire.”  The fighting forces were called other things as they battled fatigue, facing death and digging ditches.  Ditches for “foxholes”  and ditches for  graves.   One of those other names may have prompted a change in a song from WWI. ” You’re in the army now, you’re not behind a plow. You’ll never get rich a diggin’ a ditch.”  That line rhyme became  “you son of a bitch” to honor the “Dogface” of WWII.

It was sometimes impossible to be rational while facing seemingly certain defeat.  Quote Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller.  “All right, they’re on our left, they’re on our right, they’re in front of us, they’re behind us… they can’t get away this time.”

The extraordinary success of positive will over the evil wish of a deranged tyrant and misguided followers began its end on a day few could have anticipated or even envisioned.  The dreadful price will only have been worth the prize if we remember to turn the profit into a sane future.  We don’t usually celebrate this occasion as we do other “holidays”.  But I beg you.  Remember what happened to them and what was given to you on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

D-Day     Normandy Landing

 

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