View Full Version : D-Day Plus 70 years
70 years ago, approximately at this time, tens of thousand men embarked on a great crusade to free a continent from great evil. Many of those men gave their lives to free a people suffering under tyranny and oppression, and make our world better for their children.
As their grandchildren, it is up to us to remember their sacrifices and see to it, that mission was not in vain, and continue on their dream for our children and grandchildren.
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the 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 and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
If anyone ever wanted to know what the Gate to Hell looked like ....
mojaveman
06-06-2014, 01:51
I can remember that a handful of veterans jumped at the 50th anniversary and for their age it sounded a little crazy, and yes there were a few serious injuries. This guy's going to do it at 93 and all I can say is go for it. It's his body and his life. Airborne!
http://www.Theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/d-day-paratrooper-veteran-jump-normandy-anniversary
The clipping says it all. Way to go, Dad.He kept his medals in a shoe box under the bed. When he wore his dress blues in front of my eldest brother on his way to a military ball, my brother, then 13, looked up at him and said "Gee Dad, How did you get all those medals?" His answer, "Piss poor prior planning." What a guy. :D
I can remember that a handful of veterans jumped at the 50th anniversary and for their age it sounded a little crazy, and yes there were a few serious injuries. This guy's going to do it at 93 and all I can say is go for it. It's his body and his life. Airborne!
http://www.Theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/04/d-day-paratrooper-veteran-jump-normandy-anniversary
Bet Pee Wee is a great man to know. Bless them all !
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/05/world/europe/d-day-paratrooper-jumps-again/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Snaquebite
06-06-2014, 08:38
10 MINUTES!
-70 Years ago, those words were finally yelled over the roar of aircraft, artillery, gunfire, nausea, fear, courage, self doubt, prayers and brotherhood.
GET READY!
-That moment was coming; the one that they had trained for, some died for, this is the last chance for that prayer, good luck wink, thumbs up, tucking away of love letters and good luck charms.
STAND UP!
-This is it get up, numb legs, weak knees that empty stomach feeling of the adrenaline rush, look over gear. Help a buddy get up with his equipment, un-tangle and twisting of straps and slings, shifting the weight of the gear around and reaching for the static line.
HOOK UP!
-Intense focus, lack of fine motor skills, standing in a bouncing, dark airplane at night makes opening the static line and snapping it to the anchor line cable difficult, tug on it to make sure it is seated insert the pin and bend. Hold the static line perfectly and make sure the one in front of you is as ready as you are.
CHECK STATIC LINES!
-It only needs it to work for four seconds but these are the most important four seconds of a lifetime, check it, again. Check the one in front of you, that lifetime needs it double checked, just as it is understood that the one behind you is checking the one to the front.
CHECK EQUIPMENT!
-If death doesn’t come before striking the ground; everything the those to the front and those to the rear are counting on making it to the ground, this equipment is just as important to one as it is to all of them. It is all there; everything to make striking the ground survivable and what is needed to live for the second, minute, hour, day, week beyond that.
SOUND OFF FOR EQUIPMENT CHECK!
-“All okay” they have everything strapped down that they are supposed to. Most importantly, they have the years of training, experience and confidence in each other to use this equipment with extreme proficiency.
STAND BY!
-Only time now, no matter how loud the outside world is; it’s all over now, no time for any more preparations, further training, there is no more second guessing or trying to remember a small detail of what is to come. Shortly those brothers will be jumping out of the plane and they are all going together, not a single one would leave any of them to do it on their own. There is only silence, they do not hear the roar of the aircraft, artillery and gun fire, explosions around them that could take them out of this fight at any second. Silence.
1 MINUTE!
-Suddenly the silence is broken the rush is coming back now it is time to get out of this plane and they only hear silence. They look at the dim red light and those around them. Nobody knows what to expect, all are feeling fear, no matter what is waiting for them at home they all know one thing… In a short amount of time they will only have each other.
GO! GO! GO!
-The dim red light suddenly snaps bright Green, their heart rates jump, The men in front begin disappearing into the night as they get closer and closer to the door, suddenly you are in the door taking that forceful leap into the night and anything that is waiting. You have brought one thing with you; brotherhood, anything seeking to destroy that brotherhood will meet death and extreme violence.
They got there by many means; whether in a boat, climbing over their friends as they were being shot to death and storming a beach looking straight at machine guns and artillery explosions, jumping from an aircraft at night. Or had been there for months living and moving underground, assassinating and sabotaging. They all felt fear and used the brotherhood and patriotism that makes America great. They volunteered for the most dangerous jobs knowing what was coming. Fueled by brotherhood and knowing how precious freedom is, they risked and gave everything for us. Those men are the only ones that can truly say they saved the world. Thank you.
Today we (20th MID) will be doing a memorial/remembrance jump at Camp Atterbury today, I pretty stoked about it.:lifter
10 MINUTES!
-70 Years ago, those words were finally yelled over the roar of aircraft, artillery, gunfire, nausea, fear, courage, self doubt, prayers and brotherhood.
GET READY!
-That moment was coming; the one that they had trained for, some died for, this is the last chance for that prayer, good luck wink, thumbs up, tucking away of love letters and good luck charms.
STAND UP!
-This is it get up, numb legs, weak knees that empty stomach feeling of the adrenaline rush, look over gear. Help a buddy get up with his equipment, un-tangle and twisting of straps and slings, shifting the weight of the gear around and reaching for the static line.
HOOK UP!
-Intense focus, lack of fine motor skills, standing in a bouncing, dark airplane at night makes opening the static line and snapping it to the anchor line cable difficult, tug on it to make sure it is seated insert the pin and bend. Hold the static line perfectly and make sure the one in front of you is as ready as you are.
CHECK STATIC LINES!
-It only needs it to work for four seconds but these are the most important four seconds of a lifetime, check it, again. Check the one in front of you, that lifetime needs it double checked, just as it is understood that the one behind you is checking the one to the front.
CHECK EQUIPMENT!
-If death doesn’t come before striking the ground; everything the those to the front and those to the rear are counting on making it to the ground, this equipment is just as important to one as it is to all of them. It is all there; everything to make striking the ground survivable and what is needed to live for the second, minute, hour, day, week beyond that.
SOUND OFF FOR EQUIPMENT CHECK!
-“All okay” they have everything strapped down that they are supposed to. Most importantly, they have the years of training, experience and confidence in each other to use this equipment with extreme proficiency.
STAND BY!
-Only time now, no matter how loud the outside world is; it’s all over now, no time for any more preparations, further training, there is no more second guessing or trying to remember a small detail of what is to come. Shortly those brothers will be jumping out of the plane and they are all going together, not a single one would leave any of them to do it on their own. There is only silence, they do not hear the roar of the aircraft, artillery and gun fire, explosions around them that could take them out of this fight at any second. Silence.
1 MINUTE!
-Suddenly the silence is broken the rush is coming back now it is time to get out of this plane and they only hear silence. They look at the dim red light and those around them. Nobody knows what to expect, all are feeling fear, no matter what is waiting for them at home they all know one thing… In a short amount of time they will only have each other.
GO! GO! GO!
-The dim red light suddenly snaps bright Green, their heart rates jump, The men in front begin disappearing into the night as they get closer and closer to the door, suddenly you are in the door taking that forceful leap into the night and anything that is waiting. You have brought one thing with you; brotherhood, anything seeking to destroy that brotherhood will meet death and extreme violence.
They got there by many means; whether in a boat, climbing over their friends as they were being shot to death and storming a beach looking straight at machine guns and artillery explosions, jumping from an aircraft at night. Or had been there for months living and moving underground, assassinating and sabotaging. They all felt fear and used the brotherhood and patriotism that makes America great. They volunteered for the most dangerous jobs knowing what was coming. Fueled by brotherhood and knowing how precious freedom is, they risked and gave everything for us. Those men are the only ones that can truly say they saved the world. Thank you.
"Fueled by brotherhood and knowing how precious freedom is, they risked and gave everything for us. Those men are the only ones that can truly say they saved the world. Thank you" Thank you, indeed! Very well said, sir. BZ!
mojaveman
06-06-2014, 11:01
Thought these then and now pictures were kind of interesting. Would like to visit Normandy one of these days.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/the-d-day-landings-70-years-later-1401298310-slideshow/
The clipping says it all. Way to go, Dad.He kept his medals in a shoe box under the bed. When he wore his dress blues in front of my eldest brother on his way to a military ball, my brother, then 13, looked up at him and said "Gee Dad, How did you get all those medals?" His answer, "Piss poor prior planning." What a guy. :D
Great heritage there.
Your Father was a fine soldier and leader...."Follow Me!".
They were truly giants among men. Treasures of history that we have had the privilege of knowing and speaking with.
If we don't learn from them, we have truly given up an awesome opportunity to learn of our history through their hearts and eyes.
They do inspire me to be greater than I am.
Barbarian
06-06-2014, 14:16
The Greatest Generation, without a doubt.
Thought these then and now pictures were kind of interesting. Would like to visit Normandy one of these days.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/the-d-day-landings-70-years-later-1401298310-slideshow/
It felt kind of eerie to look at these pictures knowing what happened and seeing people just going about their business.
Over here now for the 1st time.
Watching current service jumpers coming out of Hercs right now.
Had the chance to jump C47 onto Faucaurville DZ "A".
Great experience.
Met a 10 Group Warrant last night. Grear dude. But we missed exchanging contact details.