Operation Overlord
Today is the sixtieth anniversary of Operation Overlord, D-Day. The largest assembled fleet of ships, men, and material ever assembled crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy. On a stormy foggy day, the last great allied coalition fought against what then was called Evil, and what we know know very much was, Evil. From June 6th 1944 through August 29th, 31 days, 237,000 Allied Soldiers died. We owe these men who fought and died that day, and during the duration of World War II a debt of gratitude.
My two grandfathers were not part of that invasion force. I count myself lucky - 1 out of every 10 soldier died taking, and retaking the beaches of Omaha, Utah, Gold and Sword and Juno. My maternal grandfather was an artilleryman and infantryman in the 398th of the 100th Infantry Division. He received the Purple Heart due to shrapnel, went back into service, and finishing out the war as a Staff Sergeant. His most notable, and talked about, campaign was for the Battle of Bitche along the French and German border. My paternal grandfather, was an airplane mechanic serving in England. After the war he settled in his hometown of Cleveland, and worked at the Railroad. The war was never discussed, here, and so I have only fragmentary knowledge of what transpired. Unfortunately, by the time I became aware enough of history, they had both passed away before I could sit down and transcribe their experience.
We should stop and think today, about the sacrifices they made for us, so that true Evil would not take over the world. Those who so quickly raise their sword in anger, or rush nation to War, must first remember the men and women who went before them on this day, sixty years ago. This nation is not without problems, or which has not erred; yet, it is a nation wholly composed of citizens who truly feel that America is a guiding light. This is why our leaders must put America upon the path which fulfills our hopes and dreams. Not the path of unilateral premption and finding ways to circumvent the law to torture people.
Comments
Post a comment
This is the permanent home of Operation Overlord. I wrote this post at 09:07 on June 6, 2004. This post is part of grubbykid.com, a weblog. If you liked this entry, why don't you read some other posts such as Proof that /. is still worth reading or Swing State bound? Or you could go to the site archives or return home. All are good choices.
Remember this post with del.icio.us
Some descriptive tags for this entry are: wwii war remember memorial grandpa army memory wish.
Mommy... what's a tag?
Some descriptive tags for this entry are: Army, grandpa, memorial, memory, remember, war, wish, WWII.
Mommy... what's a tag?
