Today is a day to remember the great sacrifice made by our boys in the greatest generation when they invaded the beaches of Normandy by air, by land, and by sea. Here is one of our great Presidents giving one of the best D-Day speeches ever. Ronald Reagan, June 6th, 1984:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/eEIqdcHbc8I[/youtube]
And this video is a must see:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/kjct0HD2Lo8[/youtube]
Take a bit out of your day today to watch the two videos above and honor our heroes. While you’re at it read this excellent post written by Mata two years ago and then switch over to Time who published today some previously undiscovered color photographs of the invasion and its aftermath.
See author page
While I was in the Army and I wish to take nothing away from those who fought so hard on that beach in France, I would like to take a moment to express my opinion that what the United States Marines overcame in many Pacific battles has sadly been kept too low-key for too long. There is a reason why we have a memorial in Arlington that commemorates the battle of Iwo Jima and I fear that reason is not fully realized by many young Americans today.
As we remember those who landed on the beaches in Normandy to liberate the continent of Europe from tyranny, let’s also remember those in many far away places with names that have hardly been heard of since.
God bless the United States of America. Sic semper tyrannis.
@crosspatch:
By all means, those Marines haven’t received the same attention that those service members who fought in the European theatre received. It was hell on earth for those guys. We remember them all and honor them for the tremendous sacrifice they made.
@crosspatch: I have to agree with you cross, I will take some time to do some commemorative posts on the great accomplishments and sacrifices made by my Marines.
Everyone’s heard of Audie Murphy, few have heard of Ross Gray. That’s a shame and he is one of many. God Bless the United States Marines. He did what he did completely unarmed because he could not carry satchel charges and a rifle. Amazing.
@Curt: “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world.
Marines don’t have that problem.” Ronald Reagan
Semper Fi Thanks crosspatch
The service that suffered the highest casualty rate in WW II ws the Merchant Mariners
Service Number serving War Dead Percent Ratio
Merchant Marine 243,000* 9,521** 3.90% 1 in 26
Marines 669,108 19,733 2.94% 1 in 34
Army 11,268,000 234,874 2.08% 1 in 48
Navy 4,183,466 36,958 0.88% 1 in 114
Coast Guard 242,093 574 0.24% 1 in 421
Total 16,576,667 295,790 1.78% 1 in 56
you were about 50% more likely to die joining the merchants as the USMC and 5 times as likely to be killed if you had instead joined the navy.
My father, who died last year on March 25th, 2012 at the age of 90, fought along side many other brave men at Normandy. He was a medic and ended up, in the last months of the war, eating black bread in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. He was freed after the war ended.
What were all of the brave American (and other) soldiers fighting and dying for? They were fighting people whose ideals did not match those of America and Americans. Tyrants who do not believe in free people, free speech and free a press. Here it is:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
It’s called the BILL OF RIGHTS, not the bill of wrongs or the bill of liberals or the bill of leftists. That’s probably why some people don’t understand it or the sacrifices to preserve our freedom. People such as Obama, violate its terms.
Obama is a foreigner and a tyrant. Impeach and remove Barack Hussein Obama.
@AdrianS: The Democracy for which we’ve fought and died calls for free elections where our citizens determine our leaders. If you don’t like the results work to bring change in the next free election.
Obama is an American citizen,born in Hawaii. Tyrant? Your opinion to which you are entitled in our free society .Of course so is everyone else—Check some of the opinions of pols. like Sarah P.
btw HBO’S Series The Pacific, tells the story of that campaign. Like Band Of Brothers, it is very well done.
Semper Fi
A video in two parts that I produced in 2007 to honor those who gave all in the D-Day Landing.
http://www.popmodal.com/video/7745/6JUNE1944-PART-ONE
http://www.popmodal.com/video/7746/6JUNE1944-PART-TWO
Some pictures of Normandy then and now.
http://acidcow.com/pics/3772-normandy_1944_then_and_now_204_pics.html
Here is a good map history of the European Theater that captures how the war progressed.
With regards to the Pacific Theater, a lot of those who served there felt they were slighted because the war started in the Pacific and the emphasis was turned to Europe. They certainly didn’t get the attention those serving in Europe did. Even today, the date for D-Day is a lot more well known than V-J Day. Perhaps a tribute on 2 September to specifically honor those who fought in that theater would be a nice gesture.
@crosspatch: Makes for very humbling reading. To think of what some people whine about with their “I can’t” attitude.
@AdrianS: Most important about that Constitution:
It begins “We the people”. It is about the people granting rights to our government. It means that the Constitution is the law of the people imposed upon our government. Our government can not rule us, we rule it and the government’s rights, such as they exist, are given to it only by the people. The ruling document of our government is the word of the people.
Our Declaration if Independence contains another key concept in that the rights of the people derive from a power above which no mortal man can rise and claim dominion over. Rights can not be given to us by the government.
Democrats want to reverse our entire form of government; radically transform it, if you will. And have the government responsible for granting rights to people. In order to do that, they need to stamp out any notion of a “higher authority” by destroying religion, family, even the boy scouts.
I hope those who gave their lives at Normandy have not given them in vain.
@crosspatch: Outstanding. Thank you for sharing.
Semper Fidelis
From Band of Brothers – Day of Days (Landing on Normandy)
The airdrop.
@crosspatch, #12:
It’s important to keep in mind that at least half of the people who gave their lives at Normandy were democrats. Partisan propaganda had not yet eroded the the understanding that we’re all Americans first.
@Rides A Pale Horse: Awesome videos. Would you have an issue with me sending the links in an email?
@another vet:
Thank you for your comment. Glad you enjoyed them. Feel free to share with anyone you think would appreciate them.
RAPH
Columbia Radio complete broadcast day on D-Day
http://archive.org/details/Complete_Broadcast_Day_D-Day
@Curt:
@Richard Wheeler:
There is a book call “With the Old Breed.” It is an outstanding read and follows the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific. It was written by Eugene “Sledgehammer” Sledge and a lot of the HBO series The Pacific is based on his book. The description of the battles at Peleliu and Okinawa is horrific.
While my personal opinion of Marines is that their mothers did not know their fathers, and there is a very real chance they are the offspring of hyenas, there can be no doubt that they are indeed the finest fighting force the world has ever known.
I would argue that the Democrats who fought for this nation in 1944 are nothing like the Democrats today who too often seem to despise this nation….2 weeks ago I watched some asshole pony tailed liberal in Madison WI give the finger to every F-16 jet that took off from Truax field…
Fortunately for him he choose not to respond to my comments which were not kind and were certainly loud enough for him to hear…What he also failed to appreciate is that those very people he was giving the finger to are the ones who provide the freedom for him to be an ass..
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-a/h-agrhlm.htm
Another hero, among so many, you can’t count them.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-a/h-agrhlm.htm
CURT
thank you, the speech of RONALD REAGAN brought tears, and they kept coming out
all the way down ,