Fifty-seven years ago today, soldiers from twelve nations -- the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Greece and Holland -- launched the most daring amphibious assault ever attempted.
Backed up by a massive armada of over five thousand ships -- ranging from massive battleships to the smaller transports and landing craft -- these men set about to do nothing less then save the world.
"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 hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everwhere march with you...
"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!...The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching 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 blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."
-General Eisenhower
Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :
WHAT!? You mean Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Greece and Holland were actually there?
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
My Dad was threre too. Lucky for him he didn't have to go in till the third day. Probably lucky for the whole family.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Yeah, I knew they were all there...
Can't believe some people are still bitchin' about "Private Ryan," though. That took place on Omaha Beach, didn't it? Where the landing force was almost entirely (actually, I think it WAS entirely) American, wasn't it? The Brits and Canadians were at three other beaches, but since they weren't THERE, it wasn't integral to the story now, was it?
Actually, I don't know the proportional makeup of each nation's troop counts, but I'd just LOVE to see that list re-done as related to number of troops, wouldn't you?
Posted by Nimrod (Member # 205) on :
My dad was there too. But he missed it by about 56 years, so he took the guided tour on the beach instead. Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Yes, because that's the ONLY thing that happened today...
In 1755, Nathan Hale was born. In 1844, the first YMCA was founded in London. In 1862, the Battle of Memphis occured. In 1875, Nobel Prize-winning author Thomas Mann was born. In 1898, Santiago, Cuba was bombarded bythe USn Navy. In 1918, the Battle of Belleau wood occurred. In 1926, the first use of aerial photography as an aid to mapping occured in Alaska. In 1942, the Battle of Midway concluded. In 1957, the first carrier-to-carrier, ocean-to-ocen flight was made by F8U "Crusaders" from Bon Homme Richard" off California to Saratoga off Florida. In 1958, USS Independence was launched.
Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :
In 1981, I was born... things just haven't been the same since.... Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Happy birthday.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Actually, as I've discovered from Liz, she was born at exactly midnight on the morning of the seventh. Apparently, her mom was the one who decided to pick the sixth. I told her she needs to change her birthday to the seventh, but she won't listen... :-)
Posted by Isn't Infinity *G* (Member # 531) on :
And let's not forget, it's my little sisters birthday, well, it's the seventh now, but hers is on the sixth
Posted by Mr. Christopher (Member # 71) on :
The first YMCA was in Britain? Guess I need to consult the folks who made the "Saint John Firsts" poster, as it says that the first YMCA was founded here in Saint John, NB...
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Well, if it was the first in the US, then they probably just assumed it was the first ever. I mean, come on. Another country? Having something first? Ridiculous!
I had a big long list of the Very Large historical inncacuracies in Private Ryan (and Braveheart). Do we really want to go into them, because it means me tidying my room?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Liam: St. John is in New Brunswick. That's in Canada. Which is not in the US.
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
...and is not to be confused with St. John's, Newfoundland, also in Canada. Which is not the US
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Sorry. I thought that everything was in the US. And, if it wasn't, then there was a city with the same name in the US. DO NOT CHALLENGE THEIR MIGHT!
Posted by Orion Syndicate (Member # 25) on :
WHAT! You mean everything isn't actually in the US? I won't believe it, I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT! LET ME OUT OF HERE, LET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE.....
