• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

June 6: D-Day

GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
landing-in-france.gif


President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944
My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944
Click to expand...
 
June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945. Took less than a year for the US (with some help from Canada) to conquer what was probably the greatest military in history up to that point, and end the bloodiest conflict in history. Just to put things in perspective.
 
Triumph said:
June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945. Took less than a year for the US (with some help from Canada) to conquer what was probably the greatest military in history up to that point, and end the bloodiest conflict in history. Just to put things in perspective.
Click to expand...

Afghanistan...10 years...cough
 
Triumph said:
June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945. Took less than a year for the US (with some help from Canada) to conquer what was probably the greatest military in history up to that point, and end the bloodiest conflict in history. Just to put things in perspective.
Click to expand...

The brits and the russkies did a few things too.
 
I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for the soldiers that morning. God bless them all.
 
Triumph said:
June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945. Took less than a year for the US (with some help from Canada) to conquer what was probably the greatest military in history up to that point, and end the bloodiest conflict in history. Just to put things in perspective.
Click to expand...

Let's not forget the Brits, Soviets and the Free French
 
My Ex's oldman was one of the first marines to land on Iwo Jima...RIP. Thanks to all who have served.

cem.jpg



NormandyCemetaryLarge.jpg
 
Last edited:
Printer Bandit said:
still not sure why so many had to die on the beach. couldn't they bring in air support and nuke the beach before the troops landed?
Click to expand...

They didn't have smart bombs in the 40s, plus, the weather was bad and there was too much low-lying cloud cover for continuous bombing. They performed some bombing runs but they were pretty ineffective due to the cloud cover and the naval bombardment was somewhat effective.
 
Triumph said:
June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945. Took less than a year for the US (with some help from Canada) to conquer what was probably the greatest military in history up to that point, and end the bloodiest conflict in history. Just to put things in perspective.
Click to expand...

Lulz, most of the grinding was done by Russians.
 
Triumph said:
June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945. Took less than a year for the US (with some help from Canada) to conquer what was probably the greatest military in history up to that point, and end the bloodiest conflict in history. Just to put things in perspective.
Click to expand...

Can't believe you could ignore the fact that millions upon millions of Russians died to give the US ample time to gear up to go the war and also draw a bulk of manpower away from the western front.
 
IndyColtsFan said:
They didn't have smart bombs in the 40s, plus, the weather was bad and there was too much low-lying cloud cover for continuous bombing. They performed some bombing runs but they were pretty ineffective due to the cloud cover and the naval bombardment was somewhat effective.
Click to expand...

In hindsight, naval and air bombardment could have been done more and better though. Allied planners were trying to maintain the element of surprise. The landing probably would have benefited from a much longer and more intense effort at reducing the defenses.

But again, that's hindsight.... they had no way of knowing how successful the deception efforts towards Calais was/how big of an interfering moron Hitler was.
 
Printer Bandit said:
still not sure why so many had to die on the beach. couldn't they bring in air support and nuke the beach before the troops landed?
Click to expand...
I feel the same way. IMO I think the pres was muy macho and wanted a massive ground attack. There was some minor air support but carpet bombing would have saved so many lives.
 
Oyeve said:
I feel the same way. IMO I think the pres was muy macho and wanted a massive ground attack. There was some minor air support but carpet bombing would have saved so many lives.
Click to expand...

1. Element of Surprise was required.
2. Weather was terrible and they had to make a decision fast to either land the troops or completely scrap the invasion.
3. Needed to time the shore landings with airborne landings.
4. Massive naval screens already saved tons of lives.
 
Oyeve said:
I feel the same way. IMO I think the pres was muy macho and wanted a massive ground attack. There was some minor air support but carpet bombing would have saved so many lives.
Click to expand...

The pres? Roosevelt? He had almost nothing to do with the planning.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top