Jackfit

Very Moving

Jackfit

Hello to all,

As I head back to France for the Le Mans race, I thought I would re post these pictures of my time in Normandy last year.

Omaha Juno Beaches

6T7L71CPE

That's the same weather we had when we were there around the D-Day anniversary. Very moving indeed.

Jud Chapin

Every true American should go to see Normandy and the Memorial. It is truly a very moving place. We where there a few years ago and I'd like to go back some day.

Dave64

Didn't the hair just stand up on your arms when you first saw all the white crosses? Mine did. The Memorial is just simply awe inspiring. I still have my jar of Omaha Beach sand with my other special things. Bought Band of Brothers while in Normandy, not knowing the DVD's wouldn't play on this side of the pond.

Hope the rest of your trip is great.

62Jeff

Me too, spent a week touring that region of France in '99.

EddieG

Iwas there also. Every american should be able to see It.

65Bob-bo

Did the 'Band of Brothers Tour' at San Mere Glies (sp?) in Normandy. The guides (Brits) had met Winters and some others. We were also shown monuments built and maintained by the French locals, dedicated to the US troops who liberated them. Never seen on the news or 60 Minutes. Those French appreciated us. Also, the Germans thrashed the French at the very beginning (over 200,000 military casualties). At the US cemetary were Belgian soldiers dressed as US airborne troops (about 15) in honor of their accomplishments.

ps374

Wha are the objects on the beech and in the water?

Jackfit

I believe they were part of the temp. harbor docks built to land supplies after the beach was secured. They were left in place as memorials ?

Jack

62Jeff

Correct, "mulberrys". Worked great until a storm took then out early after being deployed.

keeks2915

Every Canadian should as well.

Canadians advanced deeply into German held territory at Juno Beach suffering massive casualties.

Canadians also were slaughtered in an ill-advised d day test attack at Dieppe, France to test Amphibious assault techniques.

http://www.members.shaw.ca/junobeach/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieppe_Canadian_War_Cemetery
D day was a key Turing point in the war because of the combined efforts of the Allies many paying the ultimate price, including my relatives....

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...y-history.html

raytex

There are many more memorials over different countries in Europe (Belgium,Holland, Luxemburg etc.).

Myself visited the one in Luxemburg.
Its very impressive, the age of the soldiers, the silence, you do not even hear birds.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_American_Cemetery_and_Memorial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_American_Cemetery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnhem_Oosterbeek_War_Cemetery

Jud Chapin

Well put and my oversight regarding all Allied Forces involved with D-Day.

sub006

Yet another beautiful piece of France that is forever America.

Vogie

A member of our Masonic Lodge was a Glider Pilot and flew into the invasion. He is in his 90s and a true treasure to us all. His recollection of events is remarkable and has no reservations about telling of some of his experiences.

3JsVette

That's not always the case. My Dad was there (here passed away 20 years ago this year) and he really wouldn't tell you much. He choose not to talk about the war although I believe the memories tormented him for the rest of his life. My Mom has a case full of medals including 2 Purple Hearts and to this day doesn't know the circumstances behind them.

a1avette

Very moving. I got to visit there a few years ago as part of business trip. My dad was in the 29th division. He passed away back in 1977, but always wanted to go back to France and see it. He never made it. He was a machinist and did not make a lot of money so the cost was the main reason he wasn't able to go back. He never talked much about it and when he did it was only a little, after a few beers. He used to talk about the German 88 mm cannons and what a sound they made. He told his CO "we got to get the hell out of here" and right after they moved forward their previous position was hit by the 88s. I wish I had gotten him to write a story about it or had me do it for him, but that wasn't his style. Again, he did not talk about it much. There is a visitor’s book there at one of the buildings that I signed and I added sentence for him saying "Dad, I made it".

I agree with the person who said it’s worth it to go. If you go to Paris you should take a day and go to Normandy too.

The Corvette in the photo reminds me of one I used to lust over when I was a kid. I worked at a bakery in Worcester, MA (Lincoln Plaza) as a helper/cleaner and one of the bakers there had a black 1965 convertible that he had freshly painted. I used to make extra trips outside to empty the trash just so I could look at it. That started the passion. I couldn’t afford a Corvette right away and had to "settle" for a used 1966 GTO tri-power convertible that cost me $1,495. Those were the days...