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Today is the anniversary of D-Day: 65 years ago, many men and women, mainly from Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Poland, United Kingdom and United States, gave their lives to free Europe.
If there are any veterans - or family of veterans - here on the forum, I would like to thank them for their sacrifice to free the world from the Nazi tyranny.
God bless.
It was a tough day for all involved.
The passing of time takes more and more of the witnesses of that War from us. I remember as a child knowing several dozen survivors within my family's social circle. The fellow across the street from my parents house was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed, and later fought in the Ardennes and at the Bulge. There was an old Jewish couple who lived down the block from us, She a survivor of the Warwsaw Ghetto, and he am escapee from Stalin's purges after having been deported to Siberia during the war. My father-in-law from my first marriage was a bomber/navigator in the Pacific Theater (he saw quite a bit of action, and was involved in the sinking of the Yamato). The parents and grandparents of friends were there in so many forgotten battles and and actions.
But we didn't appreciate what their sacrifices were at the time. Most peoples understanding of the war came from melodramitic war movies with sanitized violence and the good guys winning. In the '70s, the VFW, the Leagionars, and all of the symbolism of the war and patriotism were viewed as anachrostic relics from a naive and silly past. America was involved in an unpopular war and the national mood was cynical and self absorbed. The baby boomers wanted to trivialize the accomplishments of their parents generation, I imagine.
We eventually grew up, I suppose, but not untill the years had robbed us of many of the living histories of that unbelievably violent time. I think nowdays people are nostalgic, not for the war, but for the idea that we could fight against so clear an enemy, that the good guys would be all good, and the bad guys so easy to spot, and that common citizens could unite in a heroic effort to topple the tyrants and monsters of the world. But it was never that way, really. Our grandparents muddled through the tough choices and on the whole, made the right decisions. Maybe they made a few missteps, but they did the best they could with what they had. And they did it mostly for us.
All we can hope for is to do as well today for our kids.
I heard the other day (in reference to live TAPS at veteran funerals) that 1,800 WWII vets die every day in the US.
It makes you stop and think about the scale of the conflict.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpK5uglhO1Q
That Video you posted reminded me of something I just recently read. When The Allies liberated the Camps, Eisenhower wanted to have as much documentation as possible. He said, "Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the track of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened."Quote:
Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr
I like Ike.
As Joesixpac stated ww2 was a clear war where everyone knew what they were fighting for.Even my grandfather who was a conciensous objecter enlisted as a medic and was sent to Kakoda,Bouganville, all ways in the thick of things but never carried or picked up a weapon in three years.I asked him once how you could you be in fights and not get the urge to fight back,he told me that" when your mates know you would give your all to help them when in need, they will do the same for you" Bavest man I ever knew-even if he was bit grumpy!
We know those films are real because they were made - and viewed - before such scenes could easily be faked. I wonder if in 50 years time people will trust them less. And if similar things happen again, how will people know how to tell the difference between honest footage and faked propoganda?:shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by joesixpack
Sadly, people have been saying those films are fake for a few decades now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rajagra
Holocaust deniers have argued that these films are actually the bodies of starved Germans, and the evil joooz forced the Allies to fabricate the entire story of the extermination camps. I'd heard this as far back as the late '70s, and I'm sure it wasn't such a new allegation then.
My late father was 2/11th btn AIF, saw action in the mid east, Greece and Crete where he was captured. He said the best present he ever had was D day, 5th of June, his birthday was the 4th. as he was in a German POW camp. He rode with Pattens' tank column which over took his POW route march into Germany at the end of the war. I have some US tank corp patches which he aquired from the tank crew he rode with. My mother was born in Holland and she remembers German soldiers coming into her home looking for her Father. It is heartening to hear from people in Europe who remember and honour the allied sacrifice. Thank you for remembering.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockham
Lest we forget
Gordon
My wife's grandfather was a POW in Germany. Apparently some German soldier that didn't like Hitler or what was going on took care of him while he was the prisoners guard. This guy even smuggled a chocolate bar in for the GI's he was guarding on Christmas.
Not sure where I'm going with this, thanks to the rough men who stand ready to do hard things on our behalf (yeah I know the quote, just paraphrasing).
Thanks to the good men who fight or fought bravely, and with honour. Also to those who supported them as they marched time after time into hell. Thank you for my freedom.