[Taltarzac725]

Quite an interesting and hard to watch selection of real life recollections of the landings on D-Day from the air and from the sea. Also has some German survivors telling their stories.

[asianthree]

Every once in a while at VA facilities, we have the honor to visit and listen to the WW veterans. Always humble and never think they were a hero, just lucky to survive. One tells how he lied about his age to enlist, was so proud he did. You need patience, when you visit, but their faces light up if you get that privilege. Family is few and far between.

Korean, vets are becoming more common place, with some interactions.

Not sure if there will be any Nam guys will survive to their 90s, but not sure if some will talk even late in life.

[LuvNH]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Quite an interesting and hard to watch selection of real life recollections of the landings on D-Day from the air and from the sea. Also has some German survivors telling their stories.

Talt thank you for reminding us all of this terrible time in WW11. So many young men were lost defending freedom. It was 80 yrs ago and there are still some of the brave men that stormed the beaches that day. In fact, just last night we watched four or five of them being interviewed, incredible people. One was 102 and the rest in their late 90s. What would our world have been like without their bravery, I shudder to think of it.

We grow the Fladers poppy and I was explaining to my grandchildren the symbolism of the red of the poppy and the blood shed on foreign soil.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Every once in a while at VA facilities, we have the honor to visit and listen to the WW veterans. Always humble and never think they were a hero, just lucky to survive. One tells how he lied about his age to enlist, was so proud he did. You need patience, when you visit, but their faces light up if you get that privilege. Family is few and far between.

Korean, vets are becoming more common place, with some interactions.

Not sure if there will be any Nam guys will survive to their 90s, but not sure if some will talk even late in life.

Fascinating, to hear the stories of those folk who were actually there.

Back in my pre-bubble days, one of my clients was an American bomber crewman whose aircraft was shot down late in the war and captured. Most American POWs were sent to special POW camps, but he, being Jewish, was instead sent to a concentration camp--I cannot recall which one. He managed to survive until liberation though he was apparently in pretty rough shape. What was fascinating was his account of the camp's liberation--by Russian women soldiers. His account was brief and succinct: "they came in, hanged the guards, and let us go".

Another time I was lucky enough to hear a keynote speech at at an annual gathering, given by a British woman who was also held in Germany during WW II, I believe on suspicion of espionage. It was fascinating on many levels but especially so because her account of day-to-day life in the camp. Her treatment, though rough, was better than that of a lot of the inmates and they did have some time apparently for hijinks. She told of a time when she and some of her fellow inmates got their hands on some chocolate-covered laxatives and somehow managed to get it into a dessert being prepared for the guards that day. The effect was as predicted, though the guard were not amused and she and her fellow conspirators did end up paying a price for their particular practical joke.

What was particularly interesting was her assessment of her captors. According to her the average German soldier was an honorable person, but her assessment of the SS was totally different. "They were thugs--animals!" One interrogation "technique" apparently used by the SS, in order to affect a confession, was to pull one tooth per hour out of the person being interrogated until they either confessed, or ran out of teeth.

It is sad that so many of these first-person accounts have already been lost, with most of the rest on the verge. We as a society have no lack of sweeping panoramic spectacles of WW II, but they are largely impersonal. It is the first person accounts that tell the tale on a far deeper level.

[Shipping up to Boston]

One of the most important military events in our history... in terms of our future direction as a nation.

I forgot how a different outcome may have certainly brought the prospect of an Eisenhower resignation.

Sadly, with this greatest generation of veterans.. this day brings the realization that there are only a very small segment that still grace our presence ....with that changing rapidly, this anniversary makes it even more somber to me

[Stu from NYC]

Amazing what these soldiers and sailors did for us

[Cuervo]

Yes, you have to honor and respect what they sacrificed, but what I honor more is what they believed in.
Don't ever believe the true values of this country is not worth fighting for.

[Lea N]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Quite an interesting and hard to watch selection of real life recollections of the landings on D-Day from the air and from the sea. Also has some German survivors telling their stories.

My uncle who passed away in 2015 when he was 92 was in WWII. He never told me anything about it. About a year ago my cousin (his oldest son) told me that during the war my uncle had befriended a German Shepherd. The dog stayed by my uncles side. I don't know the details of who was around at the time but the Shepherd warned my uncle somehow of enemy danger. Because of this dog my uncle new to stay where he was, hiding and quiet. If it wasn't for the dog warning him he would have moved from where he was and lost his life.

When he went home he wanted to bring the dog and was told he had to leave the dog behind. Then he found out later that some of the soldiers did somehow bring the dogs they befriended home. He was disappointed to say the least when he found out.

[Spartan86]

A great documentary regarding the yearly Normandy remembrance ceremonies is called “The Girl who wore freedom”. I saw it on a plane but it is available on Amazon. It is informative and quite touching to learn how the French in those communities still honor their liberators. Highly recommended!

Amazon.com

[bmcgowan13]

We were fortunate enough to finally take a trip to Normandy last August.

When our tour bus got to within a few miles of the beaches...we were all surprised to see that many (majority for sure) of PRIVATE homes in the French countryside are still flying the Canadian, Union Jack and American flags outside their homes. I mean - large flags - not decals in the windows. Dozens and dozens and dozens of private homes--these not business scrambling for business.

We certainly honor and remember the soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians from US, GB and Canada who gave their life to liberate these people. The French have not forgotten their sacrifices either. They still pay a personal devotion and gratitude to these heroes every day.

It was truly a proud, intensely emotional and remarkable visit...