6th. June 1944

[GritsRgreat]

Should have posted this earlier. One of the most important dates in world history.

Could you imagine hitting that beach or making that jump?

[charlotte49er]

You beat me to it by seconds! Great minds think alike!

[Davidson Deac II]

At the same time the DDay invasion was going down, a nearly equal sized amphibious force was headed for the Marianas in the Pacific. The two largest amphibious assaults in history up to that time occurred within a few days of each other. Amazing how the US went from barely having enough forces to hold on at Guadalcanal to the ability to launch two major amphibious assaults in less than two years.

[GritsRgreat]

June 6 1942 – World War II: Battle of Midway. U.S. Navy dive bombers sink the Japanese cruiser Mikuma and four Japanese carriers.

Eat s**t Tojo!

[jasonluckydog]

[Wither]

Never forget the men and women who have gave their lives for our freedom.

[GritsRgreat]

My dad and his two brothers fought in WWII. Uncle Al (the oldest) joined the Army and was a tanker in Patton's 3rd army. Uncle Pete (a Marine) the next to sign up served in the pacific. Dad (the youngest) was an MP most of the war. Went to Europe late and saw the POWs and victims 1st hand. None of them talked about their experience. Hell of a thing to go thru for 3 farm boys who never left York county before.

RIP dad, uncle Al.

[cookinwithgas]

A number of years ago I had the chance to visit Normandy and walked on Omaha Beach and looked up at the cliff - the American cemetery is right there.

Unless you see it in person, you can't really appreciate how insanely difficult a beach those guys got dumped on to make their attack.

[Davidson Deac II]

A number of years ago I had the chance to visit Normandy and walked on Omaha Beach and looked up at the cliff - the American cemetery is right there.

Unless you see it in person, you can't really appreciate how insanely difficult a beach those guys got dumped on to make their attack.

The wife and I are thinking about taking a trip to Europe within a couple of years. I would love to make Normandy a part of that trip.

But I have felt that way at a number of battlefields. Looked at the field from behind the stonewalls and Gettysburg and Fredricksburg and wondered how men could manage to summon the courage to walk across those fields in the face of rifle and cannon fire.

I also visited Corregidor recently. I truly feel sorry for those men. From months of bombardment, deprivation, and living in a tunnel, straight to a Japanese POW camp. Out of the frying pan into the fire. I found Corregidor particularly interesting because the filipino's left the barracks and many of the buildings in the same shape they found them after the battle, ie with just the burnt out frame standing.

[Razzy]

At the same time the DDay invasion was going down, a nearly equal sized amphibious force was headed for the Marianas in the Pacific. The two largest amphibious assaults in history up to that time occurred within a few days of each other. Amazing how the US went from barely having enough forces to hold on at Guadalcanal to the ability to launch two major amphibious assaults in less than two years.

:thumbsup:

It's important to remember D-Day, but we can't overlook the sacrifices others have made to help ensure this world remains free.

I've always thought that the Battle of Anzio/Operation Shingle was one American operation that is often overlooked. The fighting in Italy was ferocious, there were more American casualties in the German-Italian theatre than any other in the western front. In many ways, Operation Shingle was a test run for the amphibious assault tactics to be used on D-Day. Allied forces landed on the beaches of Anzio on January 22, 1944, and it took more than 4 months and 4 major offensives until Rome was finally captured on June 5th, 1944. One day before D-Day.

If you really want the worst amphibious landing, look to Tarawa. The Navy miscalculated the tidal depth, and a shallow coral reef made it impossible for the Higgins boats to get to the beach. The half tracks could climb onto the coral and crawl the to beach, but would take heavy losses. The marines were forced to wade in from hundreds of meters out, right into Japanese machine guns.

I don't mean to glorify war, I only find it horribly interesting, like the ultimate game of strategy and chance. War is a horrible business filled and death and wasteful destruction of men and material. If anyone tells you different, they're lying.

[GritsRgreat]

The wife and I are thinking about taking a trip to Europe within a couple of years. I would love to make Normandy a part of that trip.

But I have felt that way at a number of battlefields. Looked at the field from behind the stonewalls and Gettysburg and Fredricksburg and wondered how men could manage to summon the courage to walk across those fields in the face of rifle and cannon fire.

I also visited Corregidor recently. I truly feel sorry for those men. From months of bombardment, deprivation, and living in a tunnel, straight to a Japanese POW camp. Out of the frying pan into the fire. I found Corregidor particularly interesting because the filipino's left the barracks and many of the buildings in the same shape they found them after the battle, ie with just the burnt out frame standing.

Yeah thats crazy stuff right there. Marching over open ground against a dug in, battle hardened enemy on the high ground..WTF were they thinking. I can understand Burnsides but Lee??? Jeez man You seen the sh*t go down just a couple months earlier at Fredricksburg.

Hell Grant did the same thing the next year at Cold Harbor. I read somewhere that from the time Grant attack Lee in the Wilderness (May 5 1864) to the Siege of Petersburg (June 9 1864) Grant had already lose 25% of his force in casualties. That's 25% of over 100,000 men.:eek::eek:

[Razzy]

Beyond a few generals, the Civil War was filled with some incompetent leaders using very outdated European tactics. No one had bigger balls than the flag carrier.

[GritsRgreat]

Beyond a few generals, the Civil War was filled with some incompetent leaders using very outdated European tactics. No one had bigger balls than the flag carrier.

rep!