Imagine the Bravery and Guts it took: June 6, 1944.

[Intech]

My father was at Utah beach. He talked about that invasion one time. Had me in tears. I well up thinking about it now. The most poignant thing he said was, "i never understood how so many people around me died and I lived."

I highly recommend reading Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation.

 

[900gc]

My father was at Utah beach. He talked about that invasion one time. Had me in tears. I well up thinking about it now. The most poignant thing he said was, "i never understood how so many people around me died and I lived."
I highly recommend reading Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation.

God bless him.

I've heard that from many a combat vet what your dad said about surviving. I met a Vietnam vet last year and during our conversation he shared that he was a platoon leader and at one time had to call in an air strike on the cong closing in on his guys. Tragically some of his men were killed by friendly fire in the strike. To this day he has not forgiven himself, still struggling with the fact that he lived, they died, and wished that he had died with his men. The affects of the hell these men experienced can last a life time.

 

[900gc]

In 1977, on the anniversary of D-Day, I jumped into Ste. Mere Eglis, Normandy as part of the US Army Europe Parachute Team. The church where the 82d Airborne trooper was suspended for most of the night was still there and although still in use, it was largely unrepaired from the battle damage. Almost every store front and other street front window had a series of pictures on display. The first would show the villager with a young American GI taken shortly after the invasion. Then there would be 2,3 or 4 other pictures of the same two people taken over the period of years. Ste Mere Eglis was full of 82d ABN vets in 1977. I magine they are few and far between now, and that the succession of pictures have run their course in most cases.

What a privilege, thank you.