70 years ago, thousands of young men packed into airplanes, gliders, landing crafts, tanks, and gun turrets in preparation for the largest amphibious assault in the history of man. Many would die before even touching dry land again.
It's hard to imagine, but take a few moments today and tomorrow to think of all of these young men and what they risked. Think about the 18 to 23 year-olds that we talk about on a near-daily basis. 70 years ago, they wouldn't have been signing with and training for universities' football teams. They would have volunteered for or been drafted by the military and been training for their part in the assault.
I, for one, am invariably humbled and awed when I think of what was accomplished by these men (and women who worked behind the scenes in Britain or undercover in France).
It's been a long time since it happened, but watching the veterans that revisit the Normandy coast, it's obvious that it's never been too far away for them.
I'll leave you with the account of a Hokie that made us all proud that day, 1LT Jimmie W. Monteith, Jr., Medal of Honor Recipient:
MONTEITH, JIMMIE W., JR.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. 1st Lt. Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where 2 tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machinegun fire.
Completely exposed to the intense fire, 1st Lt. Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain.
When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.
Citation from www.cmohs.org
Picture from blog.usamm.com
Comments
Thanks for posting that. If there's one thing I'm passionate about more than anything, it's giving more respect to our troops. They're all brave men and women and we can't thank them enough.
Holy shit what a badass thank you!!! Being a world war two junky this is one of the most fascinating dates in history (not only for forecasters NAILING it and giving the all go on the invasion DESPITE morning thunderstorms) but also because of the heroic displays by our troops and the large scale logistics of it. Take a second and read up on the dumby invasion in London among some of the other very clever tactics by the allies leading up to the invasion. It really was an unprecedented maneuver that was the nail in the coffin in the European campaign
It just hit me yesterday that WWI (one) started 100 years ago. I always thought of our major conflicts of the 20th century as being recent when I was little; you could talk to the veterans & families. Now I realize my Poppaw, who would have been 93 this month, wasn't even born until 1921.
Back on topic, I was told the Army turned my grandfather away because of flat feet, or he might have been a WWII veteran also (or maybe I wouldn't be here).
Thanks for posting this. It's pretty intense to think about what that was like. Even just getting a taste for certain documentaries/movies like Band of Brothers makes you think about how brave those young men were. Oddly enough, my father is over there today signing as part of the 70th anniversary remembrance events.
Excellent post.
My grandfather was one of the men who stormed Omaha Beach. It's nothing he ever talked about, but as a child it was something I'd hear about secondhand from my mom, grandma, uncles, cousins, etc... As a kid, it was one of those I didn't know anything about, yet made me proud to hear about.
I worked with a gentleman who served at Normandy. He retired about 3 years ago. I need to give Paul a call later today.
Yep
Can you keep your personal crap off of this thread. It's rather disrespectful to personally attack in this thread especially when they've said or done nothing to provoke it. I'm not sure what he did to you personally but let it go.
It also looks like England is the second or third profile made by someone who has an irrational hatred of RocketHokie. How pathetic does a person have to be to take the time to create multiple profiles just to attack one poster, knowing full well that few, if any, posters agree with his/her opinion and/or antics. I would also not be surprised if these attack accounts are just a cowardly way for a regular poster to take out his/her frustration. Buy a clue England, that shit does not belong here. Grow up or move on with your life.
Appears to be...
The good thing about TKP is that we seem to be very quick on dealing with trolls
Aw man, I missed all the fun. He went back and edited everything.
You guys have been talking about me behind my back :( lol
No, one person was talking about you behind your back. The rest of us were disapproving of that person for being an immature dick.
And that, my friends, is how you go from 15 legs to -40 legs in the span of 10 minutes
Oh I know, those one or two people don't bother me at all. If anything they amuse me, and honestly I saw it this morning as was like "what did this guy say to have all these downvotes"?
The mystery has been answered.
So if this person has such a grudge against you, you gotta have at least an idea about who they are. So...dish. Who are they.
Eh, I remember when he was Robert99 or something like that. I don't remember who he was before then, or even really why that particular person had such a grudge against me. I never really paid as much attention to him as he seemed to do to me.
Maybe that's why he holds a grudge...
Taking all bets:
1) Ex GF
2) Stalker (girl)
3) Stalker (boy)
4) Annoyed pet (probably a kitten thinking of nothing but murder all day)
5) LOLUVA friend
Multiple profiles, AND multiple email addresses. His account has been blocked, again.
Sad that you have to deal with that kind of crap, Joe. Thanks for keeping us troll-free!
queue Bam Hammer gif
And, for Joe:
Is this the same guy that was trying to pick a battle with Rocket on the other thread signed on with a new name? The guy that got kicked out because we negative legged him into oblivion?
Now he's digging up old threads and commenting on all of them just to drive up his turkey leg count...
So That's why a 2012 article about Oglesby switching to fullback just popped up and then disappeared in the Tracker. Sneaky troll is sneaky.
Well, gotta hand it to him if he's going to be sneaky. Sneakers gonna sneak
Hijacking a thread about Remembering D-Day to pursue an internet vendetta...
It doesn't really register with most of this generation just how incredibly brave these young men were. The horrors of war are ingrained upon the minds of the survivors of this and many other battles, so much so that many won't talk about what they did or what they saw....they can't allow themselves to revisit it. It is humbling to think of the service and sacrifice that so many gave during that time. I have had the good fortune to know quite a few of these veterans. I never cease to be amazed at what they did. Thanks for the post!
NEVER FORGET
Excellent and appropriate post for today thank you, 2HokiesIn1
Some of my favorite moments serving in the Air Force so far have been meeting veterans/those who served in WW2 at the various functions that I did as an honor guard member.
You meet these guys, and they're thanking us and that just blows my mind like....what I've done doesn't even pale in comparison to what you're done/been through. You guys are the heroes. I'm very appreciative to have met the few that I did. Some of the stories I've heard are just astounding.
Anyway, good post 2HokiesIn1.
Great post.
A little story to share regarding D-Day. My great uncle Peter landed on Omaha. He was fairly open with his experience about it, and I remember as a 10 or 11 year old just being in awe of the medals he had from that day. He collected a Purple Heart and an equivalent medal from the French I believe for that day. He was shot 3 times on the beach, once grazing his shin and twice in the shoulder in almost the same spot (he had quite the scar under his collarbone, but I believe it missed bone).
The one thing that he said to me that still sticks with me to this day, when I was a bit older I asked him how he was able to get off of the beach. And his answer "I remember thinking...either I get moving and probably die, or I stay here and definetely die". I get chills just typing it.
But, as perhaps well deserved, my great uncle Peter died in his bed at age 92. He woke up on a Sunday morning, went and played 9 holes, came home and had a sandwich and went to take a nap. And that was that.
Thanks for the post. This is my favorite qoute of all time from the great Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower before operation Neptune aka D-Day:
'You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.
I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.'
The story of Lt. Monteith is simply inspiring. Very poignant post; thank you for it. On Memorial Day, I went and read the VT pages about the Pylons and Medal of Honor winners. Something else to consider on this day. Great appreciation to our veterans, their families, and all those currently serving.
Thank you for the post, excellently done.
This is why I have the upmost respect for members of our armed forces and veterans. You may not respect what they were told to do, but they did what they were ordered and sacrificed so much so that we could live the way we do today. You can't thank those men and women enough.