Thank You...

Some of them didn't come back, but 75 years ago they went and breached the Atlantic Wall, opening the Western Front and ended the Nazi scourge.

They came home, and went on about their lives having done their duty.

They're getting fewer now, but their sacrifice won't be forgotten.

Not a religious man..

But bless Able company of the 116th Infantry of the 29th Division.

Damn near every man on those Higgins boats knew the likely outcome when the ramps lowered. I just can't imagine.

Also the 82nd and 101st airborne (and British 6th) that jumped behind enemy lines into a rain fire of flak and machine fire from the ground.

Also the 2nd Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc.

Up a sheer rock cliff, only to be surrounded by a German counterattack until men could breach Utah beach and flank the Germans.

Another suicide mission.

Seriously..

Almost NOTHING went according to plan. Not sure how we pulled it off.

Posted by _Dazed

Seriously..

Almost NOTHING went according to plan. Not sure how we pulled it off.

And the timing....

Delayed a day due to weather, and consideration of the next time for favorable conditions, only to have the next window of opportunity just as nasty.

A different breed for sure.

Was watching a re-enactment of Pointe Du Hoc. You could see the look on the faces of today's military of "how the f*ck did they do this?"

Posted by CancerOnTheCusp

Posted by _Dazed

Seriously..

Almost NOTHING went according to plan. Not sure how we pulled it off.

And the timing....

Delayed a day due to weather, and consideration of the next time for favorable conditions, only to have the next window of opportunity just as nasty.

A different breed for sure.

Was watching a re-enactment of Pointe Du Hoc. You could see the look on the faces of today's military of "how the f*ck did they do this?"

click to expand

For the beaches themselves.. it was the current of the English channel that fucked everything up.

I think is was like 80% of the landing craft were off course for their designated attack points. Ironically.. some of that helped them.

After Able company, 116th was slaughtered in the initial attack of Omaha beach, B and C were either blown off course, or Higgins ops said fuck this shit and sailed into unknowingly easy paths on the beaches.

The entirety of Operation Neptune was filled with irony and luck of the draw.