Good post Sarge. I wonder how many folks wake up on June 6 thinking "D-Day" anymore. Hard to believe it's 72 years in the past. Crikey, the Somme was only 60 years gone when I was in high school and I thought it ancient history!
74 years ago Midway was wrapping up.
And 31 years ago I was on BENO STATION, not knowing that the feces was about to get factual.
When I was ten, Gettysburg was 100 years in the rear view mirror. Now Jutland is that distance behind us.
WWII vets were in their 40s and 50s when I entered the work force. Now they're getting few and far between. Heck, the 'Nam vets are in their 70s and up these days.
And yes indeedy, we ourselves are getting on in years ain't we?
Stuns me to think that 41 years ago I was in Basic, 17 years ago I retired.
After having walked the beaches at Normandy, I find that anything I might say to be superfluous. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1960/11/first-wave-at-omaha-beach/303365/
"...the passing of the years and the retelling of the story have softened the horror of Omaha Beach on D Day."
Only for those who don't know any better. I've been reading about Omaha Beach probably since I was old enough to read. A man such as Omar Bradley (a fellow not given to panic and flights of fancy) considered pulling those landed back off of Omaha because it was going so badly.
The sea ran red with the blood of the fallen. Nothing can, or ever will, soften the horror those men experienced that day. Only the ignorant can even think that.
Good post Sarge. I wonder how many folks wake up on June 6 thinking "D-Day" anymore. Hard to believe it's 72 years in the past. Crikey, the Somme was only 60 years gone when I was in high school and I thought it ancient history!
ReplyDelete74 years ago Midway was wrapping up.
And 31 years ago I was on BENO STATION, not knowing that the feces was about to get factual.
My how time flies when you're busy getting old.
Thanks Shaun. I know what you mean.
DeleteWhen I was ten, Gettysburg was 100 years in the rear view mirror. Now Jutland is that distance behind us.
WWII vets were in their 40s and 50s when I entered the work force. Now they're getting few and far between. Heck, the 'Nam vets are in their 70s and up these days.
And yes indeedy, we ourselves are getting on in years ain't we?
Stuns me to think that 41 years ago I was in Basic, 17 years ago I retired.
Getting old isn't for the squeamish is it?
"The youngest man participating in the D-Day invasion would be 89 years old today."
ReplyDeleteh/t The Boadsice
Yup, hard to believe.
DeleteAfter having walked the beaches at Normandy, I find that anything I might say to be superfluous.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1960/11/first-wave-at-omaha-beach/303365/
Interesting article.
Delete"...the passing of the years and the retelling of the story have softened the horror of Omaha Beach on D Day."
Only for those who don't know any better. I've been reading about Omaha Beach probably since I was old enough to read. A man such as Omar Bradley (a fellow not given to panic and flights of fancy) considered pulling those landed back off of Omaha because it was going so badly.
The sea ran red with the blood of the fallen. Nothing can, or ever will, soften the horror those men experienced that day. Only the ignorant can even think that.
(Thanks for the link Snuffy.)
Nothing is free. And if you get something for free, it's worth nothing.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteHad lunch with a friend last week who jumped into the fray. He was 18+2days old. What an honor to talk to him.
ReplyDeleteThat was an honor indeed.
Delete