The Boys of Pointe Du Hoc

[farce poobah]

(Note: The following are remarks delivered by President Ronald Reagan on June 6, 1984 commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Invastion of Normandy.)

We're here to mark that day in history when the Allied armies joined in battle to reclaim this continent to liberty. For four long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved and the world prayed for its rescue. Here, in Normandy, the rescue began. Here, the Allies stood and fought against tyranny, in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history.

We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but forty years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, two hundred and twenty-five Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs.

Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here, and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.

The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers at the edge of the cliffs, shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting, only ninety could still bear arms.

And behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. And these are the heroes who helped end a war. Gentlemen, I look at you and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your "lives fought for life and left the vivid air signed with your honor."

I think I know what you may be thinking right now -- thinking "we were just part of a bigger effort; everyone was brave that day." Well everyone was. Do you remember the story of Bill Millin of the 51st Highlanders? Forty years ago today, British troops were pinned down near a bridge, waiting desperately for help. Suddenly, they heard the sound of bagpipes, and some thought they were dreaming. Well, they weren't. They looked up and saw Bill Millin with his bagpipes, leading the reinforcements and ignoring the smack of the bullets into the ground around him.

Lord Lovat was with him -- Lord Lovat of Scotland, who calmly announced when he got to the bridge, "Sorry, I'm a few minutes late," as if he'd been delayed by a traffic jam, when in truth he'd just come from the bloody fighting on Sword Beach, which he and his men had just taken.

There was the impossible valor of the Poles, who threw themselves between the enemy and the rest of Europe as the invasion took hold; and the unsurpassed courage of the Canadians who had already seen the horrors of war on this coast. They knew what awaited them there, but they would not be deterred. And once they hit Juno Beach, they never looked back.

All of these men were part of a roll call of honor with names that spoke of a pride as bright as the colors they bore; The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Poland's 24th Lancers, the Royal Scots' Fusiliers, the Screaming Eagles, the Yeomen of England's armored divisions, the forces of Free France, the Coast Guard's "Matchbox Fleet," and you, the American Rangers.

Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief. It was loyalty and love.

The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead, or on the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.

You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.

The Americans who fought here that morning knew word of the invasion was spreading through the darkness back home. They fought -- or felt in their hearts, though they couldn't know in fact, that in Georgia they were filling the churches at 4:00 am. In Kansas they were kneeling on their porches and praying. And in Philadelphia they were ringing the Liberty Bell.

Something else helped the men of D-day; their rock-hard belief that Providence would have a great hand in the events that would unfold here; that God was an ally in this great cause. And so, the night before the invasion, when Colonel Wolverton asked his parachute troops to kneel with him in prayer, he told them: "Do not bow your heads, but look up so you can see God and ask His blessing in what we're about to do." Also, that night, General Matthew Ridgway on his cot, listening in the darkness for the promise God made to Joshua: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."

These are the things that impelled them; these are the things that shaped the unity of the Allies.

When the war was over, there were lives to be rebuilt and governments to be returned to the people. There were nations to be reborn. Above all, there was a new peace to be assured. These were huge and daunting tasks. But the Allies summoned strength from the faith, belief, loyalty, and love of those who fell here. They rebuilt a new Europe together. There was first a great reconciliation among those who had been enemies, all of whom had suffered so greatly. The United States did its part, creating the Marshall Plan to help rebuild our allies and our former enemies. The Marshall Plan led to the Atlantic alliance -- a great alliance that serves to this day as our shield for freedom, for prosperity, and for peace.

In spite of our great efforts and successes, not all that followed the end of the war was happy or planned. Some liberated countries were lost. The great sadness of this loss echoes down to our own time in the streets of Warsaw, Prague, and East Berlin. The Soviet troops that came to the center of this continent did not leave when peace came. They're still there, uninvited, unwanted, unyielding, almost forty years after the war. Because of this, allied forces still stand on this continent. Today, as forty years ago, our armies are here for only one purpose: to protect and defend democracy. The only territories we hold are memorials like this one and graveyards where our heroes rest.

We in America have learned bitter lessons from two world wars. It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We've learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent. But we try always to be prepared for peace, prepared to deter aggression, prepared to negotiate the reduction of arms, and yes, prepared to reach out again in the spirit of reconciliation. In truth, there is no reconciliation we would welcome more than a reconciliation with the Soviet Union, so, together, we can lessen the risks of war, now and forever.

It's fitting to remember here the great losses also suffered by the Russian people during World War II. Twenty million perished, a terrible price that testifies to all the world the necessity of ending war. I tell you from my heart that we in the United States do not want war. We want to wipe from the face of the earth the terrible weapons that man now has in his hands. And I tell you, we are ready to seize that beachhead. We look for some sign from the Soviet Union that they are willing to move forward, that they share our desire and love for peace, and that they will give up the ways of conquest. There must be a changing there that will allow us to turn our hope into action.

We will pray forever that someday that changing will come. But for now, particularly today, it is good and fitting to renew our commitment to each other, to our freedom, and to the alliance that protects it.

We're bound today by what bound us 40 years ago, the same loyalties, traditions, and beliefs. We're bound by reality. The strength of America's allies is vital to the United States, and the American security guarantee is essential to the continued freedom of Europe's democracies. We were with you then; we're with you now. Your hopes are our hopes, and your destiny is our destiny.

Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."

Strengthened by their courage and heartened by their value [valor] and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.

Thank you very much, and God bless you all.

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/06/06/the_boys_of_pointe_du_hoc_96877.html#ixzz33sxwc64r

Follow us: @RCP_Articles on Twitter

[fightingsioux4life]

June 6th, 1944. The most important day in human history. Had Operation Overlord went differently, our lives would be much different and I don't think we would be speaking English right now.

Thanks for posting this!

[farce poobah]

And, from June 6, 1944, on national radio broadcast, this prayer from Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

[farce poobah]

June 6th, 1944. The most important day in human history. Had Operation Overlord went differently, our lives would be much different and I don't think we would be speaking English right now.

Thanks for posting this!

Indeed.

Most of those I know who served have passed, but none would ever admit to being a hero.

[darell1976]

June 6th, 1944. The most important day in human history. Had Operation Overlord went differently, our lives would be much different and I don't think we would be speaking English right now.

Thanks for posting this!

I agree, if not for this offensive move by the allies the war could have ended differently. To all those who served during this war or any war...thank you!!!

[Speez]

I had an uncle that was an Army Ranger & was one of the first to storm the beach.

Fortunately he made it back. He never said a thing about what he went through.

I found out about it during his eulogy when he passed away at 93 yrs. old.

The stories that passed away with the men that served would be be unbelievable.

[MafiaMan]

I had an uncle that was an Army Ranger & was one of the first to storm the beach.

Fortunately he made it back. He never said a thing about what he went through.

I found out about it during his eulogy when he passed away at 93 yrs. old.

The true heroes never brag about war, for they know the horror of it. The sight of the 93 year old former soldier landing a second time in Normandy on June 6, 2014, was an inspiring one. So, too, was the man who found and touched the headstone of the soldier who died at his side on that beach 70 years ago. He has carried immense guilt with him for all that time - he wept as he touched the headstone of what he felt should have been HIS grave. Dwight Eisenhower had penned his own resignation letter for President Roosevelt in case the operation was a wretched failure. It was a different time...

God bless those who served in that mission and WWII as a whole. No doubt, you saved the world from destruction and evil.

[werewolfoflondon]

June 6th, 1944. The most important day in human history. Had Operation Overlord went differently, our lives would be much different and I don't think we would be speaking English right now.

Thanks for posting this!

Yes we would have been speaking English. Germany was losing the war badly at this point. The German generals were already trying to figure out how to end the war. This just shortened the war in Europe. What it changed was Russia did not end up controlling Europe. Germany already had been defeated in Africa and Italy. The Allied troops were slowly moving north already at this point. More so the Russian were charging in from the east. Also Germany was running out of fuel thanks to the Russians. The Allies had superior air power and could have bombed Germany back into the Middle Ages. As for being the most important date in history far from it. August 6th, 1945 was much more important to human history. That was the real changer.

[farce poobah]

Yes we would have been speaking English. Germany was losing the war badly at this point. The German generals were already trying to figure out how to end the war. This just shortened the war in Europe. What it changed was Russia did not end up controlling Europe. Germany already had been defeated in Africa and Italy. The Allied troops were slowly moving north already at this point. More so the Russian were charging in from the east. Also Germany was running out of fuel thanks to the Russians. The Allies had superior air power and could have bombed Germany back into the Middle Ages. As for being the most important date in history far from it. August 6th, 1945 was much more important to human history. That was the real changer.

If D-Day had failed, a deal between Germany and USSR to carve up Europe and turn their alliance to face against the US and UK would not have been out of the question. Stalin was furious at the US / UK for not opening up a western front earlier, and a failure on D-Day might have ended the USSR participation in the Allied Powers. (Of course, Roosevelt was equally frustrated that Stalin refused to join in the war against Japan. )

Of course none of that mattered to a man on the landing craft in the early hours of 6 June 1944. The only things that mattered were getting onto the beach, getting off the beach, and silencing the German guns. Unimaginable bravery.

[werewolfoflondon]

If D-Day had failed, a deal between Germany and USSR to carve up Europe and turn their alliance to face against the US and UK would not have been out of the question. Stalin was furious at the US / UK for not opening up a western front earlier, and a failure on D-Day might have ended the USSR participation in the Allied Powers. (Of course, Roosevelt was equally frustrated that Stalin refused to join in the war against Japan. )

Of course none of that mattered to a man on the landing craft in the early hours of 6 June 1944. The only things that mattered were getting onto the beach, getting off the beach, and silencing the German guns. Unimaginable bravery.

Never would Stalin have joined with Hitler. The Russians hated Germany with a passion. The deal was as soon as Germany surrendered Russia would join the against Japan.

[fightingsioux4life]

Yes we would have been speaking English. Germany was losing the war badly at this point. The German generals were already trying to figure out how to end the war. This just shortened the war in Europe. What it changed was Russia did not end up controlling Europe. Germany already had been defeated in Africa and Italy. The Allied troops were slowly moving north already at this point. More so the Russian were charging in from the east. Also Germany was running out of fuel thanks to the Russians. The Allies had superior air power and could have bombed Germany back into the Middle Ages. As for being the most important date in history far from it. August 6th, 1945 was much more important to human history. That was the real changer.

If D-Day had failed, the Germans could have put everything into the Eastern Front against Stalin. That might have been enough to overrun the Soviet Union. With no eastern front, the Nazi's could then focus on starving Britain into submission. Once Europe and Asia are under the control of the Axis Powers, guess who they will come after next?

[dagies]

Ok, I'm not interested in arguing because I'm far from knowledgeable enough to forcibly back up my positions. But I'm interested in jumping in with my opinion on this topic because I consider myself a bit of a WWII history enthusiast. Not even close to an expert and I forget much of what I read, but I've read quite a bit....

Count me in the camp that says if the Normandy landings had failed Hitler still would not have won the war. However, I believe Europe would have looked a bit different.

I don't see any way Germany stops the Russians. We can debate Wikipedia as a source, but I doubt these numbers are significantly far off. According to this link Russia had twice the number of troops on the Eastern front than Germany:

http://en.wikipedia...._(World_War_II)

According to this link, 2/3 of Germany's divisions were already on the Eastern Front in 1944:

http://en.wikipedia....ion_of_Normandy

If Normandy had failed, the Allies still had other options. Don't forget there was a follow-up landing on the south coast of France in August 1944. Whether the Allies would have still been able to land there had Normandy failed, we don't know. Probably the timing would have changed but who knows what would have happened. If nothing else they could have poured WAY more resources into Italy and forced the situation from there. Italy was tough going and a stalemate, and Germany was in very good defensive positions so it would have been tough, but who knows how that may have gone differently if the primary focus of the Allied drive into Europe would have been through Italy instead of through the north of France?

A failure at Normandy doesn't mean the Allies were out of the war. No, the strategic bombing campaign would have continued, and perhaps intensified. This was at the pivotal point where Allied air power was beginning to dominate the air. The air war would have continued to degrade Germany's war making ability even if British and US ground forces were not significantly engaged.

Russia was gaining strength and gaining momentum. Germany was weakening and could not replace losses. Stalin could now see that he was in a position to keep conquered land. Stalin was going to keep rolling and he was going to go as far west as fast as he could. Because the Brits and Americans had taken so much time to open the "2nd front" he knew he was in a bargaining position when it came to post-war borders. He had no intention of giving up any conquered territory after the war. Russia had a history of fighting wars on it's western borders with European powers. Stalin was going to take as much cushion as he could. No, I don't believe Stalin would have quit until he got to the boarders of the Allied European powers.

The more I've read over time the more my mind has been opened to the fact that the Russians did the majority of the fighting and dying in WWII. Part of that is because they could meet the Germans face-to-face and it took the Allies some time to get on the same piece of ground with the Germans. Part of that is because the Russians treated their soldiers like meat and battle tactics like meat grinders. Just keep poring them in and sooner or later the battle will be won through attrition of German forces.

The US lost about 400,000 men in battle in WWII.

Germany lost about 4-5,000,000.

Russian lost between 8-14,000,000. Yes, that's "million". That's not an accidental extra "0".

Germany was ground down by the Russian millstone.

None of this takes away from the accomplishments of D-day. The scope of the operation, the skill of the planners and logisticians, the bravery of the men who executed it...nor does it diminish the sacrifice of the men who fought and died there. Clearly it hastened the end of the war, and likely it kept more European people "free" than if it had failed. It was a magnificent undertaking that was successful due to the bravery and guts of the Allied fighting men.

Just my 2 cents

[werewolfoflondon]

Ok, I'm not interested in arguing because I'm far from knowledgeable enough to forcibly back up my positions. But I'm interested in jumping in with my opinion on this topic because I consider myself a bit of a WWII history enthusiast. Not even close to an expert and I forget much of what I read, but I've read quite a bit....

Count me in the camp that says if the Normandy landings had failed Hitler still would not have won the war. However, I believe Europe would have looked a bit different.

I don't see any way Germany stops the Russians. We can debate Wikipedia as a source, but I doubt these numbers are significantly far off. According to this link Russia had twice the number of troops on the Eastern front than Germany:

http://en.wikipedia...._(World_War_II)

According to this link, 2/3 of Germany's divisions were already on the Eastern Front in 1944:

http://en.wikipedia....ion_of_Normandy

If Normandy had failed, the Allies still had other options. Don't forget there was a follow-up landing on the south coast of France in August 1944. Whether the Allies would have still been able to land there had Normandy failed, we don't know. Probably the timing would have changed but who knows what would have happened. If nothing else they could have poured WAY more resources into Italy and forced the situation from there. Italy was tough going and a stalemate, and Germany was in very good defensive positions so it would have been tough, but who knows how that may have gone differently if the primary focus of the Allied drive into Europe would have been through Italy instead of through the north of France?

A failure at Normandy doesn't mean the Allies were out of the war. No, the strategic bombing campaign would have continued, and perhaps intensified. This was at the pivotal point where Allied air power was beginning to dominate the air. The air war would have continued to degrade Germany's war making ability even if British and US ground forces were not significantly engaged.

Russia was gaining strength and gaining momentum. Germany was weakening and could not replace losses. Stalin could now see that he was in a position to keep conquered land. Stalin was going to keep rolling and he was going to go as far west as fast as he could. Because the Brits and Americans had taken so much time to open the "2nd front" he knew he was in a bargaining position when it came to post-war borders. He had no intention of giving up any conquered territory after the war. Russia had a history of fighting wars on it's western borders with European powers. Stalin was going to take as much cushion as he could. No, I don't believe Stalin would have quit until he got to the boarders of the Allied European powers.

The more I've read over time the more my mind has been opened to the fact that the Russians did the majority of the fighting and dying in WWII. Part of that is because they could meet the Germans face-to-face and it took the Allies some time to get on the same piece of ground with the Germans. Part of that is because the Russians treated their soldiers like meat and battle tactics like meat grinders. Just keep poring them in and sooner or later the battle will be won through attrition of German forces.

The US lost about 400,000 men in battle in WWII.

Germany lost about 4-5,000,000.

Russian lost between 8-14,000,000. Yes, that's "million". That's not an accidental extra "0".

Germany was ground down by the Russian millstone.

None of this takes away from the accomplishments of D-day. The scope of the operation, the skill of the planners and logisticians, the bravery of the men who executed it...nor does it diminish the sacrifice of the men who fought and died there. Clearly it hastened the end of the war, and likely it kept more European people "free" than if it had failed. It was a magnificent undertaking that was successful due to the bravery and guts of the Allied fighting men.

Just my 2 cents

Very nicely written and spot on. You are selling yourself short here.

[werewolfoflondon]

If D-Day had failed, the Germans could have put everything into the Eastern Front against Stalin. That might have been enough to overrun the Soviet Union. With no eastern front, the Nazi's could then focus on starving Britain into submission. Once Europe and Asia are under the control of the Axis Powers, guess who they will come after next?

The eastern front was already over by this time. The Russians were storming towards Berlin. After Stalingrad Germany already had lost in the east. Simply Russia defeated Germany more than the US and Great Britain did, They held them in check which allowed the west to get its act together. If not for the tenacity of the Russians Germany would have won.

[farce poobah]

Just my 2 cents

Dagies, if you ever write a book, put me down for a copy.

[iramurphy]

The eastern front was already over by this time. The Russians were storming towards Berlin. After Stalingrad Germany already had lost in the east. Simply Russia defeated Germany more than the US and Great Britain did, They held them in check which allowed the west to get its act together. If not for the tenacity of the Russians Germany would have won.

That is believed if you forget the impact of US industrial might and the impact of the Royal Air Force and the the US Army Air Force on Germany's war industry. You also seem to forget It is more likely that if Hitler had let his military commanders do their job they would have taken Moscow instead of the detour to Stalingrad which led to disaster. The Russian winter did as much if not more to hold the Germans at bay than did the Russian Army which had still not regrouped. If you said "if not for the tenacity of the Russian winter, the Germans would have defeated the Russians" I might buy that. If you said "if not for the industrial might of the United States of America" Germany would have won" I would agree. Without the tenacity of the RAF fighter pilots the Luftwaffe would have been a bigger factor in Russia. The United States Military had been neglected by our politicians and we were not prepared to go to war in 1941/1942. Similar to WWI and Vietnam when our politicians had neglected the military. The English, Canadians, Australians, and Americans were all excellent fighters. The Germans were well prepared for war and by 1942 were experienced fighters who killed without regard to rules of engagement. So did the Russians. Once the US was on a war footing we would have been very difficult to defeat.

[Fetch]

I have learned a lot watching all the D day shows on tv

I can't imagine going in there on those boats & the machine gun fire

I still think one of the best decisions was Truman saying ok on the the A bomb - to bad it was not available earlier

[TBR]

Its refreshing to see a knowledge-based and objective perspective such as presented by dagies. My Dad, USN WW2 veteran, passed on recently. He served on board a tanker carrying aviation fuel in support of Allied operations in North Africa and Italy. For four years he lived with the reality that at any time he might die in a fireball. As he put it: "those U-boat captains wanted us pretty bad". The worst times were sunrise and sunset, when the Germans liked to position themselves between the sun and their target to conceal their periscopes. That is when the U-boats were the most predatory. This last Memorial Day was the first since Dad died. Anchors Away.

[farce poobah]

To all who've posted, I'd like to send a truly heartfelt thank you to those who have shared perspectives and stories so far. I am all the wiser, and even more appreciative of the sacrifices made by your forefathers.

TBR: Condolences on the passing of your dad. Congratulations on receiving his blood, genes and character. Anchors Away.

Speez, I'm glad you heard the rest of the story, even if posthumously.

[werewolfoflondon]

That is believed if you forget the impact of US industrial might and the impact of the Royal Air Force and the the US Army Air Force on Germany's war industry. You also seem to forget It is more likely that if Hitler had let his military commanders do their job they would have taken Moscow instead of the detour to Stalingrad which led to disaster. The Russian winter did as much if not more to hold the Germans at bay than did the Russian Army which had still not regrouped. If you said "if not for the tenacity of the Russian winter, the Germans would have defeated the Russians" I might buy that. If you said "if not for the industrial might of the United States of America" Germany would have won" I would agree. Without the tenacity of the RAF fighter pilots the Luftwaffe would have been a bigger factor in Russia. The United States Military had been neglected by our politicians and we were not prepared to go to war in 1941/1942. Similar to WWI and Vietnam when our politicians had neglected the military. The English, Canadians, Australians, and Americans were all excellent fighters. The Germans were well prepared for war and by 1942 were experienced fighters who killed without regard to rules of engagement. So did the Russians. Once the US was on a war footing we would have been very difficult to defeat.

I was not writing a book. All you did was expand on what I said. Nothing new.

[MafiaMan]

Its refreshing to see a knowledge-based and objective perspective such as presented by dagies. My Dad, USN WW2 veteran, passed on recently. He served on board a tanker carrying aviation fuel in support of Allied operations in North Africa and Italy. For four years he lived with the reality that at any time he might die in a fireball. As he put it: "those U-boat captains wanted us pretty bad". The worst times were sunrise and sunset, when the Germans liked to position themselves between the sun and their target to conceal their periscopes. That is when the U-boats were the most predatory. This last Memorial Day was the first since Dad died. Anchors Away.

Great post...my dad was in the Navy as well, albeit the Vietnam era. The proper expression is "anchors aweigh," though. My dad corrected my spelling of the navy fight song years ago.

[MafiaMan]

I have learned a lot watching all the D day shows on tv

I can't imagine going in there on those boats & the machine gun fire

If you haven't already seen the series "Band of Brothers," I highly recommend it. "The Pacific" is equally amazing.

[werewolfoflondon]

Its refreshing to see a knowledge-based and objective perspective such as presented by dagies. My Dad, USN WW2 veteran, passed on recently. He served on board a tanker carrying aviation fuel in support of Allied operations in North Africa and Italy. For four years he lived with the reality that at any time he might die in a fireball. As he put it: "those U-boat captains wanted us pretty bad". The worst times were sunrise and sunset, when the Germans liked to position themselves between the sun and their target to conceal their periscopes. That is when the U-boats were the most predatory. This last Memorial Day was the first since Dad died. Anchors Away.

My condolences.

[JohnboyND7]

If you haven't already seen the series "Band of Brothers," I highly recommend it. "The Pacific" is equally amazing.

The Pacific was even better in my opinion. New one about the 8th air force comes out sooner or later.

[MafiaMan]

New one about the 8th air force comes out sooner or later.

Really? I didn't know they were working on another project.