My dad was in the 29th, 110 Field Artillery. He doesn’t talk much about D-day, but from time to time would discuss how terrible the hedge row fighting was, He was wounded June 17 outside of St. Lo, and never returned. He suffered and survived a major heart attack in February 1981. I remember walking into his intensive care room. He was so sick. But the first thing he said to me, was “I’m not afraid to die, because I’ve been living on borrowed time since D-Day,”, with tears in his eyes. He made it through that hospitalization and several more, until the night of September 1, 1994, when he finally left this world peaceably in his sleep.
I’m thankful for his service and his sacrifice at such a young age of going through something so terrible that he couldn’t even speak of it. Thank you for sharing his story.
My dad also was in the battle of D-Day. He arrived either the 2nd or 3rd day, running across dead bodies for 100 yards before he stepped on French soil. He was in the 116th Infantry, a rifleman, unable to read or write, but survived. He did get hit in the left hip with 2 bullets, one was removed in a field hospital, the other they didn't see so left it there. Dad died in 1985 at 69 years of age with a heart attack. He brought home a plaque with names of cities & places he traveled through fighting the Germans. St Lo, Brest, Omaha Beach, Siegfried-Line, Aachen & of course Normandy. His closest buddies were killed by mortars lying on the ground beside him.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Thank you for this. I a retired Army officer with 20 years and 4 combat tours. I also had the privilege to serve in the 2nd Battalion 75th Infantry (Ranger) as a combat medic. I toured the Normandy Memorial Gardens with my team mates from 5th SFG many years ago and we went to honor those that had died on D-Day. Four of us, young and proud, were in our Class A (Green) uniforms with our Green Berets walking along. I was called over by 5 older gentlemen since they saw my Ranger Tab. I was in the presence of 5 D-Day Rangers who had fought and survived. They took us on a tour of the headstones of each of their friends (and there was a lot of them). They told us about each one of them as if they were standing right there. My eyes and those of my friends were not dry. We were humbled and in awe of these men.
Their names are remembered, and in that sense, they have not perished. So long as we remember the monumental feats of bravery and fidelity, their lives will have been lived with grand purpose. God rest their souls.
I think the world might be a better place if we were all reminded once in a while that real people with real families and real loved ones died to build, maintain and protect the freedoms that we take for granted. I can only imagine how it must have felt to speak to men who were there and listen to them talk about their friends who died, what a humbling experience. Thanks for sharing that story.
I checked out a memorial website of the cemetery at Point du Hoc. Oddly they have very few pictures of the soldiers that died... including my dad's cousin. Weird... but I have a picture of a relative from the civil war... but not of one in WW2
Fascinating story. My father fought across the globe in the invasion of Saipan, on June 16, 1944. He always said that D-Day got more news coverage than their action, but the Mariannas were a major stepping stone to bring land-based bombers in range of the Japanese home islands, so like D-Day it was a major pivot point in the war. May we remember all who served.
HP Wilmott observed years ago that the true measure of America's superpower status was the fact that we invaded France and the Marianas in the same month, half a world away from one another, and had a fleet large enough to fend off interference in both invasions (which in the Pacific led to the Battle of the Philippine Sea) with ease. It's hard to imagine any of the other world powers in 1944 carrying out *one* of these invasions, never mind 2 together.
@@hlynnkeith9334 My uncle age 21, was found dead when morning broke along with his sergeant, in their fox hole on a beach at Anzio. My grandfather cried every day until he died 25 years later. And my mother, age 12 then was fkd up for the rest of her life... a mental illness she took out on her kids. So fk the Nazis for ruining so many lives
In a matter of days we did the largest amphibious landing in history, then landed a 100k+ more a few more days later.... on the other side of the world on Saipan (7for1)! Oh yeah then days later liberated a major world city! Not bad few weeks work
His actions sound like a WWII version of Sergeant Alvin York in WWI. When the film The Longest Day was released there were complaints about 17 year old pop stars being used to portray the Rangers who attacked the Pont du Hoc. This soon stopped when Rangers who were there, by now only in their mid 30s, asked "How old do you think we were?"
I remember talking to a grizzled combat veteran uncle when I was in my 30s. I never served. I told him I didn't think I could put up with some drill instructor yelling at me in my face. He said most my age wouldn't put up with it. That's why the military likes to get them when they're teenagers. They're still young enough to put up with it he said.
@@moncorp1 The Army Air Force was so short of senior officers, that there were men in their 20s holding the ranks of Colonel or Lt. Colonel. One officers club, in England I think, jokingly had a sign on the door that read; "Lt. Colonels under the age of 23 are requested to show proper ID as proof of age" or something to that effect.
I went through Ranger School in the winter of 1968 with the son of a WWII Ranger. When I said, "Gee, your dad must be proud you're following in his foot steps." He replied, "Naw, he said I was a dumb ass." The romance of a young man's dreams of glory soon disappear in the harsh reality of war.
Ed Tolliver - after reading you post I was thinking; how true how very sadly true. Then I opened up the next posting from yours Ed and I read; how true, very sadly true! I guess those who experienced war look to hopefully see some other outcome that isn’t so sad and those who haven’t are looking for something positive in a war story or stories. If there’s war in the title chances are it’s not going to be too positive and that’s been my experience to date. True how sadly true!
@@MrWATCHthisWAY Here is a link to the song, "No Man's Land" -- better known as -- "The Green Fields of France" performed by its composer Eric Bogel. It says it all. th-cam.com/video/DxkhBvO8_kM/w-d-xo.html
Ed Tolliver - I served also and was able to fly for the Navy and feel lucky because I have lost many good friends who didn’t return from their missions. After growing up and seeing so many wars I think the best representation has to be Born on the Forth of July. I’m not a big Tom Cruise fan especially after the movie Top Gun but the truth of young me trying to honer their fathers and serving in combat thinking it’s the only way to truly be a real man gets distorted by the fact that those who have served let the movies shape their perspective by glorifying way and rarely bring to light the true long lasting affects that a good amount or surviving soldiers will endure. I try and stay connected to any one who’s served and help in anyway I can. Oh yea my son decided early on to become a Battlefield Corpsman and run will the 22nd Marine Division during the Iraq War. He survived by I called him a dumb ass too when he enlisted. I guess I was guilty of speaking highly of my experiences but before he raised his right hand I took him to a VA hospital so he could see the lucky ones who came home alive. It wasn’t pretty and I think it backfired because he was even more motivated to fight and save lives. I had never seen him workout that hard prior to going to bootcamp. Thank god he came home alive when so many didn’t.
8th June 1944 was the day my dads first tank commander was killed by a sniper at Putot-en-Bessin. The Americans had a very tough time to the west, but came good on that day when it mattered.They are not forgotten.
I worked with a man who was in the 2nd Ranger Battalion on that fateful day. He was a tough little guy but also humble. Even 50 years after D-day he was still in great physical shape.
My dad's cousin was a Ranger at Point du Hoc. I wonder if he knew your friend? Sadly my relative died on DDay. Canadian born but moved to USA as a boy.
Same here.......Truck driver. for our Factory.....Tough Little guy..4'11" 105 Pounds . Africa. Italy.......Wounded, German 88.MM...Ground Fire....Told me he still had Nightmares about them German 88's....
Thank you for sharing this story. Makes me proud to be an American and proud to be a Virginian. Always remember men like Frank whenever people try to discredit National Guardsmen.
I was with the 29th and specifically with 3/116 in Afghanistan. I also was previously active duty Army so I saw both sides, active and National Guard. While there are many young inexperienced people in the guard, there are equally many that bring a variety of beneficial experience to the unit that active duty often doesn't have. We had prior Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. We had at least one Ranger. We had law enforcement, we had those with civilian medical experience, we had electricians, plumbers, HVAC, computer, security, and much much more. All of this variety in experience often makes National Guard units offer many other benefits that active duty is void in. I served with Vietnam Vets as well as College students and all did their jobs effectively as any active duty soldiers I served with. The Bedford Boys honorably completed their mission in WW2 and in Afghanistan.
Young men hearing stories of men lying about their ages in WWII gave rise to young men lying about their ages in the late 40’s and early 50’s to join their National Guard units. Then when the Korean War broke out a lot of young men had their mothers come get them out of their Guard units so they wouldn’t get sent off the war. I know this because I knew several men who’s mothers wouldn’t get them out of service. One mother reported saying of her son Frankie; if my son want’s to wear the uniform during peace time then by god he’s going to wear it during war time also. Frankie came back “Shell Shocked” after the Korean War, but we call it PTSD these days. Frankie had experienced horrific acts of death and brutality that scared him from living a productive life. He suffered many years of trauma until he took his own life at the age of 42 at the end of a rifle barrel. We talk about these hero’s who lived these wars but we don’t talk much about the suffering they endured after these wars. PTSD is not a new effect on our soldiers, our men and women suffered these horrific memories throughout their lives following the wars they experienced them in. These hero deserved to be remembered but so do the horrific memories that follow them!
A big thanks to all the great Americans who serve and made the world a better place with their life (many literally with their life.) They all contribute to the defeat of Japanese in China during World War 2 and prevent the expansion of communist empires into Taiwan (Republic of China.) Dad was trained in Texas during WWII and sent home to fight the Japanese. He was treated and trained well in Texas and had a lot of fun memories of the people of Texas of their hospitality as he related his stories to me on his trip to Arizona 1994 from Taiwan.
Audie Murphy was the most high profile person to highlight PTSD, that it wasn't taboo to talk about or admit you had it. Because of him efforts began to understand it. Had he not died so untimely he could've continued his unofficial work. The VA hospital in San Antonio is named after him because of his influence.
It is my opinion that the entire D-Day landing and movement inland is one of the top 2 important dates with battles that were won by Americans, Canadians, British, and French soldiers. They all faced such horrific situations and they lost so many comrades that it had to of been days that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. And it is because of their sacrifices that I live in a free and fantastic country with my family and friends and speak English. We all owe them so much. But I am afraid that the current and future generations will have no idea on how important this battle was. Thanks History Guy for another outstanding video.
Most young people (less than 30 years old) in the United States do not know the importance of June 6th and D-Day or Dec 7 and Pearl Harbor. They have not been taught anything about them. The liberal education system has decided teaching those thing are not important and 'glorify violence'. Sadly, not knowing history dooms those uneducated in it to repeat it.
Sadly, the "current and future generations" you speak of will have to be reminded eventually...and with their own blood and treasure. They always have. But, until then, we can vow to pursue increasing levels of tolerable to push that day off as far into the future as possible.
@@donf3877 I am a 27 year old product of the "liberal education" system you speak so highly of. My friends I have currently and all of the people I grew up with were taught this. It's not like the teacher's have a ton of time to teach hundreds of years of history. But every, and I mean EVERY history class I had covered WWII. I have done a lot of studying on this subject, and I even knew about the Du Hoc assault before this video. Please don't trash on an education system that is trying its damndest to educate people AND be their parents at the same time.
@@@caleblarsen5490 It all depends on where you grew up. I'm originally from Toledo Ohio, but retired outside a small town in central Florida. The one and only high school here has about a 100-fold times the national average of graduates volunteering for military service. The grade and middle and high school here also have many times the national average of male teachers. And the area has a large percentage of people that attend some type of religious service. Yes, you could call this area conservative. Talking to many of the recent graduates here fills me with hope. They are well-adjusted well-educated young people with level heads and a sense of responsibility. Yes, there are a few with green hair or braids and massive ink and piercings... but they are in the single digits. However, what will happen if they attend college in a big city remains to be seen. And, the big liberal cities and counties here in Florida like Broward... well they brought us Obama's "son" Martin and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter. Broward has found a great way of reducing teenage crime. They simply stopped reporting it and arresting teens. The school system handles it by doing absolutely nothing. Sort of gives you a clue as to what defunding the police will bring. My daughter still lives in big city Ohio and has two daughters of her own. Every night she has to re-teach her girls and drill out of them the trash they learned in school that day. Her daughters are learning history, real and actual history... but from their mother. They are also learning science and math and English and everything else to make them well-rounded adults... again from their mother. And there are several TH-cam channels she uses to educate her daughters, just like this one. Their mother is an Air Force brat and knows full well the sacrifices not only our military men and women make every hour of every day serving this country, but the sacrifices their dependents make as well. Being stationed overseas... the sub-par pay... the sub-par living conditions... being ready to deploy on a seconds notice... and on and on. But, being a military brat and going to DOD schools, she also knows full well the history of this nation and its military. She is reeducating her girls every night because the large public school system there is more interested in fulfilling its 'responsibility' to force LGBTXQ123abc down their throats. Oh and teaching them what a bad country the U.S. is and how it's responsible for EVERY bad thing in the entire world including all the wars since the beginning of time. And teaching them that 2+2=7 is perfectly acceptable as long as they used the right method to get that result. Small town America is still a good place to grow up and be educated. The large Democratic controlled liberal city school systems... yeah not so much. One of my friend's grandsons just grad-eu-cated from one of the Toledo Public School System's high schools. If he manages to spell his own name two out of three times... it is a wonder. Oh and... there's no use to get a job since you'll never get ahead anyway. Yep... he's going to be a great help in rebuilding this country :(
My wife and I along with my college room mate and his wife visited the beaches in May 2019 in order to avoid the masses expected in June 2020. Good choice. My room mate and I had studied the landings and subsequent movements when in school as part of our education at the Academy. We studied maps, books, pictures, and films. I grew up with several men who had made the landings and most would not speak about it. We wanted to see what was actually there on the ground. Being there was much more memorable than what we had been taught. I shot rifle competitively in high school and at the Academy and when I stood at various places on the beaches, at low tide, all I could think about was those guys coming ashore, the ramps falling, them pouring out into a hail of gunfire. I cannot see how any man could miss his target. Yet these men pressed on. It got to be very emotional. Still does. I wish every American could walk those beaches and cliffs, tour the cemeteries, visit the gun emplacements along with a knowledgeable tour guide and see first hand what these men did for us and the world. May God bless them all. We hold an unpayable debt to them. Finally, you have once again given us a very well researched and produced history lesson that I am sure most Americans will never get. That is almost criminal. Our future requires our youth to learn our history. Failure to learn it will weaken us as a nation and force future generations to relearn what should have been taught as they grew up.
It was indeed. My Grandfather landed either +3 or +7, I can never remember without some searching, with the 100th ID. I'm always moved to tears when I see these, rwmebering him, as he too, never, ir very early ever, spoke of his time in the European Theatre of Operations.
If only you knew what happened to Sgt Mike Chapman 18 years ago. Anything the this channel has covered pales in comparison. The most heroic MOH in American History.
My high school Senior English teacher was one of the Rangers at Point Du Hoc. All that he would tell us was at some point during the war, he was captured but escaped when Allied warplanes attacked the German column marching prisoners away from the front lines. This air attack occupied the guards so he ran away as fast as he could while the guards took cover. He was a character as shown by his fluency in Olde English.
Excellent discussion of the D-Day invasion. My father, Sgt. Richard Hathaway, was assigned to Company A of the 5th Ranger Battalion, landing at Dog Green on Omaha Beach at D+ 30 minutes. My dad was one of 23 men in Company A who were able to breach the wire and move up the Vierville Draw. He was one of three bangalore torpedomen who blew holes in the wire on the beach. Led by Lt. Charles "Ace" Parker, they were able to successfully link up with the 2nd Rangers on the Pointe through the overland route. One the night of June 6-7, my dad defended the Pointe along with the other Rangers against counter-attacks by the Germans. Sgt. Hathaway's fighting position in defense of the Pointe is marked on official Army maps of the Pointe and the Orchards behind it. Dad was one of about 40 of the original 5th Rangers still left in Germany at the end of the war. During his time in the ETO, dad was wounded three times. After the war, he stayed in the Army and Army Reserve, retiring in 1970 at the rank of Major. In 1994, as President of the Rangers Association of World War II, he had the honor of introducing President Clinton at the 50th Anniversary Celebration. I got up at 2 AM to watch his speech live on CNN.
Thank You for your Post.........God Bless your Dad.........My Dad.........United States Navy. Cherbourg Peninsula , France 1944.......Never talked about his exploits.........World War II........Found his Postage to my GrandMother, 1944 -1945..England. France , Africa , Germany.....
@@briangoldy8784 My dad only talked about it occasionally, the first time when he received free tickets to "The Longest Day" in 1962. He really opened up once he started attending Ranger reunions in the 1980's. He would go back to Normandy and Pointe du Hoc every five years. He even wrote a book "Training for Bloody Omaha". The History Guy mentions Capt. John Raaen, who was commander of the HHC of the 5th Rangers, and my dad knew him quite well. He gave my dad a copy of his book "Intact: The Story of D-Day and of the 5th Rangers". It is now part of my book collection.
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Thank you for this episode. My dad was at Normandy Beach. He was just 22 years old. After Normandy he'd serve in the Battle of the Bulge, Siege of Bastogne and later the liberation of the concentration camps.
We're lucky to have these few stories of warriors. So many others are lost to history but I suppose that's the same in all conflicts. ALWAYS inspiring to me and I'm impressed that such men exist/existed.
Grandpa Thomas was one of only 9 ( original Ranger volunteers from camp Forrest ) to make through the war with out being Killed captured or injured. Started dday as a Technical sgt. Finished the war as a 2nd Lt. He was my hero and he will always be! Rangers Lead The Way!
My father Jack was a 19 year old medic that landed on Omaha Beach on D Day +1. He didn't get to sleep for 48 hours patching wounded and setting up medical aide stations with his medical battalion attached to the 3112th Signal Corp battalion.
Yes, thank you brave soldiers for sacrificing millions of white lives to fight a European war to protect the American banking elites' loans to Great Britain, err- I mean for freedom!
My Father was a Sergeant in the 834th Aviation Engineering battalion, they hit Omaha beach early in the morning on June 7th (D+1). They were scheduled to land four hours after the first wave but the beach was a horror show and we barely had a toe hold.Like most combat veterans, he reluctantly talked about his experiences (all the way to the battle of the bulge) but know that his landing craft was hit on the way in, had to bail out into water up to his neck, lost his rifle, swam to shore and had to crawl in a Z pattern onto the beach, had a close encounter with a tiger tank ,actually saw a lampshade made out of human skin,guarded defiant German prisoners, on and on...
Thank you very much for what you do! I've found myself these past days just feeling overwhelmed by what's going on in the world today. Pandemic, social distress, endless opinions, and the list goes on and on. Hearing some stories of past strife that was seemingly insurmountable in their particular moment helps me keep my chin up and continue fighting my own "battles". Thank you again!
Wonderfully done, reminding us all of the tremendous courage of these young men. They who saved the world. As it's the beginning of June and France was a focal point of the march to freedom, I would love to see you do an account of the battle for Nancy, France. There were more than 2000 men killed or wounded, and my uncle was one of them. The oldest boy of 14 and my father is the youngest. Neither of us met the man and we've never seen an account as concise as those you do. Keep up the good work, friend.
This article is as good as always. Another wonderful look at our past and the happening and people that shaped our world. These episodes from the WW2 era just further entrenches in my mind that those people were indeed the "great generation"!
Cowboy Dan He did say the German soldiers were professional. They fought hard and when defeated they accepted it like men. He did say that after VE Day he trusted the German soldiers more than the Russians.
Remarkable story and wonderful story telling. I've had the pleasure of getting to know a couple of men of D-day. These stories must be passed along for all generations to come.
I grew up and lived in Charlottesville for much of my life. I can't tell you how many times I've driven by the street sign that marks "Peregory Ln" right off of Avon Street Extended (the street alluded to at the end of the video). And yet, I never knew the story behind the man it was named for.
Thanks on behalf of my great uncle William Moody 1st lieutenant Charley Company second rangers and all the men who gave there all to make it possible to move off the beaches and on to eventual victory. D.S.C KIA 06-06-44
My Grandpa was in HQ Co 1st Rangers. Normandy and the fighting through africa before that and to italy after messed him up terribly. Your uncle is a hero sir.
So many moments that deserve honor on a part of American history that for most students merits only a paragraph or two in a textbook. Thank you for bringing depth and life to these moments.
This is an incredibly well done and relevant episode for me. My Dad landed at Utah Beach with the 4th Armored Division, Co A of the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion. He went across France and Germany with Patton's 3rd Army, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, wounded twice, and ended up as a POW after a failed mission to break out Patton's son-in-law from the Hammelburg Germany POW camp. My Mom was in the Women's Army Air Corps as a tower operator training new pilots during WW2, so they were both "All In". Dad and Mom were both very proud of me when I joined the Navy to become a pilot during Vietnam, and sad at the same time since they knew what I might experience. They were not looking for me to follow in their footsteps, as they wanted peace and prosperity for their children, and everyone else's children, after WW2. Fortunately for me the Vietnam war ended one month before I was to be deployed to face hostile forces. I totally agree with a previous comment that "The romance of a young man's dreams of glory soon disappear in the harsh reality of war." Dad's experience in Europe during WW2 followed him every day of his life until he passed way in 1993. Mom said that the sight of new Army pilots in training crashing in flames in front of her during landing approaches never left her. RIP two incredible members of The Greatest Generation, and all the others who fought with them.
Well done, you're one heck of a story teller. Clearly you have redouble the honor in honoring those whom have passed keeping us safe. I thank you for that.
I’ve been to Pointe Du Hoc 2x and toured and studied this battle and area for years and didn’t know many aspects of this invasion. Thank you for sharing this fantastic vid........lest we forget.
I have been blessed with many good history teachers none better then you except my grandpa who would spin a tale so well you could.imahine yourself right there while it happened, lost him in 2015 but listening to you brings me back in many ways the same
The father of two of my college roommates was a Ranger at Normandy, landing on Omaha beach. He drove his two sons hard. This episode helps to explain the man. Thank you History Guy.
Thank you for bringing forth these stories. The overall strategy and history of what happened is always interesting. But, the personal stories bring what happened back to life. These personal stories need to be remembered, always. We cannot forget what they did.
The man who actually blew the sea wall on Omaha, Noel Dube, late of Pepperell, MA has been forgotten. Dube was one of only a few in his engineering unit to reach the shire with just a bit of their equipment. As a youngster he organized the small band, collected supplies and aided up the situation. The natural beach access was blocked by a concrete wall. So he blew up the wall. In The Longest Day the character portraying his daring deed under intense fire was killed off. In fact Dube was unharmed in combat until Hurtgen Forest. He often told his story to his fellow Knights of Columbus that heading into the beach he prayed the Rosary as officers, friends and unit mates were cut down or blown up all around him. In this terror he promised to create a shire to Mary Mother if God if he survived. He survived, built a shire in his home town, amidst some anger about the visitors and small crowds in his neighborhood. Nevertheless Noel kept his promise. His courage and dedication to duty on D-Day and beyond cleared the way for the breakout and the eventual winning of the Normandy Campaign. RIP soldier, it was my honor to know you briefly.
Thanks for the great info. I remember like it was yesterday watching The Longest Day almost 50 years ago and Jeffrey Hunter as the engineer doing what he could to blow that wall. Shocked the hell out of me when he was killed. Great to find out the actual engineer survived the war.
Thank for reminding us of what we can do together. Units that trace their lineage to 29th Infantry Division form the training cadre at the US Army Infantry School. Ft Benning GA.
Battleship Texas supported both the rangers at pointe du hoc and the infantry trying to break through the D1 exit. In fact when word reached the battleship Texas that the rangers were having troubles at the pointe, they loaded LCVPs with food ammo and medical supplies to be sent to the rangers. Then when the LCVPs returned to Texas they brought on wounded rangers which then received critical medical attention. Because of the ship, only one ranger which was brought on board passed away. The marines stationed on Texas volunteered to go help the rangers, which was approved of by the navy, but were barred from going by the army at the last minute.
My one great uncle was killed in France during world war two I really do not know where. I have friends in France I said as children, their parents breathe a sigh of relief to hear that the allies what I sent to invade Sherman held parts of France and rescue the country. These stories from all times of history are awesome, and never fail to interest me. Thank you for sharing.
I want to sincerely thank you for what you do. It is stunning how little people know about history. You make it easy. As a student of history myself I try to spread your channel far and wide. Jeremy Fultz Atlanta
What a great job you did with this history lesson ! It's a shame schools don't teach history any more. If I had a teacher like you when I was in school, you would be a reason to want to be there.
Deeply moved, greatness of large and small acts of valor. To the North on D2, the British Army and their support the 101st Air Ambulance medical corps were landed on a beach made of shale. Their commanding officers had directed them to a small cove and gave a command to dig in. The ground was made of hard Cretaceous shale, impervious to their efforts and prone to violence from ricocheted ordinance. Fortunately he, my dad, survived. Your presentation was sensitive and well presented. Thank you.
Ahhh... so he hung a portrait of Robert E. Lee in the Oval Office when he was Prez, and asked why, he said, "He was a great man and that's all I'm going to say about it" *The Myth of the Kindly General Lee * - The Atlantic | June 2017 www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-myth-of-the-kindly-general-lee/529038/ -The legend of the Confederate leader’s heroism and decency is based in the fiction of a person who never existed. [... Lee was a slave owner-his own views on slavery were explicated in an 1856 letter that is often misquoted to give the impression that Lee was some kind of abolitionist. In the letter, he describes slavery as “a moral & political evil,” but goes on to explain that: { I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more strong for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally socially & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy. } The argument here is that slavery is bad for white people, good for black people, and most important, better than abolitionism; emancipation must wait for divine intervention. That black people might not want to be slaves does not enter into the equation; their opinion on the subject of their own bondage is not even an afterthought to Lee. Lee’s cruelty as a slave master was not confined to physical punishment. In Reading the Man, the historian Elizabeth Brown Pryor’s portrait of Lee through his writings, Pryor writes that “Lee ruptured the Washington and Custis tradition of respecting slave families” by hiring them off to other plantations, and that “by 1860 he had broken up every family but one on the estate, some of whom had been together since Mount Vernon days.” The separation of slave families was one of the most unfathomably devastating aspects of slavery, and Pryor. Lee’s heavy hand on the Arlington, Virginia, plantation, Pryor writes, nearly led to a slave revolt, in part because the enslaved had been expected to be freed upon their previous master’s death, and Lee had engaged in a dubious legal interpretation of his will in order to keep them as his property, one that lasted until a Virginia court forced him to free them. ...] So what was that he was saying about men not wanting to be slaves... him the Supreme Commander of a segregated military? Disappointed? I was, when this I first learned of Eisenhower
@@tommypetraglia4688 So it's safe to say that you're also "disappointed" in obama for his relationships with Marxist radical Ayers and America hating antisemites Farrakhan and Wright. If not, you're nothing but a SWJ hypocrite.
Though I did already know this story, I was on the edge of my seat as the tale was given. The heroics of D-Day +2 are the hallmarks of the Greatest Generation.
I was in Bushmaster Company 1-16 Iron Rangers. 2-16 Rangers got disbanded when I got to the unit in 2015. The 16th Infantry Regiment lost 914 men on D-Day.
I've been lucky enough to visit the Point Du Hoc battlefield site, as part of a school tour of Normandy historical sites over 20 years ago, and it was one of the places (alongside the military cemeteries) where the harsh reality of the conflict seemed most inescapable. The ruins of the Fortifications are still there, riddled with shell and bomb craters. Together with the sheer cliffs, they are a very intimidating sight, even without being full of Nazis shooting and throwing grenades at you. The Rangers took about 60% casualties during the assault and its aftermath. Its a testament to their courage and training that the figure wasn't higher. Visiting was a very moving experience, and can be highly recommended to anyone who gets the opportunity.
I served in the 29th infantry HHC first brigade I’ve carried the 29th infantry colors and they are extremely heavy due to all the awards and service ribbons the 29th is one of the most decorated army units ever
Congratulations on a wonderful account of D-Day at its most complicated sites, Omaha and Utah beaches. My great uncle was there with the 1st Infantry Division that you took good care to mention. He would’ve loved to watch your accounts. Thank you.
Thank you for providing your channel! I love history and I always enjoy listening to your narration of events that happen many years ago! Keep up the great work!!!
I’m a year late in seeing this however, yesterday • Memorial Day, 2021 • this story has special meaning to me. Many thanks for the incredible you do in keeping History both alive and remembered. 🙏🏽
I had the very distinct privilege of meeting Leonard "Bud" Lomell. He was one of the Rangers that assaulted Point du Hoc & was later awarded the DSC for his actions. You can read about him in Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation." My wife & I traveled through Normandy on our honeymoon. I am still in awe of the history of what went on there. I took some photos of the Point & sent them to Mr Lomell. He was kind enough to autograph them along with side notes about his reminisces. I had them framed & are on proud display in my den. What was asked of these young men & what they did could not be replicated today. We, today, stand on the shoulders of giants.
One of my friends was a young Lt. and landed on D +6 and went up to fight in the hedgerows and was promptly shot in the calf by a low lying sniper. He showed me the wound. God Bless all of these heroes.
Company A of the 116th was particularly hard hit. These were the Bedford Boys. The National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford, VA for a reason. (www.dday.org) Thank you for all your excellent presentations, but especially this one.
In 1970 I was an 18 year old working in a paper mill in Oregon. I worked beside former Vietnam, Korean, and WWII veterans. I remember a guy who had been a Ranger. The Army chose physically and mentally tough men exclusively for the Rangers. This fellow had been a logger in the Oregon forests before the war. Only combat was more dangerous than logging. Loggers, high steel workers, oil riggers, miners and other work toughened men were taken into the Rangers according the gentleman I used to work with. They used to get in bar fights with the Scots. He said the Scots Highlanders were very tough customers.lol.
Excellent episode. Re: the misspelled name on the highway, my father-in-law lied about his birthday in order to enlist in the Army 1944. He served near the end of the war and when he passed several years ago the VA foot placque at his grave lists the earlier birthdate, contrary to the headstone. The incongruity still exists.
Dear Sir, thank you for the thoroughness of your research and captivating retelling of these important events in history. Now retired, my background was originally a scientific one. However, both my adult son (he's a scientist engineer) and myself agree that the most important subject is history. We love discussing and sharing stories about historical events. To me history is the common thread which links together all events, developments and disciplines. I enjoyed your review of your Top 5 Tanks for Bovington Camp Tank Museum. I was particularly interested in your choice of the Matilda hull which now acts as a garden feature / gate guardian. I learned of the Matilda's long service in WW2, including on the Russian Front and in the jungles of the Far East. I had to smile about your comment of what your good lady wife might have said had you been overcome with emotion and attempted to take the Matilda hull home with you ! Very Best Regards, Graham Walker, Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK
I very much enjoy your history stories on WW2. My father and uncle were with the109th. Inf. Regt., 28th Inf. Div. Which landed in Normandy mid June 1944. I wish these stories could be taught in schools for those absent-minded teachers and students. Hope one day you'll be doing stories for those brave veterans of the Gulf War and Afghanistan. Many high school students are unable to even point out where Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan are located on a map.
My Dad was a tech sergeant and arrived at Normandy on D day plus 2, he couldn't talk about it but I know that his unit lost 12 tanks in the first hour but he somehow survived the terrible ordeal. This vid by the History Guy accurately describes the "Fog of War" and how things that can go wrong WILL go wrong. It is a testament to the men who fought and died there - a demonstration of the resolve of Great and Brave men. God Bless them and All of Americas Service personnel.
Another excellent piece. The image of the shattered rifle with the helmet atop is most touching, at least for anyone who has been a soldier and understands what it signifies. I did notice one minor technical detail in the narration that deserves to be corrected. The Sherman DD tanks were not meant simply to "wade" in shallow water. They were designed to be truly amphibious. Intended to be launched up to 5,000 yards from shore, they were meant to "swim" in to the beach using a flimsy canvas skirt to displace enough water to make them buoyant. The vehicles actually floated with the top of the hull below the water level outside the skirt. This worked fine in calm water, but the waters of the invasion beaches were anything but calm on June 6, 1944. Most of the DD tanks destined for the Omaha beach sank in deep water, along with most of their crewmen. Some remain there even today. The British and the Americans heading for Utah beach, showing much better judgement, opted to carry most of their DD's in to the shore on landing craft, and so preserved them from a watery grave. There were other M-4 tanks that were waterproofed and fitted with special equipment to allow them to "wade" in water over the top of the turret, for short periods, used on D-Day. These were not designated as "DD" tanks, as they did not possess the separate propeller drive system that constituted the second half of the duplex drive.
my father was a private in the 1st infantry div, they were first on the beach, and he could hear the bullets pass by his ears sadly hitting his buddys behind him, he made it through thaat hell came home to live a great 97 years, like he said thank GOD.
my dad, jay ferd, had hands near blown off on same day. his b day 14th is flag day. said shot a sniper in parachute, guarded pows. preped vehicles for water landing. got bucked off the new bigger harley, but as had had sum schoolin, drivers licence, he was old man at 21. intertained band mates on board with mandolin on landing. later with hill music an event for soldiers with president, at dc. his idol ,burl ives played, but i think the jubilee singers took top billing. dad earn lays in washington site in germantown pa. near Norristown. best article in Canaan news near Lebonon NH.
I had to attend the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire to take my A1 trade test. I was an Artillery Surveyor. The main instructor was an exchange Captain from USA, a Vietnam veteran. He had a Rangers patch on his uniform. He taught us a lot about gunnery warfare as he had practical experience. Our combat experience was infantry work in Northern Ireland and UN work in Cyprus.
My father was in the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Battalion from Omaha Beach until he was taken prisoner near Le Harve. I've been to Normandie several times over the years. Thanks for remembering one of the many unsung heroes of that battle. How about doing a show on Major Howie? Or the men who inspired Chemin Taylor and/or Chemin Blair near Utah Beach? And, fon't forget the Battle of St. Lo and the massacre of thew postal workers who formed the core of the French Underground in the area? Or, the hospital in St. Lo that stands today on land once occupied by a field hospital? Another really good show...
My dad was in the 29th, 110 Field Artillery. He doesn’t talk much about D-day, but from time to time would discuss how terrible the hedge row fighting was, He was wounded June 17 outside of St. Lo, and never returned.
He suffered and survived a major heart attack in February 1981. I remember walking into his intensive care room. He was so sick. But the first thing he said to me, was “I’m not afraid to die, because I’ve been living on borrowed time since D-Day,”, with tears in his eyes. He made it through that hospitalization and several more, until the night of September 1, 1994, when he finally left this world peaceably in his sleep.
May his soul rest in peace. Thank you for his service.
My God that was beautiful. You honor your father's memory with such poignant words.
I don't cry much but this... brought me to tears
I’m thankful for his service and his sacrifice at such a young age of going through something so terrible that he couldn’t even speak of it. Thank you for sharing his story.
My dad also was in the battle of D-Day. He arrived either the 2nd or 3rd day, running across dead bodies for 100 yards before he stepped on French soil. He was in the 116th Infantry, a rifleman, unable to read or write, but survived. He did get hit in the left hip with 2 bullets, one was removed in a field hospital, the other they didn't see so left it there. Dad died in 1985 at 69 years of age with a heart attack. He brought home a plaque with names of cities & places he traveled through fighting the Germans. St Lo, Brest, Omaha Beach, Siegfried-Line, Aachen & of course Normandy. His closest buddies were killed by mortars lying on the ground beside him.
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Thank you for this. I a retired Army officer with 20 years and 4 combat tours. I also had the privilege to serve in the 2nd Battalion 75th Infantry (Ranger) as a combat medic. I toured the Normandy Memorial Gardens with my team mates from 5th SFG many years ago and we went to honor those that had died on D-Day. Four of us, young and proud, were in our Class A (Green) uniforms with our Green Berets walking along. I was called over by 5 older gentlemen since they saw my Ranger Tab. I was in the presence of 5 D-Day Rangers who had fought and survived. They took us on a tour of the headstones of each of their friends (and there was a lot of them). They told us about each one of them as if they were standing right there. My eyes and those of my friends were not dry. We were humbled and in awe of these men.
Their names are remembered, and in that sense, they have not perished. So long as we remember the monumental feats of bravery and fidelity, their lives will have been lived with grand purpose. God rest their souls.
Just... wow!
What a great gift they gave you.
RLTW!
I think the world might be a better place if we were all reminded once in a while that real people with real families and real loved ones died to build, maintain and protect the freedoms that we take for granted. I can only imagine how it must have felt to speak to men who were there and listen to them talk about their friends who died, what a humbling experience. Thanks for sharing that story.
My father was there in D-Day+2. He made it through it all and lived a full life to age 97 in 2016.
We have to remember history today more than ever. Too many lives have been lost to these lessons for them to be forgotten.
www.wnyc.org/story/when-nazis-rallied-madison-square-garden/
@@billpostscratcher2025 oh holy jesus
I checked out a memorial website of the cemetery at Point du Hoc. Oddly they have very few pictures of the soldiers that died... including my dad's cousin. Weird... but I have a picture of a relative from the civil war... but not of one in WW2
@@billpostscratcher2025
Old news to me - I wish more Americans were aware of this and many other similar incidents - thanks for sharing this.
Joe Schmuckatelli
Sadly no millennials think or care about just how lucky they are.
I.E. Did I get a good selfie in front of that burning police car?
Fascinating story. My father fought across the globe in the invasion of Saipan, on June 16, 1944. He always said that D-Day got more news coverage than their action, but the Mariannas were a major stepping stone to bring land-based bombers in range of the Japanese home islands, so like D-Day it was a major pivot point in the war. May we remember all who served.
chiron14pl You think Saipan was forgotten? Rome was liberated 05 June 1944. How many remember that?
HP Wilmott observed years ago that the true measure of America's superpower status was the fact that we invaded France and the Marianas in the same month, half a world away from one another, and had a fleet large enough to fend off interference in both invasions (which in the Pacific led to the Battle of the Philippine Sea) with ease. It's hard to imagine any of the other world powers in 1944 carrying out *one* of these invasions, never mind 2 together.
@@hlynnkeith9334
My uncle age 21, was found dead when morning broke along with his sergeant, in their fox hole on a beach at Anzio.
My grandfather cried every day until he died 25 years later.
And my mother, age 12 then was fkd up for the rest of her life... a mental illness she took out on her kids.
So fk the Nazis for ruining so many lives
In a matter of days we did the largest amphibious landing in history, then landed a 100k+ more a few more days later.... on the other side of the world on Saipan (7for1)! Oh yeah then days later liberated a major world city! Not bad few weeks work
One of the documentaries, Battle360 about the USS Enterprise, they call Saipan "D-Day in the Pacific".
His actions sound like a WWII version of Sergeant Alvin York in WWI.
When the film The Longest Day was released there were complaints about 17 year old pop stars being used to portray the Rangers who attacked the Pont du Hoc. This soon stopped when Rangers who were there, by now only in their mid 30s, asked "How old do you think we were?"
I remember talking to a grizzled combat veteran uncle when I was in my 30s. I never served. I told him I didn't think I could put up with some drill instructor yelling at me in my face. He said most my age wouldn't put up with it. That's why the military likes to get them when they're teenagers. They're still young enough to put up with it he said.
Dean Stuart - Even then were Trolls!
Dean, I was thinking that this guy is a regular Alvin C.York and how come I've never heard of him.
@@moncorp1 The Army Air Force was so short of senior officers, that there were men in their 20s holding the ranks of Colonel or Lt. Colonel. One officers club, in England I think, jokingly had a sign on the door that read; "Lt. Colonels under the age of 23 are requested to show proper ID as proof of age" or something to that effect.
@@andyZ3500s Sadly many did not know about Desmond Doss until Razorback Ridge movie
I went through Ranger School in the winter of 1968 with the son of a WWII Ranger. When I said, "Gee, your dad must be proud you're following in his foot steps." He replied, "Naw, he said I was a dumb ass." The romance of a young man's dreams of glory soon disappear in the harsh reality of war.
True, very true.
Ed Tolliver - after reading you post I was thinking; how true how very sadly true. Then I opened up the next posting from yours Ed and I read; how true, very sadly true! I guess those who experienced war look to hopefully see some other outcome that isn’t so sad and those who haven’t are looking for something positive in a war story or stories. If there’s war in the title chances are it’s not going to be too positive and that’s been my experience to date. True how sadly true!
@@MrWATCHthisWAY Here is a link to the song, "No Man's Land" -- better known as -- "The Green Fields of France" performed by its composer Eric Bogel. It says it all. th-cam.com/video/DxkhBvO8_kM/w-d-xo.html
Ed Tolliver - I served also and was able to fly for the Navy and feel lucky because I have lost many good friends who didn’t return from their missions. After growing up and seeing so many wars I think the best representation has to be Born on the Forth of July. I’m not a big Tom Cruise fan especially after the movie Top Gun but the truth of young me trying to honer their fathers and serving in combat thinking it’s the only way to truly be a real man gets distorted by the fact that those who have served let the movies shape their perspective by glorifying way and rarely bring to light the true long lasting affects that a good amount or surviving soldiers will endure. I try and stay connected to any one who’s served and help in anyway I can. Oh yea my son decided early on to become a Battlefield Corpsman and run will the 22nd Marine Division during the Iraq War. He survived by I called him a dumb ass too when he enlisted. I guess I was guilty of speaking highly of my experiences but before he raised his right hand I took him to a VA hospital so he could see the lucky ones who came home alive. It wasn’t pretty and I think it backfired because he was even more motivated to fight and save lives. I had never seen him workout that hard prior to going to bootcamp. Thank god he came home alive when so many didn’t.
But if it was not for men like you . . . . .
Thank you sir.
8th June 1944 was the day my dads first tank commander was killed by a sniper at Putot-en-Bessin. The Americans had a very tough time to the west, but came good on that day when it mattered.They are not forgotten.
What Battalion was he with?
I worked with a man who was in the 2nd Ranger Battalion on that fateful day. He was a tough little guy but also humble. Even 50 years after D-day he was still in great physical shape.
D-Day is 76 years now.
My dad's cousin was a Ranger at Point du Hoc. I wonder if he knew your friend? Sadly my relative died on DDay. Canadian born but moved to USA as a boy.
@@impalabeeper No kidding. I said "worked", meaning in the past. I worked with him back in the mid 90's. Any more brilliant comments?
Same here.......Truck driver. for our Factory.....Tough Little guy..4'11" 105 Pounds . Africa. Italy.......Wounded, German 88.MM...Ground Fire....Told me he still had Nightmares about them German 88's....
Thank you for sharing this story. Makes me proud to be an American and proud to be a Virginian. Always remember men like Frank whenever people try to discredit National Guardsmen.
I was with the 29th and specifically with 3/116 in Afghanistan. I also was previously active duty Army so I saw both sides, active and National Guard. While there are many young inexperienced people in the guard, there are equally many that bring a variety of beneficial experience to the unit that active duty often doesn't have. We had prior Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. We had at least one Ranger. We had law enforcement, we had those with civilian medical experience, we had electricians, plumbers, HVAC, computer, security, and much much more. All of this variety in experience often makes National Guard units offer many other benefits that active duty is void in. I served with Vietnam Vets as well as College students and all did their jobs effectively as any active duty soldiers I served with. The Bedford Boys honorably completed their mission in WW2 and in Afghanistan.
@@johnreiman297 John thank you and all the others for your service and sacrifice.
Young men hearing stories of men lying about their ages in WWII gave rise to young men lying about their ages in the late 40’s and early 50’s to join their National Guard units. Then when the Korean War broke out a lot of young men had their mothers come get them out of their Guard units so they wouldn’t get sent off the war. I know this because I knew several men who’s mothers wouldn’t get them out of service. One mother reported saying of her son Frankie; if my son want’s to wear the uniform during peace time then by god he’s going to wear it during war time also. Frankie came back “Shell Shocked” after the Korean War, but we call it PTSD these days. Frankie had experienced horrific acts of death and brutality that scared him from living a productive life. He suffered many years of trauma until he took his own life at the age of 42 at the end of a rifle barrel. We talk about these hero’s who lived these wars but we don’t talk much about the suffering they endured after these wars. PTSD is not a new effect on our soldiers, our men and women suffered these horrific memories throughout their lives following the wars they experienced them in. These hero deserved to be remembered but so do the horrific memories that follow them!
PTSD will keep you company till your last breath.
A big thanks to all the great Americans who serve and made the world a better place with their life (many literally with their life.) They all contribute to the defeat of Japanese in China during World War 2 and prevent the expansion of communist empires into Taiwan (Republic of China.) Dad was trained in Texas during WWII and sent home to fight the Japanese. He was treated and trained well in Texas and had a lot of fun memories of the people of Texas of their hospitality as he related his stories to me on his trip to Arizona 1994 from Taiwan.
My best friend brother who was an Army Vet of the Iraq war killed himself less than a year ago
@@pozolan10 I'm more familiar with Europe than Japan Was it only the Americans in there?
Audie Murphy was the most high profile person to highlight PTSD, that it wasn't taboo to talk about or admit you had it. Because of him efforts began to understand it. Had he not died so untimely he could've continued his unofficial work. The VA hospital in San Antonio is named after him because of his influence.
It is my opinion that the entire D-Day landing and movement inland is one of the top 2 important dates with battles that were won by Americans, Canadians, British, and French soldiers. They all faced such horrific situations and they lost so many comrades that it had to of been days that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. And it is because of their sacrifices that I live in a free and fantastic country with my family and friends and speak English. We all owe them so much. But I am afraid that the current and future generations will have no idea on how important this battle was. Thanks History Guy for another outstanding video.
Most young people (less than 30 years old) in the United States do not know the importance of June 6th and D-Day or Dec 7 and Pearl Harbor. They have not been taught anything about them. The liberal education system has decided teaching those thing are not important and 'glorify violence'. Sadly, not knowing history dooms those uneducated in it to repeat it.
Sadly, the "current and future generations" you speak of will have to be reminded eventually...and with their own blood and treasure. They always have. But, until then, we can vow to pursue increasing levels of tolerable to push that day off as far into the future as possible.
@@donf3877 I am a 27 year old product of the "liberal education" system you speak so highly of. My friends I have currently and all of the people I grew up with were taught this. It's not like the teacher's have a ton of time to teach hundreds of years of history. But every, and I mean EVERY history class I had covered WWII. I have done a lot of studying on this subject, and I even knew about the Du Hoc assault before this video. Please don't trash on an education system that is trying its damndest to educate people AND be their parents at the same time.
@@caleblarsen5490 Good on you, son ! Time NOW for you to 'pass your knowledge forward' when situations arise...
@@@caleblarsen5490 It all depends on where you grew up. I'm originally from Toledo Ohio, but retired outside a small town in central Florida. The one and only high school here has about a 100-fold times the national average of graduates volunteering for military service. The grade and middle and high school here also have many times the national average of male teachers. And the area has a large percentage of people that attend some type of religious service. Yes, you could call this area conservative. Talking to many of the recent graduates here fills me with hope. They are well-adjusted well-educated young people with level heads and a sense of responsibility. Yes, there are a few with green hair or braids and massive ink and piercings... but they are in the single digits. However, what will happen if they attend college in a big city remains to be seen. And, the big liberal cities and counties here in Florida like Broward... well they brought us Obama's "son" Martin and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter. Broward has found a great way of reducing teenage crime. They simply stopped reporting it and arresting teens. The school system handles it by doing absolutely nothing. Sort of gives you a clue as to what defunding the police will bring. My daughter still lives in big city Ohio and has two daughters of her own. Every night she has to re-teach her girls and drill out of them the trash they learned in school that day. Her daughters are learning history, real and actual history... but from their mother. They are also learning science and math and English and everything else to make them well-rounded adults... again from their mother. And there are several TH-cam channels she uses to educate her daughters, just like this one. Their mother is an Air Force brat and knows full well the sacrifices not only our military men and women make every hour of every day serving this country, but the sacrifices their dependents make as well. Being stationed overseas... the sub-par pay... the sub-par living conditions... being ready to deploy on a seconds notice... and on and on. But, being a military brat and going to DOD schools, she also knows full well the history of this nation and its military. She is reeducating her girls every night because the large public school system there is more interested in fulfilling its 'responsibility' to force LGBTXQ123abc down their throats. Oh and teaching them what a bad country the U.S. is and how it's responsible for EVERY bad thing in the entire world including all the wars since the beginning of time. And teaching them that 2+2=7 is perfectly acceptable as long as they used the right method to get that result. Small town America is still a good place to grow up and be educated. The large Democratic controlled liberal city school systems... yeah not so much. One of my friend's grandsons just grad-eu-cated from one of the Toledo Public School System's high schools. If he manages to spell his own name two out of three times... it is a wonder. Oh and... there's no use to get a job since you'll never get ahead anyway. Yep... he's going to be a great help in rebuilding this country :(
My wife and I along with my college room mate and his wife visited the beaches in May 2019 in order to avoid the masses expected in June 2020. Good choice. My room mate and I had studied the landings and subsequent movements when in school as part of our education at the Academy. We studied maps, books, pictures, and films. I grew up with several men who had made the landings and most would not speak about it. We wanted to see what was actually there on the ground. Being there was much more memorable than what we had been taught. I shot rifle competitively in high school and at the Academy and when I stood at various places on the beaches, at low tide, all I could think about was those guys coming ashore, the ramps falling, them pouring out into a hail of gunfire. I cannot see how any man could miss his target. Yet these men pressed on. It got to be very emotional. Still does. I wish every American could walk those beaches and cliffs, tour the cemeteries, visit the gun emplacements along with a knowledgeable tour guide and see first hand what these men did for us and the world. May God bless them all. We hold an unpayable debt to them. Finally, you have once again given us a very well researched and produced history lesson that I am sure most Americans will never get. That is almost criminal. Our future requires our youth to learn our history. Failure to learn it will weaken us as a nation and force future generations to relearn what should have been taught as they grew up.
This was a particularly moving episode.
I completely agree.
Yes it was. Beyond words.
Just awesome! My dad served in Europe. He would never talk about it! Thank you.
It was indeed. My Grandfather landed either +3 or +7, I can never remember without some searching, with the 100th ID. I'm always moved to tears when I see these, rwmebering him, as he too, never, ir very early ever, spoke of his time in the European Theatre of Operations.
If only you knew what happened to Sgt Mike Chapman 18 years ago. Anything the this channel has covered pales in comparison. The most heroic MOH in American History.
My high school Senior English teacher was one of the Rangers at Point Du Hoc. All that he would tell us was at some point during the war, he was captured but escaped when Allied warplanes attacked the German column marching prisoners away from the front lines. This air attack occupied the guards so he ran away as fast as he could while the guards took cover. He was a character as shown by his fluency in Olde English.
Excellent discussion of the D-Day invasion. My father, Sgt. Richard Hathaway, was assigned to Company A of the 5th Ranger Battalion, landing at Dog Green on Omaha Beach at D+ 30 minutes. My dad was one of 23 men in Company A who were able to breach the wire and move up the Vierville Draw. He was one of three bangalore torpedomen who blew holes in the wire on the beach. Led by Lt. Charles "Ace" Parker, they were able to successfully link up with the 2nd Rangers on the Pointe through the overland route. One the night of June 6-7, my dad defended the Pointe along with the other Rangers against counter-attacks by the Germans. Sgt. Hathaway's fighting position in defense of the Pointe is marked on official Army maps of the Pointe and the Orchards behind it. Dad was one of about 40 of the original 5th Rangers still left in Germany at the end of the war. During his time in the ETO, dad was wounded three times. After the war, he stayed in the Army and Army Reserve, retiring in 1970 at the rank of Major. In 1994, as President of the Rangers Association of World War II, he had the honor of introducing President Clinton at the 50th Anniversary Celebration. I got up at 2 AM to watch his speech live on CNN.
Thank You for your Post.........God Bless your Dad.........My Dad.........United States Navy. Cherbourg Peninsula , France 1944.......Never talked about his exploits.........World War II........Found his Postage to my GrandMother, 1944 -1945..England. France , Africa , Germany.....
@@briangoldy8784 My dad only talked about it occasionally, the first time when he received free tickets to "The Longest Day" in 1962. He really opened up once he started attending Ranger reunions in the 1980's. He would go back to Normandy and Pointe du Hoc every five years. He even wrote a book "Training for Bloody Omaha". The History Guy mentions Capt. John Raaen, who was commander of the HHC of the 5th Rangers, and my dad knew him quite well. He gave my dad a copy of his book "Intact: The Story of D-Day and of the 5th Rangers". It is now part of my book collection.
Thank you for this episode. My dad was at Normandy Beach. He was just 22 years old. After Normandy he'd serve in the Battle of the Bulge, Siege of Bastogne and later the liberation of the concentration camps.
God bless your Dad and you. Thank you for his service.
We're lucky to have these few stories of warriors. So many others are lost to history but I suppose that's the same in all conflicts. ALWAYS inspiring to me and I'm impressed that such men exist/existed.
My Dad was in the 29th and landed at Omaha on D Day. He did survive.
THIS kind of episode and many others is *why* I provide this channel with my support.
My uncle, Pfc William Wolford was in the first wave with the 116th. He was KIA outside of St Lo on June 19th.
bob speicher My father was wounded there June 17.
@@justaguy1679 Sorry to hear that. Maybe they knew each other. They were real heroes.
Grandpa Thomas was one of only 9 ( original Ranger volunteers from camp Forrest ) to make through the war with out being Killed captured or injured. Started dday as a Technical sgt. Finished the war as a 2nd Lt. He was my hero and he will always be! Rangers Lead The Way!
I absolutely love these stories, my father served with the 88th division in North Africa, all the way up to Monte Cassino.
My father Jack was a 19 year old medic that landed on Omaha Beach on D Day +1. He didn't get to sleep for 48 hours patching wounded and setting up medical aide stations with his medical battalion attached to the 3112th Signal Corp battalion.
God bless your Dad, one of the unsung heroes of the war. Thank you for his service.
My brother in law, Cecil Breeden, was a medic with the 29th
I remember Reagan's speech and your mere mention of it brought tears to my eyes once again.
Thanks for remembering all those brave soldiers who fought so we could be free of oppression.
Yes, thank you brave soldiers for sacrificing millions of white lives to fight a European war to protect the American banking elites' loans to Great Britain, err- I mean for freedom!
Wasn’t American Banking Elites a code word for the Jews, soldat?
Free of oppression you say? Some would beg to differ with you on that account. Today oppression just takes more subtle forms.
@@TheScienceguy77 Freedom of speech means sick knuckleheads like you can have a voice. Just don't try it with me in the room.
@@TheScienceguy77 all hat and no herd.
My Father was a Sergeant in the 834th Aviation Engineering battalion, they hit Omaha beach early in the morning on June 7th (D+1). They were scheduled to land four hours after the first wave but the beach was a horror show and we barely had a toe hold.Like most combat veterans, he reluctantly talked about his experiences (all the way to the battle of the bulge) but know that his landing craft was hit on the way in, had to bail out into water up to his neck, lost his rifle, swam to shore and had to crawl in a Z pattern onto the beach, had a close encounter with a tiger tank ,actually saw a lampshade made out of human skin,guarded defiant German prisoners, on and on...
Thank you very much for what you do! I've found myself these past days just feeling overwhelmed by what's going on in the world today. Pandemic, social distress, endless opinions, and the list goes on and on. Hearing some stories of past strife that was seemingly insurmountable in their particular moment helps me keep my chin up and continue fighting my own "battles". Thank you again!
My wife and I visited Normandy in 2013. It was a very moving experience, and one we will never forget. This is history hat should never be forgotten.
Wonderfully done, reminding us all of the tremendous courage of these young men. They who saved the world. As it's the beginning of June and France was a focal point of the march to freedom, I would love to see you do an account of the battle for Nancy, France. There were more than 2000 men killed or wounded, and my uncle was one of them. The oldest boy of 14 and my father is the youngest. Neither of us met the man and we've never seen an account as concise as those you do. Keep up the good work, friend.
This article is as good as always. Another wonderful look at our past and the happening and people that shaped our world. These episodes from the WW2 era just further entrenches in my mind that those people were indeed the "great generation"!
My uncle John Zelvis US Army Engineer died there.
This day.
Sorry to hear about your your loss.
My grandmothers brother (great uncle?) was wounded in Italy 2 days before d-day when his Sherman was hit.
My condolences to you and your family
R.I.P.
Rest in power
What ethnicity is that name from? Was he of polish descent?
Thanks for this, @thehistoryguy I needed this to remind me how small my current problems are. Rangers, lead the way!
My uncle was in the first waves to hit Utah Beach June 6th. He fought all the way until VE Day.
You and your family are patriots Mr.Epstein.🇺🇸 Whoever you are.
I bet that if he were alive today he would have regretted not switching sides.
His nephew deserves a better alias. It gives me the creeps that Epstein liked to parade around in a dress navy seal uniform.
Hey it's that guy who didn't kill himself!
Cowboy Dan
He did say the German soldiers were professional. They fought hard and when defeated they accepted it like men. He did say that after VE Day he trusted the German soldiers more than the Russians.
Remarkable story and wonderful story telling. I've had the pleasure of getting to know a couple of men of D-day. These stories must be passed along for all generations to come.
I had the privilege of visiting Utah and Omaha beaches, as well as Point du Houc, last year. Very moving!
I grew up and lived in Charlottesville for much of my life. I can't tell you how many times I've driven by the street sign that marks "Peregory Ln" right off of Avon Street Extended (the street alluded to at the end of the video). And yet, I never knew the story behind the man it was named for.
I’m so glad I served , I know I would have spent the rest of my life wishing I had . These are my heroes. I’m Honored to have worn the same uniform.
Thanks on behalf of my great uncle William Moody 1st lieutenant Charley Company second rangers and all the men who gave there all to make it possible to move off the beaches and on to eventual victory. D.S.C KIA 06-06-44
My Grandpa was in HQ Co 1st Rangers. Normandy and the fighting through africa before that and to italy after messed him up terribly. Your uncle is a hero sir.
God bless your Uncle and you. Thank you for his service.
So many moments that deserve honor on a part of American history that for most students merits only a paragraph or two in a textbook. Thank you for bringing depth and life to these moments.
This is an incredibly well done and relevant episode for me. My Dad landed at Utah Beach with the 4th Armored Division, Co A of the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion. He went across France and Germany with Patton's 3rd Army, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, wounded twice, and ended up as a POW after a failed mission to break out Patton's son-in-law from the Hammelburg Germany POW camp. My Mom was in the Women's Army Air Corps as a tower operator training new pilots during WW2, so they were both "All In". Dad and Mom were both very proud of me when I joined the Navy to become a pilot during Vietnam, and sad at the same time since they knew what I might experience. They were not looking for me to follow in their footsteps, as they wanted peace and prosperity for their children, and everyone else's children, after WW2. Fortunately for me the Vietnam war ended one month before I was to be deployed to face hostile forces. I totally agree with a previous comment that "The romance of a young man's dreams of glory soon disappear in the harsh reality of war." Dad's experience in Europe during WW2 followed him every day of his life until he passed way in 1993. Mom said that the sight of new Army pilots in training crashing in flames in front of her during landing approaches never left her. RIP two incredible members of The Greatest Generation, and all the others who fought with them.
Well done, you're one heck of a story teller. Clearly you have redouble the honor in honoring those whom have passed keeping us safe. I thank you for that.
I’ve been to Pointe Du Hoc 2x and toured and studied this battle and area for years and didn’t know many aspects of this invasion. Thank you for sharing this fantastic vid........lest we forget.
I have been blessed with many good history teachers none better then you except my grandpa who would spin a tale so well you could.imahine yourself right there while it happened, lost him in 2015 but listening to you brings me back in many ways the same
The father of two of my college roommates was a Ranger at Normandy, landing on Omaha beach.
He drove his two sons hard. This episode helps to explain the man.
Thank you History Guy.
What an amazing story. I'm in awe of such people and so thankful for their sacrifices. Thanks for another great telling of important history
I don't know who said this but it was true of the guys who fought in WWII, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue."
Admiral Chester Nimitz concerning the battle of Iwo Jima.
Thank you for bringing forth these stories. The overall strategy and history of what happened is always interesting. But, the personal stories bring what happened back to life. These personal stories need to be remembered, always. We cannot forget what they did.
The man who actually blew the sea wall on Omaha, Noel Dube, late of Pepperell, MA has been forgotten. Dube was one of only a few in his engineering unit to reach the shire with just a bit of their equipment. As a youngster he organized the small band, collected supplies and aided up the situation. The natural beach access was blocked by a concrete wall. So he blew up the wall. In The Longest Day the character portraying his daring deed under intense fire was killed off. In fact Dube was unharmed in combat until Hurtgen Forest.
He often told his story to his fellow Knights of Columbus that heading into the beach he prayed the Rosary as officers, friends and unit mates were cut down or blown up all around him. In this terror he promised to create a shire to Mary Mother if God if he survived. He survived, built a shire in his home town, amidst some anger about the visitors and small crowds in his neighborhood. Nevertheless Noel kept his promise. His courage and dedication to duty on D-Day and beyond cleared the way for the breakout and the eventual winning of the Normandy Campaign. RIP soldier, it was my honor to know you briefly.
Thanks for the great info. I remember like it was yesterday watching The Longest Day almost 50 years ago and Jeffrey Hunter as the engineer doing what he could to blow that wall. Shocked the hell out of me when he was killed. Great to find out the actual engineer survived the war.
Thank for reminding us of what we can do together.
Units that trace their lineage to 29th Infantry Division form the training cadre at the US Army Infantry School. Ft Benning GA.
Battleship Texas supported both the rangers at pointe du hoc and the infantry trying to break through the D1 exit. In fact when word reached the battleship Texas that the rangers were having troubles at the pointe, they loaded LCVPs with food ammo and medical supplies to be sent to the rangers. Then when the LCVPs returned to Texas they brought on wounded rangers which then received critical medical attention. Because of the ship, only one ranger which was brought on board passed away. The marines stationed on Texas volunteered to go help the rangers, which was approved of by the navy, but were barred from going by the army at the last minute.
Thank you for your graphic description of the bravery, fortitude and tragedy on the days that so deservedly needs to be never forgotten.
Great, GREAT job, History Guy! May we always remember. May we never forget.
I don't usually watch war videos but as it was your channel I decided to watch it. Very interesting and enlightening.
My one great uncle was killed in France during world war two I really do not know where. I have friends in France I said as children, their parents breathe a sigh of relief to hear that the allies what I sent to invade Sherman held parts of France and rescue the country. These stories from all times of history are awesome, and never fail to interest me. Thank you for sharing.
I'm so grateful to have grown up with the "Greatest Generation" as my mentors. My Grandparents-of-Choice were some amazing men and women.
I want to sincerely thank you for what you do. It is stunning how little people know about history. You make it easy. As a student of history myself I try to spread your channel far and wide.
Jeremy Fultz Atlanta
Great material, extremely well presented. Thank you sir.
What a great job you did with this history lesson ! It's a shame schools don't teach history any more. If I had a teacher like you when I was in school, you would be a reason to want to be there.
Deeply moved, greatness of large and small acts of valor. To the North on D2, the British Army and their support the 101st Air Ambulance medical corps were landed on a beach made of shale. Their commanding officers had directed them to a small cove and gave a command to dig in. The ground was made of hard Cretaceous shale, impervious to their efforts and prone to violence from ricocheted ordinance. Fortunately he, my dad, survived. Your presentation was sensitive and well presented. Thank you.
Eisenhower said twenty years later: "It shows you what free men will do rather than be slaves."
Ahhh... so he hung a portrait of Robert E. Lee in the Oval Office when he was Prez, and asked why, he said, "He was a great man and that's all I'm going to say about it"
*The Myth of the Kindly General Lee * - The Atlantic | June 2017
www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-myth-of-the-kindly-general-lee/529038/
-The legend of the Confederate leader’s heroism and decency is based in the fiction of a person who never existed.
[... Lee was a slave owner-his own views on slavery were explicated in an 1856 letter that is often misquoted to give the impression that Lee was some kind of abolitionist. In the letter, he describes slavery as “a moral & political evil,” but goes on to explain that:
{ I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strongly enlisted in behalf of the latter, my sympathies are more strong for the former. The blacks are immeasurably better off here than in Africa, morally socially & physically.
The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence.
Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy. }
The argument here is that slavery is bad for white people, good for black people, and most important, better than abolitionism; emancipation must wait for divine intervention. That black people might not want to be slaves does not enter into the equation; their opinion on the subject of their own bondage is not even an afterthought to Lee.
Lee’s cruelty as a slave master was not confined to physical punishment. In Reading the Man, the historian Elizabeth Brown Pryor’s portrait of Lee through his writings, Pryor writes that “Lee ruptured the Washington and Custis tradition of respecting slave families” by hiring them off to other plantations, and that “by 1860 he had broken up every family but one on the estate, some of whom had been together since Mount Vernon days.” The separation of slave families was one of the most unfathomably devastating aspects of slavery, and Pryor.
Lee’s heavy hand on the Arlington, Virginia, plantation, Pryor writes, nearly led to a slave revolt, in part because the enslaved had been expected to be freed upon their previous master’s death, and Lee had engaged in a dubious legal interpretation of his will in order to keep them as his property, one that lasted until a Virginia court forced him to free them. ...]
So what was that he was saying about men not wanting to be slaves... him the Supreme Commander of a segregated military?
Disappointed? I was, when this I first learned of Eisenhower
........My Dad...United States Navy.......Cherbourg Peninsula , France.....1944.......
@@tommypetraglia4688 So it's safe to say that you're also "disappointed" in obama for his relationships with Marxist radical Ayers and America hating antisemites Farrakhan and Wright. If not, you're nothing but a SWJ hypocrite.
Though I did already know this story, I was on the edge of my seat as the tale was given. The heroics of D-Day +2 are the hallmarks of the Greatest Generation.
How can people down-vote such great videos of "history that deserves to be remembered"?
I was in Bushmaster Company 1-16 Iron Rangers. 2-16 Rangers got disbanded when I got to the unit in 2015. The 16th Infantry Regiment lost 914 men on D-Day.
I've been lucky enough to visit the Point Du Hoc battlefield site, as part of a school tour of Normandy historical sites over 20 years ago, and it was one of the places (alongside the military cemeteries) where the harsh reality of the conflict seemed most inescapable. The ruins of the Fortifications are still there, riddled with shell and bomb craters. Together with the sheer cliffs, they are a very intimidating sight, even without being full of Nazis shooting and throwing grenades at you. The Rangers took about 60% casualties during the assault and its aftermath. Its a testament to their courage and training that the figure wasn't higher. Visiting was a very moving experience, and can be highly recommended to anyone who gets the opportunity.
Hearing stories like this makes me wonder how many other heroic stories there are that have been lost to time.
As a a History minor emphasis on WWII and a ten year veteran of the US NAVY , THANK YOU
I served in the 29th infantry HHC first brigade I’ve carried the 29th infantry colors and they are extremely heavy due to all the awards and service ribbons the 29th is one of the most decorated army units ever
History Guy has the same cadence and delivery as Paul Harvey. Not only informative but relaxing, too.
Congratulations on a wonderful account of D-Day at its most complicated sites, Omaha and Utah beaches. My great uncle was there with the 1st Infantry Division that you took good care to mention. He would’ve loved to watch your accounts. Thank you.
Thank you for providing your channel! I love history and I always enjoy listening to your narration of events that happen many years ago! Keep up the great work!!!
I’m a year late in seeing this however, yesterday • Memorial Day, 2021 • this story has special meaning to me. Many thanks for the incredible you do in keeping History both alive and remembered. 🙏🏽
Great episode! My great uncle hit Omaha. He always said his two buddies got cut down by a MG42 and the burst pause saved him.
I had the very distinct privilege of meeting Leonard "Bud" Lomell. He was one of the Rangers that assaulted Point du Hoc & was later awarded the DSC for his actions. You can read about him in Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation." My wife & I traveled through Normandy on our honeymoon. I am still in awe of the history of what went on there. I took some photos of the Point & sent them to Mr Lomell. He was kind enough to autograph them along with side notes about his reminisces. I had them framed & are on proud display in my den. What was asked of these young men & what they did could not be replicated today. We, today, stand on the shoulders of giants.
Great story, very well told, Too bad about the sad ending. Thank you for the great things you bring us. Keep up the good work.
One of my friends was a young Lt. and landed on D +6 and went up to fight in the hedgerows and was promptly shot in the calf by a low lying sniper. He showed me the wound. God Bless all of these heroes.
Its pretty difficult to carve out a new and dramatic narrative about the landings. You did it...you did it well. Touching.
Company A of the 116th was particularly hard hit. These were the Bedford Boys. The National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford, VA for a reason. (www.dday.org)
Thank you for all your excellent presentations, but especially this one.
Thank you so much. Dad, RIP, you earned it. D+2 Utah Free French assigned to the 90th Infantry Tough 'Ombres
TG, you are the best! You professionalism and narration is second to none. Thank you!
Great info most interesting to me as this is my 76th birthday.
HBD.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! I'm 18 months behind you!
In 1970 I was an 18 year old working in a paper mill in Oregon.
I worked beside former Vietnam, Korean, and WWII veterans.
I remember a guy who had been a Ranger.
The Army chose physically and mentally tough men exclusively for the Rangers.
This fellow had been a logger in the Oregon forests before the war.
Only combat was more dangerous than logging.
Loggers, high steel workers, oil riggers, miners and other work toughened men were taken into the Rangers according the gentleman I used to work with.
They used to get in bar fights with the Scots.
He said the Scots Highlanders were very tough customers.lol.
One of your best episodes.
Excellent episode. Re: the misspelled name on the highway, my father-in-law lied about his birthday in order to enlist in the Army 1944. He served near the end of the war and when he passed several years ago the VA foot placque at his grave lists the earlier birthdate, contrary to the headstone. The incongruity still exists.
Dear Sir, thank you for the thoroughness of your research and captivating retelling of these important events in history. Now retired, my background was originally a scientific one. However, both my adult son (he's a scientist engineer) and myself agree that the most important subject is history. We love discussing and sharing stories about historical events. To me history is the common thread which links together all events, developments and disciplines. I enjoyed your review of your Top 5 Tanks for Bovington Camp Tank Museum. I was particularly interested in your choice of the Matilda hull which now acts as a garden feature / gate guardian. I learned of the Matilda's long service in WW2, including on the Russian Front and in the jungles of the Far East. I had to smile about your comment of what your good lady wife might have said had you been overcome with emotion and attempted to take the Matilda hull home with you ! Very Best Regards, Graham Walker, Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK
Once again a fabulous presentation to a touching story. Thank you.
I very much enjoy your history stories on WW2. My father and uncle were with the109th. Inf. Regt., 28th Inf. Div. Which landed in Normandy mid June 1944. I wish these stories could be taught in schools for those absent-minded teachers and students. Hope one day you'll be doing stories for those brave veterans of the Gulf War and Afghanistan. Many high school students are unable to even point out where Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan are located on a map.
My Dad was a tech sergeant and arrived at Normandy on D day plus 2, he couldn't talk about it but I know that his unit lost 12 tanks in the first hour but he somehow survived the terrible ordeal. This vid by the History Guy accurately describes the "Fog of War" and how things that can go wrong WILL go wrong. It is a testament to the men who fought and died there - a demonstration of the resolve of Great and Brave men. God Bless them and All of Americas Service personnel.
Thank you! I certainly will never forget them.
Another excellent piece. The image of the shattered rifle with the helmet atop is most touching, at least for anyone who has been a soldier and understands what it signifies. I did notice one minor technical detail in the narration that deserves to be corrected. The Sherman DD tanks were not meant simply to "wade" in shallow water. They were designed to be truly amphibious. Intended to be launched up to 5,000 yards from shore, they were meant to "swim" in to the beach using a flimsy canvas skirt to displace enough water to make them buoyant. The vehicles actually floated with the top of the hull below the water level outside the skirt. This worked fine in calm water, but the waters of the invasion beaches were anything but calm on June 6, 1944. Most of the DD tanks destined for the Omaha beach sank in deep water, along with most of their crewmen. Some remain there even today. The British and the Americans heading for Utah beach, showing much better judgement, opted to carry most of their DD's in to the shore on landing craft, and so preserved them from a watery grave. There were other M-4 tanks that were waterproofed and fitted with special equipment to allow them to "wade" in water over the top of the turret, for short periods, used on D-Day. These were not designated as "DD" tanks, as they did not possess the separate propeller drive system that constituted the second half of the duplex drive.
Thank you History Guy. I knew about Pointe du Hoc, but not even close to this detail. Great dialog and diction! Thank you and best regards...
These video are amazing and some of the BEST History lessons you can find anywhere!
Great video. And thanks to all of the men that keep so free back at home.
Thank you History Guy. May we never forget.
A brilliant depiction of D Day. The Rangers saved the day.
my father was a private in the 1st infantry div, they were first on the beach, and he could hear the bullets pass by his ears sadly hitting his buddys behind him, he made it through thaat hell came home to live a great 97 years, like he said thank GOD.
my dad, jay ferd, had hands near blown off on same day. his b day 14th is flag day. said shot a sniper in parachute, guarded pows. preped vehicles for water landing. got bucked off the new bigger harley, but as had had sum schoolin, drivers licence, he was old man at 21. intertained band mates on board with mandolin on landing. later with hill music an event for soldiers with president, at dc. his idol ,burl ives played, but i think the jubilee singers took top billing. dad earn lays in washington site in germantown pa. near Norristown. best article in Canaan news near Lebonon NH.
I had to attend the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire to take my A1 trade test. I was an Artillery Surveyor. The main instructor was an exchange Captain from USA, a Vietnam veteran. He had a Rangers patch on his uniform. He taught us a lot about gunnery warfare as he had practical experience. Our combat experience was infantry work in Northern Ireland and UN work in Cyprus.
My father was in the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Infantry Battalion from Omaha Beach until he was taken prisoner near Le Harve. I've been to Normandie several times over the years. Thanks for remembering one of the many unsung heroes of that battle. How about doing a show on Major Howie? Or the men who inspired Chemin Taylor and/or Chemin Blair near Utah Beach? And, fon't forget the Battle of St. Lo and the massacre of thew postal workers who formed the core of the French Underground in the area? Or, the hospital in St. Lo that stands today on land once occupied by a field hospital? Another really good show...
God bless your Dad and you. Thank you for his service.
Love the stories on WWII. The bravery of all those young men was incredible.