D-Day Remembered

70 years ago the boats were crossing the channel right now. About 2 hours from the beaches.

Bodies carved into the sands of Normandy in remembrance.


22,000 flags on Gold Beach

Talk about the size of your balls all day long, but this took Balls of Steel.

Greatest generation ever. God bless those men. We're all lucky because of them.

Seventy years later, 93 year-old Jim "Pee Wee" Martin still has giant balls.

D-Day vet jumps again

Jim "Pee Wee" Martin acted like he'd been here before, like jumping from a plane is as easy as falling off a log.

Maybe that's because he had -- 70 years ago.

DWags wrote:Greatest generation ever.  God bless those men. We're all lucky because of them.

I'm guessing 90% of the current rcmb would turn and run. Most would hand out participation trophies and scream for their moms. Meanwhile the swiller would storm the beach and accomplish the mission.    

Tanfan! wrote: Meanwhile the swiller would storm the beach and accomplish the mission.    

And screw the french women that night.

My grandpa parachuted in and landed on some shrapnel severely lacerating his leg. He was able to make it to the field doc where they wanted to take his leg off. He stood up, grabbed some crutches, and walked out. He eventually arrived home healed up with both his legs.

What were are the zepplins supposed to do?

Tanfan! wrote:What were are the zepplins supposed to do?

Prevent air attack. They're not really zeppelins, except in the shape ("barrage balloons" is one term I've seen for them). They're teathered to the ships with cables, which is intended to make it more difficult for attack aircraft to make low level runs at the ships. Or land targets, too, as they were probably more common to use on land. You'll see them above London in some pictures from the Blitz, as well.

History Channel is having a new show on tonight and tomorrow night called "D:Day in HD". Supposedly there is new footage. I'm not sure how much new footage there can really be, but a couple of the commercials that I saw look like there is some color footage, which isn't real common. Not sure if it's colorized or not.

Speaking of colorization of film, I actually fully support colorization of any black and white historical film. Not fictional movies, though, I refuse to watch Casablanca, The Longest Day, etc. in color. But for real, actual historical footage, I think it brings it home more. Makes it seem more real. Then again, it may be better for our psyche if we don't see the full picture like that.

If you ever have the chance, visit the American Military Cemetery in Normandy. It is above Omaha Beach.

bullwrinkle wrote:If you ever have the chance, visit the American Military Cemetery in Normandy.  It is above Omaha Beach.

I visited that. Many tears were shed that day.