Thoughts For Thursday - D-Day Edition...
It doesn't appear that we'll need the umbrellas today, even though it's cloudy outside.
I didn't hear about any rain coming along, and that's good to hear. Also, the humidity will be less noticeable.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching into the upper 70s and (again)...no rain in the immediate forecast.
Sounds like a keeper, right?
Now, let's all get a refreshing drink to start the day, as we see what else has been going on...
*** First into the drop zone is the answer to the WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure"
He's been featured here before, but feel free to refresh your memories of this man. You won't come away with any less knowledge.
(more on that at the close)
(girls with glasses do get passes)
(self-education always takes you higher)
(been there, done that)
(got nothing to do with a certain cellist)
(yes, they STILL have a very few left)
(It's CAKE...I'm there.)
I didn't hear about any rain coming along, and that's good to hear. Also, the humidity will be less noticeable.
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us partly to mostly cloudy skies, temps reaching into the upper 70s and (again)...no rain in the immediate forecast.
Sounds like a keeper, right?
*** First into the drop zone is the answer to the WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure"
This was spoken by Dwight D. Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American army general and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. And here is his WIKI:
*** Next up, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
JUNE 6 -
D-Day
National Eyewear Day
National Higher Education Day
National Gardening Exercise Day
National Yo-Yo Day
National Drive In Movie Day
National Applesauce Cake Day
*** Next, it's time stop by "Kitten Corner"...
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| Daddy's staying with us, right? |
I think the cats know that Wifey is taking a few days for another drive down to Vincennes (visiting her dad), because they've been less active than usual.
 |
| He'll take good care of all of us. |
They still have me around, and I feed them, so that should account for something.
We've done fine in the past, so I'm trusting they'll okay.
*** Next up, let's check back in with "Midnight and Whiskers"...
Our furry twosome spent the day close by again, and although they were here for all three meals, they ignored most of their lunch (it was kinda warm outside).
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| Taking it as easy as he can |
Midnight still has a limp, and it looks like his foot pad might have a small injury. I'm watching to see if it gets worse. My concern is an abscess. Other than that, he acts fine.
 |
| Trying to take it easier than most. |
Whiskers is her typical self - always there for treats and to greet Wifey or myself when w go outside.
I think all of us can muddle through for the next several days.
*** Last back to the beachhead...Yes, today is D-Day...
I chose to lift from previous posts on this day from years past to express the importance of this, the 75th anniversary of "The Longest Day"...
(be careful - you might learn something from the history here)
---The LONGEST DAY (as was told in a marvelous, albeit dramatized movie from the 1960s) was the culmination of an allied plan code named Operation Overlord.
But long before the actual OP took place, there had to be disinformation given to the axis powers, so to confound them as to WHERE (exactly) the landing would take place.
With THREE choices to select, it was determined by the allies that it would be "leaked" that the P'as D' Calais would be THE landing area (as it was the CLOSEST point between England and the French coast), to which the Germans would devote the majority of their military resources...which they DID.
The WIKI for the operation can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord
THIS site provides much of the buildup to the execution of the operation and is a really interesting read.
And here is the WIKI for the 6 June 1944 D-Day:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings
I specify the 6 June, because the TERM "D-Day" was typically used for the first day (implementation) of ANY major operation by the military back in those days.
Personally, I can't imagine what it was like on that cold, rainy morning, being seasick, and tossing whatever I tried to eat before I left at my feet, only to have the ramps on the Higgins boats that brings the men to shore riddled with enemy machine gun fire, killing fellow soldiers as they tried to disembark.
And then having to wade through the bodies and the bullets to find SOME cover and be able to regroup and attempt to storm the emplacements.
In that ONE day alone, the U.S. lost 2500+ KIA with over 7500+ wounded or missing...!
That's one sobering statistic.
It was the LARGEST casualty rate of ANY one day military action in U.S. history.
And, had it NOT been for the U.S. airborne troops (82nd and 101st divisions) that were dropped BEHIND enemy lines hours preceding the invasion, the numbers would have been higher still.
The disruption and chaos caused by the airborne units had the enemy guessing and resulted in DELAYS which allowed our beach heads to be established.
When the Germans realized that NORMANDY was the crux of the invasion,General Von Rundstedt tried to call Hitler so he could release the panzer reserves from up north to counter the attacks by the allies...but Hitler was fast asleep, and was not to be disturbed.
It took until the late afternoon when Hitler allowed the tank divisions to move south, permitting the allies valuable time to mass their forces and strike farther inland.
By then, for the Germans, it was too little, too late...
When you think of the MASSIVE logistical problems faced by the allies, coupled with an attack that simply put, HAD to succeed, in lousy weather as well, the odds seemed stacked against us from the start
But it was the bravery, the dogged determination, and the desire to NOT allow the axis powers to grow any further in strength which brought about the victory we achieved on those battlefields, fed by the blood of so many brave soldiers.
This was basically an "all-in" operation...and with a spirit of steadfastness and valor...our forces prevailed.
Gen. Eisenhower had even prepared a letter accepting complete blame for the defeat of our forces at Normandy...it was THAT much of a crapshoot.
To those that died...it was NOT in vain.
To those that survived...it was for those that did not, so that we may ALL remember...
Victory ALWAYS comes with a price.
And there may still come times when sacrifices will be asked by some for the many.
May we still be up to the task...just as we were back in 1944.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.
I chose to lift from previous posts on this day from years past to express the importance of this, the 75th anniversary of "The Longest Day"...
(be careful - you might learn something from the history here)
With THREE choices to select, it was determined by the allies that it would be "leaked" that the P'as D' Calais would be THE landing area (as it was the CLOSEST point between England and the French coast), to which the Germans would devote the majority of their military resources...which they DID.
The WIKI for the operation can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord
THIS site provides much of the buildup to the execution of the operation and is a really interesting read.
And here is the WIKI for the 6 June 1944 D-Day:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings
I specify the 6 June, because the TERM "D-Day" was typically used for the first day (implementation) of ANY major operation by the military back in those days.
And then having to wade through the bodies and the bullets to find SOME cover and be able to regroup and attempt to storm the emplacements.
In that ONE day alone, the U.S. lost 2500+ KIA with over 7500+ wounded or missing...!
That's one sobering statistic.
It was the LARGEST casualty rate of ANY one day military action in U.S. history.
When the Germans realized that NORMANDY was the crux of the invasion,General Von Rundstedt tried to call Hitler so he could release the panzer reserves from up north to counter the attacks by the allies...but Hitler was fast asleep, and was not to be disturbed.
It took until the late afternoon when Hitler allowed the tank divisions to move south, permitting the allies valuable time to mass their forces and strike farther inland.
By then, for the Germans, it was too little, too late...
This was basically an "all-in" operation...and with a spirit of steadfastness and valor...our forces prevailed.
Gen. Eisenhower had even prepared a letter accepting complete blame for the defeat of our forces at Normandy...it was THAT much of a crapshoot.To those that died...it was NOT in vain.
To those that survived...it was for those that did not, so that we may ALL remember...
Victory ALWAYS comes with a price.
And there may still come times when sacrifices will be asked by some for the many.
May we still be up to the task...just as we were back in 1944.
Stay SAFE out there, America.
2 comments:
Ike was top notch for me. More on his shoulders than we ever knew.
Wow, you skipped through the usuals so fast, by the time I thought, "Gee I shoulda had some comment on the national days, it was too late! Anyway, on to the close...
D-Day: the important things are: Our courage trumped THEIR courage, and their screw-ups trumped ours...
Chris:
Agreed. Wish there were more men like him around today.
(he was from a different era...actually a better one, imho)
---Yeah. the national days were kinda lackluster for me (not a lotta food...lol)
---That's a pretty good way of looking at it.
I will say the Axis BEGAN the war with a mess of problems, none of which they could cure.
That's why they lost.
Our courage was based in freedom - theirs was based in fear.
BIG difference.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting today.
Stay safe up there, brother.
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