A D-Day Salute

Most of them were just kids. . .

...but they were a different breed.  They were children of the "Greatest Generation", hardened by the crucible of the Great Depression, yet grateful for the opportunities afforded by the liberty of this nation, and still these "children" were men of great hearts with a die-hard commitment to their sense of duty.

Maybe that's why they could leave those landing crafts and Higgins boats and plunge into the cold surf and the hot steely death that was the beach at Normandy.

Maybe that's why others could leap from a shrapnel infested transport plane into a French sky that was a fireworks display of tracers and anti-aircraft fire.  They leaped - many of them - way too early and way too low and most of them - if they survived the jump - landed into a state of mass confusion having missed their drop zones.

It was the beginning of the end for that great conflict but for those amazing troops on that first D-Day the war seemed to just be heating up!

We enjoy freedom today because of those brave men.

 "The eyes of the world are upon you.  The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you"

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

Normandy Invasion Message to the Troops