‘It was tough’: World War II veterans
return to Utah Beach to mark D-Day’s
79th anniversary
Associated Press,
by
Sylvie Corbet
&
Jeffrey Schaeffer
Original Article
Posted By: Imright,
6/5/2023 3:54:40 PM
On Utah Beach, France— World War II veterans shared vivid memories of D-Day and the fighting as dozens returned to Normandy beaches and key battle sites to mark the 79th anniversary of the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.
Looking at the vastness of Utah Beach, its sand blowing in strong wind and bright sunshine, 99-year-old Robert Gibson remembered: “it was tough.”
Gibson landed there on June 6, 1944 alongside more than 150,000 other Allied troops.
He said there were “lots of casualties. We had almost run over bodies to get in the beach. Never forget we were only 18, 19 years old. ...
Reply 1 - Posted by:
DVC 6/5/2023 4:03:08 PM (No. 1485225)
I've been to the beach, and to Point du Hoc, and to a number of the places where Easy Company fought.
And to the American cemetary nearby.
They were amazingly brave, and so many gave everything they had.
May God continue bless all of them.
21 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
pearlyjo 6/5/2023 4:16:03 PM (No. 1485242)
I had a great uncle who was there. He was wounded and never returned home; he died in a hospital in England. He was drafted at thirty and was a tough Irishman who had grown up on Oklahoma farms. He married his sweetheart before boot camp and got to see his only child once before D-Day. He was my father's favorite uncle. Dad didn't even know about Joe's death because Dad was in a submarine in the South Pacific at the time. They were brave and a lot was asked of them, and they gave it. Thank you to all veterans, especially those who were so brave.
26 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
marbles 6/5/2023 4:16:38 PM (No. 1485244)
Two of my uncles were there. One landed on the beach, was shot, wore a leg brace the rest of his life. The other not so lucky, parachuted into Normandy with the 101, KIA five days later. I too went to the American cemetary, into the small towns, saw the hedgerows, the beaches. Truly, the Greatest Generation.
24 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
bamapreacher 6/5/2023 4:55:03 PM (No. 1485266)
"...Gen. Mark Milley, stressed that the significance of the commemorations 'for memorializing the efforts that they did and what they did.' “They were fighting to make sure that fascism and Nazism didn’t stay in control of Europe. Ultimately, we all know that they were successful," Milley said." Milley is right in that fascism and Nazism didn't stay in control in Europe thanks to these blessed, wonderful veterans. Unfortunately because of incompetent anti-Americans like Milley they have now moved into the U.S.
19 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
FunOne 6/5/2023 5:43:28 PM (No. 1485289)
"Greatest Geneation" is truly an understatement.
The Americans who charged the Normandy beach facing vicious mines and machine guns are exhibit #1 to support that statement.
16 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
FJB 6/5/2023 6:02:31 PM (No. 1485297)
Similarly, #2. Over family dinner in an episode of Blue Bloods, the kids were bemoaning going out on their own when Granddad recalls being their age during War Two and serving on a destroyer in the Pacific.
12 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
udanja99 6/5/2023 6:18:32 PM (No. 1485314)
God bless these veterans! It is amazing that they were able to get there.
10 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
JHHolliday 6/5/2023 8:10:47 PM (No. 1485387)
As others have posted, I have been to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Almost 10,000 graves there. I don’t cry easily but I was glad my wife had tissues in her purse. Maybe the most definitive moment in my life. I think about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who died in the service of our country. They get one day, Memorial Day but the LBGT bunch get the whole month of June.
9 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
mifla 6/6/2023 3:42:54 AM (No. 1485570)
It is important to remember this day, but I can't help thinking about how Korea and Vietnam vets feel when the focus is always WWII. Their wars were more confusing and supported far less than WWII. God bless all who died in service of their country.
4 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
MickTurn 6/6/2023 11:37:09 AM (No. 1485922)
It took TONS of Courage to charge those beaches and watch most of your comrades DIE!
The Greatest Generation is crying...not that so many died but that their effort was in vain due to current Commies taking over everything! I'm a Vet of Viet Nam, we had it bad but no where near what the WW II soldiers went through! I can't even imagine the horror, God Bless ALL OF THEM!
1 person likes this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
paral04 6/6/2023 12:33:27 PM (No. 1485978)
Looking back 79 years, I think those who lost and risked their lives would wonder why they bothered when they see what is going on in our country today. Stolen elections, crooked FBI, traitorous newspapers and representatives in Congress. Germany couldn't have been any worse that this today.
0 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Faithfully 6/8/2023 8:51:40 PM (No. 1487969)
My Father and F.i.L were there. What would they think of today?
0 people like this.
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