Omaha Beach, Normandy, France

mb58 · Jul 30, 2014

These are two pics I took a few weeks ago on Omaha Beach. One is the American soldier's view and the other is the German defender's view. A very moving experience when thinking about what happened here on June 6, 1944.

Will Herring · Jul 30, 2014

All I have to say is, it looks like a long walk up that beach head... Nevermind trying to run through it while being shot at. :shock:

Billy NY · Jul 30, 2014

There is a lot to learn about what happened there, as well as to never forget given what they had to deal with, go through and how many just sacrificed themselves in masses to get to the objective with horrible sights and things happening all around them. With an understanding that the people on the planning side had to make tough decisions, given some of the plans that did not go well, the unforeseen and all other things similar where they had to adapt and overcome, its incredible this enemy was driven back, just to have to fight them from hedgerow to hedgerow. Its hard to comprehend, better to memorialize, show respect and gratitude for all those who were involved to commence the process of defeating such an enemy.

Billy Shafer · Jul 30, 2014

Worked for a man in high school who was in the first wave to land. Out of his squad of 13 only five made it off the beach. Left him in charge with no idea what to do. But survive.

the flying belgian · Jul 30, 2014

My uncle landed there. He made it sound like the worst was yet to come for those that survived the landing.

JD Seller · Jul 30, 2014

mb58: I Was there once. It really created an deep emotional impact on me. I could almost "feel" the men that gave their "all" there.

Every man there deserved a metal just for having the guts to run up that beach head!!!!! They knew that many of them would not make it and they still did it. Not too many would do that today.

There are some but not the percentages that would have in the past.

Also the local people really had a much different view of America than what the Paris politicians often do. The older ones still showed great respect for America.

donjr · Jul 30, 2014

An uncle I never knew landed there with the 29th. KIA a month later at St.Lo. Neighbor's brother never made it off the beach. Dad landed D+4- there were still bodies coming up. He never talked a whole lot about it, but did say that all the way across France and into Germany the scenery didn't change much, and the stench just got worse.....

Chuck (CA) · Jul 30, 2014

A very good friend's FIL was there, but never talked about it. When he was in his late 80's he wanted to go re-visit it before he died. My buddy and his family flew him there and when the locals found out who he was, the whole town threw a huge day long party and dinner for him. Like was said, the old timers remember the sacrifice our boys did for them.

ShadetreeRet · Jul 30, 2014

I only recently found, while going through some of his personal papers, that my FIL was there. He never spoke of it and I didn't know until now.

NewEnglandFarmer · Jul 31, 2014

Thank you for sharing.

My Grandfather was there, God rest his soul passed in 2008. I remember he referred to it as "The invasion". He"d say "when we made the invasion ... ". The procedure was to spend 3 months on a little landing craft out at sea before landing. I couldn"t imagine.

That generation not only delayed America"s collapse by 50+ years, but planted seeds and laid the foundation for freedoms, liberty, and social morality for young ones such as my Sister and me (born early 1980"s).

There will never be another generation so wonderful. Thank you

jennifer408 · Jul 31, 2014

what a waste, if we could learn from it, it sure would help. if you think we could do that today, i think you would be sadly mistaken.
i lost family members there that i never met cause i wasn't born yet, but i walked by their picture all the time, hanging on the wall.

Omaha Beach, Normandy, France

mb58

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Will Herring

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Billy NY

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Billy Shafer

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the flying belgian

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JD Seller

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donjr

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Chuck (CA)

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ShadetreeRet

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NewEnglandFarmer

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jennifer408

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