Not many left most are close to 100 years old to all who survived and those who gave their lives I proudly stand and salute you. Thanks for a job well done
If you've ever sat thru the first 15 minutes of the movie, "Saving Private Ryan", you'll get a glimpse of what the landings on Normandy were like. I've heard it's still not as bad as the reality, but probably as bad as they could get away with, and keep their movie rating! I literally watched at least a dozen people walk out of the theater during those scenes, because they couldn't handle it.....and we're not even talking the "snowflakes" of today!
Today is also the 82nd Anniversary of the Battle of Midway, only 6 months after Pearl Habor! With a rag-tag fleet, that was badly outnumbered, we smoked their asses and turned the tide in the Pacific!
thing is many of the snowflakes have no clue just how nasty people can be... too sheltered I guess? and many vets of such things try not to share... IMHO that is a mistake!!! but thing is if you tell the truth about things you saw or went through they simply can NOT believe it... so???
I remember sitting in Germany at a movie theater when this came out and listening to screams and crying of everyone watching the film... Shocked everyone. I've been to Omaha beach and I honestly do not know how in the hell those guys did it. Better men than me...
Maybe just a different perspective in Germany, remember the movie showed German soldiers being shot and burned alive. When I go to Gettysburg, I look across the field at the stonewall and clump of trees...one mile away, and then walk toward it...following the steps of the brave men of Pickett's Division. A Yankee just drives to 'The Angle' and saves himself a long walk.
Also, as realistic as it apparently was, according to a lot of veterans who saw it, one thing they couldn't include was the smells. Also, the physical sensations; wind, shock waves from explosions, etc.
King Charles III D Day speech... Although most Australians were busy fighting the Japanese in the Pacific in June 1944, A number of Australian Service personnel (mainly airforce and navy) did participate in Operation Overlord. Including an Australian Infantry Major on secondment to the British Army: Henry 'Jo' Gullett. MC, AM. Fifty Australians - Jo Gullett | Australian War Memorial 'Jo' Gullett's autobiagraphical memoir 'Not as a Duty Only' is a classic of the era.
While the beginning of Saving Private Ryan was intense and the whole movie was extremely well done, it was the ending that did and still does affect me the most. Better men than I indeed - God rest their souls.
Tom Hanks gives his take on the significance of the D Day landings in 1944 to America, France, Europe, and the world.
