D-Day + 65 years part two

[f4fwildcat]

Just to quickly recap. The 65th anniversary of The Invasion Of Normandy, D-Day was Saturday. I visited Abilene, KS home of the Eisenhower presidential library. In 1944, it was then General Eisenhower, Commander, Allied Forces Europe. Yesterday was my first installment in this series, today is my second.

Two full divisions of U.S. airborne troops and one British airborne division, were used on D-Day. These troops took off from England shortly before midnight the 5th of June. At around one in the mourning the 6th, the pathfinder airborne troops started dropping into Normandy. These men dropped in small units and set up low light signals for the bulk of their divisions coming in right behind them. Alone and in total darkness, the troops worked as quickly as possible to "Set up the show."
By the time the remainder of the parachute and glider forces began to arrive, the German forces were alert to the sound of aircraft approaching. The German's charged a high toll for violating the airspace. Billing was delivered with 88mm, 57mm and 20mm anti-aircraft fire. The price was high.
Scattered all over Normandy, the airborne troops had to walk miles in some cases just to reach their assigned objectives. Units were mixed up and confused. One trooper said: "We don't know where we are, but we know why we are here. The Germans don't know why we are here, but they know where we are!" The jumbled mix served one important unintended purpose. The area covered, though thin as it was, was so large. It had the effect of freezing the Germans in place. They failed to react to the invasion until it was too late. The airborne troops did accomplish their mission and more. They held until the divisions landing on the beaches arrived.



Elements of the 101st Airborne cross a bridge in Abilene, KS. Sixty-five years ago, they would not have been strolling down the center of the bridge!

Below is the present day Division Band for the First Infantry Division. "The Big Red One." The First Infantry Division's landing beach, was what came to be known as "Bloody Omaha". This beach was below cliffs and fortifications including bunkers armed with machine guns with interlocking fields of fire. The Big Red One and the 29th Infantry Division stormed these beaches and paid a very high price. The beach was in doubt, until Navy destroyers sailed to with in one thousand yards and began reducing the fortifications with their five inch guns.


They were in tune and sounding very good!

The First Infantry Division is located at Fort Riley, KS. There has been a Ft. Riley since horsepower was measured in how many horses you had in the barn! Pictured below is the Fort Riley Mounted Color Guard.



Last, but certainly not least, the bronze of the General himself. General Eisenhower was the perfect choice for the job as Supreme Allied Commander. In a world were ego's run wild, such as in the world of commanding generals. Ike as he became know universally. Had the ego of an "Ah Shucks" country boy from Kansas, because he was such a man. That is not to say he was slow or dim. He was fair, honest, slow to anger and quick to forgive. Show business never had a better producer/organizer than Ike. He formed and held together the largest force of arms the world has ever know. Then they took on the toughest job an army had ever had and pulled it off. I like Ike!



Well that's it for this installment. I hope I didn't bore too much, I do get carried away.
Thanks for visiting.

[Fred flyfisher]

Wonderful set f14f, love how you composed them. A great big thanks to you and all veterans.

[f4fwildcat]

Thanks Fred and thank you Vets!

[beachcomber]

Your pictures catalogue critical events in WW2, where many young men made the ultimate sacrifice. The re enactment is important, I believe the events of the two world wars should be required reading within the education environment, lest we embark on what would probabaly the last world war.

beachcomber

[f4fwildcat]

Originally Posted by beachcomber

Your pictures catalogue critical events in WW2, where many young men made the ultimate sacrifice. The re enactment is important, I believe the events of the two world wars should be required reading within the education environment, lest we embark on what would probabaly the last world war.

beachcomber

Thanks Beach.

[Hayward Taylor]

Tom - a well researched presentation .. God Bless America and thank you

[f4fwildcat]

Originally Posted by Hayward Taylor

Tom - a well researched presentation .. God Bless America and thank you

Thanks Hayward and here, here!

[douglas]

Graet pictures, but for one of my age...what a stupid waste of young life...but then I'm an pld curmudgeon

[f4fwildcat]

Originally Posted by douglas

Graet pictures, but for one of my age...what a stupid waste of young life...but then I'm an pld curmudgeon

Douglas, you are absolutely right. It was a waste and the young men knew it, but were willing to do it anyway. They did it for the Joe next to them, their buddies. They heard the call and knew somebody had to go. God bless'em, one and all!