Wow!! Thank you for sharing this memoir, Tom. I was 11 when D-Day occurred, And some 3000 miles away. Sir Keegan's note bring reminders of the "childish" but unabashed patriotism we felt on that, for us, glorious day. It was years later when as an adult, I learned of the horrors of that day for the young men who endured the anguish. We owe those men a debt of gratitude we can never repay. Thanks to them we have had 80 years of relative tranquility.
Yet, here we are, 80 years away, with some people in our Country ready to trash it all, and embrace the very fascism against which those heroes so bravely fought, died, were wounded, or escaped alive to go on for eleven more months if brutality.
Thanks for this, Tom. It's a vivid account. I've just begun reading Stephen Ambrose's book, D Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, which is a broad look at the entire operation. When I was a kid in the 50's, with the War still a palpable presence in the culture and in our lives, I ruminated often on how frightening it must have been to disembark from the landing craft into a storm of bullets, wondering how they had such courage. I also used to wonder how they planned such an expedition. How did they know how much food to bring? And all the other supplies? It was beyond my comprehension, and well, still is!
There's a new book out that I'm looking forward to reading: ‘When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day,’ by Garrett M. Graff
What a truly astonishing piece of writing! I've been following the events of this 80th commemoration and bow my head in gratitude for what all these men (mostly) gave of themselves for a future they were not sure they would have. Many of them died right there in those first minutes and hours giving their lives for the future we have had. I have heard Mr. Graff in a couple of interviews today and have ordered his book. When a veteran hugged President Zelenskyy today I felt deeply moved. We are in the midst of a new war but at root it is about whether there will be freedom and democracy or enslavement and dictatorship. The challenge now is that the enemies of freedom and democracy have metastasized throughout the human population throughout the world. Everyone is faced with real decisions today ...fight against these forces of tyranny or, like too many gop politicos, knowingly lie and kiss the tyrants fat a**! Since I cannot bow to trump and his criminal enterprise, so it must be to fight for democracy and freedom. There can be no other decision.
I visited Normandie in 2019 the week before the 75th anniversary and I saw much of what this author describes. The individual D-Day museums were so crowded I didn't even attempt them, other than the one in Bayeux (which is very good). It was crawling with re-enactors in period vehicles. When I reached my AirBnB and found that my room wasn't available--I had inadvertently canceled the night I needed it--I briefly considered going back to the re-enactors' encampment and asking if I could sleep in one of their tents! (A kind French family took me in for the night.)
I visited the German battery at Azeville. The Nevada had scored a direct hit on it, that killed several gun crews instantly, and the evidence of it was still there. The battery surrendered on June 9th.
Ste. Mere-Eglise was impossible, so I pushed on to Carentan, memorably an objective of Easy Company in Band of Brothers. I was having lunch when I thought I saw ghosts: a number of U.S. Army troops in fatigues. They were modern fatigues, not period, but still, it was eerie.
I've watched the ceremonies today and watched the veterans. They are treasures that will very soon be leaving us. It will be up to us to carry on their memory.
Him to England after a shot of morphine— then sent him home He died in 2000 mostly from effects of ptsd and he was always humble. He believed in fate and the hardest part was having to race by his friends on the beach.
So proud of my father who landed at Omaha Beach when he was 30 and survived for 10 days until gettin sprayed with metal when he lifted his head to take a sip of coffee— they shipping
My great uncle Arno drove one of the transports on D-day. He was so good at it that they sent him to the pacific to do the same. I did not know this until more recently, after he passed. You wouldn't know from his personality, he was quiet and almost nerdish (before that was a thing), that he was a total badass.
He did? I didn’t catch that. I guess I was so disgusted by that book I just tuned him out. I need to look that up because I would like to like him without reservation.
Tom, spot-on republication of Stir John Keegan's Esquire piece. Thank You.
For astronomical data on June 5, 1994, I went to the "Sky & Telescope" for the 1944 data points:
The Best Light for the Paratrooper drops started at Moonrise at 8:30 AM on the night of 6/5/1944.
A good low tide was available right after the early morning bombardment. Low tide revealed formidable obstacles like hedgehogs & tetrahedrons a soldiers had to avoid. Plans included clearing the maze of potential death. The tide was rising along the beaches with high-water at 10:23 AM on Omaha.
The very Big Picture can be found in General Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe".
Thank you for this s. If my fellow Americans have the feckless,selfish, arrogant stupidity to reelect convicted felon Trump then all of this will be lost.we cannot let that happen. We must all fight just as hard as those on DDay to keep evil men and women who traffic in abject cruelty and who debase the rule of law while wrapping themselves in the flag from achieving their selfish ends.
Thanks for that Tom, it was the first thing I read this morning 7 June upon waking up, as a former paratrooper and a combat vet, I’m in awe of what those men did that day. It was heartening yesterday to see all of the 100+ year olds having their day in the sun with a President who truly appreciated what they had done. To think that today this country and much of Europe is flirting with Fascism, that those men and their bands of brothers fought to eradicate is disheartening, but like much flirting it can amount to nothing if we are vigilant. Vote the maggots and the insipid bastard who is their leader back under the rock they crawled out from under. 💥🙏
Wow!! Thank you for sharing this memoir, Tom. I was 11 when D-Day occurred, And some 3000 miles away. Sir Keegan's note bring reminders of the "childish" but unabashed patriotism we felt on that, for us, glorious day. It was years later when as an adult, I learned of the horrors of that day for the young men who endured the anguish. We owe those men a debt of gratitude we can never repay. Thanks to them we have had 80 years of relative tranquility.
Yet, here we are, 80 years away, with some people in our Country ready to trash it all, and embrace the very fascism against which those heroes so bravely fought, died, were wounded, or escaped alive to go on for eleven more months if brutality.
Thanks for this, Tom. It's a vivid account. I've just begun reading Stephen Ambrose's book, D Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, which is a broad look at the entire operation. When I was a kid in the 50's, with the War still a palpable presence in the culture and in our lives, I ruminated often on how frightening it must have been to disembark from the landing craft into a storm of bullets, wondering how they had such courage. I also used to wonder how they planned such an expedition. How did they know how much food to bring? And all the other supplies? It was beyond my comprehension, and well, still is!
There's a new book out that I'm looking forward to reading: ‘When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day,’ by Garrett M. Graff
Yes, I excerpted the piece about weather and D-Day from Graff's new book. It's really good. Hard to put down.
What a truly astonishing piece of writing! I've been following the events of this 80th commemoration and bow my head in gratitude for what all these men (mostly) gave of themselves for a future they were not sure they would have. Many of them died right there in those first minutes and hours giving their lives for the future we have had. I have heard Mr. Graff in a couple of interviews today and have ordered his book. When a veteran hugged President Zelenskyy today I felt deeply moved. We are in the midst of a new war but at root it is about whether there will be freedom and democracy or enslavement and dictatorship. The challenge now is that the enemies of freedom and democracy have metastasized throughout the human population throughout the world. Everyone is faced with real decisions today ...fight against these forces of tyranny or, like too many gop politicos, knowingly lie and kiss the tyrants fat a**! Since I cannot bow to trump and his criminal enterprise, so it must be to fight for democracy and freedom. There can be no other decision.
I visited Normandie in 2019 the week before the 75th anniversary and I saw much of what this author describes. The individual D-Day museums were so crowded I didn't even attempt them, other than the one in Bayeux (which is very good). It was crawling with re-enactors in period vehicles. When I reached my AirBnB and found that my room wasn't available--I had inadvertently canceled the night I needed it--I briefly considered going back to the re-enactors' encampment and asking if I could sleep in one of their tents! (A kind French family took me in for the night.)
I visited the German battery at Azeville. The Nevada had scored a direct hit on it, that killed several gun crews instantly, and the evidence of it was still there. The battery surrendered on June 9th.
Ste. Mere-Eglise was impossible, so I pushed on to Carentan, memorably an objective of Easy Company in Band of Brothers. I was having lunch when I thought I saw ghosts: a number of U.S. Army troops in fatigues. They were modern fatigues, not period, but still, it was eerie.
I've watched the ceremonies today and watched the veterans. They are treasures that will very soon be leaving us. It will be up to us to carry on their memory.
Him to England after a shot of morphine— then sent him home He died in 2000 mostly from effects of ptsd and he was always humble. He believed in fate and the hardest part was having to race by his friends on the beach.
So proud of my father who landed at Omaha Beach when he was 30 and survived for 10 days until gettin sprayed with metal when he lifted his head to take a sip of coffee— they shipping
Astonishing. Just astonishing.
My great uncle Arno drove one of the transports on D-day. He was so good at it that they sent him to the pacific to do the same. I did not know this until more recently, after he passed. You wouldn't know from his personality, he was quiet and almost nerdish (before that was a thing), that he was a total badass.
Always enjoyed Keegan’s writing and insights (except for the Iraq War stuff—he seriously dropped the ball there).
Which he later pled guilty to.
He did? I didn’t catch that. I guess I was so disgusted by that book I just tuned him out. I need to look that up because I would like to like him without reservation.
Tom, spot-on republication of Stir John Keegan's Esquire piece. Thank You.
For astronomical data on June 5, 1994, I went to the "Sky & Telescope" for the 1944 data points:
The Best Light for the Paratrooper drops started at Moonrise at 8:30 AM on the night of 6/5/1944.
A good low tide was available right after the early morning bombardment. Low tide revealed formidable obstacles like hedgehogs & tetrahedrons a soldiers had to avoid. Plans included clearing the maze of potential death. The tide was rising along the beaches with high-water at 10:23 AM on Omaha.
The very Big Picture can be found in General Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe".
Thank you for this s. If my fellow Americans have the feckless,selfish, arrogant stupidity to reelect convicted felon Trump then all of this will be lost.we cannot let that happen. We must all fight just as hard as those on DDay to keep evil men and women who traffic in abject cruelty and who debase the rule of law while wrapping themselves in the flag from achieving their selfish ends.
Thanks for that Tom, it was the first thing I read this morning 7 June upon waking up, as a former paratrooper and a combat vet, I’m in awe of what those men did that day. It was heartening yesterday to see all of the 100+ year olds having their day in the sun with a President who truly appreciated what they had done. To think that today this country and much of Europe is flirting with Fascism, that those men and their bands of brothers fought to eradicate is disheartening, but like much flirting it can amount to nothing if we are vigilant. Vote the maggots and the insipid bastard who is their leader back under the rock they crawled out from under. 💥🙏
Than you for posting Keegan's article. Any one of Keegan's are impossible to put down once you are drawn in.
Reading this late pm of June 9, a few days after you posted. Truly pleased you made it available. Thank you TC.
A blockbuster of a memoir! Can’t thank you enough for this literary treasure
Thanks for posting this, TC. I have not run across it before. Adds to my understanding of the price paid for victory.