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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
  
Location: Bastrop, Texas | President Ronald Reagan was the first sitting president to attend a D-Day anniversary observance in Normandy, and his emotional remembrance on the 40th anniversary on June 6, 1984, has been described as one of his most memorable speeches.
Joining him, 30 years ago Friday, were surviving members of an Army Rangers team that had scaled cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to silence German guns protecting the Normandy
Here are Reagan's remarks to the veterans at Pointe du Hoc:
We're here to mark that day in history when the Allied armies joined in battle to reclaim this continent to liberty. For 4 long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue. Here in Normandy the rescue began. Here the Allies stood and fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history.
We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but 40 years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance.
The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers — the edge of the cliffs shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to climb over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe.
Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After 2 days of fighting, only 90 could still bear arms.
Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.
Gentlemen, I look at you, and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your "lives fought for life . . . and left the vivid air signed with your honor."
I think I know what you may be thinking right now — thinking "we were just part of a bigger effort; everyone was brave that day." Well, everyone was. Do you remember the story of Bill Millin of the 51st Highlanders? Forty years ago today, British troops were pinned down near a bridge, waiting desperately for help. Suddenly, they heard the sound of bagpipes, and some thought they were dreaming. Well, they weren't. They looked up and saw Bill Millin with his bagpipes, leading the reinforcements and ignoring the smack of the bullets into the ground around him.
Lord Lovat was with him — Lord Lovat of Scotland, who calmly announced when he got to the bridge, "Sorry I'm a few minutes late," as if he'd been delayed by a traffic jam, when in truth he'd just come from the bloody fighting on Sword Beach, which he and his men had just taken.
There was the impossible valor of the Poles who threw themselves between the enemy and the rest of Europe as the invasion took hold, and the unsurpassed courage of the Canadians who had already seen the horrors of war on this coast. They knew what awaited them there, but they would not be deterred. And once they hit Juno Beach, they never looked back.
All of these men were part of a rollcall of honor with names that spoke of a pride as bright as the colors they bore: the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Poland's 24th Lancers, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the Screaming Eagles, the Yeomen of England's armored divisions, the forces of Free France, the Coast Guard's "Matchbox Fleet" and you, the American Rangers.
I Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here. Why? Why did you do it? What impelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love.
The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge — and pray God we have not lost it — that there is a profound, moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and so you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.
You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One's country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew people of your countries were behind you.
The Americans who fought here that morning knew word of the invasion was spreading through the darkness back home. They fought— or felt in their hearts, though they couldn't know in fact, that in Georgia they were filling the churches at 4 a.m., in Kansas they were kneeling on their porches and praying, and in Philadelphia they were ringing the Liberty Bell.
Something else helped the men of D-day: their rockhard belief that Providence would have a great hand in the events that would unfold here; that God was an ally in this great cause. And, so, the night before the invasion, when Colonel Wolverton asked his parachute troops to kneel with him in prayer he told them: Do not bow your heads, but look up so you can see God and ask His blessing in what we're about to do. Also that night, General Matthew Ridgway on his cot, listening in the darkenss for the promise God made to Joshua: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."
These are the things that impelled them; these are the things that shaped the unity of the Allies.
When the war was over, there were lives to be rebuilt and governments to be returned to the people. There were nations to be reborn. Above all, there was a new peace to be assured. These were huge and daunting tasks. But the Allies summoned strength from the faith, belief, loyalty, and love of those who fell here. They rebuilt a new Europe together.
There was first a great reconciliation among those who had been enemies, all of whom had suffered so greatly. The United States did its part, creating the Marshall plan to help rebuild our allies and our former enemies. The Marshall plan led to the Atlantic alliance -- a great alliance that serves to this day as our shield for freedom, for prosperity, and for peace.
In spite of our great efforts and successes, not all that followed the end of the war was happy or planned. Some liberated countries were lost. The great sadness of this loss echoes down to our own time in the streets of Warsaw, Prague, and East Berlin. Soviet troops that came to the center of this continent did not leave when peace came. They're still there, uninvited, unwanted, unyielding, almost 40 years after the war. Because of this, allied forces still stand on this continent. Today, as 40 years ago, our armies are here for only one purpose — to protect and defend democracy. The only territories we hold are memorials like this one and graveyards where our heroes rest.
We in America have learned bitter lessons from two World Wars: It is better to be here ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We've learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent.
But we try always to be prepared for peace; prepared to deter aggression; prepared to negotiate the reduction of arms; and, yes, prepared to reach out again in the spirit of reconciliation. In truth, there is no reconciliation we would welcome more than a reconciliation with the Soviet Union, so, together, we can lessen the risks of war, now and forever.
It's fitting to remember here the great losses also suffered by the Russian people during World War II: 20 million perished, a terrible price that testifies to all the world the necessity of ending war. I tell you from my heart that we in the United States do not want war. We want to wipe from the face of the Earth the terrible weapons that man now has in his hands. And I tell you, we are ready to seize that beachhead. We look for some sign from the Soviet Union that they are willing to move forward, that they share our desire and love for peace, and that they will give up the ways of conquest. There must be a changing there that will allow us to turn our hope into action.
We will pray forever that some day that changing will come. But for now, particularly today, it is good and fitting to renew our commitment to each other, to our freedom, and to the alliance that protects it.
We are bound today by what bound us 40 years ago, the same loyalties, traditions, and beliefs. We're bound by reality. The strength of America's allies is vital to the United States, and the American security guarantee is essential to the continued freedom of Europe's democracies. We were with you then; we are with you now. Your hopes are our hopes, and your destiny is our destiny.
Here, in this place where the West held together, let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for. Let our actions say to them the words for which Matthew Ridgway listened: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."
Strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value [valor], and borne by their memory, let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.
Thank you very much, and God bless you all.
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | CYA Ranch - 2014-06-06 2:41 PM
jbhoot - 2014-06-06 2:24 PM My Dad and both my uncles and my father in law all severed in WWII. They all where tuff tuff men that rarely talked about the war. Not until I served did they talk about what happened I had to earn the right. They are all gone now. I miss them. God bless them and all who served in in WWII
My Grandpa was in WWI and he was like your family and wouldn't talk about his experiences to just anyone. My aunt tells of a time when she was a little girl and hid in the stairwell as her dad started telling a neighbor who had also served, of his experiences. My aunt said the one that sticks out in her mind the most was that on Christmas Day they called a truce for the day? I belive is how she worded it. They were all out on the battle field in the fox holes and all of a sudden some young German men came out of their fox holes. My Grandpa along with the other US soldiers crossed the lines and met up with the German soldiers. They didn't speak the languages but shared cigarrettes and tried to communicate as best as they could. Once the truce was over they had to go back to shooting and killing the young blond haired boys they had just met and looked no different than any of the rest of them. He also came home with a German helmet. All he ever told anyone was that he earned it. He took that story to his grave. We still have the helmet.
I've heard stories like this. That's fascinating, Val. | |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | CYA Ranch - 2014-06-06 2:41 PM jbhoot - 2014-06-06 2:24 PM My Dad and both my uncles and my father in law all severed in WWII. They all where tuff tuff men that rarely talked about the war. Not until I served did they talk about what happened I had to earn the right. They are all gone now. I miss them. God bless them and all who served in in WWII My Grandpa was in WWI and he was like your family and wouldn't talk about his experiences to just anyone. My aunt tells of a time when she was a little girl and hid in the stairwell as her dad started telling a neighbor who had also served, of his experiences. My aunt said the one that sticks out in her mind the most was that on Christmas Day they called a truce for the day? I belive is how she worded it. They were all out on the battle field in the fox holes and all of a sudden some young German men came out of their fox holes. My Grandpa along with the other US soldiers crossed the lines and met up with the German soldiers. They didn't speak the languages but shared cigarrettes and tried to communicate as best as they could. Once the truce was over they had to go back to shooting and killing the young blond haired boys they had just met and looked no different than any of the rest of them. He also came home with a German helmet. All he ever told anyone was that he earned it. He took that story to his grave. We still have the helmet.
Wow, I cannot imagine. I actually know somone over "there" now and he has mentioned similar memorabilia that he will bring home when he finally makes it. | |
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 You just got to get mean and mean it.
Location: Arkansas | My oldest brother who was a SeaBee when the Mulberry's were towed to Omaha Beach. They drew straws as to how would ride the ships and who would accomany the Mulberrys; towed by smaller craft. My brother drew a long straw and was on one of the larger ships. He said that the German artillery was picking the smaller ships off like ducks in a pond! His mission was to install the Mulberry's (floating dry docks) in a series to provide the supplies and equipment for the troops on the beach. He said when the storm came up on the Channel, the wind was so strong, it lifted large hydrolic steel door's on the Mulberrys, up and down. He sleep on a pile of rope thrugh the noise...he was so tired. He woke up when the door's broke and the noise stopped. During the duration of the storm, there were no new supplies. The cook's had only warmed up hot dog's to feed the them. Three to fours days of hot dog's, three times a day. He never did eat a hot dog again. lol
My other brother fared better because he served in Patten's Army. He talked about having to build road's around the small Germany town's. The street's weren't wide enough to get the Draggen Waggon through. He also commented about how much cleaner Germany was than France. He also spoke of being called to a hedge row, there had been action several days before. The grave support were picking up bodies. He was called because they had retrieved a body with the name tag of Hastings. They wanted to know if it was his brother. It wasn't anyone he knew. He said he never did get the smell out of his nose. All bodies were retreived, sent back and buried in Holland until they could be buried on US soil or remain in Holland. Family's choice. None were buried in Germany.
Remember, this is information I got second hand. They seldom talked about their experience's, except maybe to each other. My cousin who was a SeaBee in the Solomon Islalnds commented that the only thing he worried about were the Japanese sniper's in the palm trees. They repaired those air fields without any kind of protection expcept a helmet and rifle. He came home safe, but wiser. (lost the heel to his shoe coming through Kansas City. Didn't stop to pick it up...just kept on walking though the station. He'd been discharged and was headed home!) He lived with my family while working for the county road department. He learned how to drive heavy equipment, therefore, he became a SeaBee. I wore his Navy peacoat until it was darn near thread bear.
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You just got to get mean and mean it.
Location: Arkansas | I remember my cousin, who was a paratrooper. He came home with a .45 on his hip and an arm load French wine. lol He talked to my dad about having interaction with some Russian troops. The only thing I got was they were brute's and he never did have much good to say about them. He was assigned to EURSUR headquarter in Mannheim when we were in Hanau. He called me when my daughter was born in Franfurt. Altho, he went on to be a Maj. General and was on Gen. Mathew Ridgeway's staff in Korea... every thing went to his grave with him.
Edited by Lobo 2014-06-06 3:37 PM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 578
Location: New Mexico | My uncle was on Omaha Beach, he is now 90 years old. Its amazing to think what he endured and survived all those years ago. | |
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 Googly Goo
Posts: 7053
| Lobo - 2014-06-06 3:35 PM I remember my cousin, who was a paratrooper. He came home with a .45 on his hip and an arm load French wine. lol He talked to my dad about having interaction with some Russian troops. The only thing I got was they were brute's and he never did have much good to say about them. He was assigned to EURSUR headquarter in Mannheim when we were in Hanau. He called me when my daughter was born in Franfurt. Altho, he went on to be a Maj. General and was on Gen. Mathew Ridgeway's staff in Korea... every thing went to his grave with him.
My dad was a Korean War vet. Took it all to his grave also. | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | My dad was a 19 yr old 1st Lt and platoon leader in the South Pacific. He told me stories as far back as I can remember, because I constantly hounded him. He usually managed to avoid many specifics, because, as I was later told, he knows he killed people and that was something that haunted him. When he finished OCS, he had the option of joining the 101st Airborne, which was a very new concept in warfare (paratrooper). He decided to go ahead and shipped out to the Philippines. Most of his buddies from OCS ended up dying in the Battle of the Bulge. I can't imagine the pressure of being responsible for an entire platoon at 19 yrs old. Dad was the kind of guy who rarely complained and rarely had anything malicious to say about anyone. I'm ashamed to admit that I never understood why dad always seemed so content. You go fishing and if he catches 1 tiny fish, he was happy. If all he got to eat for lunch, was a cheese sandwich, he was satisfied. You go hunting and come back empty handed, he was still happy.
How ignorant of me not to understand that he was just a happy, grateful man, glad to simply be alive. He was a very bright man, but not "driven".....I took that as a weakness. I think dad will have a few choice things to say to me the next time we have a chance to sit down and visit.
Edited by HotbearLVR 2014-06-06 4:54 PM
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You just got to get mean and mean it.
Location: Arkansas | TXBO - 2014-06-06 4:27 PM Lobo - 2014-06-06 3:35 PM I remember my cousin, who was a paratrooper. He came home with a .45 on his hip and an arm load French wine. lol He talked to my dad about having interaction with some Russian troops. The only thing I got was they were brute's and he never did have much good to say about them. He was assigned to EURSUR headquarter in Mannheim when we were in Hanau. He called me when my daughter was born in Franfurt. Altho, he went on to be a Maj. General and was on Gen. Mathew Ridgeway's staff in Korea... every thing went to his grave with him.
My dad was a Korean War vet. Took it all to his grave also.
I guess we'll never hear nor know their war stories. They must have been some doozies, cause they damn sure didn't share much with us!
I have one cousin who wanted to fly, but washed out due to his eye sight. He was stationed in England, he and some buddies took plans that were too shot up to fly and re-build them into one plane. I heard this story from him, he was griping cause they wouldn't give them a number for the plane cause it was a "ghost". He was also three sheet's to the wind! LOL | |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I really enjoy reading this thread.thank you for sharing your stories | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Reagan's now famous speech on the 30th anniversary of D-day was such a moving tribute to those heroes. I always loved Reagan's sense of respect and decorum. This is a man who was once asked why he feels it's necessary to always wear a suit coat while working in the Oval Office. His answer was because he felt it was an appropriate show of respect for the office.
Now, today, our president is being lambasted for chewing gum during D-day ceremonies, particularly by the French. Maybe it's no big deal, but I cannot imagine this kind of reckless disregard and disrespect from Reagan. The contrasts between what we had 30 years ago and now is so stark. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1384
Location: Kansas | My father (bottom left corner) with his crew members & the B-17
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 dadcrewArs.jpg (94KB - 226 downloads)
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | I know it doesn't directly connect to D-Day but if you want to read a very insightful book about World War II, Audie Murphy (most decorated soldier of this war) "To Hell and Back." Best seller, good reading. This man was a soldier.
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Thank you for the stories. My 9 year old son is obsessed with WWII, especially the pilots. I'm going to print this off for him. We haven't had much military service on my side of the family, and what little there was is kind of embarrassing. | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | If any of you are interested in what it must have been like during the WWII years I highly recommend "The Good War", by Studs Terkel, an author and historian. It really is a unique piece of fine work. Terkel spent many years traveling across the globe interviewing WWII survivors from virtually all walks of life, on both sides. I believe he did this work back in the 70s, when many people from that era were still alive. He interviewed soldiers, sailors, and pilots from England, France, Germany, Japan, and the US, for instance.
Their stories were told in their words. He interviewed women who worked in the factories, farmers from Japan, commanders, politicians, holocaust survivors, survivors of the Bataan Death March, Pearl Harbor survivors, Hiroshima victims, Gold Star mothers, movie stars, cab drivers, ranchers, survivors of Stalingrad, survivors of fire bombings in Dresden, former SS commandants, scientists who developed the A bomb, you name it. When you are finished you will have a pretty good grasp of what it was like during those 6 years. | |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | If you like to read, I highly recommend Last Stand of the Tin Can Soliders. Super neat book. It has also been mentioned a ton, but you should read Unbroken written by Laura Hillenbrand. I have an entire book case crammed with WWII books, but those 2 stick out as my favorites.
My grandpa, 87/88 (would have to ask lol) was set to be a tailgunner because of his short height. He didn't make the grade (calling himself a dummy, but I have never met a smarter man) and ended up being put in the famed 20th Infantry and going to the Philippines. He made it home, as did his brother from the 45th Infantry (unbeknownst to him, also fighting in the Philippines), but their oldest brother never came home. He was killed Aug 20th, 1944 during the battle of the Falaise Gap fighting with the 90th. He is buried in a beautiful place in Normandy. I have so so much respect for this generation. They went through and survived what most of us couldn't even fathom. They made this a better place for their children...I just hope we can keep it one for ours. | |
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