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  "Mom"
 
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This is a speech given to the troops before the D Day invasion. We are honoring the sacrifice of those who gave so much on that incredible day in 1944.
“Men, I am not a religious man and I don’t know your feelings in this matter, but I am going to ask you to pray with me for the success of the mission before us. And while we pray, let us get on our knees and not look down but up with faces raised to the sky so that we can see God and ask his blessing in what we are about to do.”
“God almighty, in a few short hours we will be in battle with the enemy. We do not join battle afraid. We do not ask favors or indulgence but ask that, if You will, use us as Your instrument for the right and an aid in returning peace to the world.”
“We do not know or seek what our fate will be. We ask only this, that if die we must, that we die as men would die, without complaining, without pleading and safe in the feeling that we have done our best for what we believed was right.”
“Oh Lord, protect our loved ones and be near us in the fire ahead and with us now as we pray to you.”
All were silent for two minutes as the men were left, each with his individual thoughts. Then the Colonel ordered, “Move out.”
~Lt. Col. Robert L. Wolverton, commanding officer of 3rd battalion, 506th PIR.
Robert Wolverton was killed by German machine gun fire in an orchard outside St. Come-du-Mont, Normandy, France on June 6, 1944.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/06/remembering-d-day-facts-and-quotes/#ixzz33s5ZQ6ZO
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 Googly Goo
Posts: 7053
 
| Truly, our greatest generation. |
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 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| http://www.history.com/speeches/franklin-d-roosevelt-delivers-d-day-prayer#franklin-d-roosevelt-delivers-d-day-prayer
One of the most important historical events to ever take place. The above link is to the prayer offered by the President of United States, could you imagin this happening in todays America?
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 Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | I am in awe of the military who selflessly sacrifices for our freedoms.....the men who landed on the beaches of Normandy were true patriots.... |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Trying to find it, but another part of his speech he tells them on the ships to look at their neighbors because it will most likely be the last time you see them. He expected, and told them to expect, 80% casualty rate. |
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"Mom"
| TXBO - 2014-06-06 10:11 AM Truly, our greatest generation.
Absolutely. |
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 The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | TXBO - 2014-06-06 8:11 AM Truly, our greatest generation.
Amen.
My grandmother had 3 sons who all fought in WWII, one never made it home. 
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | With each passing year, fewer and fewer of the heroes from the greatest generation remain among us. if any of you ever get the opportunity, sit down and spend some time with any of these men or women. Listen to them and, if you are lucky, they will share some vivid stories that will inspire you and remain in your memory forever. I, for one, can't even begin to fathom what these people were up against. The one constant I have observed in these heroes is an unshakable Faith, and selfless devotion to this nation and the freedoms we all too often take for granted. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas |  |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
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 You just got to get mean and mean it.
Location: Arkansas | Indulge an old lady in her memories.
Both of my brothers, and many cousin's were involved. One brother was a Navy Seabee who helped build the Mulberryies that were used on Omaha beach to provide dock's to supply forces. A cousin was a Seabee, he was in the Solomon Islands running a bull dozer, rebuilding air strips that the Japanese bombed..dodgeing Japanese snipers who were taking pot shot's at them from the palm trees. Another was an Enigneer in Patten's Army...all the way to the Rhein river. Another was a paratrooper who parachuted behind German lines. Along with Russian troopers....with quite a tale to tell.
They marched, on foot, slept in fox holes, ate cold food. All the way from the beach's of France. past the Rhien River to Berlin. They wear tough, tough, tough. No R&R for them. They didn't cry nor complain...there was a job to do. And they did it.
Every home in my small town in Missouri had gold flag's in their window and American flag flying from their porch.
The returnee's experience's weren't talked about in front of children and women. But that didn't stop us from eavesdroping at every chance.
After growing up with these fella's, I look at today's youth and wonder would they do as well as their grandfather's and uncles? Cold food, wet sock's, sleep in a mud hole, walk across France and Germany. No R&R until you got home. Never a test to see what your made of? How tough they are? I hope I never see it. Their due's have already been paid. In blood and Thousand Yard Stares.
Sadly, most of these fella's are gone. I miss them.
When we were stationed in Germany in the '60's, we visited an American cementatry in Holland. Just across the border from Aachen Germany. The sight of the rows and rows of white cross's cared for by the Dutch...heart breaking.
My mother-in-law lost two son's. One in the invasion of North Africa and the second with Patten's Army in St. Lo France, two year's later. The first was just 3 month's past his 19th birthday.
I was a grade schooler who went out into the neignborhood gathering metal for the War Effort. You'd be surprised at the junk piles we dug through to get that last scrap of metal! |
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"Mom"
| Lobo - 2014-06-06 12:03 PM Indulge an old lady in her memories.
Both of my brothers, and many cousin's were involved. One brother was a Navy Seabee who helped build the Mulberryies that were used on Omaha beach to provide dock's to supply forces. A cousin was a Seabee, he was in the Solomon Islands running a bull dozer, rebuilding air strips that the Japanese bombed..dodgeing Japanese snipers who were taking pot shot's at them from the palm trees. Another was an Enigneer in Patten's Army...all the way to the Rhein river. Another was a paratrooper who parachuted behind German lines. Along with Russian troopers....with quite a tale to tell.
They marched, on foot, slept in fox holes, ate cold food. All the way from the beach's of France. past the Rhien River to Berlin. They wear tough, tough, tough. No R&R for them. They didn't cry nor complain...there was a job to do. And they did it.
Every home in my small town in Missouri had gold flag's in their window and American flag flying from their porch.
The returnee's experience's weren't talked about in front of children and women. But that didn't stop us from eavesdroping at every chance.
After growing up with these fella's, I look at today's youth and wonder would they do as well as their grandfather's and uncles? Cold food, wet sock's, sleep in a mud hole, walk across France and Germany. No R&R until you got home. Never a test to see what your made of? How tough they are? I hope I never see it. Their due's have already been paid. In blood and Thousand Yard Stares.
Sadly, most of these fella's are gone. I miss them.
When we were stationed in Germany in the '60's, we visited an American cementatry in Holland. Just across the border from Aachen Germany. The sight of the rows and rows of white cross's cared for by the Dutch...heart breaking.
My mother-in-law lost two son's. One in the invasion of North Africa and the second with Patten's Army in St. Lo France, two year's later. The first was just 3 month's past his 19th birthday.
I was a grade schooler who went out into the neignborhood gathering metal for the War Effort. You'd be surprised at the junk piles we dug through to get that last scrap of metal!
Thanks for sharing. |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Lobo - 2014-06-06 12:03 PM
Indulge an old lady in her memories.Â
Both of my brothers, and many cousin's were involved. One brother was a Navy Seabee who helped build the Mulberryies that were used on Omaha beach to provide dock's to supply forces. A cousin was a Seabee, he was in the Solomon Islands running a bull dozer, rebuilding air strips that the Japanese bombed..dodgeing Japanese snipers who were taking pot shot's at them from the palm trees. Another was an Enigneer in Patten's Army...all the way to the Rhein river. Another was a paratrooper who parachuted behind German lines. Along with Russian troopers....with quite a tale to tell.Â
They marched, on foot, slept in fox holes, ate cold food. All the way from the beach's of France. past the Rhien River to Berlin. They wear tough, tough, tough. No R&R for them. They didn't cry nor complain...there was a job to do. And they did it.
Every home in my small town in Missouri had gold flag's in their window and American flag flying from their porch.
The returnee's experience's weren't talked about in front of children and women.  But that didn't stop us from eavesdroping at every chance.Â
After growing up with these fella's, I look at today's youth and wonder would they do as well as their grandfather's and uncles? Cold food, wet sock's, sleep in a mud hole, walk across France and Germany. No R&R until you got home. Never a test to see what your made of? How tough they are? I hope I never see it. Their due's have already been paid. In blood and Thousand Yard Stares.
Sadly, most of these fella's are gone. I miss them.Â
When we were stationed in Germany in the '60's, we visited an American cementatry in Holland. Just across the border from Aachen Germany. The sight of the rows and rows of white cross's cared for by the Dutch...heart breaking.Â
My mother-in-law lost two son's. One in the invasion of North Africa and the second with Patten's Army in St. Lo France, two year's later. The first was just 3 month's past his 19th birthday.Â
I was a grade schooler who went out into the neignborhood gathering metal for the War Effort. You'd be surprised at the junk piles we dug through to get that last scrap of metal!   Â
Thank you Lobo. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I'd love to sit under a shade tree with a tall glass of lemonade and hear your recollections. Of all the times throughout history, none fascinates me more than the 1930s and 40s. These people went through the Great Depression and then, just when things were looking up, they found themselves in the midst of the greatest war the world has ever seen. Over 60 million lives lost in that war. Think about that. The greatest war my generation experienced was Viet Nam.....59,000 lives lost. I can't imagine a war where tens of millions of lives were lost. If we forget lessons learned from that war, then surely we will see something even worse someday, sooner or later. |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | My Uncle turned 90 yrs old on the 2nd. He was in the US Navy during WWII. He's got some memory problems but mostly its remembering current things. You start talking to him about the war, his eyes light up and the stories come pouring out. He remembers it like it was yesterday. I'm so proud of my Dad, Uncles and Grandpa all served in wars and fought for our freedom.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | The D-Day Memorial is amazing to see in person. Extremely hard not to be moved emotionally when you are there. We live right over the mountain from Bedford where the Memorial is, most everyone in this area had a "Bedford Boy" in their family or group of friends.
None of our soldiers should be forgotten. Stop and talk with them, hear their stories, help them heal and show how grateful you are that they served our country. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Cindy Hamilton - 2014-06-06 10:25 AM I am in awe of the military who selflessly sacrifices for our freedoms.....the men who landed on the beaches of Normandy were true patriots....
I agree |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Thank you everyone for sharing and Lobo, I would personally like to thank your family for the sacrifices they made for this great Nation. The bravery and the confidence it takes by young men to boldly go into battle knowing that the chances of making it home is just mind boggling to me. They prayed no for their safety, but for God's will to be done and for their fight to be for what is right. It takes a special kind of person to be able to knowingling go forward from that point. I could not do it. I would try, but I know i'm not strong enough to knowingly step forward on what was laid out as a suicide mission.
My hat goes off and my heart goes out to any and everyon one of you/us who has friends and family in our armed forces. It is a job that requires someone who is much braver than me, and while I am not proud to say it, much less selfish than I am. My brother is an E6 in the Navy and I couldn't be any prouder of him for loving what he does and being the man he is! |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| 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 |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | 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. |
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