The war in Iraq has been the source of a major opposition between France and the US. Disagreements keep on as we can see in these very threads.
Whatever, let's forget that in these days of commemoration. This is secondary in comparison to what happened 60 years ago - one of the major events of the 20th century.
Sacrifice of thousands of allies and the beginning of the liberation of Europe from the evil nazi regime.
We shall never forget. Thanks to all of those who contributed to our freedom.
The landing operation began during the night of 5th to 6th June when three airborne divisions were dropped on either flank of the front. The paratroops' mission was to capture certain keypoints (the Merville battery, the bridge over the Caen canal, roads, locks etc.). A little later, several hundred Rangers managed to capture the fortified position at the Pointe du Hoc, after a particularly daring assault.
Meanwhile, between 0630 and 0730 hours, 135,000 men and roughly 20,000 vehicles were brought in by sea on five landing beaches as planned.
Although the objectives fixed for the evening of D-Day (Caen, Bayeux, Isigny, Carentan), were not achieved, overall the operation was a success. Except at Omaha Beach (Colleville-Saint-Laurent-Vierville) where despite a show of extraordinary courage from the Americans the beachhead for long hung in the balance, casualties were lighter than expected.
It then remained to link up the five assaults beaches and face the German counter-attack.
By nightfall on D-Day, about 10,000 Americans, Brits and Canadians were casualties on the beaches of France.
All of us—those now living, and those yet to be born—owe them our undying, profound gratitude.
PARIS — With armfuls of gifts, France on Friday welcomed back American veterans who helped free Europe from Nazi occupation when they landed on Normandy's beaches 60 years ago.
One hundred former World War II fighters saluted and waved as they climbed off a chartered Air France plane that brought them from Washington, D.C., to receive France's highest honor at D-Day (search) anniversary commemorations this weekend.
Several leaned on canes as they walked down a red carpet on the tarmac at Charles De Gaulle Airport outside Paris. Many wore military caps and medals on their chests, some toted video cameras and all placed hands over their hearts when a French military band played "The Star-Spangled Banner."
They sang along, too, to "La Marseillaise," the French national anthem, whose words they had practiced on the flight.
"I'm really humbled by the whole thing," said Rocco Moretto, 79, of the New York City borough of Queens. "The buddies that we left behind were the real heroes. I often think of them."
French Veterans Minister Hamlaoui Mekachera (search) promised the Americans they'd find a warm, grateful welcome here.
"For the French people of 2004, just like for the French people of 1944 ... you are true heroes," he said.
"We are fully aware of what we owe you, we have not forgotten the immense sacrifices that you have made for the liberation of our country."
France is to bestow the Legion of Honor (search), its most prestigious civilian and military award, on the 100 veterans who were chosen by U.S. officials. France says it wants to honor them as representatives of all the Americans who fought against Nazism.
The 100 veterans are among thousands arriving in France for a weekend of ceremonies marking the 60 years since D-Day. Many are now in their 80s or older and this year's commemorations are likely to be the last major anniversary attended by large numbers of those who participated in the June 6, 1944 landings.
More than 20 national leaders are expected in Normandy to mark the occasion, including President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. It is the first time Russian and German leaders are attending a D-Day anniversary.
On Sunday, President Jacques Chirac (search) will bestow the coveted award on Charles Hostler during a Normandy ceremony that will draw the heads of state.
Hostler served with the OSS — Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA — in its effort to lead Nazi spies in France to feed false information about Allied plans back to their German commanders, said his wife, Chin-Yeh Hostler.
The honorees and their relatives traveled for free on a flight paid for by Air France and other French businesses. Some of the top hotels in Paris are putting them up without charge.
Joseph Kuhar, 87, of Washington, D.C., said French kindness had been overwhelming.
"If they keep giving me souvenirs, I'm going to have to hire a truck," he laughed. Many of the veterans carried shopping bags full of gifts, including bottles of champagne.
Howard Baugh, 84, of Midlothian, Virginia, who flew with the Tuskegee Airmen, said the Legion of Honor was particularly sweet for him since the all-black 332nd Fighter Group did not get widespread recognition for decades after the war.
"I was raised in the South, I was raised with segregation and discrimination," he said.
Unlike many of the veterans, Baugh was on his first visit to France. He was based in Italy and flew bombing missions over France to weaken German defenses before the D-Day landings.
Moretto saw the anniversary as a welcome chance to remember the ties that bind America and France together despite bad feelings between the allies over the Iraq war.
He said he was distressed by anti-French sentiment in the United States, noting that many Normandy civilians have carefully tended the graves of America's war dead.
"The French have always been good to us," he said. "And now we're going to toss that aside? I don't think that's right. It's not from the World War II veterans."
We owe them a everything for what they did and we should never forget that. Something I would like to add is that we should not just be rembering the UK, US and Canadian forces but als the small pockets oif soldiers from other countries like Australia, Poland and even a few French soldiers that had manged to get to the UK and join the allies in the fight for Europe, plus the French resisitance. All these peopple and many more made the most daring fightback in military history succesful. We should never forget.
lodgebo said this in post #4 : We owe them a everything for what they did and we should never forget that. Something I would like to add is that we should not just be rembering the UK, US and Canadian forces but als the small pockets oif soldiers from other countries like Australia, Poland and even a few French soldiers that had manged to get to the UK and join the allies in the fight for Europe, plus the French resisitance. All these peopple and many more made the most daring fightback in military history succesful. We should never forget.
This war was probably the most justified war of all times...
lodgebo said this in post #4 : We owe them a everything for what they did and we should never forget that. Something I would like to add is that we should not just be rembering the UK, US and Canadian forces but als the small pockets oif soldiers from other countries like Australia, Poland and even a few French soldiers that had manged to get to the UK and join the allies in the fight for Europe, plus the French resisitance. All these peopple and many more made the most daring fightback in military history succesful. We should never forget.
This war was probably the most justified war of all times, and the gratitude for soldiers who died far away from their home will never be forgotten.
I would just like to say that I have the upmost gratitude to all who participated in the landing, and the war for that matter. I'm happy to hear about the celebration in France. For some reason I'm at a lack of words at the moment, so I'd just like to say thanks to all veterans.
*salutes*
~Z
Kevin: Remember that one time when I ate those napkins?
Me: (laughing) Yeah.
Kevin: That was funny. Do you remember what made me do it?
Me: I'm pretty sure you just said, "Hey, watch me eat these napkins".
Kevin: (laughing) Yeah, that sounds about right.
The gratitude everyone else is displaying is basically my thoughts and feelings. Not just for the American army though (though, of course, largely thanks to them), but the Canadians, the French, the English, the Australian, the New Zealand... basically every Country's army who fought for the freedom of the world in WWII.
Wanna go offtopic a second: Doesn't what Curley's doing constitute unwelcome spamming? He's been touting that propagandistic crud everywhere. Once was enough, imo.
"I'm for it so we can put Nuclear power plants up there, and then beam the power back to earth on a laser beam." ~ Whidden
Nah he cant stop he lacks the intelligence to post his own stuff and the links to other peoples work is all he's got left.
Intestingly enough has anybody noticed how former communist countries achievements seem tio get lost in history? IMO people are all to quick to forget about the massive part that was played by Czech and Polish pilots during the battle of Britain or the fall of Berlin to Russia. Just don't know why that is or maybe I am imagining it.
Good point Lodgebo. I think it all has to do with cold war politics. When Poland, Czechia, Slovenia, ..., entered more or less against their will behing the iron curtain, they somehow disappeared from the radar in post war time. Now that they have recovered their freedom, their participation in the fight against nazism is acknowledged and celebrated. That's only justice. Poland is the country which has lost the higher part of its population in the war proportionally, something close to 20 %. Tremendous. And it was not only because of the Germans. In fact the Soviets were responsible of part of it. Remember the massacre of Katyn. The polish elite has been intentionally killed by Staline.
06-04-2004 11:54 PM
