Posted on 05/27/2013 1:46:44 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA
My family did not fight on D-Day, but they did fight in Monte Cassino, Bastogne, Iwo Jima, Inchon (Korean War), Kham Duc (Vietnam). I also had two uncles that were peace keeping troops in Japan and German after the war.
Fortunately, only one of my uncles was wounded. That would be my Uncle Goodman Wilson, who enlisted at age 16, in the Marines (5th Marine Division) landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day and was wounded after 7 days in battle. He was shot in the forearm. He spend a year and half in hospitals after his wounding.
When I was a child, I would try to ask him about what it was like on Iwo Jima. He didn't want to talk about it. He would tell me about how hot it was. How he didn't like black sand. And how I never need to worry about anything like that. I once asked him if he killed any Japs. He simply said with a tear in his eye, "yes, too many, and don't ask me about it again."
Brit KIA was far lower than 2700
Watching Saving Private Ryan...
My close Uncle, I didn't even think about or know that he had been in the war. Found out at his funeral that he had been a bombardier over Germany.
Why such a huge number of French civilians killed on Normandy’s D-Day?
I've been watching war movies all day and have yet to see a soldier wait on purpose until someone fires at them before they shoot.
Our guys should come home because they are used as fodder for Hussein. If they were allowed to fight, they would stomp those guys into the dirt from whence they came.
When I was a child, I would try to ask him about what it was like on Iwo Jima. He didn't want to talk about it.
I've heard the same thing many,many times...particularly about WWII vets (and Korea).They didn't like talking about it,at least not to family.I suspect that it was because it was too painful for them and/or to protect their loved ones from the horror.My guess is that they were more willing to talk to other vets at places like VFW posts...and that was probably therapeutic for them,talking to someone who understood well.
Thanks for reminding me.....I save THE LONGEST DAY for June 6th....TONIGHT IT’S THE GREAT ESCAPE
Probably the biggest contributing factor was the intense bombing campaign that accompanied the invasion.
Carpet-bombing was conducted on the battlefronts -- problem being there was a strong tendency for the bomb-line to "migrate".
Wehrmacht camps and Luftwaffe AA installations were also targeted, along with RR yards and bridges. Many of these sites were adjacent to residential areas. Bombing accuracy at the time was nowhere near what it is now -- especially if it was the RAF (who didn't have the Norden bombsight).
Think about how much naval artillery and bombing went on prior to and on the day of the invasion. Many of the Axis troops were in hardened concrete bunkers, whereas the civilians were in their homes, fields, shops and factories.
Total KIA sailors at Guadalcanal: 5,041.
Here’s another good one for memorial day. Grab it if it comes your way.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1019454/?ref_=sr_1
Taking Chance.
My guess is the crossfire - artillery, naval bombardment, and mortars. There were also a lot of French Resistance involved on D-Day, but no where near casualty count.
Polish troops also participated in the invasion of Normandy, but I don’t know if any of their units were involved on the first day.
My step-dad was an enlisted man in the legendary 8th Air Force. I once asked him what he was doing on D-Day, His answer, “Painting a fence.”
I was going to include that in my post, but I knew a FRiend would bring it up. On Drudge right now is over 6,700 Americans have been killed since Afghanistan started.
Our nation's stupidity since Korea has been sickening. We cannot seem to identify (as a Nation) the enemy and then dispatch them. Those serving in the military are certainly able. Politicians, Political Correctness, and Democrats/Socialists must love losing. I lump GWH Bush in that crowd by the way, and W under his influence after 9/11.
I may sound like a hawk (I am), but it is with reason. First, I do not want Americans to die or be cripples. Second, brutal, extremely aggressive and lethal force used in a short period of time saves lives on both sides. And when America uses force, it needs to be used to totally convince our enemies that there is more to come and that their days are numbered. This leads to submission and surrender (or death if they do not surrender). I don't give a rat's ass about collateral damage when it comes to Muslims.
Instead of being so damn sensitive about our enemies feelings we should be sensitive about the feeling of the mothers that send their American sons to war.
My understanding is that the Polish fought on D-Day and forward under British command.
"There are only two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are already dead and those that are gonna die. Now get off your butts, you're the fightin' 29th."
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