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Before and After D-Day: Rare Color Photos It’s no mystery why images of unremitting violence spring to mind when one hears the deceptively simple term, “D-Day.” We’ve all seen — in photos, movies, old news reels — what happened on the beaches of Normandy (codenamed Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold and Sword) as the Allies unleashed an historic assault against German defenses on June 6, 1944. But in color photos taken before and after the invasion, LIFE’s Frank Scherschel captured countless other, lesser-known scenes from the run-up to the onslaught and the heady weeks after: American troops training in small English...

Lynn D. “Buck” Compton, an Army paratrooper whose World War II service was portrayed in the book and HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” and who later as a prosecutor secured a conviction of Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan, died Feb. 26 at his home in Burlington, Wash. He was 90. He had complications from a heart attack, said his daughter Syndee Compton. Mr. Compton retired in 1990 as a judge on the California Courts of Appeal.

A member of the "Band of Brothers" who fought in some of World War II's fiercest European battles, Ed Mauser shunned the limelight and kept his service with the Army unit a secret, even from some of his family. Born Dec. 18, 1916 in LaSalle, Ill., he was drafted in 1942 and volunteered for the 101st Airborne Division. He was assigned to Company E, 506th Regiment — Easy Company — which participated in the D-Day invasion of France and the follow-up Operation Market Garden. The 101st also helped defend Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Historian Stephen Ambrose interviewed...

A personification of American greatness, Major Richard Winters, Executive Officer, Easy Company, 101st Airborne, WW2 (aka, Band of Brothers) died January 2nd. Easy Company was the most decorated company of WW2 and was always in the heat of the worst battles. Against impossible odds and outrageous circumstances they prevailed, lragely upon Winters character and leadership. Winters, with Tom Hanks, receiving an Emmy for the HBO series, "Band of Brothers". The German command structure didn’t allow for as much improvisation by lower level troops, they had to wait for orders. Americans had much more leeway to improvise without requiring orders. Front...

The U.S. officer whose quiet leadership was the central theme in TV's Band of Brothers has died aged 92. Major Richard 'Dick' Winters' World War II career was chronicled in a book of the same name. He died in central Pennsylvania on January 2. Mr Winters lost his long battle with Parkinson's disease, longtime family friend William Jackson said today. ... 'He was one hell of a guy, of the greatest soldiers I was ever under. He was a wonderful officer, a wonderful leader. He had what you needed, guts and brains' ... The men led by the war hero...

<p>Major Dick Winters made famous by the HBO mini-Series Band of Brothers has died after a long illnes.</p>

<p>Dick Winters, the former World War II commander whose war story was told in the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers,” has died.</p> <p>Dick Winters led a quiet life on his Fredericksburg farm and in his Hershey home until the book and miniseries “Band of Brothers” threw him into the international spotlight.</p>

Enter the KING WESTMORELAND. O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day! KING. What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin; If we are mark'd to die, we are enow To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more. By Jove, I am not covetous for gold, Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not if men my garments wear; Such...

Was one of America's most revered popular historians fabricating his own material? That's the explosive charge now levied at Stephen Ambrose, author of numerous bestselling military and presidential histories. The author of "D-Day" and "Band of Brothers" died in 2002, but several authorities have recently questioned the writer's accounts of his research for "Supreme Commander," a massive two-volume biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower. At a minimum, Ambrose's critics say, he had vastly exaggerated the amount of time he spent interviewing the former president; and at worst, they suggest, he simply made up long stretches of the book.

Was one of America's most revered popular historians fabricating his own material? That's the explosive charge now levied at Stephen Ambrose, author of numerous bestselling military and presidential histories. The author of "D-Day" and "Band of Brothers" died in 2002, but several authorities have recently questioned the writer's accounts of his research for "Supreme Commander," a massive two-volume biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower. At a minimum, Ambrose's critics say, he had vastly exaggerated the amount of time he spent interviewing the former president; and at worst, they suggest, he simply made up long stretches of the book. The U.K. Guardian...

His book Band of Brothers – which chronicled the exploits of one company of US airborne troops in second world war Europe – was turned into a highly praised TV series. But now American historian Professor Stephen Ambrose, who was President Dwight D Eisenhower's official biographer and wrote or edited more than a dozen books about him, is embroiled in a posthumous controversy. It is alleged that he invented many meetings he claimed to have had with Eisenhower, and even fabricated entire interviews with him. The revelations have sent shock waves through the scholarly community in the United States. The...

For more than six decades, Howard Manoian revelled in his heroic reputation as one of the legendary ‘Screaming Eagles’ who landed in Nazi-occupied France on D-Day. The World War Two U.S paratrooper said he was wounded in action twice after initially coming down on Sainte-Mère-Eglise – scene of the ferocious battle on June 6th 1944 depicted in the epic film ‘The Longest Day’, starring John Wayne. But after 84-year-old Mr Manoian came to receive yet another decoration at last month’s 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings – this time the Legion d'Honneur, France’s highest award for bravery – his true...

Just FYI for all Americans. Today is January 21, 2009. It is the 91st birthday of a great American, Major Dick Winters, of Band of Brothers fame. As usual, I have sent Major Winters a happy birthday card. I hope he gets it as the family no longer takes requests or fan mail. I wish him many more.

Two brothers face felony charges stemming from an alleged sexual assault of a woman last week in Austin. A third brother also has been charged with an unrelated felony. Oscar Barrera Sanchez, 27, and Pablo Barrera Sanchez, 24, each face a single felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly forcing sexual intercourse early Wednesday with a 23-year-old woman at their Austin apartment, Mower District Court records show. Oscar Sanchez allegedly first sexually assaulted the woman, and Pablo Sanchez sexually assaulted her immediately after him, according to a criminal complaint. Pablo Sanchez, also known as Lorenzo Andrew Leal, also...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - After parachuting into Europe during World War II, battling along a strip of road called Hell's Highway in the Netherlands and surviving the freezing woods of Bastogne surrounded by German troops, William Guarnere and Edward Heffron do not consider themselves heroes. Guarnere, 84, and Heffron, 84, are among the surviving members of the fabled Easy Company memorialized in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers." To them, the real heroes are the men whose bodies stayed buried in that foreign soil and the mothers who sent their sons off to war, praying for a safe return. It is...

"Band of Brothers" is airing now (Saturday, 12:30PM Central) on The History Channel. Interesting that it should air on the weekend following the airing of the first four parts of Ken Burns'/PBS's "The War". Opinions about the relative merits of the two WWII-ear shows are welcome. ee following posts for URLs for the discussion threads for Parts 1-4 of "The War".

A 31-year-old Florida man was arrested over the weekend in connection with impersonating an aide to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards at a Martha's Vineyard fund-raiser, police said. Secret Service agents assisted in questioning Michael Duga after he allegedly showed a police officer a badge and card that identified him as chief of staff to former senator Max Cleland, a Georgia Democrat, according to a report by the Chilmark Police Department. The identification card Duga presented had his photograph and name engraved on it, police said. Someone named Michael Duga did at one time serve as an aide for Cleland,...

Footage of a daring rescue mission in which four British Royal Marines tried to save a comrade in southern Afghanistan has been released. Lance Corporal Ford, of 45 Commando Royal Marines, had died but the men retrieved his body during last week's incident, strapping themselves to an Apache helicopter's wings in scenes reminiscent of an action film. Colin Hearn, 45, was one of the four marines and one soldier who flew in on the side of the Apache to rescue a fallen comrade. A Royal Marine for 23 years, he was stationed at the Operations Room, the nerve centre of...

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. ...................................................................................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. Welcome to "Warrior Wednesday" Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different...

I just read about this petition to get Major Winters a Medal of Honor, for his action on 6 June 1944 at Brecourt Manor, to disable a battery of German 105mm guns, that were shelling Utah beach. The award was passed by Congress in 2002(HR2790) To award the MOH. It has been stalled by an under secretary of Defence, and has not been sent to Rumsfeld's desk. Major Winters is 87 years old and in ill health with Parkinson's Disease, and a weak heart.

Statement by Maj. Dick Winters Former Commander of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division(title edited for length) WASHINGTON, DC - Maj. Dick Winters (U.S. Army Ret.) issued the following statement regarding the President's support of men and women serving in the armed forces: "The President's actions on behalf of our servicemen and women show his deep respect for all who wear the uniforms of our armed forces. President Bush has overseen a 21 percent increase in military pay since taking office and has ensured that our troops in the field have what they need to win the...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Richard Winters received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism on D-Day, along with accolades in the book, "Band of Brothers." Now, 61 years later, Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., is pushing for the retired Army major from Hershey, Pa., to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest medal for valor in combat. Weldon announced Monday during a D-Day observation service in Folsom, Pa., he plans to file legislation that would upgrade Winters' Distinguished Service Cross — the second highest honor — to the Medal of Honor. This is the second attempt to obtain the medal for...

LUBBOCK -- Less than two years ago, Roy Velez got the worst news a father could get: His oldest son was dead, killed during combat in Iraq. This week, his pain only deepened with news that his youngest son had died in Afghanistan. Military officials notified the Velez family Tuesday of the death of Army Pfc. Andrew Velez, 22. His brother, Army Spc. Jose A. Velez, 23, died in November 2004 in Fallujah when his unit came under fire while clearing an enemy stronghold. "I can't be angry. I feel like my heart's been pulled out," Roy Velez said Tuesday....

Ramadi, Iraq Terrorist-infested Ramadi in the wild west of Iraq is for U.S. troops the meanest place in the country, "the graveyard of the Americans" as graffiti around town boast. There is no better place to observe American troops and the fledgling Iraqi army in combat. That's why I came. When military public affairs asked where I wanted to be embedded, I told them, "the redder, the better" (red means hostile). So they packed me off to Camp Corregidor in eastern Ramadi with the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The 506th's official motto is "Currahee,"...

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2006 – U.S. soldiers from Task Force Band of Brothers scored successes in two operations this week. Soldiers from the task force caught seven suspected insurgents in the act of emplacing explosives yesterday. Soldiers on patrol with Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, observed the suspects digging. As the patrol approached, the suspects tried to flee in two vehicles. The soldiers stopped, searched and detained all the suspects. In one vehicle, a blue truck, soldiers discovered more than 120 mortar rounds, fuses and four missiles. At the site where the...

TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov. 2, 2005 – Task Force Band of Brothers and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) officially took command of military operations in north-central Iraq in a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Danger here Nov. 1. The ceremony marked the transfer of authority from Task Force Liberty and the 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit from New York that has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for a year, to TF Band of Brothers. TF Band of Brothers is composed of two brigade combat teams and a combat aviation brigade of the 101st Airborne Division,...

MONTEBELLO, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2005 – Montebello Civic Association (MCA) and the Village of Montebello recently joined together to honor a couple of local Marines during a community celebration known as Montebello Day 2005. The Associations presented the parents of Cpl. Thomas Greeley and Lance Cpl. Daniel Greeley, two Iraqi war veterans, with a banner signed by the children of Montebello. The children created the banner to honor the Marines as part of National Citizenship Day, under the coordination of Alice DiSanto, a member of Montebello’s Civic Association. “It was a simple idea, really. Whenever you have children gathered, it’s...

After more than 40 wars, Dale Dye knows his stuff--and those are just the battles he has fought in films. The veteran of Platoon , Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers began his military-movie-consulting career after racking up three Purple Hearts in the Marines in Vietnam. At age 60, he tweaks scripts, whips actors into shape, directs, and acts; he plays himself on HBO's Entourage, training the main character to be "Aquaman." Not only does he appear as a general in The Great Raid, starring Benjamin Bratt and based on the World War II mission to save 500 American...

Confiscated lighter spurs frenzied search and its return William "Bill" Wingett gets embarrassed when people refer to him as a hero. Sure, he earned many awards and medals for his service during World War II, including a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. And yes, he was a member of E Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne, known to most Americans as the Band of Brothers. "I deny all that hero stuff," said Wingett, who has managed thus far to dodge the publicity that others have welcomed. But he is grateful his connection to the...

HANAU, Germany — A buzz of anticipation rifled through the crowded gymnasium. In a few minutes, a Band of Brothers six-pack would pop in for a brief visit before heading off for a historic reunion in Bastogne, Belgium. Michael Abrams / S&S Col. Tracy Williams, left, commander of the 104th Area Support Group, talks to Earl McClung, center, and Darrell "Shifty" Powers of "Band of Brothers" fame. McClung, Powers and four other members of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division spoke in Hanau, Germany, on Wednesday. Darrell “Shifty” Powers looked not the least bit fazed...

Steve Gardner was there with John Kerry. He was the forward gunner on Kerry's boat in Vietnam. He watched, worked with, and closely observed Kerry on a daily basis for a significant amount of time in the Combat Zone in Vietnam. Long enough to know the guy was a schmuck and slimeball. He was the one guy Kerry and his operatives could not buy off. Sorry, this is long... but those who are grateful for winning this pivotal election should read this.... Steve Gardner was virtually the only Swift Boat Sailor of Kerry's so-called "Band of Brothers" under Kerry's direct...

This is the story of a military veteran whistleblower. He spoke out against someone he thought was dangerous for the nation, talked to local newspapers, and appeared on talk shows. In return, he was vilified by reporters, threatened by a political operative, fired by his company, and now he's broke. His name is Steve Gardner. He's also known as "The 10th Brother," as in Band of Brothers. He's one of two members of Sen. John Kerry's 12 Vietnam swift boat crew members who refused to stand with Kerry at the Democratic Convention. The other man remained silent. "They said I...

To The Citizens Of Free Republic: We will never ever forget your support and help. Your threads not only encouraged us but kept the truth alive in a period when Big Media sought to suppress the story. Your e-mails and phone calls to Big Media at least shamed them. The thousands of contributions we got from you helped us to organize our website, produce our earliest ads, and keep the light flickering in the darkest of times. The English at Agincourt would have executed Kerry for meeting with the enemy and betraying them. In contrast, we found a true band...

The people over at trentonrevolution have posted a new webAd. It had a very strange impact or atmosphere about it. It takes a little time to down load but it's a far cry from the usual slapstick/juvenile humor of their webtoons. View Band Of Others

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 - For 15 minutes in Milwaukee the other day, Senator John Kerry pummeled his staff with questions about an attack on President Bush, planned for later that morning, that accused the White House of hiding a huge Medicare premium increase. Talking into a speakerphone in his hotel suite, sitting at a table scattered with the morning newspapers, Mr. Kerry instructed aides in Washington to track down the information he said he needed before he could appear on camera. What could have slowed down the premium increase? How much of it was caused by the addition of a...

Mark Steyn quotes:The only difference was that he was now awful with a full supporting cast – the “band of brothers”, Max Cleland, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy, Jeanne Shaheen… When the chorus line momentarily parted and you got a glimpse of the candidate, he still seemed like a plodding single-digit fifth-place guy …… Alas, if you detach the heroism of a war from the morality of it what’s left but braggadocio? Anyone can latch on to that “band of brothers” line from Henry V, but you’d think a chap from a Swiss finishing school would be aware of the rest...

Kerry’s Record of “Commitment” "I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have, and who misled America into Iraq," were Kerry’s words at a recent midnight rally in Ohio; Oh?! Okay, the President doesn’t have to say a word, 2.5 million Vietnam Veterans will. For too many years Kerry’s lapdogs protected him whenever he was challenged, but they have never had to face the collective wrath of those who he betrayed. If commitment is defined in part by ones voting record, then the list below sheds light into...

Wade R. Sanders: Forgotten Heroes December 23, 2003 The crucible of war is often the ultimate test of human courage. From that searing process emerge those few who went beyond duty and displayed significant courage. Some of these men and women are recognized for their courage by enlightened leaders and a grateful nation. That recognition often comes in the form of medals, from Commendation Medals, the Bronze Star, and upward to the Medal of Honor. Others receive medals that celebrate their exceptional accomplishment in the completion of their non-combat assignments. A few of these men and women earned their medals...

Vet with L.B. roots backs Kerry Sanders says hopeful took enemy fire during Vietnam missions. By Greg Mellen Staff writer LONG BEACH — Before the controversy about John Kerry's service in Vietnam, launched by a group called Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth, fully runs its course, a swift boat commander with Long Beach connections wants to reiterate that Kerry was a legitimate war hero. Wade Sanders, who attended Long Beach area high schools, Long Beach City College and graduated from Cal State Long Beach, served with Kerry in Vietnam, took on enemy fire alongside the Democratic presidential nominee and...

Raging debate at another site with a bunch of libs who are claiming that there are only about a half dozen or so Swift Boat vets against Kerry who were actually there with him. I've seen it mentioned that there are actually 64 of them. Is there a list somewhere? Swiftvets.com only tells you the other 17 or so OIC's, but not the others.

A few months back, I bought a DVD set of an old TV variety show, black and white but digitally remastered. A bit too digitally remastered, as it turned out. It would be ungallant to name the lady artiste in question, but in several alarming close-ups it's all too clear she's come back from lunch a little the worse for wear, and in one scene she looks as if she's just been woken up after sleeping in the park for a week. Not her fault. The make-up guy was making her look good enough for 1960 monochrome UHF lines. He...

More than any presidential candidate since George McGovern, John Kerry is a creature of the anti-Vietnam war movement."We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother." Henry V "And in this journey, I am accompanied by an extraordinary band of brothers. . . . Our band of brothers doesn't march because of who we are as veterans, but because of what we learned as soldiers." John Kerry's acceptance speech at the Democratic convention, July 29, 2004. JOHN KERRY is entitled to appropriate a phrase from Shakespeare. He...

Senator Kerry's guys say this and Admiral Hoffman's guys say that. So, who are the men of Kerry's 'Band of Brothers' that are backing up the ever-evolving myth of Kerry in Viet Nam and why do they do the things they do?

John Kerry and his supporters want us to believe their Band of Brothers and to ignore the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Although you've put up a gallant fight to suppress the truth, you can't have it both ways. It's become increasingly apparent the mainstream media (with a few exceptions) is trying to protect John Kerry from embarrassing facts about his tour in Vietnam. Exhibit number one: Your refusal to ask John Kerry to execute Standard Form 180 to open up his military records. Now this could be embarrassing, but isn't it better to have the facts out on the...

John F. Kerry's campaign for president is imploding. And he knows it. The anti-war candidate went public as a pro-war candidate this week, and the members of his beloved "Band of Brothers" are exposing a whole book's worth of ugly lies. And they've got details, evidence, footnotes, signed affidavits and witnesses who back up their claims. Kerry himself bestowed immense credibility on his "Band of Brothers" when he used a picture of some of them in his campaign ad titled "Lifetime." Essentially, Kerry made Vietnam, and these men, the centerpiece of his campaign. Of course, that was when he thought...

In Rush's closing segment he said that he just received a story or document saying that lawyers for both the Kerry and Edwards teams were sending out letters to TV stations warning them about showing the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth advertisement!

Three Vietnam veterans who were held captive for years in the prison known as the "Hanoi Hilton" revealed Tuesday that their Communist jailers repeatedly cited John Kerry's 1971 Senate testimony branding them as war criminals to justify threatening them with execution and drive down their morale. "These statements [by Kerry] ... were proof I deserved to be punished," former POW Air Force pilot Jim Warner told United Press International. During every interrogation session, said Warner, his Vietnamese jailers echoed Kerry's charges that he was a war criminal. "The memory of that was still pretty fresh in my mind, and I...

I was just wondering if anybody knows who the 13 people are who arrived in Boston with Kerry yesterday and are a big part of the convention today. Very little has been released about the supposed "crewmates" of Kerry, though the media keeps acting like he commmanded them all on his boat. Well, according to an AP article via Yahoo News that at least goes a bit further in describing who they are, ONLY "SEVERAL" of the 13 actually served with Kerry: "Kerry took a slow ride across Boston Harbor in a water taxi with 13 veterans, including several who...

CNSNews.com) - Some of John Kerry's former swift boat crewmates will have a high-profile role at the Democratic National Convention later this month, as they attempt to portray Kerry as a decorated Vietnam War hero. But an even larger number of veterans say that's not the case. As news spread Tuesday of the convention's framework, members of a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth dismissed the Democrats' plans. On the last night of the convention, an undisclosed number of Vietnam veterans plan to endorse Kerry. "Preceding John Kerry and playing an important role will be his swift boat crewmates,...

Bush has a fork in him. Look at the polls. You see them. What makes you think it's gonna get any better for the appointed one? Only the dedicated neo-cons support this clown. Your boy is toast. I hope you guys won't do anything rash after he loses horribly on November 2. President Kerry will make this country much better. Just keep that in mind and you'll be fine. Better yet, jump on the Kerry bandwagon and support a return to peace and prosperity. Come on guys, I'm on your side.