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Lets us not forget what happened 80 years ago today.
I personally knew three men who hit the beach at Omaha.
When I was about 10 years old I met Jack Kuhn. Decades past before I made the connection. Jack was first over the top at Point du Hoc. Most of us were raised under the wing of such men. they feared nothing after the war. We were safe.
Proudly remember meeting/befriending a humble, quiet man in the early ‘70’s. Learned he was one of the paratroopers dropped behind the lines. I pumped him with questions but he really only responded about me asking about his reserve chute. He immediately started laughing…. “Boy, you don’t need a reserve when you jump from 400 feet!”
So, I must admit I saw "Pride" I had a negative and surprised thought as the word seems to have been hijacked. Now, getting back to the topic. Thanks for reminding us all what pride, the right kind of pride, really means. I had two great uncles (brothers) who were in WWII that went off to different Army units. After fighting in the European theater for a year or so they both went on to D-Day. They later met up somewhere after that as the Army advanced (hadn't seen each other since they went off to basic). They didn't talk much about it but one told me that after the war in Europe ended, he was on a boat to Japan when they dropped the bomb. So they didn't go fight in Japan. He spent over 2 years fighting. Was a Corporal when it was over; he did later get recognized for his actions with a Bronze Star for valor (that meant a lot back then). Amazing. Yep, it was a really humble kind of pride (if that's a thing, and I think it is).
Last edited by vjjack04; Jun 6, 2024 at 09:40 AM.
Reason: clarity
A salute, on this anniversary, to all who fought for or otherwise contributed to the Allied cause in WW2. Their sacrifices are probably difficult to imagine for those of us who weren't alive, and old enough to comprehend, during those years. Having had the benefit of dialog with a few of those people, I think I have some sense of it all, but could never have the full measure of it. The sheer enormity of the effort that was required to defeat the Axis powers boggles my mind and increases my respect for the sacrifices made by all.
I would like to think that today's young folks would step up in a similar manner under similar circumstances. I'm sure we all hope that day never comes, but we seem to be witnessing the development of a 21st century Axis of evil.
One of my uncles was in the first wave on June 6th. He was my mother's brother-in-law and I lost track of him after my aunt divorced him in the early 80's, but I did once find a newspaper interview with him about D-Day from June 2004, on the 60th anniversary of the landings. He died in 2010, but not only did he survive D-Day and the rest of the war, he also out lived both my aunt and his son, my cousin.
My father was a sergeant in the Quartermaster Corps and didn't land at Normandy until a couple weeks after D-Day. As a member of the Third Army under Patton, he did participate in just about every major battle of the war including The Battle of the Bulge, the Third Army's initial crossing of the Rhine and the liberation of the Ohrdruf concentration camp. After the war my father went to Wharton and after graduation quickly rose through the corporate world. He always made a point to hire and promote veterans resulting in my getting to meet and know some amazing individuals. Among them were a Navy flyer who was shot down and spent 2 or 3 days floating in the Pacific before being spotted by a PBY. A pilot who flew P-40's for the US Army in China making ace by scoring 5 kills and 3 probables. A German sergeant who was a guard at a Luftwaffe prisoner of war camp. A member of the Coast Guard who made multiple trips across the Atlantic serving on transport ships. And Douglas Bader, the British ace who was probably most famous for being an RAF pilot who flew with two artificial legs (my father got him put on the board of directors for a company in England my father was connected with). He also employed many other veterans from all branches of the military and from many eras. Like my father and uncle, most of them are gone now though I did just hear from the Coast Guard sailor, he just turner 102 and is still going strong!
My father made many trips back to Europe over the years, visiting places he traveled through during the war, and was at Normandy for the 50th Anniversary celebration.
I was born 20 years after D-Day. I cannot begin to imagine, much less understand, what those brave men went through. It's simply far outside the realm of my experience.
My dad (P47 crew chief) spent all night going over his plane to make sure it was ready. He watched it take off and then went to lay down. He said that when you looked up the sky was constantly filled with planes. He slept a little while and learned his plane had been back a couple times to rearm and refuel. He crossed over the channel shortly thereafter as they established an airfield in France. He continued moving up as the front lines progressed ending up near Berchtesgaden. He made his beds out of belly drop tank and filled them with hay. Was much warmer than a cot.
These stories are priceless. Here is at least one I must
tell. While in high school circa 1970 I was fortunate to have
history teacher who left a lasting impression. His name was
Bernie Kyper. We often heard heard his fellow teachers
refer to him as “ gunner”. A man of medium stature,
he wore a crew cut and confident smile to go with the
white shirt and black tie.. The times were such that if
one of us boys wernt exactly paying attention in class “gunner”
would bark out a command, saunter back the aisle,
raise you from your seat by your collar and place a well aimed loafer to your posterior.. lesson applied, lesson
learned. Some years ago I looked him up in the small
town of my youth. He belongs to the fog of history now.
I was flattered that he remembered me after 40!years.
He invited me in for a beer and I accepted.. I reminded
him of something he told our class on our last day. He
said “ as you young people get older you will see Russia
and China slowly become more free while your own country
will become less so. God bless you and do well in life.”
He looked through me with a light in his blue eyes which I cant describe and asked “ was I right?” Yes sir you were!
I asked him why his nickname was gunner. He said
he had been a gunner on an SPD Dive Bomber in the pacific.
I asked if he had seen combat and he simply said “ yes I did.”. I shall never forget this man. A true profile of dignity and courage. Rest in peace Gunner.
He said that when you looked up the sky was constantly filled with planes.
My Dad was in the Army, Signal Corps, and was in London. He said one shift of planes would be taking off and forming up to head out, at one altitude, and the returning group (what lucky ones returned) were circling waiting to land, at another level. He said the waves of sound coming down was something that just cannot be put into words. I have been to air shows where one or two of those old bombers flies by and it raises the hairs on your arms. I just can't imagine hundreds, or thousands, all at once in one place.
My dad and his younger brother were there in the same Infantry Division and Regiment. My uncle was KIA on 3 July 1944. My dad was wounded at St. Lo and returned home after the War. Dad never talked much about it. These men and women from the Greatest Generation will always be my heroes. We owe them so much. I am fortunate to have been so close to them. Thanks to them we have the freedom to enjoy our Corvettes. It's good to hear the stories posted here.
This is the last picture of my Great Uncle Tommy Wolford and his platoon. He was my grandmothers brother....
They jumped on 05-June near St Mer Eglise.
Tommy became a permanent resident of France battling a German Tank on 13-June.
I was honored to meet and interact with the screaming eagles, the 101st guys who were in the band of brothers. Knew guarnere's son Gene due to my 64 buick riviera. Got many chances to talk and interview the guys while they were making the band of brothers and then later at a few of their reunions. Had some great first hand interviews with they guys who were there, from D day to the eagle's nest
I am quietly weeping today for those who gave all on this date 80 years ago. There is no possible way to repay the debt we owe them.
The best I know how to do is to pay my respects for what those members of The Greatest Generation endured and achieved.
To that end, my bride and I signed up for a ride on the Collings Foundation B17 Flying Fortress, "909" back in 2015 as our way of showing our respect. For us, it wasn't a joy ride. It was our simple, humble way of understanding what WWII airmen endured.
It was every bit the emotional experience we thought it might be. The plane was noisy, it vibrated constantly, there were no creature comforts. It was impossible to imagine what went through the minds of the members of The Greatest Generation who boarded these planes knowing that the odds of them returning alive were not good.
"909" no longer exists. It crashed and burned about 18 months after my bride and I experienced it. There are still a precious few B17s flying. If ever you get a chance to experience one, in the strongest terms possible, I urge you to do so.
Pride
