Let us not forget D-Day

[cec1]

. . . probably not a memory point for many here, but I’ll note today as “D Day.” My father was a paratrooper, landing behind German lines in the area of St Mére Église the night before arrival of the Allies’ sea invasion. With his Company, they secured a bridge that was vital to German troop movements between inland France & the Normandy coast, particularly Utah Beach . . . and then were instrumental in securing key control points along the coast. In renowned histories of the film. “The Longest Day,” & Tom Brokaw’s historic “The Greatest Generation,” the history of the fight of brave fighting men & women in this period is memorialized. From St Mére Église, my Dad landed in Casablanca & engaged in fighting through North Africa before returning to fight in Normandy, Holland, & Belgium as part of the largest & bloodiest battle in World War II, the “Battle of the Bulge.” He subsequently marched — with thousands of soldiers — into Paris as part of a “Liberation of Paris“ parade in August 1944. His Company bivouac’d in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne.

 

[amyb]

. . . probably not a memory point for many here, but I’ll note today as “D Day.” My father was a paratrooper, landing behind German lines in the area of St Mére Église the night before arrival of the Allies’ sea invasion. With his Company, they secured a bridge that was vital to German troop movements between inland France & the Normandy coast, particularly Utah Beach . . . and then were instrumental in securing key control points along the coast. In renowned histories of the film. “The Longest Day,” & Tom Brokaw’s historic “The Greatest Generation,” the history of the fight of brave fighting men & women in this period is memorialized. From St Mére Église, my Dad landed in Casablanca & engaged in fighting through North Africa before returning to fight in Normandy, Holland, & Belgium as part of the largest & bloodiest battle in World War II, the “Battle of the Bulge.” He subsequently marched — with thousands of soldiers — into Paris as part of a “Liberation of Paris“ parade in August 1944. His Company bivouac’d in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne.

So grateful for your Dad’s service and glad you shared with us.

 

[etx]

Can’t have too many reminders. Thanks Dennis. Important to keep these stories alive.

 

[Saline Man]

Without D-Day St Barth may not be a French island today.

 

[Cwater]

If it weren’t for D-Day, my parents might not have ever immigrated to the states.

 

[elgreaux]

. . . probably not a memory point for many here, but I’ll note today as “D Day.” My father was a paratrooper, landing behind German lines in the area of St Mére Église the night before arrival of the Allies’ sea invasion. With his Company, they secured a bridge that was vital to German troop movements between inland France & the Normandy coast, particularly Utah Beach . . . and then were instrumental in securing key control points along the coast. In renowned histories of the film. “The Longest Day,” & Tom Brokaw’s historic “The Greatest Generation,” the history of the fight of brave fighting men & women in this period is memorialized. From St Mére Église, my Dad landed in Casablanca & engaged in fighting through North Africa before returning to fight in Normandy, Holland, & Belgium as part of the largest & bloodiest battle in World War II, the “Battle of the Bulge.” He subsequently marched — with thousands of soldiers — into Paris as part of a “Liberation of Paris“ parade in August 1944. His Company bivouac’d in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne.

My father was in an infantry division and landed not too far behind your dad.. he subsequently served in France most of 1944-1946 - he got back to the US on April 1 (or so) 1946 and claims my mother was waiting on the dock with the rabbi to marry them - they had been engaged for 4 years by then - she says she gave him a few weeks to change his mind and they were married on April 14, 1946.. he passed away on their 59th wedding anniversary in 2005

 

[amyb]

If it weren’t for D-Day, my parents might not have ever immigrated to the states.

If it were not for D-Day, many more of us would sprechen zie Deutsch.

(Speak German)

 

[cec1]

My father was in an infantry division and landed not too far behind your dad.. he was subsequently serving in France most of 1944-1946 - he got back to the US on April 1 (or so) 1946 and claims my mother was waiting on the dock with the rabbi to marry them - they had been engaged for 4 years bu then - she says she gave him a few weeks to change his mind and they were married on April 14, 1946.. he passed away on their 59th wedding anniversary in 2005

A lovely story and great history, Ellen . . . very nice to read of their long married life!

 

[davesmom]

An amazing story and we could not be more grateful for our service people . Thank you to all who have and continue to serve.

We spent August 25,1994 with our French friends in Paris at a parade for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris where the people were in costume and the original busses were parading up the Boulevards. The French people we were with had lived through the war and anyone who had experienced such terror really brought to life the incredible years in France. May all who had experienced such life rest in peace, knowing that the French people we knew and many we did not, acknowledged to us how grateful they were for the Americans such as Dennis’s father.