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CU Guru [1033]
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D Day landing
Jun 6, 2019, 6:03 PM
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My dad landed at Omaha beach on June 10 as part of the 165th Engineers. His battalion was later assigned directly to Patton"s HQ and spent the war building bridges across France and Germany.
He built a bridge under cover of darkness one night. Next morning Patton arrived in first tank, inspected the bridge, paid compliments, and got back in tank to head toward Paris. Patton was everything everyone says about him. A real character.
Dad was guarding a bridge one rainy day when Ike's black Packard drove up. Ike rolled down the window and asked him how it was doing. My dad said, "They tell me war is hell sir, so all things considered I must be doing well." Ike laughed and ask if they were getting food and dry clothes. Ike said "you boys are moving so fast we are struggling to keep supplies moving to keep up".
Dad then went on later to open the door at Dakow concentration camp to free the remaining Jewish prisoners there. He never told me about that until I was like 40 and living in Germany (1992). He came to visit me in Germany and started to open up more. I know why he never told. It was too gruesome.
We lost Dad in 2011, but I can't describe how proud I am of him.
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All-TigerNet [10460]
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Re: D Day landing
Jun 6, 2019, 7:17 PM
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I know what you mean about not opening up. My father made three D-Day landings, North Africa, Sicily and Anzio. He seldom talked about the war, particularly Anzio.
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All-In [25870]
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Re: D Day landing
Jun 6, 2019, 7:17 PM
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I'm proud of him too and don't even know you. Most of the WWII veterans I knew would not talk about it either. I think they saw too much death everywhere they went. Even the ones who are surviving today get choked up talking about it. There will never be another generation as brave as that generation.
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Walk-On [122]
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Re: D Day landing
Jun 6, 2019, 8:13 PM
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Thanks to all your family service, very proud of them all. Served in the Old Guard during the VN war as a casket bearer in Arlington, buried a lot of great men. Have really enjoyed all the celebrations today honoring all our veterans
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Rock Defender [53]
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Re: D Day landing
Jun 6, 2019, 10:06 PM
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thank you for sharing. god bless
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All-In [25381]
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While stationed in Germany 50 years ago, I visited that
Jun 7, 2019, 4:39 AM
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concentration camp outside of Munich, as well as Patton's gravesite in the American Military Cemetery near Hamm, Luxembourg.
Both were humbling and moving experiences, but, perhaps, the visit to Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy has remained steadfast all these years. There the cemetery faces westward toward the United States, and I couldn't help but seeing those thousands of silent eyes staring homeward.
The thoughts of each oft times still brings tears.
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CU Medallion [67659]
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Re: D Day landing- almost all of them
Jun 7, 2019, 7:54 AM
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did amazing brave deeds in the war but wont talk about them or the horrors they saw. Most were so young when they did this too. Just an amazing group of people and I am sad every time I hear of one of them passing.
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