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D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 06 Jun 2018 14:35
by Mad Trapper
Has this already been posted?
If so forgive me.
I completely forgot today is the anniversary of D-Day.
The Sacrifice those young men gave, I cant put into words.
I remember back in 1985, I was just discharged from FT Bragg and my Airborne unit.
I was back home, was standing in line at a local bank where I had just opened a checking account.
Small, quiet older gentleman, around 60/65 yrs old, was standing behind me, softly tapped me on the shoulder, telling me he was a brother paratrooper,(He parachuted behind enemy lines on D-Day), he noticed the airborne insignia on my jacket.
He asked how many jumps I had, told him about 12 or 13 before I tore a disk and shattered an ankle.
He replied, I never jumped once, but I was thrown out of the plane about five times.
We both had a good laugh.
He was a very quiet,soft spoken gentleman, and was extremely humble.

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 06 Jun 2018 14:44
by TinMan
I always keep this as a day to Honor those that went before me.

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 06 Jun 2018 14:45
by Ranch Dog
Yes, thank you for the reminder. Got to laugh at that fellow's airborne experience!

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 06 Jun 2018 16:22
by Mad Trapper
That gentleman had me laughing.
He was a real Hero, and tough as nails, they are almost all gone now.
just figured up the time since 1985, it has been 33 years.
If he is still with us he would be in his 90s now.

I was in walmart one morning, checking out at the cashiers, several elderly men, probably in their 80s were sitting in those benches across the front of the store across from checkout, one of them called me over and asked when and where I served.
And I am standing there with a long beard, knee high shooters boots,canvas pants,etc.
I said how did you know I was in the military, they said they were Korean War Vets and that (we can tell.)

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 07 Jun 2018 17:44
by Ranch Dog
Yep, they are about all gone.

The father of my best friend when I was in high school was a 101st D-Day guy and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. Never had much to say about it until I joined the Army.

Been taking my dad to the VA Clinics as of late, I've distanced myself from the veteran experience but speaking with other veterans is something that I've come to enjoy. I enrolled in college in '73 on the GI Bill and thought I was having an out of body experience. All the people my age were so strange. At the time, I thought it was probably me, but now I know it was them.

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 08 Jun 2018 12:47
by LowKey
My brother was visiting Normandy this week and sent a couple of photos that he took.

Utah Beach
IMG_4917.jpg

Church at St Mere Eglise (in the movie, Red Buttons was hung up on the steeple.
IMG_4920.jpg

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 08 Jun 2018 14:41
by Ranch Dog
Thanks for posting them!

Re: D-Day 06/06/1944

Posted: 08 Jun 2018 16:01
by Mad Trapper
yes, thank you LowKey.
gives me chills thinking about what took place on that beach 74 yrs ago.
Makes my everyday problems appear real small.