June 6, 1944

[willie]

Normandy. Liberation of France. Invasion of Europe. My uncle jumped with the 101st Airborne a few hours before June 6th. He fought here, at Market Garden, and at the Battle of the the Bulge. He received three purple hearts. He made three jumps. His brother went ashore with the Big Red One.

[Willard]

Appreciate his service very much. My maternal grandfather was also at D-Day with the 29th ID and earned his PH there.

[Welder]

My Pastor's Dad, who he never met, was buried there.

[blues]

Every year on June 6th I wake up feeling humbled and grateful.

I haven't the words to say what I feel about those brave men. All of them, those who survived, and especially those who did not.

[Duelist]

My grandfather crossed the secured Normandy beaches on the 8th with one of the 3rd Army’s infantry divisions. Lots of action. Battle of the Bulge. 3 PH, 1 Bronze Star.

[Cory]

It was not in vain.

[Borderland]

My dad was part of operation Torch in N Africa, 1st ID. He talked about the campaign in Sicily. Somehow he missed D day but was in Europe for the rest of the war. He made it home, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

[Lex Luthier]

This is also the anniversary of the Liberation of Rome. Uncle James - grandma's kid brother- was a combat engineer who participated in the Anzio landing and fought his way up Italy, including Monte Cassino.
On this day in 1944, he was with a mortar team at the outskirts of the city; they had either a dud round or took counter fire, and he was the only survivor from the squad.
That ended the war for him; it was 6 months before he was able to leave the hospital. He passed in 2019.

They were such determined people.

72428

Field above Juno Beach, Normandy, 6/6/2019, taken by a Canadian friend who was there with his dad to commemorate the 75th anniversary. Dad was a CANLOAN officer leading a unit of The Gordon Highlanders.

[Suvorov]

72438

I read this to my boys as we raised the flag in our front yard.

[SAWBONES]

Every year on June 6th I wake up feeling humbled and grateful.

I haven't the words to say what I feel about those brave men. All of them, those who survived, and especially those who did not.

Amen to that.

[luckyman]

My grandfather crossed the secured Normandy beaches on the 8th with one of the 3rd Army’s infantry divisions. Lots of action. Battle of the Bulge. 3 PH, 1 Bronze Star.

Same for my dad, except he was in the 5th infantry division.

[NWshooter]

One of the main reasons France doesn’t speak German

72439

[Lon]

This is also the anniversary of the Liberation of Rome. Uncle James - grandma's kid brother- was a combat engineer who participated in the Anzio landing and fought his way up Italy, including Monte Cassino.
On this day in 1944, he was with a mortar team at the outskirts of the city; they had either a dud round or took counter fire, and he was the only survivor from the squad.
That ended the war for him; it was 6 months before he was able to leave the hospital. He passed in 2019.

They were such determined people.

72428

Field above Juno Beach, Normandy, 6/6/2019, taken by a Canadian friend who was there with his dad to commemorate the 75th anniversary. Dad was a CANLOAN officer leading a unit of The Gordon Highlanders.

For the last week I’ve been doing a bunch of research about the Sicily/Italy/Aegean campaigns - I help edit/research for Phil Ward’s Raiding Forces series. Truly inspiring stuff. And truly WTF worthy sometimes when looking at command decisions that were made. Do you remember what unit/division he was in?

[Lex Luthier]

For the last week I’ve been doing a bunch of research about the Sicily/Italy/Aegean campaigns - I help edit/research for Phil Ward’s Raiding Forces series. Truly inspiring stuff. And truly WTF worthy sometimes when looking at command decisions that were made. Do you remember what unit/division he was in?

No. I will contact my cousin and what he knows about his dad's service records. Is there some way I can do that research myself based on names?

.

[pangloss]

Every year on June 6th I wake up feeling humbled and grateful.

I haven't the words to say what I feel about those brave men. All of them, those who survived, and especially those who did not.

We visited Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery in 2018. Of course I knew the story of D Day before ever thinking about that trip, but I didn't truly grasp the magnitude of the sacrifice until I visited. None of my relations participated in the invasion, but it was a very emotional day. My family will need to go back when our kids are old enough to understand the significance of the place.

72454

[S Jenks]

I don’t have any known relatives who were a part of D-Day operations but my paternal grandfather did lie about his age to enlist in the Canadian Army at 16 or so.

From what I’ve been told by family, he was a proud member of the Canadian Army’s Royal Highland Regiment, or Black Watch, and was gearing up for deployment to Europe when his mother (my great grandmother) dropped a dime and notified his command staff of his actual age.

He was removed from the unit and reassigned to a training role, where in a weird twist he somehow ended up with his drafted older brother under his tutelage in some forgotten capacity.

Which is selfishly fine by me as the unit he likely would have deployed with suffered a 94% casualty rate when the went up against a Panzer SS unit at the Battle of Verrières Ridge.

[Suvorov]

My dad was part of operation Torch in N Africa, 1st ID. He talked about the campaign in Sicily. Somehow he missed D day but was in Europe for the rest of the war. He made it home, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

The operations in North Africa that lead to Italy and then Southern France and ending in Austria were no cakewalk for certain. Some of the toughest fighting in the ETO.

Massive respect!

[Coyotesfan97]

My great Uncle was a Lieutenant in the Super Sixth 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion in Patton’s Third Army in a Tank Destroyer and rode across France and Germany. Silver Star 2 Bronze Stars 2PH. He never really talked to any family about what he’d seen and done. He did tell my Dad what it felt like when he was wounded.

I was going through some old family papers and found his award citation for the Silver Star and a letter he’d written home which showed his rank and unit. He wrote about liberating POWs and slave laborers and the joy on their faces when they were free. He said it made being there worth it.

I wish I’d had a chance to talk about his experiences with him. RIP Uncle Ronnie.

[Cheap Shot]

Every year on June 6th I wake up feeling humbled and grateful.

I haven't the words to say what I feel about those brave men. All of them, those who survived, and especially those who did not.

This

Much RESPECT

[Coyotesfan97]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210606/1c079c26792e9103f06bdd48abbadc22.jpg

This letter was written April 25th, 1945


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[Suvorov]

That’s awesome! I have had a special interest in the Tank Destroyer Battalions. In fact I’m wearing a Seek-Strike-Destroy t-shirt right now. I just finished up an excellent book about the 601st. The TD saga is a fascinating story of how the best laid plans never survive contact with the enemy but the line soldiers make things work despite the odds.

On 6Jun44 my Grandfather and Father were spending time in a forced labor camp in Germany and a great uncle was flying B17s over Germany. I often times wonder if he dropped one of the bombs that landed on my Fathers camp?

Luckily it was these American boys that liberated my Fathers camp and not the Red Army or else I would not be here today.

May their memory be eternal!

[Coyotesfan97]

That’s awesome! I have had a special interest in the Tank Destroyer Battalions. In fact I’m wearing a Seek-Strike-Destroy t-shirt right now. I just finished up an excellent book about the 601st. The TD saga is a fascinating story of how the best laid plans never survive contact with the enemy but the line soldiers make things work despite the odds.

On 6Jun44 my Grandfather and Father were spending time in a forced labor camp in Germany and a great uncle was flying B17s over Germany. I often times wonder if he dropped one of the bombs that landed on my Fathers camp?

Luckily it was these American boys that liberated my Fathers camp and not the Red Army or else I would not be here today.

May their memory be eternal!

Have you read The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide? It’s the history of Tank Destroyers before and urging WWII. I read it before I knew what Battalion my Great Uncle was in. I need to reread it.

[Suvorov]

Have you read The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide? It’s the history of Tank Destroyers before and urging WWII. I read it before I knew what Battalion my Great Uncle was in. I need to reread it.

Actually that was my first book delving into the history of the TD battalions. Read it shortly after it came out in paperback and like you is on my reread list.

I’m currently working on a 1/35 scale M18.

[Coyotesfan97]

The Hellcat! I hope to see some pictures when it’s done.

[Suvorov]

The Hellcat! I hope to see some pictures when it’s done.

Do you know what TDs your Uncle was on? It seems units either loved or hated the Hellcat.

[Coyotesfan97]

Do you know what TDs your Uncle was on? It seems units either loved or hated the Hellcat.

I was told the M10 Wolverine. Your post inspired me. I just ordered a M10 model kit:cool:

[john c]

Deleted

[revchuck38]

Actually that was my first book delving into the history of the TD battalions. Read it shortly after it came out in paperback and like you is on my reread list.

I’m currently working on a 1/35 scale M18.

Kareem Abdul-Jubar (sp?) wrote a book about one of the TD battalions, I think I read it when I was mobilized for Desert Storm. It’d be a good addition to your reading list.

[Lon]

No. I will contact my cousin and what he knows about his dad's service records. Is there some way I can do that research myself based on names?

.

You’d be surprised what you can find w a google search. I’d start a his name, world war 2, Italy and monte casino. I’ve been amazed what you can find w a unit name.

Like this page about the 509th PIB: https://www.509thgeronimo.org/f509thtimeline.html

There are other more lengthy ways, but I haven’t had to do them for the research I’ve done since I’ve mostly been researching units, unit commanders, and equipment/weapons.

[Le Français]

Several of my very close family members were living in occupied France 77 years ago, and I am speechlessly grateful to those who took part in the invasion.

[blues]

Several of my very close family members were living in occupied France 77 years ago, and I am speechlessly grateful to those who took part in the invasion.

I've only met a couple of them, while visiting Paris, but I also had family there. One, who died shortly before I visited, went on to follow in the footsteps of his adoptive father, with a lifelong career in the U.S. Army.

[deputyG23]

72465
This is my second cousin on my Mother’s side.
KIA on 22 June 1944.
Thirty-four years old.
Bet the teen privates called him”Pop”.

[Duelist]

Same for my dad, except he was in the 5th infantry division.

Grandpa was 79th ID.

[Sero Sed Serio]

72472

My Grandfather on my Father's side was awarded the Bronze Star for service in France during the invasion (my understanding was that he came ashore after the initial June 6 invasion). I haven't been able to find a citation or any details, but my Father has told me that he was in transportation and the medal was for keeping supply chains moving under fire. I haven't been able to find any information about the "Break Through" pin either, but assume it's a campaign/operation associated with the push towards Germany. His Bronze Star and ribbons/pins are one of my most prized possessions.

A good friend and I visited Omaha Beach in 2018, and it is truly hallowed ground. I was very proud to see some many American flags being flown at private residences in the area, and someone played the Star Spangled Banner at Les Braves Memorial. We got there too late to visit the American Cemetery, but the tidal conditions were essentially identical to those at the D-Day landing, so we got the opportunity to see things from the perspective of both the Allies and the Axis, including from inside a bunker.

I had long believed it, but actually being there at Omaha really reiterated how much they deserve the title "The Greatest Generation."

[revchuck38]

My Grandfather on my Father's side was awarded the Bronze Star for service in France during the invasion (my understanding was that he came ashore after the initial June 6 invasion). I haven't been able to find a citation or any details, but my Father has told me that he was in transportation and the medal was for keeping supply chains moving under fire. I haven't been able to find any information about the "Break Through" pin either, but assume it's a campaign/operation associated with the push towards Germany. His Bronze Star and ribbons/pins are one of my most prized possessions.

That's the unit crest for the 117th Infantry Regiment (https://www.usamm.com/products/117th-regiment-unit-crest-break-through). It's not an award, it's an item you wear on your dress uniform or headgear to show which unit you're a part of.

[john c]

72465
This is my second cousin on my Mother’s side.
KIA on 22 June 1944.
Thirty-four years old.
Bet the teen privates called him”Pop”.

The 4th Mechanized Cavalry Group landed in France on D-Day, but on islands 6000 yards off Utah Beach. They subsequently went ashore and fought a bloody battle at Cap de la Hague. Looks like this is where he may have lost his life.

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[deputyG23]

Do you know where he lost his life?


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Not sure exactly.
4th ID landed at Utah Beach.
Might do a little online digging to see where his unit would have been on 22 June.

[Sero Sed Serio]

That's the unit crest for the 117th Infantry Regiment (https://www.usamm.com/products/117th-regiment-unit-crest-break-through). It's not an award, it's an item you wear on your dress uniform or headgear to show which unit you're a part of.

I was hoping someone here might have some insight. Thank you for the clarification!

[john c]

Not sure exactly.
4th ID landed at Utah Beach.
Might do a little online digging to see where his unit would have been on 22 June.

See my updated response above.


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