Omaha Beach, June 6 1944, 1st Wave - Would You Do it?

[Thernlund]

...thank God I will never be in that situation.

Never say never. Stay sharp.


-T.

 

[Cosmoline]

Do you have any documentation to support your claim that the video contains "false footage from various drills at other locations."?

The fact that most of the shots are carefully blocked with good lighting, showing closeups of the soldiers. Not the sort of thing you have time to do when it hits the fan. Also you have to understand that anything from those animals is just about as trustworthy as Bowling for Columbine. In fact Moore got a lot of his ideas from them. They were masters of agitprop. Heck, they even make it appear as if they WON THE BATTLE, showing Germans on a beach with some derelect landing craft LOL Given the source, the burden is on the proponent of that video to prove each and every frame is real. Otherwise we can assume it's nazi garbage.

As far as the losses, they were nothing to sneeze at but given the number of men landing and the scope of the invasion they were extremely light and lopsided. People looking back tend to overplay the carnage of D-Day, which as you can see in this thread leads other people to make stupid claims about how we let our men down. If things had truly gone south there would have been a lot more than a few thousand dead on our side.

I've even heard internet myths about how German MG-42 crews suffered from psychological distress because they shot so many thousands of GI's on D-Day. This is of course complete hogwash. It appears to be taken from accounts of Finnish soldiers during the Winter War who did indeed have distress because they killed thousands of Soviet troops. Whatever else can be said about the American war effort, we did not treat our men like fodder.

At the same time we tend to overlook or ignore engagements where we lost a much higher percentage of the invading force. D-Day's significance does not come from a large number of Allied dead, but from opening up the second front. In a military sense, in spite of some screwups, it was one of the most one-sided and decisive landings during that war. Those involved deserve to be recognized as heroes not because of how many men died but because of how many men DID NOT die.

That said, I still wouldn't want to jump into the middle of that battle or any other. A better place would be Hitler's rooms in about 1934.

 

[bruss01]

I can't believe all the people who would do this just for fun.

My answer is, I'm standing in front of a time machine with a choice to go back and participate in a 50% fatal endeavor that has already been WON, vs. sit down and watch news reels of it in my living room, would I GO or STAY? IMHO you'd have to be suicidal or crazy to go when you have the choice not to and no compelling reason to risk your life.

However, strand me involuntarily in the 1940's, have my straw come up in the draft, I am trained equipped and sent off to Brittain and know that on the following morning I would be put on a "duck" and dropped on the beach at Normandy with the 1st wave, would I stick it out and do my duty, or sneak off and desert the night before?

I would stick it out and do my duty, and hopefully MAYBE live to tell grand kids about it.

 

[ozwyn]

History and popular culture has deemed that WWII might have been one of the most "just" wars in all of history.

If going there meant some guy who does/would have a wife, kids and grandkids and do well gets to live, then yeah.

But I have no dependants, and that's a situation that wouldn't apply to everyone else here.

its not just a national duty, or perhaps a moral duty, but if I knew I was also saving a life or two in the process....

now, why the heck they would want a fat internet keyboard commando with crappy knees and a bum heart is another story...

 

[M60]

I will not risk my life for this government. In WWII, I would have but I don't believe the country is worth defending now.

You don't do it for your country. You do it for your brothers next to you. You do anything to not let them down and they the same for you.

-Mark.

 

[Robert Hairless]

I don't believe the country is worth defending now.

But you live here and take whatever you can get from it--and from the rest of us.

 

[Shung]

I have been to that beach... (even more impressive is la pointe du hoc...)

I certainly cannot tell I would have gone knowing what i know... But I hope so !

 

[RoadkingLarry]

Quote:
I will not risk my life for this government. In WWII, I would have but I don't believe the country is worth defending now.

I don't even know what to say about that.

I know what to say to that but I'd rather not get banned from THR.


Now as far as would I go back in a time machine and make the landing? Heck NO, I'd be more worried about changing some small thing and altering the time line and making us loose the war.

 

[atblis]

Nope

 

[mojohand]

I was thinking about something similar to this the other day. I don't think today's Americans would answer the call like they did during WWII. A lot would to be sure, but not the huge voluntary force that was seen then. There doesn't seem to be the patriotism anymore...too much enemy sympathizing, trying to see it form the enemy's point of view, questioning the motives, etc.

I guess there's a reason they're called the "greatest generation"

 

[RioShooter]

There sure are quite a few armchair commandoes ready to storm the beach. I wonder how many responders have actually seen any kind of combat.

FWIW, I don't know what I'd do.

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

There sure are quite a few armchair commandoes ready to storm the beach. I wonder how many responders have actually seen any kind of combat.

Silver Star, Bronze Star with clusters, Purple Heart with clusters.

Is that enough combat for you?

Ironically, those of us who have seen and been in combat are probably those least likely to want to go back.

Someone earlier made mention, disparagingly, of "saving school kids on Grenada." I lost four friends who drowned on their way in for that. At least the post-writer is alive and able to opine about an event he knows little about.

D-Day was pure hell, by all accounts from those who were there. Why anyone would willingly go back in time, knowing the odds and outcome, and WANT to do that is beyond me.

If the question is/was, "Would you have volunteered for the beach invasion?" then that is a totally different scenario. We volunteered to do a job in which we were then told what to do, where to do it, and how to do it. Not much choice in the matter.

Jeff

 

[Treo]

What they'd have you believe

Two little things, called a “Courts Martial” and a “Firing Squad” were in place to make sure everyone knew exactly how much “choice” they had.

There’s a reason why non-coms and officers were issued side arms. And anybody who was thinking about exercising their “free will” when ordered to “move up” would find out what that side arm was really there for.

How it really happened

Amoung those who evaded combat were about forty thousand who were believed to have deserted before the enemy...A total of 2864 , however, were tried by general courts-martial and sentenced to terms of 20 years or death... And of the death sentences decreed by the general courts 49 were approved .... So the military representatives of the United states followed a practice of commuting death sentences... This was the practice in every case except one . No deserter was actually shot except Private Slovik

The Execution Of Private Slovik
Copyright 1954,1970 By William Bradford Huie
Piblished by DELL PUBLISHING CO., INC New York

 

[Sniper56]

I'm proud to say my Dad was there and went in with some of the the first landing craft.

To the day he died he always said it was something that had to be done, but
would never talk of that day nor the ones afterward in any detail. He told me if my time came to step up and do my duty.

When Viet Nam came along he told me it was the right thing to go and I did.
Dad was Army and I was a Marine. On the day I returned he told me, "I'm very proud of you" and never asked me a single word about my tour.

Years later he and I made a visit to Washington, DC and went to the Wall.
When I read the names of my fallen friends my Dad saw the tears in my eyes
and he told me to again, "I am very proud of you". It was a special day.

 

[Cowboybootnut]

I would like to think I would do it, but I am not 100% sure. That is why the people who did are my heroes.

 

[Treo]

Restated So As Not To Offend Anybodies Sensabilities

This is the internet, it is, by it's very nature, an anonymous forum where one can claim to be anything or anyone.

Therefore it is in our best interests to be somewhat circumspect in what we choose to accept as fact when using this medium.

I personally discount the vast majority of tales of combat heroism that I read here.

 

[Wheeler44]

Someone earlier made mention, disparagingly, of "saving school kids on Grenada."

That was me. Sorry you took offense. It wasn't meant to be disparaging, more to illustrate my opinion that there are other ways to serve the Nation. But I guess most of the warrior class here missed that.

 

[Gordon Fink]

Would I use a time machine so that I could fight and probably die in a battle that had already been won? Absolutely not.

Would I have done my part if I had lived at the time? I hope I would, and I think I would.

~G. Fink

 

[Hobie]

If you have served or are serving then you volunteered. You don't know from one day to the next just what is going to happen. You go to sleep, you wake up, you do what needs to be done. I did 27½ years and never really got shot at. I woke up a couple of mornings in Korea wondering what would happen, the first was when Pak Chung-hee was assassinated, the second when his replacement was deposed. That was it. But I spent 5 years there and who knew what tomorrow would bring.

The gentlemen I know who landed on June 6th (from the 116th Infantry Regiment and/or 29th Division) confessed to mixed emotions. Scared, anxious to do right, eager to get at it, tired of waiting, and they did do it. They didn't run screaming for the stern of the Higgins boats, they tried their best and they succeeded.

As to this country not being worth fighting for, perhaps somebody can point out what OTHER country IS worth fighting for. Then those of you who don't like it here can pack your bags and get the hell out.

 

[Treo]

the warrior class

I am soooooooo gonna steal that .

 

[Eightball]

I'd rather die for the USA that existed back then than the one that some are trying to make it into nowadays. Even knowing what I know now, if I knew that my possible eradication would be a step needed to win WWII, I'd do it. If I didn't know what I know now....I'd still probably have done it--at least, I'd like to think I would.

 

[halfacop]

Yes - I would be there. Those guys were nothing less than HERO"S....... trully the "Greatest Generation".

The gentlemen I know who landed on June 6th (from the 116th Infantry Regiment and/or 29th Division) confessed to mixed emotions. Scared, anxious to do right, eager to get at it, tired of waiting, and they did do it. They didn't run screaming for the stern of the Higgins boats, they tried their best and they succeeded.

(This has been my screen saver for quite awhile)

There sure are quite a few armchair commandoes ready to storm the beach. I wonder how many responders have actually seen any kind of combat.

I have not seen actual combat. I have been in the position while on duty to start snapping caps if the situation turned ugly. Needless to say that I was sitting there thinking to myself......"Self - this isn't going to be pretty". However - I stayed focused and was ready to perform my duty regardless of where it took me.

I would hope that if I was required to do what they did - that I would measure up.

 

[Rachen]

I would do it!

In a different way.

Airdrop me right into Berlin, within a mile of Hitler's bunker, along with a M1903 Springfield and plenty of ammo. I'll do the world a great favor, 1 year early.

 

[Quoheleth]

I would hope I would & could.

FWIW, after high school I tried to enlist in the Marines (1st), Army (2nd) and Air Force. Because of major birth defects, all turned me down. The Marine recruiter found out I was a trumpet player and went so far as to try to get me an audition for the USMC Band (apparantly that's not how it works).

After puking and pooping my pants, letting the adrenaline kick in...then HELL YES!!!

Story I read somewhere was a grizzled veteran of Anzio, et. al., was in the first wave in the landing craft. The seas were so rough, and the flat-bottom boats had to circle around for so long, that the soldiers got pretty motion sick pretty fast - not to mention the crappy breakfast and nerves. This old Topkick was maintaining his 1000 yard stare while turning greener and greener when he suddenly yanked at the neck of his field jacket, pulled it away from his neck (still buttoned), puked up a pile of chum into his shirt, let the jacket come back closed, and went back to his 1000 yard stare without missing a beat.

That's tough. I think I would rather face German guns than have to wear my own yack all day.

Q

 

[halfacop]

Airdrop me right into Berlin, within a mile of Hitler's bunker, along with a M1903 Springfield and plenty of ammo. I'll do the world a great favor, 1 year early.

Saving Private Ryan Memorable quote:

Private Jackson: Sir... I have an opinion on this matter.
Captain Miller: Well, by all means, share it with the squad.
Private Jackson: Well, from my way of thinking, sir, this entire mission is a serious misallocation of valuable military resources.
Captain Miller: Yeah. Go on.
Private Jackson: Well, it seems to me, sir, that God gave me a special gift, made me a fine instrument of warfare.
Captain Miller: Reiben, pay attention. Now, this is the way to gripe. Continue, Jackson.
Private Jackson: Well, what I mean by that, sir, is... if you was to put me and this here sniper rifle anywhere up to and including one mile of Adolf Hitler with a clear line of sight, sir... pack your bags, fellas, war's over. Amen.