My father came ashore on Omaha Beach in 1944, not on D-Day but two weeks later, as part of the 3rd Armored Division. For almost a year, Daddy and his fellow soldiers fought across northern Europe. By the time World War II was over, the division had accrued five battle stars: Normandy, France, the Hürtgen Forest, the Ardennes and Central Germany. My father had been a part of the 3rd Armored Division since its modern incarnation in early 1941, before Pearl Harbor, and he was with it for the duration. I’d wager there weren’t many of his peers who could have said that in May, 1945.
I was poking around the Web on the subject of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, when I found this amazing video. It is a two-minute film, in color, of ships landing on Omaha Beach carrying the 3rd Armored Division. My father would have been on one of these ships. This was after the fighting of June 6, but the film gives a very clear picture of the beach and the effort being made to establish a foothold in France. The narrator makes one mistake. At one point, he refers to the 3rd as “the 3rd Army.” This, of course, would have been Patton’s army, which was not yet in France. Even during the war, this mistake was common. Correspondents on occasion credited the colorful Patton and his 3rd Army with feats actually performed by the 1st Army’s “Spearhead Division,” which in reality took a backseat to no one. You can look it up.
74 responses to “On the Beach”
My dad seems to have been a memorable and lovable man child. Fifty years after his death I obtained the list of his surviving fellow pilots and crewmen. I phoned every single man.
Through their memories .my father’s life at the last emerged and I met my father. I spoke to his wingman present at his death /shooting. Spoke to his mechanic who told of cursing the kid for sitting on wing smoking.
The stories kept coming and the life of these incredible “spy” pilots flying unarmed photo planes behind enemy lines, diving like crop dusters down to ground and holding steady in long passes while film ran before pulling out.
But it was the young kids being kids, the memories of my dad’s many famed stunts like stealing an Army transport vehicle for their use, then “seizing” for government use each pilot an automobile from the local citizens. He had to give them back.
My phone bill was gigantic. I called and tracked for months, wrote letters, emails. But I met my father.
I hope those of you reading the above feel you met Jack, if just briefly. I think I would have liked him a lot. I like to think that would have been mutual.
The memories recounted above are examples of what makes the book The Longest Day a great read. Instead of history written to read like a memorial whose subject is a marble statue or bronze plaque. These memories and books like that bring the participants back to life, make them real human figures who we can imagine talking to, having fun with at another time, and learning from. So, although he is dead, thanks to Cornelius Ryan, and thank you to all who have shared what you know of your own families who took part in this.
Exactly. I’d have loved to have drinks with Jack Hodgson and heard his stories firsthand.
If any of you have telescopes (or friends with telescopes) this weekend (and the next few days) is a great time to view Jupiter.
1) On Monday the Earth and Jupiter will be at their closest until sometime next year. With good binoculars, you can easily see its four largest moons.
2) Jupiter’s most famous feature, the Great Red Spot, is unravelling. If it doesn’t reverse itself it may be something future generations will only read about and see in historical videos.
https://www.space.com/39764-jupiter-great-red-spot-could-disappear.html
Favorite T-shirt seen in the boutique today:
Oh Kale
NO
Thank you, Jackie and others.
I’m very grateful to those who served, especially those who gave their all.
And, Ghost, I couldn’t agree more with that “kale no” T-shirt. Kale and cilantro both taste terrible to me.
Three eggs in the Charlo osprey nest. Too many.
https://explore.org/livecams/birds/charlo-montana-osprey-nest
Peace,
My favorite new tee shirt we are selling?
What The Cluck? It has big graphic rooster on it. Chickens are very popular this year.
Ghost disapproved of Freshly Laid so we are not selling it.
Today’s 9CL quotes the most delightful tune from the G&S opera I care least for, “Yeomen of the Guard.” Guess Brooke is a Savoyard, of sorts. Maybe that’s why I like him more than most of you do. Cannot post 2 URLs at once, but today’s “Pibgorn” stretches limits [literally] a bit, lower right corner. Clod has the hots for Pib. Longish drive today, possible rain & tunnerboomies. Pray.
Peace,
https://www.gocomics.com/9chickweedlane/2019/06/10
So about today’s A&J: Anyone remember the one where little Gene is all excited saying how we are going to land on Mars…someday…maybe…if we have enough money? I can’t remember Arlo’s wry comment as the final panel, but I had it up in my office for years. That must have been during the George H Bush years maybe??
Favorite T-shirt seen in the boutique today:
If my mouth
doesn’t say it,
my face
definitely will.
Home resting today while Ghost minds the shop. I have cellulitis and lymphedema in left arm, very swollen, on antibiotics in addition to normal chemo stuff. I dislike being a patient, I am not patient.
Emb, I like “ tunnerboomies.” Jackie, bummer about the extra problems. I wouldn’t be patient either.
Awake eating saltines for my midnight pain meds, every 6 hours by Ghost’s alarm. The meds make me nauseous so counter with crackers and lots lime water for hydration.
Cannot understand anyone taking drugs recreationally. What do they like? The online articles mention euphoric rush but I don’t even feel much sense of relief of pain.
Idea is you will still be in pain but tolerable.
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