"77 Years Ago Today ..." Topic

77 years ago today, during WWII, the USA and our Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy France. And it was the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany on the Western Front … This operation changed the World.

Always wonder what my late dad's day was like. He came ashore on Omaha on this day 77 years ago. Like many veterans he didnt speak about it.

Remembering all those who took part on D Day and honoring
those who gave their lives. It did indeed change the world.

My sister-in-law gifted me a memoir of an Army medic who was on the first wave at Omaha Beach. It's title is "Every Man a Hero". Straight forward, no nonsense read from a very humble man.

I knew a man who landed on D-Day. He didn't talk about it. Always admired him.

I had a distant cousin who died getting off the beaches.

That medic must have had terrible PTSD – imagine the
sights he endured and the tragedies he could not
help.

My wife's father went ashore on Omaha Beach in one of the first assault waves. He did not talk much about it. One thing he did say, was that he was carrying 40lbs of TNT and a Bangalore torpedo, and as soon as he hit the beach, he tossed the TNT in one direction and the Bangalore torpedo in the other and dove for cover. He said the opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan was tame compared to the reality. He was wounded outside St Lo and invalided home with a bad leg wound.

He lived to the ripe age of 102. I often wish I'd sat and talked with him more. God Bless all the D-Day veterans this day.

That medic must have had terrible PTSD

Why would you assume he had PTSD? One of the challenges of diagnosing PTSD is that individuals react differently to the same intense combat experiences. (Read the book)

My dad landed with the 82nd airborne.
He told me some things. Then after the 50th anniversary he said a little bit more. But I wish I had done more.
To my lasting regret I never filmed any of it or did it was he was younger.

A maternal great uncle died somewhere west of Ste. Marie Eglese, all of his ammo expended.

My paternal grandfather died on the landing craft as the ramp dropped.

Other relatives made it through the war, but none of them spoke much about their experiences.

Whitestreak

Do you know what outfit your great uncle was in?
That is the same neighborhood my dad was in.

My Uncle Joe was in the Royal Engineers and landed on D Day to clear beach obstacles. My grandfather was manning a Landing Craft (he was pre war Navy). It was his fourth amphibious assault as he'd already done Sicily, Salerno and Anzio.

On Military.com today …
link

My Father was a Tech SGT with 90ID. Landing on D+10. By Sep.'44 he was WIA'd losing hearing in one ear. From German FA or mortars hitting his position. He was no longer able to serve in frontline duty. But continued to serve in other jobs. In that short amount of time he earned a S/Star, B/Star & PH. He didn't talk too much about WWII. But at times he did say some things I found very interesting, etc. Probably his & my Uncles' service is why I joined the ARMY. My Father joined when he was 26. He was older than his PL ! Even though he was working at a local arsenal making munitions. And did not have to join. He knew going in the ARMY was the right thing to do. My Mom was a "Rosy the Riveter" making parts for P-39s at that time too.

USAFPilot another 'challenge' (to use your term) in
diagnosing PTSD is time. Experiences of years, even
decades, past can create 'moments' far later in
life.

I stand by what I said and I have a lot of both sympathy
and empathy with that medic and others who survived
Omaha Beach's assault waves.

My Father joined when he was 26. He was older than his PL !

My father tried to enlist soon after Pearl Harbor (probably early '42, but maybe late '41), and was turned away as being too old. He was 34 at that time.

He was drafted in late '43. He was … more than 34 by that time.

-Mark 2

I'm with Professor Mohrmann on this issue. Some combat veterans lived through experiences so horribly unimaginable that we have absolutely no frame of reference by which to comprehend, let alone judge them.

Perhaps one of the reasons underlying Memorial Day is to also pay respects to those veterans who came home alive, but returned as psychologically injured people.

B

Still sadly about 22 US Vets commit suicide every day …

My daughters ex husband had psd pretty bad, was a sniper with 10th Mountain and 5 tours in Afghanistan mountain fighting. He remarried after he left the army and my daughter was happy for him as it looked like he was getting better. He killed himself in front of his current wife 2 months ago. My daughter is still in the Army 8 years active and 3 years reserves and recently promoted to Major. She started a fundraising drive for him to help his wife financially, since she new all his friends in 10th Mountain. The goal was $25,000 USD and she managed with others helping to raise over $50,000 USD for the wife and family. Plus he was already out of the Army 4 years when he took his own life, the Government doesn't do enough for our returning vets that have seen allot of combat.

Von Blucher,
My sincere sympathies go out to your daughter and everyone else who felt his loss.

Five tours????? How does anyone endure that sort of stress?

B

Thank her for her service Von Blucher. So Very sad to hear of another Vet that killed himself. I wish the gov't would & could do more. Maybe just sign them all up for the VA for all their medical care? When they ETS. Letting them at least see some medical personnel who are trained in handling PTSD, etc.

Some Vets don't go to the VA for any help. Maybe if they were enrolled as they ETS, this may help them make the choice to seek help.

Yes, it will probably cost more $ going to the VA, etc. But the way our Gov't at all levels wastes money. If they wanted to they could really use some more of the $ to help Vets.

Many are getting $ and they are not even citizens and have done nothing. At least so far, to earn the right to be an American.

5 combat tours is too much for anyone. Especially for combat arms branches. That is what happens in endless wars which will have no successful end. Again those in charge at all levels share some blame.

As a member of the Mil. Ofcs. Assoc. of America we try to get involved with helping Vets & Active Duty. But many times we only get flowery words, etc. But we continue to try …

However we do have local groups doing many things to help Vets. At all levels in many venues …

When I was a kid I had a next door neighbor who was in the Coast Guard. He drove a landing craft at Omaha. Somehow, at the age of 5, I knew better than to ask for details.