D-Day

So sad. May they Rest In Peace.

Awesome. To the Greatest Generation!

(Boy on Omaha Beach)

@sizedoesmatter Amen.

Tears in my eyes.

We must never forget them.

My dad landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Here's the memorial on the beach and a picture of the American Cemetery. 

The American Cemetery

The view from the water's edge toward the bunkers on the rise

One of the LRV's like the one my dad landed in

The view from a bunker

Another memorial

@jkuvakas Excellent photography John!

@jkuvakas   Wonderful photos John.   Visiting those sites must've resulted in a confluence of emotions like no other time in your life.  I can only imagine the imagery and memories racing through your head and heart.   Truly, a trip of a lifetime - you're very lucky.  Thank you for sharing and I salute your father.

I had a great relationship with my dad. But, I never fully realized what a gift my father was to me until I stood at the water's edge, looked across that vast expanse of beach, and thought, "It was impossible to cross that beach under a heavy fire from the enemy. I wept and thanked God for saving him."

My Dad was a tanker in the 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead). He won three bronze stars, one of which was for Normandy. He also saw combat in Northern France and the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge). Suffered 2 Purple Hearts, lifelong problems from frostbite, PTSD (undiagnosed), and never complained, but never the same. He was a true patriot and turned down government compensation when offered. I’m very proud that he was my Father!

The discharge paper shows his post war assignment as a Lineman.

@kevins  A remarkable story, he was very lucky and so were (are ) you!   It's nice to have records such as yours, thanks for sharing.  No one will ever convince me that people, such as your father, were not part of the Greatest Generation.   

- I assume your father declined that governmental compensation because he deemed it as a form of charity and/or he believed he shouldn't be "rewarded"  for simply doing his duty as an American.

Amen, may GOD Bess and R.I.P. to all who served. Many never came back to become mothers and fathers 🙏 Thank-you to all who shared here. 🇺🇲 Thank-you for our Country.

Steve 

@chris Thanks for the kind remarks Chris, much appreciated! My dad joined up because he felt it was his duty to defend the people of his country. Fun fact, his occupation at the time was cheese maker, and was told he was deferred because his was an essential occupation. Needless to say, he joined anyway. He stated that there were plenty of servicemen who were wounded far worse than him and that he was fully capable of earning a living.

@kevins, he was truly one of the "greatest generation."