Remember D-Day

oxycodone zone - recycled

Omaha Beach - Bob Capa photo - click for more

If America loses the spirit that rid the world of the threat posed by national socialism in World War II, or relaxes the vigilance that stayed the threat of international socialism during the Cold War, then the next big war will be lost on our soil.

Don't forget the sacrifices our soldiers and our allies made this day. Don't forget the sacrifices all Americans made to the war effort then. Then ask yourself if today's leaders have the any inclination to resist the infectious spread of National Socialism or the threat of Islamic Jihad.

They say that if it weren't for Americans and Brits like those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, we'd all be eating sauerkraut with chopsticks today. In the future, will we all be slaves of the state?
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Fly your flag today.

A Timely Read

August 6th, 1945

Originally this book was a New Yorker magazine article by John Hersey. The story coolly describes the actual experiences of six people who survived the first wartime use of an atomic weapon. It begins each tale just moments before the blast. The account ends a few weeks after. I try to read it every year at this time. It is well written and free of editorializing. I've mentioned it before.

I recommend the book without further comment. Read and learn.

Remember D-Day

Omaha Beach - Bob Capa photo

If America loses the spirit that rid the world of the threat posed by national socialism in World War II, or relaxes the vigilance that stayed the threat of international socialism during the Cold War, then the next big war will be lost on our soil.

Don't forget the sacrifices our soldiers and our allies made this day. Don't forget the sacrifices all Americans made to the war effort then. Then ask yourself if today's leaders have the any inclination to resist the infectious spread of National Socialism or the threat of Islamic Jihad.

They say that if it weren't for Americans and Brits like those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, we'd all be eating sauerkraut with chopsticks today. In the future, will we all be slaves of the state?
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Fly your flag today.

Remember D-Day June 6, 1944

Ike's 'Order of the Day' draft (click 4 big)

General Eisenhower's determination that operation OVERLORD (the invasion of France) would bring a quick end to the war is obvious in this message to the troops of the Allied Expeditionary Forces on June 6, 1944, the morning of the invasion.

From the Eisenhower Presidential Library.
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See the final printed version, as distributed to the soldiers. Here is what it says:

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Fly your flag. Spend some time reflecting on the sacrifices made this day in 1944. Then enjoy the freedoms those sacrifices (and so many more in World War II) secured for you against the threat of National Socialism.
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General Eisenhower also penciled a message to be used in the event that the D-Day invasion failed. He got the date wrong. Thank God he never had to use it.

D-Day

Omaha Beach - Bob Capa photo

If America loses the spirit that rid the world of the threat posed by national socialism in World War II, or relaxes the vigilance that stayed the threat of international socialism during the Cold War, then the next big war will be fought on our soil.

Don't forget the sacrifices our soldiers and our allies made this day. Don't forget the sacrifices all Americans made to the war effort then. Then ask yourself which of our would-be leaders will have the courage to call forth this same American spirit to rid the world of the threat of Islamic Jihad.

They say that if it weren't for Americans like those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, we'd all be eating sauerkraut with chopsticks today. Sixty-three years from now, will we all be eating goat with our hands, keeping the ladies in bags and bending our knees toward Mecca?
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Fly your flag today. I won't be able to until the wind dies down.

Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act a Good Thing

My Dad on one of Guam's beaches, c. 1952
Click for 50 years later

Lou at My American Thoughts has asked me to guest blog there. My first post at MAT went up yesterday, and was about the passage in Congress of the widely misunderstood Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act (HR 1595). Many conservative bloggers urged that it be voted down without knowing the facts or historical context of the bill. You can get a reasoned analysis here at Riehl World View. I'm glad it passed.

The old feeder lived on Guam for a year or two in the early 50's. I was a kid, and my Dad was in the service. The island still had Japanese soldiers in the boonies that thought WWII had not ended.

The beaches were beautiful and uncrowded. Think of a pig roasting on a luau style pole, white sand, cool caves and tropical weather. But these beaches had areas marked Off Limits because of unexploded ordnance. Booby traps were rumored to be everywhere. I used to dig up and play with little anti personnel flechettes that looked like tiny bombs with fins. The Guamanian villages were, for the most part, still empty and falling into ruin. No vacation condos, no tourists, no cruise ships. It was a boy's jungle paradise.
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When I get back to the feedlot, I'll add a picture from my Guam days.