First of all, really take a look at this photo. The men are in the Higgins boats approaching the beach. Now, take a look at the actual beach. Gaze for just a minute at the hell they were heading for. Totally unexpected of the hell that was really waiting for them. Sheesh, that's crazy.What made me think of D-Day today? Two things:
- Not having my computer all day (still waiting for my adapter cord)
- A historic broadcast.
What has struck me the most? Hearing the detailed accounts from journalists who were in the planes during the parachute drops. Knowing what is going on at those beaches. Knowing that at that exact moment, these kid's mothers were listening to these same reports totally clueless that their sons were attending and witnessing all of this, as well as being slaughtered in the operation. It was a secret operation, don't forget. For the first hour of the sound files, the American radio thought all the transmissions from Germany about Allied forces showing up on the beach were a trap or deceit for Americans and didn't believe it. Not until they finally got confirmation from the war department that Americans are in fact storming the beaches of Normandy.
Think about that for a little while. What every soldier involved in that conflict saw and experienced that day.
