Allied invasion of Normandy
June 6, 1944
(U.S. Air Force Photo -Illustration/Dennis Rogers)
Almighty God: Our sons and the pride of our Nation this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Address to the Nation
June 6, 1944
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At 10:00 pm on 5 June 1944, Allied troops would begin departing from British shores on the English Channel to launch a successful invasion of German-occupied western Europe. Five assault groups set sail under darkness in an armada of nearly 7,000 vessels with 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944, along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified coast. Five beaches in northern France code-named Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword and Gold were the main targets for the landing of this great magnitude of troops by sea.
Normandy GIs in First Wave Boats
June 6, 1944
U.S. assault troops in LCVP landing craft approach Omaha Beach
6 June 1944
After anchoring off the coast of France for a couple of hours, US troops landed on Omaha and Utah beaches at about 6:30 am. About an hour later, Canadian forces landed at Juno, and British troops at Gold and Sword.
U.S. troops faced stiff German resistance at Omaha beach in particular and were pinned down for several hours, suffering heavy losses.
U.S. Soldiers departing LCVP landing craft approach Utah Beach
6 June 1944
Despite involving a large number of troops, keeping D-day secret was vital to the success of the operation. A disinformation campaign had led the Germans to believe that Operation Fortitude was the main plan for the allies to invade the continent, via a two-pronged attack involving Norway and Calais. Even once the D-Day landings began, German commanders were convinced they were just a diversionary tactic before the real invasion.
U.S. assault troops carrying equipment onto Utah Beach following
deployment from landing craft seen in the background
6 June 1944
Just after midnight on 6 June, aerial bombardment of enemy positions on the Normandy coast had begun. That night, more than 5,300 tons of bombs were dropped. Special operations troops were parachuted into the country to attack bridges and secure vital infrastructure targets before the landings. Information was also transmitted about German positions via carrier pigeons.
U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion scaling Pointe du Hoc at Normandy landings on D-Day
6 June 1944
The public had also been kept in the dark until the operation had begun. On D-Day, at 9:00 am, Gen Dwight Eisenhower issued a communique announcing the invasion had begun. Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons in London at noon: “So far the commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan!”
At 9:00 pm, King George VI addressed the British public in a broadcast, describing the operation as a “fight to win the final victory for the good cause.” By midnight the allied forces had full control of the beaches, and the push into occupied France was under way.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, talks with men of 101st Airborne Division
Royal Air Force base in Greenham Common, England
June 6, 1944, before joining the D-Day invasion. (U.S. ARMY)
13,100 American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions made night parachute drops early on D-Day, June 6, followed by 3,937 glider troops flown in by day.
From the air — US and allied paratroopers parachuted onto the beach and deep into enemy German territory on D-Day and in support of the massive military invasion by land, sea, and air.
World War II combat photos.
By the end of the day, the allies had disembarked more than 135,000 men and 10,000 vehicles on the beaches, and established bridgeheads of varying depths along the Normandy coastline. This came at a cost of 4,400 allied troops killed, with thousands more injured or missing.
NORMANDY
WWII cemetery and memorial honoring American troops who died in Europe during WWII.
Colleville-sur-Mer at Normandy, France.
For Those Recognized To All
And Those Only Known To One
“Lord, where did we get such men?”
Veterans and dignitaries gather for D-Day service at Bayeux cathedral in France
June 6, 2014
Photograph: Reuters
On the 78th Anniversary
In Eternal Reverence and Gratitude
Sunrise on Omaha Beach at Normandy, France
June 6, 2014
(AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
For Your Sacrifice on Behalf of Freedom
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.”
John F. Kennedy
D-Day June 6, 1944
Tribute to Veterans 
Great job, Karen. A special way to thank those that stepped into Hell and kept going! An incredible generation!
Thanks, GP. Cannot envision a greater generation in meeting an incredible threat and challenge! Hate to consider when all are gone!
It’s coming so close, Karen. I feel sorry for the younger generations who never had a chance to meet them.
So true, GP. We were so lucky to have grown up knowing them and their tremendous service. Not sure how it’s possible if one didn’t! Although to see this generation of armed forces in awe when they meet them is wonderful to see.
A generation that endured so much. I had the opportunity to listen to my father’s accounts of surviving Dunkirk debacle and then his return on D-Day. I cannot imagine how they endured 5 years of war. We owe much to them for our freedom and subsequent years of peace.
This was also a generation that lost so much in their family members who never survived the war. My family was lucky in that 4 brothers who went to war were able to return.
It was also amazing that this country and others were able to train their recruits so quickly to a standard needed to accomplish so much on a global stage. I cannot imagine what what we had in reserves when the war started.
It’s hard to imagine their experiences at such a young age, Mike, but certainly didn’t disappoint with their effort. We do owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for our freedom and way of life. What role models to emulate, they were.