I've read that the landing scene in "Saving Private Ryan" is the best portrayal of the actual event. Watching it causes a visceral reaction, and those that were at the landings on Normandy were forever branded with the ravages of a battle that changed the world. Many died before they ever reached the beaches, while some died trying to secure the beaches for the landing of more troops and supplies. Those that survived were destined to continue until Germany failed. Those that made it home would mostly never talk about their time during WW2, and quietly try to reassemble what were once the thoughts of young men. The bizarre thoughts of a one time paper hanger had marred their existence.
After 81 years, even the youngest that fought on D-Day are centenarians or gone. Pausing to remember them is important. What they fought against wasn't isolated, and the sentiments of those that hate are still present.
Depends on where you were. Utah was pretty quiet, as were the British (as opposed to Canadian) beaches. Since Spielberg has a well-established blood fetish, count on him to dredge up as much ghastly as he could.
ReplyDeleteIf you read The Longest Day, 5th Rangers came down in one of the quieter spots on Omaha and came off the beach relatively unscathed when Norm Cota told them to lead the way
That's true. Those that had the least resistance, from what I've read, were instrumental in the success of the invasion. It's still considered the largest invasion in history.
DeleteWell said, and those who do not 'learn' from history are doomed to repeat it.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I'm seeing, Europe is a mess again, with really ignorant people calling the shots.
DeletePa was there at D-Day plus 2. He didn't talk about it much.
ReplyDeleteMy ex-father-in-law was in the invasion force in Sicily, and then Italy. He traveled from there, all across Europe, and eventually arrived in England, where he had to find Fritz (a dachshund he befriended) a home. That's the only thing he talked about, except his dislike of Patton. He missed his dog.
DeletePa was yelled at by Patton. I do not think this was a unique occurrence that only happened to him.
Delete