Several things struck me:
1. The immense amount of planning that went into the invasion. They even had to design some equipment just for the beach landings. I’m no mechanic, but even that was interesting to me. There were ships they designed just to transport the tanks. They had to figure out a way to turn a tank into a boat (not so successful, by the way). The British really came up with some crazy but effective things, like tanks that could clear mines. The Allies spend years upon years planning every little detail of the invasion. The intricacy of the plan is amazing.
2. The emotions that the day elicits, even these 70 years later. They brought one veteran on a small sub down to the wreck of the ship where he was a medic. It had hit a mine in the English Chanel on it’s 4th trip across that day. You could hear the emotion in his voice as he described the explosion and his decision whether or not to go down with the boat. Later, they show him looking at the crosses in the American cemetery. When he found his captain’s grave marker, he began to sob. 70 years later.
They interviewed the man in charge of the sonar work. His father fought in WWII in the Pacific. As he began talking about his father, he choked up. You could hear the admiration in his voice for his dad.
One of the commentators was a retired Army guy (sorry, can’t remember the rank) and WWII expert. He spoke about the men who fought here, all the of the young men of promise whose lives were cut short. He said that this truly was the greatest generation. Then this tough soldier fought back the tears. I couldn’t fight mine back.
Thank you to all of those who fought and gave of themselves, even giving their lives, so that my husband and children and grandchildren and I can enjoy the freedoms that we have. May we never take them for granted and may we never give them away.
What strikes you when you think about D-day or any part of WWII?
Here is the link to that program if you want to watch it.