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60th Anniversary of D-Day

Jun- 6-2004 » Filed Under: General Military , Tributes

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of liberty loving people everywhere march with you...

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

- General Dwight D. Eisenhower, June 6, 1944

And with those words Operation Overlord began. Provided below is our in depth coverage of the 60th Anniversay of D-Day.

Setting The Stage

"The plan for Operation Overlord entailed landing nine divisions of sea and airborne troops, over 150,000 men, along a 50-mile stretch of coast in just 24 hours.

On D-Day, three airborne divisions, one British and two American, would drop behind the landing beaches. Their job,seize beach exits, capture key transportation and communication points, and block German counterattacks.

Six divisions would assault the five landing beaches. Each beach had a code name. Utah Beach was assigned to the U.S. 4th Division. The US 29th and 1st Divisions would land at Omaha Beach. Further east, the British 50th Division would assault Gold Beach and the Canadian 3rd Division would attack at Juno Beach. The British 3rd Division would take Sword Beach." (Source)

The Words

Read the full text of General Dwight D. Eisenhower's Order of the Day on June 6, 1944.

If you prefer your speeches laced with a few more expletives, try General George S. Patton's D-Day address to his troops (consider yourself warned!).

Read President Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer.

The Details

The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans is likely the single best source of online information regarding Operation Overlord and the invasion of Normandy. The education section provides an excellent summary of events. Dr. Stephen Ambrose, the author of many bestselling books about WWII, founded the museum. Can anyone tell me why the museum is located in New Orleans?

Other sites of interest include Military History Online, The History Channel, and The History Net.

"First Wave At Omaha Beach" is the unvarnished account of Able and Baker Companies, 116th Infantry, 29th Division on D-Day. The article was written by S.L.A. Marshall, a combat historian with the Army.

Blackfive has posted an impressive collection of stories and essays examining many different aspects of the Normandy invasion.

D-Day veterans recall the days leading up to the invasion in this article.

The Washington Post has an excellent five-part series examining different aspects of WWII.
Part 1 - "Home Front's Call to Duty"
Part 2 - "Brutal Battle In the Forest"
Part 3 - "Employee Explosion Transformed Washington"
Part 4 - "Black Soldiers Battled Fascism and Racism"
Part 5 - "The Middle Class Rose, as Did Expectations"

The Anniversary

WWII 60th Anniversary - Official DOD website commemorating the anniversary. The site has a section devoted to D-Day as well as a links page with a wealth of information.

D-Day 60th Anniversary - The Army has created a multi-media presentation to celebrate the anniversary.

11 WWII paratroopers will recreate the airborne assault in Normandy on June 7th by parachuting into Ste. Mere Eglise. Remember, these guys are all in their 70's and 80's. Because of safety concerns the Pentagon will not allow them to participate in the festivities on June 6th, but the French government will allow them to jump a day later.

The Memorial

National WWII Memorial - Official website of the recently dedicated memorial in Washington, D.C. Browse photos, learn about the design and construction, or view a registry of veterans' names.

WWII Memorial Dedication - Official DOD website with photos of the memorial and stories from veterans.

Phil Carter visited the WWII Memorial recently and describes the experience. He also has some thoughts about the GI Bill (a WWII creation), which many believe is responsible for building the middle-class in this country.

The Washington Post also has a wonderful multi-media tribute titled, "WWII Remembered."

Volunteers from the Library of Congress spent Memorial Day weekend collecting 3,000 interviews with WWII veterans in an effort to capture their memories for posterity.


Comments For "60th Anniversary of D-Day":

The men and women of this generation are owe a very great honor for all the suffering they endured during this terrible time. I'm so very glad that they have finally gotten their own monument. After the war they went back to their homes and families and continued to strive to make this a better world. So many didn't come back home and we must not forget them and their families for their sacrifices and honor them not only on this day but every day of the year. Let US Not Forget.

Posted by: Tom | June 5, 2004 7:12 AM

The greatest general and president may his words
continue. God rest his soul and now President
Ronald Reagan.

Posted by: Florence | June 6, 2004 7:38 AM

My Dad was there on the beach that day. He was a young man, just short of his 20th birthday. He said they were cold, wet and scared coming in and many were sick from the rough seas. When they hit the beach they lost so many before they could even get out of the water. Many years later he would wipe away a tear as he remembered that day. He was awarded a Bronze Star but never felt any pride in that or spoke of it because, as he told me, so many brave men didn't make it. As a kid, I never really appreciated the signifigance of the event. I wish he were here today to see these brave men honored.

Posted by: Annie | June 6, 2004 12:45 PM

Annie,

Thank you for sharing your story about your dad. You must be very proud of him. Even though your dad is not hear with you in person, I believe he is in spirit. Perhaps it is some of those brave men of WWII that are the guardian angels my nephew claims are riding along with them.

I have watched numerous interviews of those brave men who served during WWII and join in with them when they cry. It is amazing and sad to me that after all of these years their emotions are still so strong.

Posted by: Annette | June 6, 2004 11:24 PM

I want to thank all the people who made it possible for me to grow up in a free country. I hope that I am doing an adequate job teaching about their valor and sacrifice.

Kathleen Helbing

Posted by: Kathleen Helbing | April 10, 2005 8:48 AM

I pray that we never forget what these men and their families have done for our country and for a free world. My father passed away 3 years ago, and he was a very proud Navy man. In early May, I went with my mother in place of my father, to a reunion of LST 447,and spent 4 days with some of the remaining men from that proud ship. It was a compination of wonderful and sad time, to listen to them, and see the pictures of that time. At this time my father rides on the shoulders of my son and son in law as they serve for our country. God Bless to all.

Posted by: Melissa L Hidalgo | June 7, 2005 4:20 AM

The museum is in New Orleans because that's where they built the Higgins boats (landing craft) used during the D-Day landings

Posted by: britdadinusa | July 19, 2005 2:01 PM

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