Walking through D-Day
We toured Omaha Beach today and, in our own way, tried to understand what happened there in June of 1944.
In preparation for today’s walk, we’ve been listening to Stephen Ambrose read portions of his book “D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II.”
This excerpt was particularly moving:
“For all that American industrial brawn and organizational ability could do, for all that the British and Canadians and all other allies could contribute, for all the plans and preparations, for all the brilliance of the generals, in the end, success or failure in Operation Overlord came down to a relatively small number of junior officers, non-coms, and privates or seamen in the American, British, and Canadian armies, navies, air forces, and coast guards. If the paratroopers and glider-born troops cowered behind hedgerows or hid out in barns rather than actively seeking out the enemy, if the coxswains did not drive their landing craft ashore but instead out of fear of enemy fire dropped the ramps in too deep water, if the men at the beaches dug in behind the sea wall, if the non-coms and junior officers up and over the sea wall to move inland in the face of enemy fire, why then the most thoroughly-planned offensive in military history, an offensive supported by incredible amounts of naval firepower, bombs, and rockets, would fail.”
“It all came down to a bunch of eighteen- to twenty-eight-year-olds. They were magnificently trained and equipped and supported, but only a few of them had ever been in combat. Only a few had ever killed or seen a buddy killed. … They had never heard a shot fired in anger. They were citizen soldiers, not professionals.”
…
“It’s … the young men born in the false prosperity of the 1920s and brought up in the bitter realities of the Great Depression of the 1930s that this story is about. The literature they read as youngsters was anti-war, cynical, portraying patriots as suckers, slackers as heroes.”
“None of them wanted to be part of another war. They wanted to be throwing baseballs, not hand grenades, shooting 22s at rabbits not M1s at other young men. But when the test came, when freedom had to be fought for or abandoned, they fought. They were the soldiers of democracy. They were the men of D-Day and to them we owe our freedom.”
Great words, Jimmy. Thanks for sharing! Glad the trip is going well. Your mom did well at the annual meeting today.
Beautiful excerpt, Jim! Thanks for sharing with us the perspective of who the warriors were and how very young…true sacrifice, honor and courage! As a Navy kid it makes me thankful to see that true demonstration of what makes a hero.
Love & prayers to all the Wildmans and give your bride a hug from me! Off to worship at Bishop O’Connell & will lift your tribe up for travel mercies and great memories. xoxo R
Using the pointer I zeroed in on the cross in the forefront of the picture and learned that Pvt. Joseph Bawol, a son of Pennsylvania, made the ultimate sacrifice on July 25, 1944, just five days short of my 4th birthday. Fourteen years later I would be commissioned a Midshipman in the US Navy. During the next ten years that I wore our country’s uniform, four of them on active duty, I was never called upon to risk my life, as was Pvt. Bawol, but I have no doubt that those young men from across America who served with me, most having been drafted into service, would have made Pvt. Bawol proud had duty called. Young men of that day expected to be called to serve their country, just as Pvt. Bawol was called, even though they would have preferred to pursue their dreams at home. I hope the privilege of service to country, not necessarily to die for it but to serve it in some meaningful way, is something which the boys will begin to understand now that they have walked among the cemetary rows of Normandy.
I am impressed by the depth of your journey. Caught up with this piece a bit late but time doesn’t matter – it’s the journey itself. You inspire me from a distance, Jimmy Wildman. Peace and blessings to you all.