Team Effort

Great teams win.  People know their role and responsibility.  Today is June 6 and it’s D-Day. One of the most historic days of the 20th Century.

Today, the liberation of western Europe started in earnest.  You can read history books and they can be impressive in the way they describe what happened.  But, it’s best from the horse’s mouth.  At the National World War Two Museum, they have been on a mission to get as many oral histories as possible from the people who were there.  They are amazingly detailed, and in future generations, historians will be able to refer to them to see what happened.

You can help the museum in its mission by donating a little money.  This is an effort I started and it’s to name a suite after The Unknown Soldier at the Museum’s hotel.

Here are some oral histories that the museum has collected over the years.  One is from the British Museum.  For those that don’t know, the British attacked Pegasus Bridge late in the night on Jun 5.  It was an amazing attack and when you read the story of it by Stephen Ambrose it becomes even more amazing.

While the British were taking the bridge, American Airborne troops loaded up and jumped out to secure all kinds of strategic places behind the beaches. John Marr was an officer and this is his story. Prior to Marr’s jump, Pathfinders were dispatched. They made their own jumps and set up scopes so pilots would know where the drop zones were. Can you imagine being one of those people? Talk about a “burn the boats” strategy.

Part 2

Part 3

The greatest armada of ships the world has ever seen crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches. John Farley was at Point du Hoc. American Rangers shot rope ladders up onto cliffs, climbed them all while the enemy was shooting down the cliff at them.

Of course, at other places on the beach it wasn’t any easier. Dr. Hal Baumgarten was one of the first people on the beach. He was shot 5 times. He lived. His entire platoon was wiped out.  He was with the Bedford Boys.

The longest day to be sure.  But one we should never forget.