D-Day

Today marks the 71st anniversary of D-Day.  

I would like to highlight the Veterans History Project page devoted to D-Day, which includes interviews from soldiers who survived the Invasion of Normandy.

Allow me to give quick summary of one of these heroes.

Charles C. Woodring was drafted a year after he graduated high school. His basic training was cut short by two weeks in order for him to be deployed to England. On D-Day his job was to go in ahead of the troops to clear the barbed wire fencing along the beach. In the course of talking about his boat hit a mine on D-Day and having to swim several hundred yards to shore, Mr. Woodring describes having to inflate his life belt saying, "We didn't have Mae West." Later in the interview he says he will never, ever drive a Chrysler because the Germans tried to kill him. Mr. Woodring is a Silver Star recipient.

Mr. Woodring says that he had never told his war-time stories before - even his children have never really heard it. I greatly appreciate the work of the Veterans History Project in recording and preserving stories of heroes like Mr. Woodring - and Jay S. Adams and William Jennings Arnett and Kenneth T. Delaney and William Valentine Loncaric and Fred Millet and Ellison W. Parfitt.

Andrew Fisher of the Veterans History Project has also written a book using the interviews he has conducted of veterans from northwest Ohio.

Invaluable.

 

Link to Last Page of Thread.

Comments

[Jack is Back!]

Premiere!

[narciso]

back when he had a real president, that acknowledged these things,

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/06/06/the_boys_of_pointe_du_hoc_126885.html

[GMax]

85? For a round of golf by a professional? Seriously, that nine iron to the noggin has had lasting impact. On a good day I could shoot 85...

[GMax]

Fred Barnes in the Weekly Standard:

When a CNN poll last week showed Hillary Clinton leading Rand Paul by a single percentage point (48-47) and only three points ahead of Marco Rubio (49-46) and Scott Walker (49-46), it was mildly shocking. In April, her lead over the three Republican presidential candidates had been in double digits: Paul (58-39), Rubio (55-41), and Walker (59-37).

But wait. If the next CNN survey shows Clinton actually behind one or two or three of the GOP candidates, it won’t be just shocking. It will send Democrats into a near-panic over the possibility of losing the White House in 2016, even with their preferred candidate, Clinton, as nominee.

Such a poll result isn’t far-fetched as we watch Clinton’s campaign deteriorate. True, head-to-head matchups this early in the presidential cycle are almost never predictive. But in this case, it’s the psychological impact that matters.

That Clinton’s candidacy is in trouble is indisputable. She’s not threatened with losing the Democratic nomination—at least not yet. She has the well-financed Clinton machine and a national network of supporters on which she can rely. The campaigns of her Democratic opponents are small and weak in comparison.

But the rationale for her bid for the presidency, the strategy of her campaign, and the tactics she’s adopted—all have failed to stop her steady decline. The expectation of Clinton’s glide into the White House in 2016 is gone.

What is the rationale for her candidacy? President Obama had a big one in 2008. He would reform Washington, end polarization, promote bipartisanship, and bring about change. As a campaign message, it was appealing. As we now know, his real intentions were different. But Obama had a rationale for seeking the presidency. Clinton doesn’t.

[narciso]

unfortunately the jackalopes today, would cover it something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px_XBJHrs4I&feature=youtu.be

Zaphod's campaign, was an answer to a question never asked,

[Jim Miller]

At Jeff's request, a repost, from the previous thread:

Since it's the 71st anniversary of D-Day, I'll mention my favorite book on the Normandy invasion, Keegan's "Six Armies". You'll like it if, like me, you are interested in grand strategy, and the politics in each of the six nations. For instance, I was unaware, until I read the book, about the conscription crisis in Canada during World War I.

For Navy guys, I'll mention that I found Morison's discussion of the big gun support in the days and weeks after D-Day fascinating, too. He quotes Rundstedt as saying that the effect of that fire was a very unpleasant surprise, and may have been more important than air support.

(Not to be too obscure, that's from Morison's History of United States Naval Operations in World War II.)

[Beasts of England]

I believe that Tiger's last 85 was in the only US Amateur that he didn't win. He was in tears after the round and sought comfort in his mother's arms.

I shot 82 on the same course (The Honors) from the same tees. No real appreciable difference in the course set-up either - the greens always run at ~12 on the Stimpmeter. Of course, it wasn't tournament play, nor one of the USGA Championships.

But, it was the best I've ever played in my life. Not the best score - not even close - but it's the hardest course (in that configuration) I've ever played and I rarely play it all the way back.

[matt]

One of my uncles was there on D Day. He was a coxswain on a Higgins Boat. He had already done Torch and Sicily and was sleeping aboard the Susan B Anthony on the morning of June 7 when she was sunk. Nobody died of over 2,500 troops and crew aboard. He ended up in the drink in his skivvies, as he said.

A great family story is that my dad was a deckhand on an Army tugboat at the age of 17 waiting to go in and was tossing a line to a troop ship that was coming back in to the Brooklyn Army terminal he heard someone shouting at him and looked up and it was my uncle.

He then shipped out to the Pacific and ended up at Leyte. After that I think it was just ferrying people and cargo from here to there until the end of the war.

In total our family sent 7 sons off to war. Only one didn't come back. We were very, very lucky.

[narciso]

like I said earlier:

http://therightscoop.com/im-doing-everything-i-can-for-illegal-aliens-obama-in-his-weekly-address/

megyn has been quite dissapointing this week, it's as if she took up greta's old slot.

[Beasts of England]

Every horse in the Belmont other than American Pharoah skipped The Preakness and/or the Kentucky Derby. Maybe we won't see another Triple Crown winner for a long, long time.

Although maybe I jinxed it! :)

[Jim Miller]

Here's the Wikipedia article on the USS Susan B. Anthony.

[henry]

D-Day is amazing. My uncle was not at Pearl (sorry Yamamoto-San, he was on his carrier nearby). My grandfather did not go ashore on D-Day, although he too was nearby. I need to look up the timing, but in the days before D-Day lots of Generals were complaining about "low" quantities of ammo getting to them. Marshall dispatched my grandfather to England to sort out the ammo problem. Apparently, planned quantities of ammo were where they needed to be -- but the combat Generals wanted more anyway. Bedell Smith busted my grandfather to colonel for reporting this fact back to Marshall. By D-Day plus one, Marshall gave my grandfather his star back and he took over as Normandy Base Section Commander.

[narciso]

but what big teeth you have:

http://www.weaselzippers.us/225769-transmission-from-vladimir-dont-be-afraid-of-russia/

[Jack is Back!]

We were at Pont du Hoc in 2009, the 65th anniversary. Very impressive site. The Jerries had moved the anti-ship artillery weeks before but had maintained a level of ground troop firepower. Again, where do we get such men moment.

Its a scarred site of empty bunkers and numerous craters. Fun for the kids nowdays to run through and under. Not so much for the Rangers.

And yet on this day of reflection and rememberance, the f**king MFM have to lead with Obama's eulogy. Nothing pisses me off more than having to watch that traitor be publicized as if he gives a rat's ass about anyone but himself.

[Beasts of England]

Impressive story, henry. Thanks for sharing it.

[rse]

To add to this theme http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/06/06/71-years-ago-today-hitler-youth-vs-the-boy-scouts/

To appreciate just how much our political class from both parties is now behaving like a Fifth Column against the American people makes today all the more poignant.

[narciso]

the Soviets still regarded Overlord as long over due, but Ambrose's point still holds,

[Extraneus]

American Pharoh kicked ass.

[Beasts of England]

Piece of cake. Wow!

[Extraneus]

The rest of his life will be like my dog's grandfather's. (Over 1200 pups.)

[Thomas Collins]

Not Secretariat like, but dominating nonetheless. Two great races. The Manhattan on grass was also great.

[Beasts of England]

He was frisky on the walk-up and was never in doubt. What a stud.

[Thomas Collins]

I wonder whether AP gets more than two races before he undertakes another type of exertion for the rest of his life.

[Beasts of England]

Good work if you can find it, Extraneus. ;)

[Thomas Collins]

I hope he runs against the older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Breeders Classic would be a nice finish before mare servicing time.

[Miss Marple]

Super race, and am so happy I got to watch another Triple Crown!

It's been a long, long time.

[Extraneus]

American Pharoah’s name is a typo.

The correct spelling of “pharaoh” reverses the “a” and “o.” According to the Boston Globe, an Arkansas woman suggested the name and spelled it wrong. Zayat’s son Justin, who acts as a manager at Zayat Stables in Hackensack, New Jersey, didn’t notice the typo at the time.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/7-facts-on-jewish-owner-of-american-pharoah/

[Beasts of England]

5 1/2 lengths is a fine victory. Only Secretariat was faster around Belmont.

[Thomas Collins]

Did I hear that right? Second fastest Belmont in history, only behind Secretariat?

[Beasts of England]

That's what I heard, TC.

[GMax]

first you take on all comers AP. Next you come on all takers...

[Jane]

It was a fun race.

OKay JOMERS, check your email or send me one if you didn't get mine. We are going to parteeeeee with Daddy next weekend.

TC you replied to go to hell until next Tuesday. Harrumph!

[GMax]

Secretariat was 30 lengths... I was amazed at the time and now realize just how stunning a performance I saw.

[Miss Marple]

GMax,

I remember it like yesterday. Secretariat was amazing.

I believe his autopsy showed he had a very large heart.

He was phenomenal to watch.

[Beasts of England]

Dear Mr. Espinoza:

Your check is in the mail.

Fondly,
Monster Energy Drink

[Jeff Dobbs]

Re-start the clock: it has been 37 years minutes since a horse has won the Triple Crown.

[GMax]

My guess? Victor will be drinking something a wee bit stronger than Monster Energy this evening...

[Extraneus]

Did I hear that right? Second fastest Belmont in history, only behind Secretariat?

Did I hear that right? Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths?

[Miss Marple]

As God is my witness, this is an actual Tweet:

Dan Pfeiffer
‏@danpfeiffer

Another accomplishment -- Obama first President to have a Triple Crown winner since Carter

[narciso]

yikes, so is this:

http://twitchy.com/2015/06/06/on-the-anniversary-of-d-day-tone-deaf-ny-times-ripped-for-setting-sights-on-seal-team-6/

[Extraneus]

One should never drunk-tweet.

[jimmyk]

Maybe Obama can invite American Pharoah to the White House. Then we can get a picture of a horse's a** together with the Triple Crown winner.

[GMax]

This headline made me break out a huge smile:

Graham Runs Dead Last Among Republicans

[Captain Hate]

RIP to my Uncle Ainslie; scheduled to be in the first wave of D Day, the night before Patton said his group would be part of support. Just dumb luck. The longest lasting of my father's brothers. I used to visit him on some hill east of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia and then subsequently in a retirement community somewhere around Gettysburg.

[Beasts of England]

jimmyk for the win!!

[GMax]

Does this ass make my triple crown winner look big?

[GMax]

Canada's women win on a PK in stoppage time. 1-0.

[GMax]

In the shadow of Hawaii's Obamacare exchange falling flat on its face and closing we get this news from the People's Republic of Vermont ( home of Bernie Socialist ):

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Just a few years ago, lawmakers in this left-leaning state viewed President Obama’s Affordable Care Act as little more than a pit stop on the road to a far more ambitious goal: single-payer, universal health care for all residents.

Then things unraveled. The online insurance marketplace that Vermont built to enroll people in private coverage under the law had extensive technical failures. The problems soured public and legislative enthusiasm for sweeping health care changes just as Gov. Peter Shumlin needed to build support for his complex single-payer plan. Finally, Mr. Shumlin, a Democrat, shelved the plan in December, citing the high cost to taxpayers. He called the decision “the greatest disappointment of my political life.”…

Despite an eventual cost of up to $200 million in federal funds, its online marketplace, or exchange, is still not fully functional, while disgust with the system is running deep among residents and lawmakers alike.

Meanwhile, the hopes for a single-payer system, once tantalizingly close, may be lost for years. Under such a system, the government operates one health insurance plan for all residents, covering their medical costs instead of having private insurers do it.

“It’s just been a spectacular crash, really,” said State Representative Chris Pearson, a member of Vermont’s Progressive Party. “We’ve gone from this vision of being the first state to achieve universal health care, to limping along and struggling to comply with the Affordable Care Act.”

I added the bolding as a nice touch, isnt it?

[DebinNC]

Star Trek's "Scotty" aka James Doohan:

"At the beginning of the Second World War, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the 13th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He was sent to England in 1940 for training. His first combat was the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 11:30 that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren gun by a nervous Canadian sentry: four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his right middle finger. The bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case given to him by his brother. His right middle finger had to be amputated, something he would conceal during his career as an actor." [Wiki]

[narciso]

an in the pacific theatre:

In August 1942 Marvin left school to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, serving with the 4th Marine Division in the Pacific Theater of World War II.[7] He was wounded in action during the Battle of Saipan, in the assault on Mount Tapochau, during which most of his unit ("I" Company, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division) were killed.[8] His injury was from machine gun fire, which severed his sciatic nerve.[9] Marvin was awarded the Purple Heart and was given a medical discharge with the rank of Private First Class in 1945 at Philadelphia.[10] Marvin's awards were the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Contrary to rumors, Marvin did not serve with producer and actor Bob Keeshan (later best known as Captain Kangaroo) during World War II.[10]

[narciso]

this does bring some of catcher in the rye, in perspective, I read the recent bio,

http://myfivebest.com/five-famous-people-who-fought-on-d-day/

[Jane]

Going to Normandy with NRO was a real highlight in my life. It was also one of the most humbling experiences I can imagine.

[Jack is Back!]

The Medal of Honor awardees from D-Day, including BG Jimmie Roosevelt.

http://www.worldwar2history.info/Medal-of-Honor/D-Day.html

[Jeff Dobbs]

If you bet that Obama would honor D-Day by making it all about him, well . . . you lose.

Obama appears poised to go the entire day without a single mention of D-Day. Nothing on whitehouse.gov, nothing on @POTUS or @BarackObama on twitter.

Now, the Biden funeral certainly cut into his day. Let's give him that. But he did put out his weekly radio address this morning, and that was about . . . immigration.

[narciso]

there's a reason I dubbed him, zaphod, the right scoop link, above serves like a bookend in this bearded spock universe,

[Microagressive Ignatz]

Pfeiffer is right on the money.
Barry is perhaps even more accomplished than Carter.

[narciso]

in a Vizzini sort of way, so watching some old burn notice episodes, one of the villains, that Weston deals with is named Brennen,

[narciso]

ok, I understand why they are doing this, yet the result is predictable,

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/06/05/breaking-ukip-banned-from-londons-gay-pride-parade/

[Jack is Back!]

Iggy,

Disagree vis a vis Carter and Obama. At least Carter served his country honorably. He may have been a screw up as POTUS and freeking idiot post presidency but he isn't even close to the sediionist bastard at the helm today.

[jimmyk]

I like to post one of the Robert Capa photos on D-Day. Most of the pics he took were inadvertently destroyed by the developer, but a few survived.

[jimmyk]

True, JiB, but I would say American Pharoah's Triple Crown is Barry's greatest accomplishment.

[Microagressive Ignatz]

I meant he is even more accomplished at being really bad, Jack.

[Microagressive Ignatz]

So a Jew from Cairo's horse won the triple crown and the boys from Abu Dhabi got skunked.

I sense a Zionist plot. Is there nothing those inferior Jews can't do?

[Miss Marple]

Iggy,

I consider the horse winning a Sign.

God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.

[DrJ]

On the Belmont time:

The 12th Triple Crown victor ran the sixth-fastest winning time in Belmont history, besting second-place Frosted by 5 1/2 lengths in a wire-to-wire win. He was still a little off Secretariat's legendary ride, but now is second among Triple Crown winners in Belmont finishing time since the race has been 1 1/2 miles.

[Jack is Back!]

In his element.

[jimmyk]

Good work if you can find it, Extraneus. ;)

The NYT had a rather vivid feature on AP's sire and his, er, proclivities in this arena.

During a recent mating session, Pioneer of the Nile was a perfect gentleman while nuzzling and licking his date. He required nearly 20 minutes of foreplay, which included a whiff of pheromones from a thawed cup of mare urine, and four mounts to finish the job.

Afterward, Pioneer of the Nile was in no rush to leave.

TMI, perhaps, but if you want more,

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/06/sports/turn-ons-peppermints-cool-breezes-turn-offs-mares-who-move-too-fast.html

[Jack is Back!]

There is a hockey game in Tampa tonight. Hard to keep up. Now 4-3 Lightning at 11 to go.

Doc Emerick has been reduced to speaking Chinese to describe it.

[narciso]

yeah, goggles do nothin' in the mind's eye:

http://blog.unwatch.org/index.php/2015/06/04/farce-saudi-arabis-hosting-un-human-rights-conference-on-religious-freedom/

[Miss Marple]

Well, I am worn out, so am going to bed.

Nytol!

[Steve]

2015 Belmont Stakes - American Pharoah Wins The Triple Crown

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2015/06/2015-belmont-stakes-american-pharoah.html

[Jane]

I'm so glad Steve drops in to tell us what we don't know.

[Jack is Back!]

Is there a more stressful position in all of sports as that of a NHL hockey goalie in the Stanley Cup final?

[Jack is Back!]

Liighting win. Lightning win.

Obama sucks!

[Peter]

Hello, all, just got back from Belmont. I was there in 1978 when Affirmed beat Alydar, which, it is hard to believe, was 37 years ago, because I don't feel any older. Today's was quite a race. I am amazed that the crowd noise, which was absolutely Spinal Tap on 11 deafening, didn't spook those poor beasts. Was also an amazing race, since AP took the lead at an amazingly fast pace and never relented. When he switched leads coming into the final straight, the crowd knew he would win, and then the banshees came out. Once he crossed the finish line, strangers were hugging strangers, people were crying. Quite something, but I think next year I will watch it on tv.

[Microagressive Ignatz]

The Lightning have a terrible tendency to sit on a lead. It oughta be 2-0 but congrats anyway. Whew!

[Thomas Collins]

That's an automatic reply, Jane. I am in Newport, RI until Monday afternoon, so I won't be at work on Monday. Next weekend is fine for a Central Mass. conclave.

[henry]

TC, thought you were referring to Steve for a second there.

[narciso]

Rosencrantz for those without the rosetta:

http://twitchy.com/2015/06/06/bloomberg-editor-challenges-those-mocking-new-york-times-bombshell-on-rubio-traffic-tickets/

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

Jack,

Agree with you on the stress on a goalie during the Cup.

I would also posit that the most exciting thing in all of sports is hockey sudden death OT.

[Microagressive Ignatz]

Absolutely JCB.
I'm on the edge of my seat when I don't even care about either team.

[clarice]

Henry, what a great story! I really wish DoT were here tonight..I bet he has wonderful tales of his family ,too.

Nytol

[Microagressive Ignatz]

One of the stupider things I've ever read on the 2nd Amendment.
By all means lets ignore hundreds of man-years of scholarly research establishing exactly what the founders said and meant and instead listen to some pantywaist, ding dong, provisionally male English school marm.

[Microagressive Ignatz]

BTW, am I the only one who finds Jim Nance to be more and more Charles Grodin's double?

[narciso]

yes, sort of a happier version of same,

[jimmyk]

So a Jew from Cairo's horse won the triple crown

Hadn't realized that the Zayats are Jewish, not only that but orthodox. They have a big mobile home that they brought to the races so that they could attend without driving on the Sabbath.

[jimmyk]

Allen West ‏@AllenWest
On this day in particular, I think y'all need a little reminder of what courage REALLY is

https://twitter.com/AllenWest/status/607160085345914880

[daddy]

Great dog walk, and just catching up. My feets is killing me:(

Jim Miller has up a fascinating little post on the odd orbits of the Moons of Pluto.

Scroll down 3 from the top. Very neat post, Jim. Please do keep us informed as our Pluto spacecraft gets closer to it's rendezvous.

BTW, I'd be 100% onboard Lincoln Chafee's Presidential run, if instead of stupidly pushing the Metric System he had made the centerpiece of his Campaign officially re-designating Pluto as a Planet.

Any other Plutophiles out there?

[Neo]

Even with a civil war (by a bunch of Russian outsiders), a country has got to have it's priorities ...

Mr. Poroshenko acknowledged in the interview that conditions were increasingly desperate for civilians who remained in the east, many of them older people and the infirm. But he said that his government had no choice but to seal the region off and that pressure from the separatists would cause many residents there to refuse aid from Kiev even if it could be delivered safely.

In a sign of how the country's Western supporters say things are changing in Ukraine, Mr. Poroshenko said his government would support a gay pride parade scheduled for Saturday in Kiev, which had drawn threats from right-wing groups.

"I will not participate in it," he said, "but I don't see any reason to impede this march, because it's a constitutional right of every citizen."

His stance contrasted sharply with that of Russia, where an effort to hold a gay pride march was quashed in Moscow last week and participants were arrested.

... it's come down to who will show their's ... gay pride parade.

[Microagressive Ignatz]

IS; If we’re not going to put boots on the ground, how about a serious campaign?

[daddy]

What is the rationale for her (Hillary's) candidacy?

GMax,

On the walk I was thinking that if ObamaCare takes a hit by the Supremes in their upcoming ruling, then that might be the time when Hillary actually puts forth a big Lefty plan to rescue National Health Care for the people and from the evil Republicans. She's been on that bandwagon since forever, and she'd probably love having all her media allies paint her as the savior who comes in and rescues the people with a more workable, user friendly AFA plan nicknamed HillaryCare.

My guess is she has a team doing the graphics for the new logo's and ginning up the new talking points, even as we speak. HillaryCares!

That'd oust Obama as the Dem Messiah, place herself in the role of America's caring Mother Goddess, and again paint Republican's as the enemy of American's God Given Right to HealthCare. A completely phony, but powerful propaganda message.

On the other hand if she doesn't do something like that, then I'm with Fred Barnes in not knowing what is the point of her campaign, beyond the standard venality, Marxism, run amuck narcissism, etc.

[Heteronormative Microagressive Ignatz]

"Gay pride" has always struck me as one of those sayings like "I never bluff" or "trust me, I'm honest" that really means pretty much the opposite of what they say or perhaps is trying to convince themselves it's true as much as anyone else.

[Heteronormative Microagressive Ignatz]

--the time when Hillary actually puts forth a big Lefty plan to rescue National Health Care for the people--

But the old crone already had her shot at that, the sole result of which was the election ofthe first Rep majority in decades, which of course is just another reason why she'll never be pres.

[jimmyk]

What is the rationale for her (Hillary's) candidacy?

I would really like to see a Roger Mudd/Ted Kennedy moment with Hillary: "Why are you running?" and see how it is met with a blank stare.

[Gentlejim]

Ig,
David McGrath.... Just another dipshit from Illinois.

Daddy,
I'm with you. Pluto is not only a dog, but also a full-fledged planet. Neil DeGrasse Tyson can pack sand.

[Jane]

Enjoy some Clarice!

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/06/jennder_and_other_confusions.html

[Miss Marple]

I will bet that once the owner of the Triple Crown winner is discovered by the press to be an Orthodox Jew the interviews will stop.

[Jack is Lightning]

Great Pieces, Clarice: Just another ho-hum week in the Obama regime.

BTW, I kept getting ads for "the next thing in evolution: are you ready?" Beside the piece on Jenner👩🏻

[James D.]

Fantastic Pieces, as usual, Clarice!

[Miss Marple]

Clarice's Pieces is really excellent this week, contrasting what the press pays attention to vs. what they SHOULD pay attention to.