A busy day in history, today is.

By The Armorer on June 6, 2007 | | Comments (20) | TrackBacks (1)

June 6th...

1775 NY patriots prevent the Royal Governor from removing weapons from the city - I wonder how many would stand up to the Governor today?

1813 US invasion of Canada halted at Stoney Creek (Ont). Heh. Someday we'll get it right and *beat* them dang Canuckistanians... ;^)

1898 Marines land at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Prisoners no doubt abused - and Bibles mistreated in anticipation of future operations!

US Troops manning a 37mm cannon at Belleau Wood.

1918 Marines secure Belleau Wood.

Japanese aircraft carrier IJN Hiryu burning.

Midway! The Tide Turns in the Naval War in the Pacific. The After Action Report of the USS Yorktown.

1942 Japanese troops land on Kiska in the Aleutians. Along with Attu, the only bits of "continental" (hey, they were islands...) US dirt successfully captured during WWII.

1943 Japanese decide to evacuate Kiska, except for a small force that was overwhelmed easily.

1944 D-Day: 150,000-man Allied Expeditionary Force lands in Normandy, France. General Eisenhower coincidentally is unable to attend his son's graduation from West Point.

-The Airborne Drops.

Pegasus Bridge, securely in British hands, is crossed by military vehicles on D-Day plus 1, June 7, 1944. The Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London

Soldiers of the 2nd Ranger battalion, securing the Pointe du Hoc.

The Pointe du Hoc. 2nd Ranger Battalion storms the cliffs.

-Brits:
Gold Beach

Special Service troops of 47 Royal Marine Commando land at Gold Beach near Le Hamel on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London

Sword Beach
Mine- and obstacle-clearing tanks of the 27th Armoured Brigade thread toward the shore at Queen sector, Sword Beach, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London

-Canadians:
Juno Beach (en francais)

1st Hussars tanks and men of the 7th Infantry Brigade landing on a crowded beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer, June 6th,1944. Photo by Ken Bell. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada,

VAC site: Canada Remembers.
On board their assault landing crafts, men of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles heading towards their sector of Juno Beach, June 6th, 1944. Photo by Dennis Sullivan. Department of National Defence / National Archives of Canada,

-Americans:
Utah Beach
Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division wade ashore at Victor sector, Utah Beach, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Amphibious tanks are lined up at the water's edge. U.S. War Department/National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Omaha Beach
U.S. infantrymen wade from their landing craft toward Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. U.S. Coast Guard/National Archives, Washington, D.C.

-Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., earns the Medal of Honor on Utah Beach. And, like his father before him, dies before it can be awarded. Can anyone name the other Father/Son Medal of Honor holders?

Freedom
isn't
Free.

1949 George Orwell's "1984" published

And, last, but not least, way too long ago for his taste... my brother-in-law Ed was born. Three kids! I reluctantly have to conclude he's been boffing my sister all these years, as there has been no mention of virgin births...

The picture of the Canadian Cemetery at Reviers was shamelessly stolen from these fine Canadians. I hope they can forgive me.

And this couple have some nice pics of the area as it looks today.


Bloodspite has posted his D-Day commemoration post

Murdoc gives us a look at D-Day from the wrong side of the beach.

This YouTube video clip sets music to the beach landing scenes from Saving Private Ryan. The words to the song are, well, simple - but the music and emotion is stirring. H/t to ACE on the video - who has his own post with good linkage in it today, too.

I noticed this bit, in particular:

ACE has a metal-covered pocket New Testament given to Arbie Elroy Hufford in 1943. Inside the cover is a brief letter from FDR, commending the reading of it "as a foundation of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul."  If anyone can prove a relation to Arbie, I'll sent it to them.

The Holdings of Argghhh! include a similar armored bible.

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D-Day was 63 years ago today from Airborne Combat Engineer on June 6, 2007 10:38 AM

Merely typing a post in commemoration seems so easy as to not be worthy of the collective effort and sacrifice made. On the 60th Anniversary, Blackfive linked to a compendium of articles by milbloggers. It's well worth perusing, if you Read More

20 Comments

By Mike L on June 6, 2007 8:33 AM
re: Kiska Island and the Aleutians - if you've not read: The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians (Classic Reprint Series (Fairbanks, Alaska), No. 4.) by Brian Garfield; Amazon Link - http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-0352207-0383925?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=The+Thousand+Mile+War&Go.x=8&Go.y=10 You really ought to. A fascinating, and truly unique look at a little known and less publicized portion of WW II. Just sayin'. ML
 
By JimC on June 6, 2007 8:57 AM
Gee, you mean Arthur and Douglas? AKA the Generals MacArthur.
 
By AFSister on June 6, 2007 9:06 AM
Someone's been BOFFING YOUR SISTER!?!??! oh, for SHAME. hehehehehe
 
By John of Argghhh! on June 6, 2007 9:49 AM
Heh. Gee, why am I not surprised *that's* what caught your eye, AFSis.
 
By Barb on June 6, 2007 10:34 AM
Quite a good collection, John. I am looking forward to listening to one of the Band of Brothers talk of his experiences later today. I'll try to post a report tonight. BTW - I have enjoyed reading Jeff Shaara's books on the Civil War (carrying on his father's Killer Angels), Revolutionary War, WWI, the Mexican-American war that preceeded the Civil War (and provided a training ground for the military leaders of same). I was unaware of the battle for Belleau Wood until reading "To The Last Man", being a poor student of history. These books are not deep history, but they help me to visualize the key elements and the faces of war. Good reads.
 
By fdcol63 on June 6, 2007 11:05 AM
So many to salute and thank on this day, but here's one in particular: T/5 John J. Pinder, Jr., USA http://www.nbg-mil-com.de/Pinder/pinder-hist1.jpg
 
By Marine6 on June 6, 2007 11:06 AM
Good post. But the MacArthur question was a bit easy. How about naming those awarded TWO Medals of Honor? Marine6 Sends
 
By John of Argghhh! on June 6, 2007 11:13 AM
In case one wonders why fdcol is mentioning Tech 5 Pinder - it's because we are both veterans of Pinder Barracks, Zirndorf, Germany. Which is now a Legoland amusement park. Which, on balance, is probably a good thing.
 
By John of Argghhh! on June 6, 2007 11:21 AM
As for the double-medal holders, I'll start you off. Captain Tom Custer, brother to George. There are 18 more. Go for it. For Jim C., I would note the Irish seem over-represented in the list. 8^)
 
By Justthisguy on June 6, 2007 12:05 PM
Smedley Butler had two, and was weird in other ways, as well.
 
By Justthisguy on June 6, 2007 12:16 PM
Oh, speaking of the invasion in Normandy, today Neal Boortz played the recording of the prayer FGR broadcast on the morning of the invasion, and asked if any listeners heard it live the first time. One guy called up who was 12 at the time, and right choked up to hear it again. Another guy called up who didn't hear it, because he was actually present at the battle, having jumped in. That geezer claimed to have participated in the 50th anniversary jump, when 70, and also to be one of the six who jumped for the 60th anniversary jump, when 80. Said he did it at night, too. Neal said to him, "You're crazy!" The guy didn't deny it.
 
By AFSister on June 6, 2007 12:47 PM
Actually, I noticed all of the other stuff too, and then wrote about it on my blog too. I linked back to you, but I can't get to trackbacks at work. I just had to egg you on with the sister bit! (and I see IT WORKED!)
 
By JimC on June 6, 2007 4:07 PM
Let us not forget "Devil Dog" Dan Daly a remarkably brave and lucky man.
 
By JimC on June 6, 2007 4:17 PM
Oh yeah, I forgot. Sergeant Major Daly also won the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross. I suspect that he is the only two-time MOH awardee and two-time 2nd highest award winner for gallantry in action in our history. Tom Custer shouldn't count since his brother was involved in the process -- although capturing enemy colors was routinely so rewarded.
 
By John of Argghhh! on June 6, 2007 4:27 PM
He mebbe shouldn't count to your jaded eyes, Master C, but no one has pulled the awards, either. Are you sure George was involved, especially in #2? I know it was a source of irritation to him when Tom was wearing *both* his medals.
 
By John of Argghhh! on June 6, 2007 4:29 PM
I suppose we should provide a link to Sergeant Major Daly and his exploits. And given that I mentioned Belleau Wood today - this seems appropriate, too:
Dan Daly is perhaps best remembered for a famous battle cry delivered during the desperate fighting in Belleau Wood in June 1918. Marines took a terrific pounding on the outskirts of Lucy le Bocage ("Lucy Birdcage" to the A.E.F.) at the fringe of Belleau Wood. They were outnumbered, outgunned and pinned down. Then Daly made history. He ordered an attack. Leaping forward, he yelled to his tired men, "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"
 
By Were-Kitten on June 6, 2007 9:49 PM
ahhhhh.. a most wonderful quote, John. "Come on you sons of bitches- do you want to live forever!?!" the battle cry of a nation of non-wusses!
 
By wolfwalker on June 7, 2007 12:13 AM
Sometimes it's rather odd to ponder the intriciacies of why one studies certain things ... for example, I found out a little something about the WW1 Battle of Belleau Wood because I was interested in whence came the name for the WW2 Independence class light carrier Belleau Wood.
 
By Maggie on June 7, 2007 9:18 AM
I saw something on Daly on the History Channel back in April. It made me do a little Googling and I saw the quote you referenced above. I liked it so much I wrote a post right away, but then I decided I should set it to pop up on June 6th. I'm glad you have it out here too. What a guy!
 
By Justthisguy on June 7, 2007 10:25 PM
I bought a sheet of stamps which showed the faces of famous Marines, among them Dan Daly, and Basilone, and LeJeune and Puller. Scary-looking badasses, all of them, judging from the pics. (though LeJeune at least cracked a smile for his pic) The two most dangerous-looking seemed to be Daly and Basilone.