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!
1918 Marines secure Belleau Wood.
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.
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
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.