The greatest day! + 75 6-6-19
I just watched Saving Private Ryan. I don't think there was a better movie ever made of the realities of conflict. It's hard to believe it was filmed in 1999, 20 years already!
D day (D stands for "day") when General Eisenhower said "Let's go". Those words culminated the effort of the greatest ever amphibious invasion in history. The hostilities began in earnest at 0630 hours. H hour. H for hour of course. The chronicling of events in Normandy was easy to remember for me as I celebrated my 75th birthday 3 months ago. 1944 was quite a different era.
If all the current technology were available the event might not have happened at all. Resolution or diversionary event sequences may well have ensured different alternatives or possibly the early failure of Nazi Germany.
.The pressure on Eisenhower and other allied commanders was immense
Omqaha Beach was the killer. The area had steep cliffs and a series of bunkers. The bunkers were set with a wide field of fire. The so called Atlantic Wall was established and built beginning in 1942. For 2,000 miles it stretched with many bunkers and gun emplacements like Omaha Beach. At Omaha there were 2,000 casualties.
This operation was fueled in 1942, two years previous.. It took the bombing at Pearl Harbor to wake the western world to the necessity of addressing the significant logistics involved in the operation. The delay resulted in a great disadvantage for the west.
Resolution was bloody and came at a high price. It wasn't until 3 PM that heroic cliff scaling and fence pulverizing enabled the first units to take the pivotal bunker. While there were many skirmishes, the taking of the controlling bunker at omaha representative of critical victory The logistical and operational picture weighed heavily on General Eisenhower. The burden was immense and had to be made against great odds. Hedgerow country awaited with its pitfalls. The subsequent effort by British General Montgomery to take the key city of Caen immediately made that point clear!
There are scores of broadcasts on You Tube that catch the spirit of the events of that fateful day. They set a good backdrop for the writing composition required in this post.
We all have to take on odds in building our businesses. Fortunately, running a business is nowhere near as challenging as open combat. This is a time to reflect on the immensity of effort required for sacrifice and eventual success.
Recent Comments
24
Very true running a business is nowhere near as challenging as facing the simple act of advancing into gunfire. We cannot know the courage that it took to take the first step.
Thanks to those who did take those steps and more we are here today with the freedom to choose to start a business online.
I too like history and learning about the conflicts that have taken place. I also am very thankful that I am not faced with the decision to advance under fire.
It seems hard and it is hard to maintain momentum in an online business but in comparison to those who sacrificed their lives and moved forward when under fire, it does not compare.
I am thankful for the opportunities that have been granted to me and for finding WA.
WOW! The 20 years since I first saw "Saving Private Ryan" has sure flown by.
One of many great stories about great men accomplishing great things. God Bless them every one.
KyleAnn
Hi Mike,
Saving Private Ryan is my all time favorite war movie.
I just might have to watch it again very soon.
Thanks for sharing your post.
Regards
Darren
Hi Mike,
On this eve of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, I was reflecting where I was 2 years ago.
I was at Juno beach then and as the son of a veteran and an Officer in the Reserves, it was very humbling to be standing there.
As you mention, many lives were lost during that battle but the cost - as mentioned to me from a D-Day vet - wasn't something that was looked at. To quote him: "it was a job that needed to be done and we did it".
"They hadn’t come here to fear. They hadn’t come to die. They had come to win.” -- Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne
Lest We Forget
Marc
Capt Bedard MLJ CD
Hi, Marc.
"It was a job that needed to be done and they did it."
Chances are that if they did not ...we would not be here doing what we are doing today.
But in the same breath, Captain...with everything that we know now, why is killing another still going on today?
As far as DDay is concerned... "We came with much fear not knowing... and many were just kids. No one goes into anything just to die and yes, we all wanted to win and we did."
What was accomplished back then is something to be remembered for all time.
But what we are doing moving forward is as 'ass reversed' as what was being done then.
Thank you, Capt Bedard MLJ CD.
I am humbled that our paths have crossed.
Paul Mindra from Ontario, Canada.
questionable that there will be Russian participation in the ceremonies Russian minister Lavrov mentioned the remembrance ceremonies "air brushed" aside the sacrifices of the Soviet Union!
It was a huge mess Michael and opened the rabbit hole with the Duke of Windsor connected directly to the top.
Any thoughts there?
Paul.
Private Ryan is an amazing movie! Those opening scenes on the landing beaches were more than emotional.
There is never a dry eye in our house with the end scene, either.
Our love, gratitude and respect to all who were there.
Thanks for this, Mike.
Mike,
Thanks for the timely reminder, lest we and others forget about the sacrifices the Greatest Generation has made so that we can enjoy, peace, freedom and prosperity.
Blessings!
See more comments
Good afternoon my friend, I want to make a simple statement and that is the men that were involved in those wars were true heroes. They fought for freedom they fought for their country they fall for every man woman and child with their heart. Thank you for sharing this beautiful information.