OT: June 6, 1944

[Palatine]

Allied forces, mostly Americans, begin the liberation of Europe for the second time in century. If you have never seen the opening of Saving Private Ryan, it gives you some idea of what these men went through except it was reality. This day honors every American who has ever served.

 

[Exit 4]

Mostly Americans, but a lot of British and Canadians too.

 

[Husky25]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand this has to do with UConn Football, how?

You are missed in the Cesspool, Pal.

 

[gioff23]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand this has to do with UConn Football, how?

You are missed in the Cesspool, Pal.

Not sure how you missed it. Watch Saving Private Ryan - when the kids are storming the beach, and if you look to the far left, you can clearly see a kid carrying the Civil ConFLiCT trophy to bury in the sands of France. Keep up, will ya!

 

[Exit 4]

There is almost never an inappropriate place to honor 6/6/44 or remember the events of 12/7/41.

 

[Palatine]

Really off topic, but my wife once called the Hanks movie "Saving Private Benjamin" which would have made a great mash up. Sorry to hi-jack my own thread.

 

[Kgun7]

Mostly Americans, but a lot of British and Canadians too.

73,000 Americans
62,000 British
21,000 Canadians

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

73,000 Americans
62,000 British
21,000 Canadians

Visiting Normandy was one of the most moving experiences of my life. I highly recommend a visit there.

 

[Austin316]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand this has to do with UConn Football, how?

You are missed in the Cesspool, Pal.

That was also the day Randy Edsall was born dude... jeez know your facts

 

[Husky25]

That was also the day Randy Edsall was born dude... jeez know your facts

August 27, 1958? That would be closer to V-J Day.

(Liked this post just in case you were right. Good effort.).

 

[Husky25]

There is almost never an inappropriate place to honor 6/6/44 or remember the events of 12/7/41.

I've celebrated December 7 every year for the last 13 and hopefully without end going forward. It's my wife's birthday.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Currently watching a doc on Netflix called "World War II in Colour".

Just astonishing the carnage that took place globally. I did some research online and experts estimate that nearly 3% of the global world population was killed in World War II; including 400,000+ Americans who were either KIA or died from battle wounds. Just staggering.

 

[freescooter]

Currently watching a doc on Netflix called "World War II in Colour".

Just astonishing the carnage that took place globally. I did some research online and experts estimate that nearly 3% of the global world population was killed in World War II; including 400,000+ Americans who were either KIA or died from battle wounds. Just staggering.

What’s also interesting is that even in a similar conflict today it’s likely the death toll would be much lower due to advances in medical care. Some don'tsay as high as 80% higher survival. Another intesersting thing is that less than 10% of the bullets fired actually hit their intenddd target. Since WWII the military has been trying to get more accuracy but some studies suggest that only a handful of fighters actually try to hit other human beings. Most fire aimlessly and any actual hits are “accidental”

 

[Guapo]

Currently watching a doc on Netflix called "World War II in Colour".

Just astonishing the carnage that took place globally. I did some research online and experts estimate that nearly 3% of the global world population was killed in World War II; including 400,000+ Americans who were either KIA or died from battle wounds. Just staggering.

And that 400k is a tiny percentage of the total number of people killed.

WW1 is similar.

Relating to America, specifically, the Civil War is the one that is truly mind boggling, as far as death and destruction goes (obviously).

I'm originally from Glastonbury and they always read the names of all the people from Glastonbury killed in wars during the Memorial Day celebration on the town green.

It always blew my mind when they read the Civil War names.

When you consider the size of the town (I'm guessing between 2-4K at the time of the war), it had to have nearly wiped out an entire generation of men.

All this is a long winded way of saying that D-Day serves as a great reminder that, despite what's shown to us on the news and on social media, we are lucky to live in relatively peaceful times.

 

[HartfordHank]

What’s also interesting is that even in a similar conflict today it’s likely the death toll would be much lower due to advances in medical care. Some don'tsay as high as 80% higher survival. Another intesersting thing is that less than 10% of the bullets fired actually hit their intenddd target. Since WWII the military has been trying to get more accuracy but some studies suggest that only a handful of fighters actually try to hit other human beings. Most fire aimlessly and any actual hits are “accidental”

I recently read the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is about Louis Zamperini a US Olympian who was a POW during WWII. His plane went down in the Pacific. An amazing story, well worth reading. I have not seen the movie.

One of the things that the book goes into was how unreliable our planes were. It was not unusual to lose planes out of the sky with no enemy intervention. When all of the planes made it back from a non confrontation mission it was something to celebrate. The number of men lost due to this was mind blowing. Amazingly brave men who got on these planes on a daily basis.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

My 5th grade teacher Mr. Boyd was badly scarred and always wore dark sunglasses even in class. Found out later and what that meant as he was a survivor of The Bataan Death March. Never forget him.

 

[Storrsbred]

Just to add, Omaha beach was generally considered the most difficult landing spot.
Really not sure it mattered wherever one is when someone is trying to kill you.
The channel storm that occurred about two weeks in or so, a one hundred year storm, damn near resulted in the Germans winning the battle. Couldn’t land ammo and equipment or additional troops or food.

 

[businesslawyer]

I recently read the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is about Louis Zamperini a US Olympian who was a POW during WWII. His plane went down in the Pacific. An amazing story, well worth reading. I have not seen the movie.

One of the things that the book goes into was how unreliable our planes were. It was not unusual to lose planes out of the sky with no enemy intervention. When all of the planes made it back from a non confrontation mission it was something to celebrate. The number of men lost due to this was mind blowing. Amazingly brave men who got on these planes on a daily basis.

My grandfather rode shotgun in World War I planes (not WWII, so imagine how much less reliable) from a Navy base in Halifax, Nova Scotia (back when Canada was our friend) looking for U-Boats in the North Atlantic. He lived until the 90s, and never got on a plane again. Not once.

 

[History Geek]

I recently read the book Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is about Louis Zamperini a US Olympian who was a POW during WWII. His plane went down in the Pacific. An amazing story, well worth reading. I have not seen the movie.

One of the things that the book goes into was how unreliable our planes were. It was not unusual to lose planes out of the sky with no enemy intervention. When all of the planes made it back from a non confrontation mission it was something to celebrate. The number of men lost due to this was mind blowing. Amazingly brave men who got on these planes on a daily basis.

Great, great book. And it was definitely better than the movie.

 

[wolfman61]

I work for Electric Boat, was working in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. On December 7 2012, I and my coworkers watched the ceremonies from the docks. We were in full view of the Arizona, and they also did a missing man formation. The next year was the 50th anniversity of the loss of The Thresher a sub that sank on sea trials. Both were very awesome but solemn rites. Thank you to all who serve.

 

[gtcam]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand this has to do with UConn Football, how?

You are missed in the Cesspool, Pal.

No comment deserved

 

[Rocktheworld]

What’s also interesting is that even in a similar conflict today it’s likely the death toll would be much lower due to advances in medical care. Some don'tsay as high as 80% higher survival. Another intesersting thing is that less than 10% of the bullets fired actually hit their intenddd target. Since WWII the military has been trying to get more accuracy but some studies suggest that only a handful of fighters actually try to hit other human beings. Most fire aimlessly and any actual hits are “accidental”

Medical care and precision of weaponry too.

“Fire and forget” bombing of cities like what happened to Berlin just doesn’t happen anymore

 

[gopher2]

And that 400k is a tiny percentage of the total number of people killed.

WW1 is similar.

Relating to America, specifically, the Civil War is the one that is truly mind boggling, as far as death and destruction goes (obviously).

I'm originally from Glastonbury and they always read the names of all the people from Glastonbury killed in wars during the Memorial Day celebration on the town green.

It always blew my mind when they read the Civil War names.

When you consider the size of the town (I'm guessing between 2-4K at the time of the war), it had to have nearly wiped out an entire generation of men.

All this is a long winded way of saying that D-Day serves as a great reminder that, despite what's shown to us on the news and on social media, we are lucky to live in relatively peaceful times.

Over 600,000 people died in the Civil War, and some historians now say it could actually have been over 700,000. Considering the nation's population was only about 30 million in those days that is an appalling number. A local cemetery has about 30 graves of Civil War soldiers who died between 1861-1865.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Further OT. The Blue Angels are ptacticing over our building near Quonset Point. Free air show, many bring folding chairs from home for an extended lunch today and tomorrow. Amazing stuff.

 

[Guapo]

Over 600,000 people died in the Civil War, and some historians now say it could actually have been over 700,000. Considering the nation's population was only about 30 million in those days that is an appalling number. A local cemetery has about 30 graves of Civil War soldiers who died between 1861-1865.

Totally crazy.

The federal government is still paying a monthly pension to the daughter of a civil war veteran. An important reminder of the cost, not just in lives, but in money and time, of war.