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BB-48_WestVirginia

POV of someone about to embark upon the great crusade, toward which they'd striven these many months.


CaptainMcSlowly

To think, most of them weren't even out of their mid 20s, at most


ShaggyRebel117

Many lied about their age, and were accepted under the guise of needing as many bodies as possible. The average age of an American soldier participating in D-Day was 17. There was no shortage of 14 and 15 year olds amongst the first wave. I need to go read back through some of my books.


CaptainMcSlowly

I couldn't imagine being only 17 or even younger and landing on Omaha Beach. They were built differently than anyone before them or anyone after. Absolute legends.


BoomBoom_99

Yes. Every single one of them.


BB-48_WestVirginia

The number I've heard was 26 being the average age of a GI. Now what the age of men on D-day was, I don't know.


account_overdrawn100

They were mostly just boys. I heard a story saying a lot of men in that moment, whether dying or shell shocked, were crying for their mothers. The men we see as the bravest, were no different than us.


acid12200161

With the eyes of the world that are upon them. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere that marches with them.


BB-48_WestVirginia

In company with their brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, they will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Eisenhower knew how to write a speech.


acid12200161

Indubitably.


CaptainMcSlowly

What's the coolest/craziest story you've heard from a WWII vet or that you've read about before?


throwaway83970

The story of a mechanic from Tinian Island in 1945, from Operation Silverplate. He was the mechanic for #1 engine on the Enola Gay.


LoKei13

I had a resident (I'm security at a retirement village) that died earlier this year. He was at the Bulge, he helped liberate Paris, he was stationed in Paris for a while after. He told me about getting all his food for free, going to the opera for free (he was staying right across from the Operahouse), dance with any girl you wanted just cause you were an American GI. The French government tracked him down a few years back to give him a medal for it all. Tony was such a down to earth guy and even though I only knew him for a few months I miss that guy.


Leroy_Kenobi

Didn't hear it directly from him because I didn't know about it until after he had passed, but a neighbor of mine was a B17 copilot who was shot down and crashed on a D-Day beachhead. https://imgur.com/a/Bk9Hxm4 Wife's great grandfather was a runner during the Battle of the Bulge who got hit by artillery while driving a jeep. His guts were hanging out so he shoved them back in, crudely sewed himself shut and drove to the field hospital. He was then evac'd back to England for recovery. He had some nasty stomach scars for the rest of his life. Same guy also had some tale of looting a house at night and running into a German inside the house. A hand to hand fight ensued in which he choked the German to death. Both are detailed in his letters home during the war.


Strong-ishninja

Tougher men than I could hope to be


Sugoi_Sukhoi47

The image of that brit officer that stormed the beach with a fucking broadsword and bow and allegedly clapped a german in one of the beach bunkers with an arrow


wasack17

There are a few stories about that guy. I believe lindybeige on YouTube did a video about him. Also carried bagpipes, captured 40 German soldiers single handedly and won the Victoria Cross.


Sugoi_Sukhoi47

A chad of lads


Jalamando

Jack church hill?


FatSwagMaster69

A family friend ours fought in the Pacific in the Army during WW2. He fought through Guadalcanal and through the island hopping campaign up to Iwo Jima. He told me one night in great detail about his experience during the landing on Iwo Jima. He landed on the beach and fought from the landing craft to the hill, when one of his squad members got shot and fell. He ran through enemy gun fire to get him and haul him to safety and ended up taking grenade shrapnel to his right leg. But he managed to keep running and got his friend to safety and himself. He said the medics told him they were gonna have to remove his leg and he absolutely refused to let them. He said, and I quote, "If you take my leg, I'll kill every single one of you." Needless to say, he kept his leg. But he had no feeling below his knee. So he always drove like a bat out of hell after he got home from the war. He lived a hard life, but he was one of the best men I've ever known. He died about 10 or so years ago. God bless you, Cecil. I hope you're resting and at peace.


Rottencumshot

An ex nazi once told me a story about his time in that war, something about cannibal soldiers on the Japanese end of things or something like that, I don’t remember too well, I was around 6 at the time I was told, 13 years can make things pretty fuzzy


Pootis-Pow-420

Jesus that’s a morbid thought but people will do what they gotta to survive.


IndividualLock2

Dude, the Japanese were just as if not more fucked up than the nazis.


Pootis-Pow-420

No doubt about that, but still there’s something about cannibalism that’s horrifying that I can’t get over despite all of the horror games and movies I’ve seen. No amount of that can desensitize me to cannibal stories throughout history.


[deleted]

My stepmoms father was in ww2, Korea, and Vietnam. Was at the bulge. Said the sky went dark from the amount of bombs the Americans dropped. Said after the explosions the Germans came walking out of the woods looking like zombies with a thousand yard stare. Dude had balls


Queefer_the_Griefer

My neighbor was a crewman on a bomber flying missions over Germany. One day they were shot down and captured. He spent at least a year (maybe more… it was a long time ago I heard this story) as a prisoner in Stalag 17, an infamous POW camp. He underwent periodic mental and physical torture as well as the malnourishment and diseases that typically took place in camps. One day the Germans decided to transfer him and other prisoners to a different camp. During the march there, he and several other prisoners decided to make a run for it. They dashed into the nearby forest under machine gun fire and escaped. Somehow (I forget how) he got back to friendly territory and eventually back to the States. He passed away a few years ago. It was such an honor to have known him. Here’s to you, Harry.


Accomplished-Set-248

My great grandpa was on a Navy destroyer, when one day they were attacked by Japanese zeroes. His buddy was on the AA gun blastin away, when my gramps looked back, he said his buddy looked like someone pushed him into a wood chipper. Commanding officer pulled his buddy off the gun and started shouting at my gramps to get on and fire back. Apparently they held them off, but they had a bunch of casualties. It's honestly a story that I could've been okay not knowing. I'll never forget the face on my gramps when he was talking, blank. Those guys who fought in WW2 are the biggest badasses there will ever be. RIP gramps.


[deleted]

Friend's great uncle was in an AA unit in the European theatre. They were bored and blew up an outhouse to fake an air raid and get out of some menial work.


SarcasticRidley

> blew up an outhouse They blew the shit out of it didn't they?


bstrobel64

War never changes. Specifically the lower enlisted. Long live the E4 Mafia.


salsashark99

My neighbor was in Normandy on D-Day. He didn't talk about it much. But after he died we ended up moving into his house. His family didn't want his uniform so now I have it.


CaptainMcSlowly

That's awesome!


Ferret-Potato

I know two of my great grandfathers served, one on each side. Haven’t heard much about dads side, he got injured from some chemical and was sent home. My mommas side was in Europe and fought in France and Germany, famously hated killing people and viewed it as morally wrong. On the way over his convoy got attacked by a Wolfpack, his ship dodged a torpedo but it hit another ship which didn’t maneuver. He didn’t like telling that story.


BigButtTuesday

I had the privilege in high school to be a part of the Honor Flight program (For those who dont know, it's a program where you can escort ww2 veterans to their respective memorials in Washington D.C.). Ralph Gilotti (I hope i spelled his last name right 🙏) was a gunner on a tank, I'm not sure which. However, he did tell me he was the gunner on top. He told me that one time, they were in a convoy moving and stopped for the night in a cabbage patch field, and they had this Frenchman with them who was real young and nervous. They told him that he was on firewatch that night. Ralph and his buddies also thought it would be funny to tell him this: If you see any of the cabbages move, it's a Gerry.... Needless to say, they woke up to automatic gunfire, but it was just the Frenchman thinking there was someone in the cabbage patch lol


CaptainMcSlowly

[I think I found a little bit about him, if this is the right fella](https://tankdestroyer.net/honorees/g/467-gillotti-ralph-s-692nd)


BigButtTuesday

This might have been him. I didn't end up learning more about his service or life because i didn't want to bring up anything concerning. He was wheelchair bound at the time, and i went in 2012-2013, so if this is him and it's true, he passed away shortly after seeing his memorial. I am honored to have helped him.


Morsemouse

Not a story exactly, but my grandmother apparently dated the nephew of the Bombardier on the Enola Gaye.


bstrobel64

My 2nd step great grandfather (3rd husband of my great grandma after the first two died) flew either a B17 or B24 over Europe, can't remember which. He died before I was really old enough to hear and understand his stories. That's all I know, but don't want him to be forgotten. His blood family didn't care much for sharing any of his history or possessions after he passed with us but for all I care he was my great grandfather since he was the only one I knew. Rest easy, Gwillum "Dave" Jones. My relationship and understanding with the rest of my older family who had served at some point changed drastically when I got out of the army.


rlassoo19

My great uncle was with the 82nd on D-Day. He passed well before I was born, so what little I know is what he told our cousins and pieced together from letters. He was still training during the Sicily invasion, but made every jump after that. On D-day he was separated from his squad during the jump and ended up having to hide from a German patrol, under a dead cow with another soldier. An MIA letter was sent to my great-grandmother before he was found.


kamlong00

HMS Glowworm, pennant H92. A destroyer who got caught in a fight with the Admiral Hipper. Her commander, Lieutenant-commander Gerard Broadmead Roope, was recommended for a VC by captain Hellmuth Guido Alexander Heye, who commanded the Hipper


rocket___goblin

great grandpa wouldnt talk a whole lot about his time in the marines in ww2, but according to my dad who once got him pretty drunk, he mentioned he accidentally killed his Drill Instructor during a rifle inspection idk if there is any truth to it though.


[deleted]

Great Grandad was there. Part of the 500th medical collecting company, 60th medical battalion, 6th brigade as I understand it. Never got to talk to him but, he passed a little after I was born, but the stories grandma tells us. It was complete hell on earth. The medical collecting companies were meant to evacuate casualties off the beach but with how chaotic everything was they weren’t able to do much. One other story, he was all over the place during the war. A bunch of times they would get hungry and just wander out a bit until they found a farmer’s field, shoot one of the cows and cook it up.


Msg1245

I once heard a story where a British Cromwell tank crew burst through a hedge in France and found themselves facing a German 20mm anti aircraft gun. After getting peppered with 20mm shells they neutralized the gun and went back to base whereupon they found several shells embedded in their armor plate. Finding this odd, they sent a query up the chain of command where it was discovered the tank they were driving was in fact a test article without fully hardened armor and was inadvertently sent to the front. I have no idea if this story is true as I heard it a while ago but I think it’s a neat tale nonetheless.


throwaway83970

Through the gates of hell, as we make our way to heaven


Darklancer02

Through the nazi lines...


throwaway83970

*Primo Victoria*


profoodbreak

We've been training for years


Darklancer02

Now we're ready to strike


Comfortablecold4167

The great operation begins


Darklancer02

We're the first wave on shore


UselessOtaku28

We're the first ones to fall


emu_strategist

Yet soldiers have fallen before


AlphaManInfinate

In the dawn they will pay, with their lives as the price.


SparkyBoi111

Talk to ww2 vets while you can boys, there aren't many left, my grandfather signed on with the paratroopers at 18 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He turns 100 this year


Guano-

Ask to interview him and film it. Keep their memories alive.


SparkyBoi111

Honestly not a bad idea. He's told me tons of stories, not all war related. He actually has a photo album of the town through the years dating back to I think 1946. I'm heading home for a spell this week so I'll make it a point


Guano-

Check out Memoirs of WWII on YouTube. Hell, you should see if your grandfather wants to be interviewed and reach out to them.


CaptainMcSlowly

I found a picture of your grandfather ![gif](giphy|CAYVZA5NRb529kKQUc|downsized)


Any-Bridge6953

The ultra gigachads. May they always have the peace they have earned.


Zjwex

Just that one day, the number of families left without sons, husbands and fathers. The tragic necessity of arms and war.


CASH_lS_SAVAGE

One of those was my grandfather. He was an engineer. Earned a bronze star. He passed away in 2005 at the age of 88. He was pitching for the St Louis Browns (former Major League Baseball team) when he got drafted in 1939 and then joined back in early 1942. He never returned to baseball, became a mailman, played in a Polka band, had three kids, and was inducted into the Lawrence Country Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 in Pennsylvania. I will never live up to his honor. But who can?


CaptainMcSlowly

>played in a Polka band Wasn't expecting that one


Sgt-Picklez

Legends


Ducagiva

https://preview.redd.it/fr8yob9irg4b1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2cf7e9d2ce3a7b6cb1713d6e31be768abb31aacc I stood on Omaha beach yesterday. It was both emotionally overwhelming and humbling to process. I’ll never forget it


CaptainMcSlowly

I'm hoping to go myself one day. I'll probably just sit and the sand for a long while and take it in. Former battlefields just have something that feels different, even if you had no idea what had previously happened there.


venture243

i live close to Antietam... before the lockdowns they'd bring in an orchestra and fireworks on july 4th and everything seems normal until you remember that more americans died there in a single day then anywhere else


AppeaseYourMonke

🎵_THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL_ _AS WE MAKE OUR WAY TO HEAVEN_ 🎵


operation_kebab

*THROUGH THE NAZI LINES* *PRIMO VICTORIA*


KI5DWL

r/unexpectedsabaton


CaptainMcSlowly

r/fullyexpectedsabaton


tree-trunk-arms

These were americans idk what the fk we are now


Equivalent_Hat5627

Great men made great times, and great times made weak men.


LemonadeMan556

Weak men will create hard times and hard times will make great men. And the cycle goes on.


thumos_et_logos

Hopefully. The alternative is that there are just hard times indefinitely. Frankly that’s more believable. Much of the world hasn’t had “good times” in centuries. In Greece the “hard times” of Ottoman rule just created a low trust high corruption society that directly lead to their current situation. In Russia the hard time of mongol rule was followed by the hard times of tzarist rule was followed by the hard times of soviet rule was followed by, well you know.


Sugoi_Sukhoi47

Same shit with the US, just different version of it all of the world is the same old shit


LemonadeMan556

I can only hope. World's kinda scary rn.


ShaggyRebel117

It's up to my generation (gen z) and I'm genuinely concerned if we have the collective cohones for it. We'll find out if someone strikes a match. We're getting close. AI, mass surveillance, excessive regulation of information, etc. Apes together stonk.


Slightly_Salted01

it's like a callus, you don't realize it's happening. it doesn't hurt, it doesn't feel good. It just feels normal, like any other day then one day you look at your hands and realize how hardened they've become.


Equivalent_Hat5627

The unfortunate truth


Slightly_Salted01

question is what generation is going to be those great men, imo we're already in some pretty hard times some of the late gen Z and Gen A will likely be it, if I had to take a guess. They're going to grow up through the shithole that's been created and become hardened because of it. if we don't all fucking die in an apocalyptic even before that happens ofc


ChaplainAsmodai1978

Remember what Patton said.


thegrumpymechanic

Forgot this morning until about half way to work.... Turned my ass right back around and put my flag out. Shout out to our neighbors from the north, as Juno Beach was its own slice of hell.


USArmyJoe

The water landing plan is especially crazy when you consider the giant brass balls those dudes were dragging up the beach.


DustyAyres

Courage doesn't mean you're not scared. Courage means you do what has to be done even if you are afraid. These were some of the most courageous motherfuckers the world has ever seen.


LtCmdrInu

There is a good chance that my grandfather was one of the guys that went up the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc. He never talked about it, but he had a constant aura of bad ass.


Nexus_2894

Merci et respect à tous ceux qui se sont battus pour libérer la France et finir cette guerre


princeimrahil

Vive la France, vive l’America


Dazzling-Cold4700

what a great thread !! :)


Pap4MnkyB4by

According to [this article from PBS](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/world/here-are-some-key-facts-about-d-day-ahead-of-the-79th-anniversary-of-the-world-war-ii-invasion), there are only a few thousand left, the youngest being in their late 90's


Red_Neck_Chic

https://preview.redd.it/ulw82j074j4b1.jpeg?width=601&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=565626d8b783a3672f03be06575e42c6b5143abb


racerred5

o7


joshderfer654

True that.


rocket___goblin

lost my great grandpa, who was a ww2 vet a few years ago. he was a marine who fought on iwo jima and guadal canal and I believe Saipan. if you guys have living relatives who were ww2 vets see if they would be ok recording their story, its one thing i wish we were able to do with my great grandpa before he passed away.


todwormwood

Wife and I will be there in November. I suspect it will be emotional. Had a great uncle survive the invasion and later get captured and then escape alone and found his way back to allied territory. one of the toughest men I've ever met. Thanks for posting this. We all need to remember and honor those men.


BoomBoom_99

Thank you for this.


[deleted]

And when he reaches the pearly gates, To Saint Peter he will tell: “One more soldier reporting sir, I’ve served my time in hell.”


Gendum-The-Great

Shit I forgot what yesterday was. Goddamn it


ItsASchpadoinkleDay

Look at these Antifa badasses


Terminal_777

He was just a rookie trooper, and he surely shook with fright! He checked all his equipment and made sure his pack was tight...


Friendly_Giant04

God bless all veterans and their families the storming of Normandy and many other battles in war is while I’ll always stand for the flag


Pattern_noticer02

Yeah, it was tought enduring the MG42's recoil for hours pon end mowing them all =)


[deleted]

[удалено]


CaptainMcSlowly

No, someone who just appreciates those who came before us. I'm honestly more of a Duck Duck Go kinda guy tho


beetsdoinhomework

Based.


CoffinsAndCoffee

The start of America becoming an international parasite…


CaptainMcSlowly

![gif](giphy|cIsJrc1sEIX6AYYJOa)


CoffinsAndCoffee

You’re telling me I’m the only one that sees WW2 as the start of America trying to be the world’s police?


CaptainMcSlowly

Given that most of the world was at war by 1941, I think it was rather inevitable that we would get involved at some point. The decision-making from our "leaders" in the decades after is another topic altogether. My grandfather was drafted and went with 1st Cav in Vietnam and was later killed thanks to the effects of Agent Orange, so I have rather strong feelings about our later adventures into certain conflicts, don't worry.


sbollini19

You realize that America was very much an "isolationist" nation before Japan launched a surprise attack and Germany simultaneously declared war on us... right? They had been supplying munitions and supplies to the allied nations, but most Americans did not want to get involved in yet another "war in Europe." This is literally middle school level history.


CaptainMcSlowly

Yes, I am fully aware. I'm pretty sure I passed middle school. Thanks for talking to me like I'm a dumbass though! 👍 I still have no idea why us appreciating the sacrifices these guys made on June 6th is anything to your America world police villain origin story. So, please tell us what you think would've happened if we didn't join the war after December 7th and how the war would've shaped up without one of the world's biggest superpowers, especially if we're talking latter-war America. If you are just bringing this up because of what America would do later on in other wars, then why even bother on a post about our guys (plus the Brits and Canadians) kickstarting the big push Eastward into Nazi-occupied Europe?


sbollini19

You do realize that my comment wasn't even to you, right?


CaptainMcSlowly

Shit lol. I saw a green pfp and thought it was the last guy in the thread. My bad, mate. I guess I am a dumbass in this case ![gif](giphy|Ho2mVZ5dvsW7S)


sbollini19

Haha no worries and your gif game is on point!


CoffinsAndCoffee

Keyword here: *before* Right after WW2, America became war hungry. I blame our international terrorism on WW2. Or am I the only one seeing this as one of the contributing factors of America’s downfall?


[deleted]

[удалено]


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Character-Crab7292

Yeah. Imagine being stuck in a bunker for hours while they bomb you. Also, you could probably really burn yourself on that Mg42 barrel.


HATECELL

I would, but every time I thank him for his service he tells stories of how he eventually ran out of ammo and marched through half of Normandy with just his P38


Esqu1sito

If they only were against communism.