June 6th 1944

[B-Man2]

On the morning of June 6th 1944 my dad landed in France and became a veteran of D-Day . When he passed away in 2004 I promised myself that I would take his burial flag to France and in honor of his service have his flag flown at the Normandy American Cemetery. The Flag pole used was the same one pictured in Saving Private Ryan. His flag was flown for 3 minutes while they played taps. Everyone in the cemetery stood in place while taps was played. I completely lost it and couldn’t keep my emotions in control. They then brought the flag down and gave it back to me . It was an event that I will always remember .

 

[Hazayad]

Wow, @B-Man2

I know how important this must have been for you and indeed is for so many.
At the time I jumped with two photos of veterans, family members of friends of mine, in the breast pocket of my smock - to make that connection, that physical connection between us now and here and the ones who made it possible.

Dusty in here...

 

[Lorenzo_l]

On the morning of June 6th 1944 my dad landed in France and became a veteran of D-Day . When he passed away in 2004 I promised myself that I would take his burial flag to France and in honor of his service have his flag flown at the Normandy American Cemetery. The Flag pole used was the same one pictured in Saving Private Ryan. His flag was flown for 3 minutes while they played taps. Everyone in the cemetery stood in place while taps was played. I completely lost it and couldn’t keep my emotions in control. They then brought the flag down and gave it back to me . It was an event that I will always remember .

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Wow Burt. That is a moving story. It must be something really special to have a father who took part in D-Day operations. My thanks for your dad's service.

 

[Micawber]

That is a very special post Burt.

Lest We Forget.

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Only after visited the old battlefield, personnel seen the geography features and German fortifications, I can understand why call them the great generation.

 

[mulceber]

Very moving story, Burt. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[John Lever]

 

[Razorback]

79-years-old debt to all D-Day veterans

 

[Micawber]

An interesting short released today that details the photographer who captured the famous footage taken on Omaha Beach that morning..

 

[Chandler]

I remember seeing still, frame-by-frame, images of this film clip as a teenager.

The realization that I was actually watching someone die didn't strike me at first, but started to build in my comprehension; suddenly the difference between reality and Hollywood was very immense.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Thank you for sharing that Burt. The debt we owe that generation cannot be repaid but it should always be remembered and this Forum is one place we can make that happen.

 

[John Lever]

I believe a great many original negatives were lost due to some misfortune during developing

 

[Chandler]

I believe a great many original negatives were lost due to some misfortune during developing

I think those were Capa's shots. Sent back to England and the technician used too much heat in his zeal to get the pictures of history (IIRC).

 

[Blackboxr1200S]

I believe a great many original negatives were lost due to some misfortune during developing

"The magnificent 11"
11 pictures remained of the 106 Robert Capa took on D-Day.
Recent research showed that only 11 were taken that day, and the whole " lost negatives" story was debunked

 

[Chandler]

The Magnificent Eleven - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Silver Surfer]

as with others, I thank you Burt for allowing us to read of your emotions in the writing of your father, his service, and the dday flag experience.

 

[Chandler]

@B-Man2 -- what was your dad's unit Burt?

 

[Thomas Koehle]

On the morning of June 6th 1944 my dad landed in France and became a veteran of D-Day . When he passed away in 2004 I promised myself that I would take his burial flag to France and in honor of his service have his flag flown at the Normandy American Cemetery. The Flag pole used was the same one pictured in Saving Private Ryan. His flag was flown for 3 minutes while they played taps. Everyone in the cemetery stood in place while taps was played. I completely lost it and couldn’t keep my emotions in control. They then brought the flag down and gave it back to me . It was an event that I will always remember .

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That's a very moving and intimate message you share with us.

Thank you for that!

And "Thank you" to all the other veterans that helped to liberate Europe - Germany included - from the Nazis

 

[B-Man2]

@B-Man2 -- what was your dad's unit Burt?

My dad was originally in the 507th Parachute Infantry Reg. however he was injured during a practice jump and taken off jump status . While he was no longer considered medically fit for the airborne he was still considered fit enough for combat and was sent to the 22nd infantry Regiment, 4th ID. The initial landing on Utah beach was made by the 12th Inf Reg of the 4th Division supported later that morning by the 22nd Inf Reg of the 4th Div. I never knew any of this until the last months of his life when he was dying in a veterans hospital. He told me that the worst days of his life were after the landing when he learned how many of his friends in the 507th were killed on D-Day . I still have his original jump wings and his original 507th Patch along with his 4th ID patches . He was shot thru the throat with a wooden bullet by sniper from a hedgerow on a July 30, and received a Purple Heart .
Sorry for that long winded answer.

 

[Chandler]

Sorry for that long winded answer.

Not at all long winded -- exactly what you need to remember about your father.

It really is just amazing how many of that generation kept so much packed away for so long without talking about it.

Thanks for sharing with us, it's a story worth telling.