Remembering D-Day On Its 80th Anniversary

[AzScorpion]

Let's take a moment to remember all those who served on this day 80 years ago. Many gave their lives so we could be free! ??

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[Grumpaw]

My dad was there, kind of...he was a gunner on B-17's, and was involved in raids over the area just before the landings.
A day I always remember....??

 

[LaBalbe]

My grandfather was in a Spitfire overhead as well, and his older brother was a paratrooper who jumped into Normandy; both survived, although the brother passed away when I was too young to get to know him.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

The Artillery Battalion I was in, 2-110th FA, 29th ID landed on D-day and they are said to be the first artillery battalion to have fired artillery on german positions.

110th Field Artillery Battalion
After Action Report
29th Infantry Division – June 1944 – Battle of Normandy​

5 June 1044. The advance parties and the assault elements of the Battalion completed loading in and near Plymouth Harbor. The Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel John P. Cooper, Jr., Battery Reconnaissance Parties, Forward Observation Parties, and the Naval Fire Shore Control Parties (attached) were loaded in landing craft with the 115th Infantry; the assault elements of the 110th Field Artillery Battalion were loaded in five LCT’s. The former were to land on the morning of D-Day ; the latter, on the afternoon of D-Day. Nothing unusual occurred to the Battalion between Plymouth and its destination, the Normandy Beach, France.
D-Day: 6 June 1944. Those elements of the Battalion with the 115th Infantry landed with the Infantry between Colleville-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, beginning at 061030 (See Map A). The missions of these advance parties were to establish observation, to reconnoiter positions for the remainder of the Battalion which was to land at about 061600, and to secure fire support for the Infantry from the 111th Field Artillery Battalion and the 1st Division Artillery which were supposed to land earlier. Because of heavy resistance to the landing and the resultant inability of the Infantry to attain their initial objective as scheduled, the advance elements of the Battalion were not able to fully accomplish their missions initially. They did, however, maintain communication among themselves and with the part of the Battalion still afloat. At the direction of Brigadier General Norman D. Cota, Assistant Division Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper took command of all artillery ashore in the sector of the 29th Division and assigned it various missions in direct support of the 115th Infantry, who were attempting to push inland from the beach. Artillery fire, some direct and some requested by the Battalion’s advance parties, was accomplished. Its effect was observed to heighten the Infantry’s spirits. Fire support from naval vessels was obtained for the 115th Infantry by the Naval Shore Fire Control Parties attached to the battalion. Because of the shallowness of the beachhead, the wreckage on the beach, and the failure to obtain beach exits as anticipated, the 110th Field Artillery Battalion proper was unable to land as scheduled 6 June. On the night of 6 June, low-flying aircraft attacked the Battalion afloat about 1200 yards offshore. Organic anti-aircraft machine guns were fired on the air-craft from LCT’s of the Battalion with unknown results. No casualties occurred in the Battalion as a result of enemy action.
D+1: At about 071030 Battery “C”, 110th Field Artillery Battalion under the command of Captain Arthur L. Flinner, attempted to land at the direction of the Navy, near Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (Les Moulins). This landing was a failure because the craft hit a runnel. Two vehicles and valuable equipment and documents sank while debarking. Two others landings were attempted and “C” Battery finally came ashore with all its Howitzers at about 071300. “C” Battery occupied a position just north of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer and was ready to fire about 1600. The battery fired two short missions unobserved, but was limited from further firing because of safety considerations of our own troops imposed by the short range. The battery was on call, however, for fire continuously except for the period 072100-2230, when “C” Battery displaced to a position just south of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. (See Map A).
At about 072000 Service Battery (with a duplicate Battalion Headquarters to operate in case of mishap to Battalion Headquarters) landed at Vierville-sur-Mer and were directed by a military policeman to a transit area about 500 yards west of Vierville-sur-Mer. “A” Battery followed Service Battery. It was not possible to occupy the prearranged position near Deux Jumeaux for it was in enemy heads. Service and “A” Batteries went into the transit area without mishap. At about 2030 Headquarters Battery started to land ; it proceeded south through Vierville-sur-Mer and had just cleared the south edge of town when, for an unknown reason, traffic ahead of Headquarters Battery on the road on the south edge of Vierville caused other traffic to halt. “B” Battery followed Headquarters Battery but had to stop when it was about half-way through the town because of Headquarters Battery’s halting. Just the (about 2045), enemy artillery fire began to fall around the town. The fire shifted over all parts of the town but was mostly heavily concentrated at the crossroads and center of the town, where “B” Battery was halted. There were also small arms fire from snipers in the town. Civilians, members of the 115th and 116th Infantry, some Rangers, and some members of an Engineer Shore Brigade were trying to get out of the town, south, est and west ant this movement of people inevitably caused much confusion. Several of “B” Battery’s vehicles and two of their 105mm Howitzers received direct or spray hits from the artillery. Seventeen casualties accrued to “B” Battery in this action. The remainder of “B” Battery, two Howitzers and some vehicles, were led to a position just south of Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer by a Battalion Staff Officer at which place they joined “C” Battery (at about 2355) which had recently moved from the north of town. At this place (Transit Area n° 2), “C” Battery and the two pieces of “B” Battery remained in position during the night of 7-8 June. Meanwhile Headquarters Battery and the Headquarters of “B” Battery were in position about 1200 yards south of Vierville-sur-Mer. Thus the Battalion was split into three parts : east, south, and west of Vierville-sur-Mer during the night of 7-8 June. First support was available to any observer who requested it, because there were observers with each Battalion of the 115th Infantry who were in radio contact with either “A” Battery or Batteries “C” and “B”. However, no such support was requested, primarily because the Infantry was not certain of its front lines. The Battalion was in Combat Team attachment.
8 June 1944. During the morning of 8 June 1944, the Battalion was collected into the aforementioned area about 1200 yards south of Vierville-sur-Mer. At about 1130 the Battalion Commander reconnoitered a position area previously selected by map in the vicinity of Deux Jumeaux. The 115th Infantry, after a rapid advance during the morning, was occupying the ridge around Longueville. At 1300 the 110th Field Artillery Battalion began to displace…

…/…​

Battalion Commanding Officer : Lieutenant Colonel John J. Cooper, Jr.
Commanding Officer, Hq. Btry : Captain James R. McCarthy
Commanding Officer, Battery A : Captain William H. Beshler, Jr.
Commanding Officer, Battery B : Captain William A. Boykin, III
Commanding Officer, Battery C : Captain Arthur L. Flinner
Commanding Officer, Service Btry : Captain Charles H. Kinsey
Commanding Officer, Med. Det. : Captain John T. E. Ambler

source: https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/ba...29th-infantry/110th-field-artillery-battalion

 

[MXGOLF]

God Bless all our fallen service men and thanks to them for our home of the free because of the brave soldiers. My dad was Navy on a hospital ship in the Pacific theater. His ship was hit by a Jap kamikaze while he was in surgery. He did survive to live to be 94 and passed from Covid he would have been 98 last week on May 28th. I think he would still be here if not for getting Covid early when they did not know what the heck it was. Thanks CHINA

 

[Grumpaw]

What's a bit ironic is that my dad was born on Dec. 7th, 1923. He turned 18 on Dec 7th, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, and that day, went right down to join the Army, leading to the Army Air Corps. He had a slight build, and fit right in the ball turret of a B-17.
And me....well, my birthday happens to be....Dec. 7th !!!

 

[Big Blue]

Thank to all the brave Americans who served in WWII, serviving or lost! My father did not serve but, was a defense worker who built submarines at manitowoc during the war. He could name every sub he worked on in order of launching. He talked about meeting the commissioning crews and them taking the subs out into Lake Michigan and setting them down on the bottom for initial pressure testing before shipping down the Mississippi River. He later worked at the Navy ship yard in Bremerton Washington.

Many served in many ways, some gave ALL!

 

[21Blackout]

Cheer's to "the Great Generation" both of my grandfathers were there, I can remember asking them when I was a wee little lad if they were hero's both had the same answer "No my buddies who didn't come home are."

 

[Doc]

Blessings to all that gave their lives for us ..

 

[9zero1790]

i look at that situation and think it out with my past experience on and around the water and limited very limited knowledge of combat and i realize most if not all of these guys knew that it was likely gonna be the last day alive. if had a choice back then to pick, hit the beach, or be the ones dug in to stop invaders - ... but that would have been the wrong side. I am grateful for all of those that took part and allowed me not to be faced with the situation they faced. I hope our children and grandchildren never have to do it either.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I can’t imagine being on one of those landing craft when the bow ramp was lowered. Hat’s off to all of them.

I’ll always remember D-Day because it’s also my wedding anniversary - today marks nine wonderful years married to Mrs. DukeCanBuildit. ?

 

[AzScorpion]

I can’t imagine being on one of those landing craft when the bow ramp was lowered. Hat’s off to all of them.

I’ll always remember D-Day because it’s also my wedding anniversary - today marks nine wonderful years married to Mrs. DukeCanBuildit. ?

Congratulations Duke for nine wonderful years with your lovely bride.?

One question though? How on earth did she manage to stay with you that long ??

 

[Tracy Bowman]

I can’t imagine being on one of those landing craft when the bow ramp was lowered. Hat’s off to all of them.

I’ll always remember D-Day because it’s also my wedding anniversary - today marks nine wonderful years married to Mrs. DukeCanBuildit. ?

Beautiful couple! Happy anniversary, Duke!

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Thank you and God bless you all who served in every capacity.??

 

[9zero1790]

I can’t imagine being on one of those landing craft when the bow ramp was lowered. Hat’s off to all of them.

I’ll always remember D-Day because it’s also my wedding anniversary - today marks nine wonderful years married to Mrs. DukeCanBuildit. ?

wow that makes it easy to remember. Duke reminds me of a famous person but i cant think of the persons name... Ill think of it when im not trying to. Some guys get all the luck - cool truck, beautiful wife, and a member of Ranger 5g. .?

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