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Balladeer
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0 posted 2001-06-06 07:03 PM



ok, here's my Alley gripe!   57 years ago thousands of young men faced certain death in the pivotal battle of World War II , landing on the beaches of Omaha, Juno, Gold, Sword and a place called Normandy in Operation Overlord, which the world would come to know as D-Day...the battle that would turn the tide of the war and ultimately destroy the Nazi war movement and quest for world domination...
    I have often tried to place myself in their minds. What would it have been like? Think of it. You are gliding toward the beach in a landing craft, loaded down with equipment, being ordered to wade ashore, finding yourself helpless in the water with machine guns on the beaches firing at you. You can't fight back and can only hope that you do not show up in their sights. Fish in a barrel. You are just a kid. You haven't even had a chance to live yet. You know that the majority of you will die helplessly and you pray that you are one of the lucky ones to make it ashore...not that the shore will assure your survival, either. What was in their minds the minute before they went in the water? I can't even imagine...yet in they went at a horrific cost and the war was won.
    So my gripe? I don't even see this day recognized! I drove around all day working with the radio on and not once did I hear a reference to D-Day. I've read poetry posted today and don't see anything that tributes this day or the boys who gave their lives....and, to my shame, I am included. As poets we are always on the lookout for worthy things to pounce upon but this one went unnoticed and unspoken. Movies have been made of it and the term D-DAY has become synonymous with "THE DAY". Thousands waded to certain death so that we could watch Oprah, complain about gas prices and write poetry. Is this really a gripe? No, of course not   but, although I doubt if any of us participated in that action, we may have fathers or uncles who did and I would like to say, for the record in the small chance that anyone from that time may read these pages, that I appreciate the sacrifices that were made and the heroics on display and the bravery shown to preserve my freedom and the freedom of the world in general.....and I hope you will join me in recognizing and saluting the courageous men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice to insure the survival of our freedom and way of life........

© Copyright 2001 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
Balladeer
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1 posted 2001-06-06 07:33 PM


Sunshine...you are so sneeeeeeeeeky  
Sunshine
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2 posted 2001-06-06 07:35 PM


I am sorry, 'Deer, to be so very late today with an honor to our men...

I have posted two...

one, a Senryu...

one, hopefully, a try at a Rondel...[had to work on that one, but certainly, not as hard as the men that graced my life with their pasts]

down the road, I hope to be interviewing some gentle men who served in WWII - I missed an opportunity with an uncle by marriage, as he did not think it "fit wording" to speak to a woman about his trials and tribulations....as a POW...

but there is a gentle man that I work with, who may share with me, some history....

down the road...

May I offer a belated thank you, to all Veterans who might read this?  I live with one...I see his anger, often, over the memories of VietNam....

Acies
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3 posted 2001-06-06 09:12 PM


First of all, Balladeer, you forgot "Utah". Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold, and Juno are codenames for landing places in the whole Normandy Beech.  Omaha and Utah are the places where the Americans would land. Sword, Gold and Juno are for the British and some Canadian armies.  

Secondly, I agree with you.  I don't care if memorial day is only days before this special day.  June 6th, 1944 should always be remembered, and the best way is to make it a holliday for all.  Not only for Americans, but also for the English, French, Canadians, and any other nation/people from Europe who participated in this glorious day.  I too show my deepest respects and admiration to the veterans of WWII.

hi Sweets, Lizzy, Ina, Erin, Erica, Minna, Kit, Kamie, Javi, Jenn, Sharon, Nan, Cawlee, Cherish, Val, Sara, Justine, Leah, Jess, Kimmie, Maree, Michel

[This message has been edited by acire (edited 06-06-2001).]

Sunshine
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4 posted 2001-06-06 09:20 PM


ahem....you also forgot the women that served....

but that's ok....WE remember....

Kit McCallum
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5 posted 2001-06-06 09:46 PM


Thank you for posting this Michael. Not only do I enjoy reading and learning from your poetry, but I can most certainly add prose to the list. This is an excellent reminder to us all, and I join you in rembrance of this special day.

Much appreciation,
/Kit

Sunshine
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6 posted 2001-06-06 10:05 PM


What is most amazing, is that in any form, or forum, or post, or passion....

we can share it all....from those that live with Veterans...to those that came from Veterans as children...

my father could not serve...it bothered him greatly....

my second husband served in VietNam....it bothers him, still today....greatly....

we could do a lot of learning, if we just listened....

and sometimes? take our heads out of the clouds.....

in which I am usually found....

again, a thank you, to you, 'Deer, for posting this,

and to all the Vets that still grace our lives.

You gave, more than you might ever know.


Balladeer
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7 posted 2001-06-06 10:46 PM


acire, you are so right! How I overlooked Utah escapes me but I appreciate your pointing it out....and, yes, it is definitely for all the nations working together....
Acies
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8 posted 2001-06-07 09:22 AM


Sunshine ---- I assume Veteran's include the women too.  We can't forget about "Rosie the Riveter" now can we?  

hi Sweets, Lizzy, Ina, Erin, Erica, Minna, Kit, Kamie, Javi, Jenn, Sharon, Nan, Cawlee, Cherish, Val, Sara, Justine, Leah, Jess, Kimmie, Maree, Michel

[This message has been edited by acire (edited 06-07-2001).]

suthern
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9 posted 2001-06-07 09:32 AM


I don't know if it's any consolation, Deer one... but in spite of the fact that Allison and her floods were on everyone's minds (and in their cars and homes and businesses *G*)... I did hear several recognitions of and tributes to D-Day here on Houston TV stations. And I had the unexpected treat and honor to meet a survivor as we were both waiting at the pharmacy for prescriptions... When my name was called, I apologized for the interruption and quickly paid for my medicine, then went back to listen until he left... Believe me, that wasn't time wasted and a handshake and thank you weren't nearly enough. *S* For my Dad, whose division landed D-Day plus two, will talk of his other WWII experiences... but the only thing he's ever said about the landing is that he'll never forget the stench. As for writing a poem... my mind barely works... it doesn't work on command! LOL

[This message has been edited by suthern (edited 06-07-2001).]

Sunshine
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10 posted 2001-06-07 10:54 AM


No Acire, we certainly cannot.  They served not only in the form of Rosie, but as pilots, nurses, and in many other areas.  And it was, I believe, during this time that "the glass ceiling" was conceived when it came to women taking on all form of men's jobs here in the States while the men were at war.  Perhaps, the beginning, then, of the war between the men and women that we know so well today....and why women truly believe, they belong in the working world?  But this belongs in another thread entirely....
Balladeer
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11 posted 2001-06-07 12:53 PM


Suthern girl, your mind, working on command or not, is a beautiful thing.   My appreciation to your dad and I know that people like you ALWAYS remember and give thanks to those who have made this world what it is....
Rex
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12 posted 2001-06-07 03:21 PM


Balladeer...Your remembrance and tribute to the thousands who participated in the D-Day landings (not to mention the rest of the war) is right on target! As is the wont of humans, we tend to have very short memories.  The men and women who gave their lives during the greatest conflict the world has yet known did so as a down payment on the future of mankind!  Unfortunately, given the state of this nation and the rest of the world we see today, I'm not so sure that in retrospect they might not consider it to have been a poor investment.



Acies
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13 posted 2001-06-07 05:55 PM


Sunshine, I agree.  I just used Rosie as one of the examples.  I just concluded that being in the war as pilots for example, or nurses, they are considered veterans too.  They should at least.  I never thought veterans only pointed out to male military personel.  

hi Sweets, Lizzy, Ina, Erin, Erica, Minna, Kit, Kamie, Javi, Jenn, Sharon, Nan, Cawlee, Cherish, Val, Sara, Justine, Leah, Jess, Kimmie, Maree, Michel

Sunshine
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14 posted 2001-06-07 07:58 PM


Acire, you were absolutely correct...but when is the last time you saw other than a wife of a Vet remarked upon during a time of remembrance?  Usually only in Military-type magazines, and then they are hard to find.  Usually, one only sees men given tribute...

no argument here...just some noticing...

and again, a final thank you, to those who were there....

kaile
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15 posted 2001-06-08 04:56 AM


i am an Asian and i feel inadequate to reply...

having served in the military before and having travelled to Vietnam this may, i find myself relating very strongly to this thread...i often wonder while i was still in national service whether i would have it in me to look someone calmly in the eye,pull the trigger at him and move on to the next target because the situation demands so and that one has to strike before he collapses....

i saw photos of soldiers posing with severed heads in the war museums in vietnam and wondered how is it that sane, intellectual men could turn into such savage beasts during war time....

i shudder when i think that i might have to turn into such a being when war comes and i pray that such a day will never come...

i guess i am rambling but thanx for this opportunity for letting me get these feelings off my chest

we may never realise the demons that these war veterans are facing daily...we can only try to empathise and hope that time has been kind to them and momentarily lessen their wounds...

i salute

Dopey Dope
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16 posted 2001-06-09 04:04 PM


Thoughts well heard Ball.....I agree whole heartedly.
Those men....BRAVE....

brian madden
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ireland
17 posted 2001-06-10 07:43 AM


Balladeer, Often we do forget these things. They recently showed "Nurumberg" tv movie with Alec Baldwin. I think that maybe people just want to let it die down, because D Day did involve other nations, and some times it is like opening up old wounds. I have seen it with the northern situation in Ireland.
I know in Ireland we don't celebrate reveloution dates in our history, I guess  to keep the peace. I understand that d day was a global thing. I guess some people think that history should lie in the past.  

"Build a man a fire, he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life". Terry Pratchett

Acies
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18 posted 2001-06-10 06:18 PM


But Brian, if we don't look at the past, we will never learn from it.  It's actually our past that pushes us forwards into the future.

Balladeer --- I saw that dday celebration and memorial on c-span or cnbc today.  It was a re-run.

hi Sweets, Lizzy, Ina, Erin, Erica, Minna, Kit, Kamie, Javi, Jenn, Sharon, Nan, Cawlee, Cherish, Ashley, Sara, Justine, Leah, Jess, Kimmie, Maree, Mic

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