Bill Greenwood
06-06-2013, 07:49 PM
Today, June 6th is the anniversary of D Day, the combined Allied invasion of Europe on the beaches of France at Normandy.
It was one of the most important days in the war, perhaps up there with when the Russians stopped the Nazis on the outskirts of Moscow or was it Stalingrad.
When the Allies successfully got a foothold on the beaches and began to move inland, it wasn't the end of the war in Europe, but it led to the end.
We celebrate all the vets, but just from an emotional standpoint I have some vets that are a favorite, and it is the airborne troops.
I think it was back in 1994, or 2000, not really sure of the year, that the celebration was very large and covered by many news organiztions and many vets and groups went to Normandy to join in.
One such vet group was dozens of men who had parachuted into Normandy that day. Of course, these men were mostly in their 70s or even 80s, but they wanted to recreate history and do the jump again, using the same type equipment and uniforms and even modern military style round chutes. At first the U S govt and military was for this and was even going to supply jump planes. But then someone said, Oh no, these guys are too old and someone might get hurt or killed and we can't do it.
I am not sure, but it seems to it was either Clinton or Bush as president stlll would not back these guys.
Anyway these old men, stood up and told the U S govt, the Pres, and the military to keep their nose out of their business and that they were going to jump anyway.
I recall one of the oldest vets, saying that he was 83 or whatever and even if he did get killed he didn't have that many years left, that this invasion in '44 was the most important thing he had done in his life and that this was what he wanted to do again. And they all pointed out with infailable logic, that if they could jump into combat area in 1944 they could certainly do it again with no one shooting at them or the planes.
And of course the French people gave these men the welcome they deserve, after they were back on the ground, as well as all the other vets who visited Normandy then.
I think they got some owners to volunteer a few C-47s and off they went. I would love to meet some of these guys and we should have a recognition for them at Airventure.
And they did it, and I think there was only a sprained ankle among them.
It was one of the most important days in the war, perhaps up there with when the Russians stopped the Nazis on the outskirts of Moscow or was it Stalingrad.
When the Allies successfully got a foothold on the beaches and began to move inland, it wasn't the end of the war in Europe, but it led to the end.
We celebrate all the vets, but just from an emotional standpoint I have some vets that are a favorite, and it is the airborne troops.
I think it was back in 1994, or 2000, not really sure of the year, that the celebration was very large and covered by many news organiztions and many vets and groups went to Normandy to join in.
One such vet group was dozens of men who had parachuted into Normandy that day. Of course, these men were mostly in their 70s or even 80s, but they wanted to recreate history and do the jump again, using the same type equipment and uniforms and even modern military style round chutes. At first the U S govt and military was for this and was even going to supply jump planes. But then someone said, Oh no, these guys are too old and someone might get hurt or killed and we can't do it.
I am not sure, but it seems to it was either Clinton or Bush as president stlll would not back these guys.
Anyway these old men, stood up and told the U S govt, the Pres, and the military to keep their nose out of their business and that they were going to jump anyway.
I recall one of the oldest vets, saying that he was 83 or whatever and even if he did get killed he didn't have that many years left, that this invasion in '44 was the most important thing he had done in his life and that this was what he wanted to do again. And they all pointed out with infailable logic, that if they could jump into combat area in 1944 they could certainly do it again with no one shooting at them or the planes.
And of course the French people gave these men the welcome they deserve, after they were back on the ground, as well as all the other vets who visited Normandy then.
I think they got some owners to volunteer a few C-47s and off they went. I would love to meet some of these guys and we should have a recognition for them at Airventure.
And they did it, and I think there was only a sprained ankle among them.