"D" day 70 years ago today!!

[luckydog]

The turning point of WW2 was "D" day!!

my oldest brother was on the USS Blessman on that day,

they were supporting the troops on the ground with their big guns and also had staff on board to assist the wounded.

during the night before all the fighting started they had some navy seals on board who got in rubber rafts and went ashore to assist in fighting & locating the enemy positions.

my brother had kept a journal during all his time in the navy and wrote a book about it.

"the USS Blessman and I"

[RaymondV]

We owe those men a debt of gratitude, too many of them gave their lives for freedom.
Having a few buddies stopping by tonight and we will have a toast for them.
Just think, in 10 years on the 80th anniversary there might not be any left that survived that day.

[emmadog]

Great post LD but one quick correction, the SEALs weren't established until '62 and the Naval Special Warfare Command in '87.
I'm going to checkout your brother's book-sounds like a great opportunity to read a first hand account.
One of the things I'm definitely doing is going to Normandy to pay my respects to those great men and women. In my basement you'll find a huge poster of the D-Day landing with "The Greatest Generation" across the bottom. So true.

[luckydog]

my error, I haven't reread the book for awhile
that was in the pacific in jan. they were called UDT-15 Underwater Demolition Teams back then, similar to our navy seals.
teams went ashore on the Crimson beach in Lingayen Gulf

[emmadog]

Yeah, they were the precursor to the SEAL teams.