Eighty one years ago today the greatest invasion in the history of the world took place when Allied forces landed at Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. The fate of the world hinged on this endeavor, and I think every single person who took part knew exactly what was at stake - on both sides of the conflict.
The average age of the American soldier taking part in the invasion was 22, with some being as young as 18. For many draftees the Normandy invasion was their very first combat experience, having gone straight from training in the States to England for the staging of the invasion. Those young men - young heroes, actually - were scared to death at what awaited them, but they went anyway. They knew the stakes, they knew the cost of failure, so they gathered up their courage and went.
Anywhere from 14,000 to 16,000 of them didn't come home.
I wonder if today's American youth would have this kind of courage. I hope we never have to find out.
Take a moment today to remember the young lives lost and the families torn apart in the pursuit of freedom. It's the least you can do.
Deo Vindice
IHC
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