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Rocketman
Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 02:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Without the efforts of great men 60 years ago, I doubt I'd be living today.

My Dad was born just before WWII and Mum during. I doubt if Hitler had his way my parents would have met.

Aside from that my home town Hull was the second most bombed city. Coventry was all but flattened, but for Hull sat on the north bank of the River Humber, which was a great navigation point for German bombers flying home, anything left over in their bomb doors was dropped on Hull.

Indeed my Grandparent's and my father as small child were bombed out of their home. Luckily they were in the air raid shelter when the bombs fell that night.

Both my Granddad's served during WWII. On my Dad's side, Home Guard on the East Coast. My Mum's side, my Granddad a Royal Engineer, fought in North Africa and Sicily.

To each and all who served, brave and courageous men, I shall not forget and will pay my respects in Northern France.

Thank you.

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Bigj
Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 08:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Very nicely done, Rocketman. I don't think I could handle those cemeteries in Caen. But I'd go if could.

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Brucelee
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 09:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My Dad (rest his soul) and all my uncles were there when we needed them.

Hats off to them!

Thanks

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Firemanjim
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 12:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Good for you Rocket!!Lay some flowers down for us.My Dad was in ETO.Went over on one of the waves of D-Day.He never talked much about WW II,but I can still remember his nightmares.That generation were amazing,he faked his dad's signature to get enlisted as he was 17,and then faked out the eye test as he was damn near blind in one eye,all that to go to war---.Wish I could have found out more as he died 2 years ago.My mom was Navy WAC in WW II.
Everytime I see that Tom Hanks movie,Saving Private Ryan,with the landing on Omaha Beach, I thanked heaven my dad made it home.
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Mr_grumpy
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 02:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I live not 2hrs from the beaches, & less than 1 hr from the US military cemetary at St James.
I pass regularly & it never fails to move me.

Give me a call when you come Rocket & we'll go together.

Anyone on the Board wants to visit, let me know in advance & we'll sort it out.
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Blake
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 02:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks Rocket. I'm sure you would follow suit given similar circumstances. You obviously come from good stock.
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Jerry_haughton
Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 08:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

very nice, Rocket. thank you.

FB
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Awprior
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 12:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Spent a few hours this evening sipping beers and watching Saving Private Ryan with a few of my brothers. In my times doing WWII reenacting, that movie is the one thing that truly stirs the souls of the vets I've met... This is truly a historical day.
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Mr_grumpy
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 04:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I passed Caen (the nearest big town to the beaches) on Thurs & again coming back on Fri, and I can honestly say I've never seen so many Jeeps in my life along with old GMC's Dodge's & I even saw 3 DUKW amphib trucks all running on the highway all with crews in period dress.
People have driven their 60 yr old WWII vehicles from all over Europe to be there.
I take my hat off to them.
Even when I got stuck on a 2 lane road behind a 6X4 GMC towing a trailer with a Jeep on it (flat out at about 30-35 mph) I had to smile, man they built those things tough!
You can still find traces of the battle out in the countryside in Normandy, like old pill boxes or the odd building still with bullet scars on the stonework, it can be an eerie feeling sometimes.
But it's the numerous military cemeteries that move me the most, they're beautifully kept & tended, & are real oases of peace in a busy world.
On a lighter side there are some really funny stories told by the locals about those days (but you have to lubricate the memory first & some of those old boys can drink!)
It's been a very special time around here, much more so than the 50th anniversary, I think because peoples minds are more focused these days post Iraq.
I sense at the moment much less anti-american feeling here & really hope that this will help heal the rift between France & the US as both nations have much in common.

Go in Peace, Innes
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Bomber
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 05:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

all the folks involved stood up and did what theire countries asked . . . they acterd wtih honor, bravery, and humanity -- a wondferful legacy -- thanks, Rocket, and thanks Mr Grumpy for the boots on the ground report
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Rocketman
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 10:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thank you all.

I shall visit some American cemeteries this year, and in doing so I shall pass on respects for all of you. Mine included.

Last year I traveled the road across the battlefield of the Somme. I visited many cemeteries over many miles.


As one travels the road there are markers giving the position and date of the front line. One cannot imagine what suffering took place in that awful war, or any war.

Peace

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