Yup...a very brave man, reflecting on the Boer War.

Those environments existed in WWII as well, in various theaters at one time or another. Stalingrad probably being the worst. COIN ops are extremely difficult, but they are defined as low intensity operations for a reason.

Fighting the Nazis would be akin to us having faced down the Reds for real during the cold war.

Some of the units in the Central European Front were expected to have a lifespan of mere minutes once the shooting started. That's entire units gone- thousands of men. In minutes.

Even without nukes.

This happened in WWII many, many times at various points. At land, sea and in the Air. There are very definitely varying degrees of intensity.

Anyway, my thanks to the vets, then, now, and tommorow.

Churchill is probably my favorite, most admired historical figure of all time.

I visited the American cemetery in Normandy a couple of weeks ago. It was one of the most moving things I've ever experienced. Also, standing on those beaches where all those men paid the highest price is something I'll never forget.

Maybe you missed my quote where my grandfather had to go house to house and find the hiding Nazi's, similar to what the "terrorists" are doing in Iraq.

geez...

I thought this thread was about the invasion of Normandy. Most are referring to the large-scale battles, not urban warfare.

Were these hiding Nazis also improvising IEDs out of dead animals, gift boxes, and other things?

I'm not marginalizing the "great generation" in any way shape or form. Merely arguing that today's soldier also faces significant challenges and very real psychological and physical dangers.

I think it's fair to say that no generation has a monopoly on courage - our guys today face a very different world, but they have great courage nonetheless. As for the "Greatest Generation" - yeah, I think so, but for lots of reasons.

Tonight I have the privilege of dining with a group of veterans including WWII vets and Normandy invasion survivors. It's traditional for us to toast Fallen Comrades, but we'll also be remembering all of those standing up to keep us all safe.

I'll also add a toast to the Pelicans out on the sand.

Jim

If you can get a copy of the 1994 American Heritage Magazine on D-Day, do so. I read mine every year on 6/6 and tear up at the same places in the same articles.

I hope there is a Heaven just for those young men who fell on Omaha Beach. Amen.

Jim,
I understand your point as well as all of the others here on this forum. You do hit many key points as to the nature of the soul of American's who have fought, are fighting and will fight in the future. I would say that most all, if needed would do the same as those in 1944. Different war different warfare. But I do look at us as a nation, and we as a nation have changed, IMHO. I do believe that the kids, your kids, and nearly all that I have met through the exchanges on this forum would storm a beach, into harms way as did our forefathers. We have always been a nation that abhores war, but for some strange reason we are a nation of great warriors. Deep in my heart, we all believe in the freedoms that we have and when it comes down to brass tacks, we would fight. My point is that when the call to arms arrises, it is the nation that goes to war. We seem to lack this essential understanding at this time.

From what I have seen here, there is no doubt we would be fighting this enemy. Somewhere. I don't think to much about how we got into this mess. I only understand that we are in it. The battlefield here is still dangerous, but it has changed. Mistakes made? Well, that is a beer or two discussion and I don't have access to beer so that one will need to wait.

Shaun84 traded me a book. Deriliction of duty. It is the story of Johnson and McNammara and the events that led to the Vietnam war. Along with In Retrospect it has jelled some of my thoughts on those days. Johnson was a Navy Officer who was decorated (under questionable circumstances), McNammara was an Army Officer. Both WWII generation.

I am also reading an incredibly interesting book, "An Army at Dawn" about Torch, the North Africa campaign. The disasters at Oran Harbor and other areas were not for the weak at heart and there were many disasters that I think were forgotten with the final victory. Those days, even after events such as Oran Harbor, were accepted by the Nation. A Nation at Dawn. So my point is that we, collectively must live up to our commitment when we push our young people into the breach. Please do not take my next comment as confrontational, but the accolades given to these young men and women are the nations choice, not ours. Those that are against the war or claim to be so, must understand and be accountable not for thier dissention, but to the manner in which they express it. As the manner of free speach on such an important manner as troops in the field is what will embolden our enemy. The greatest generation did not tolerate such manners, but today we do. Our enemy's know this and it emboldens them.

+1

Paul,

As Dan points out, your dad served, no doubt. It is all in the free nations that waged war, from a Turkey Farmer to the bomber pilot. Be Proud as he had the heart that exemplified those of that time.

Dan,
It seems to me that all on this forum treat these topics with such great respect, that it is obvious that it is only other forums that have the bad people (LOL)

Absolutely.

I agree 100%.

You give up a piece of yourself when you serve in a war, even if you emerge "unscathed." I suspect that piece is lost forever, and never comes back.