Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day (and a week)
Thanks, Scott. BTW, John Gallagher, mentioned in my write-up, is the man in upper right of slide 71 with face covered by bandages and hair exposed. Wilton - Original Message - From: "Scott Ritchey via Mercedes" To: "'Mercedes Discussion List'" Cc: "Scott Ritchey" Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2015 4:57 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day (and a week) Wilton, Thanks for that first-hand account of D-day from ground level. All: Maybe folks have already seen this (and I should have posted it a week ago) but here is (IMO) a very interesting slide-show of D-day (and beyond) events: http://pt709.synology.me/NormandyLanding1.pps. Left click on the link should download the 6M pps file to your machine where you can play it. I think there is value in seeing the scope of this effort; I certainly don't have the words that would do it justice. Scott ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day (and a week)
Wilton, Thanks for that first-hand account of D-day from ground level. All: Maybe folks have already seen this (and I should have posted it a week ago) but here is (IMO) a very interesting slide-show of D-day (and beyond) events: http://pt709.synology.me/NormandyLanding1.pps. Left click on the link should download the 6M pps file to your machine where you can play it. I think there is value in seeing the scope of this effort; I certainly don't have the words that would do it justice. Scott ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
The photo was up for only a second, but I clearly saw 2 helmets with
white arcs in the center.
You can find those shows on the PBS web site and if you have an
AppleTV (and maybe other streaming devices) there is a PBS app that
has them for viewing. You can pause and check them out. If you
watch on your computer you can get a screen shot to save and study.
Amazing writeup BTW. I can't even imagine what that must have been like.
--R
On 6/10/15 11:22 PM, WILTON via Mercedes wrote:
I saw most of that show, too, though I missed first few minutes.
'Could be, if the craft were an LCI(L) with infantry ramps that
come down on each side near the bow (not a Higgins boat). Whenever
I see one of those scenes now, I try to study the person(s) for
recognition; so far, 'haven't recognized one as my brother, Lewis
("Little Boats"). They're not usually in view long enough, unless
one just by chance matches my memory of him 70+ years ago.
Wilton
- Original Message - From: "Curly McLain via Mercedes"
To: "Mercedes Discussion List"
Cc: "Curly McLain" <126die...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
Watching part of a Nova program tonight about D Day. One of the
first scenes I saw had guys in a landing craft. The helmets had
white arcs on them. Maybe it is "little Boats" and his group!
Thanks Wilton!
Greg
-Original Message-
From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of WILTON
via Mercedes
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 11:36 AM
To: Mercedes Discussion List
Cc: WILTON
Subject: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
And we should never florget. I wrote the folllowing several years ago.
Some of you may hjave seen it before.
"LITTLE BOATS" AND 6 JUN 1944
By Wilton W. Strickland
My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in the US
Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man
platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha Beach,
France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure the
beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was composed
of many specialties, including demolition, signalmen, radiomen, riflemen,
doctors, medical corpsmen (medics), bulldozer operators and others -
whatever necessary to manage the beach. They wore army combat uniforms and
trained with the Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to
distinguish them from army troops was an arc painted across the front of
their helmets. Most of the men in his platoon were teenagers just 17, 18
and 19 years old.
Several of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a few, such
as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa, where his ship had been
sunk just offshore in Oct '42. Though small in stature, Lewis was a giant
in courage, dedication to accomplishing the mission, determination and care
for the men in his platoon. He served as their mentor, their "mother,"
their "father," their leader. They affectionately called him, "Little
Boats," in honor of his Navy specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate. Ensign
Joe Vaghi, just out of college and new to the Navy when he became the
platoon's Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in
2001, "He taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy."
Little Boats died of pneumonia in 1997.
The platoon had trained extensively for several months with army troops at
Camp Bradford, VA, Fort Pierce, FL, and Swansea, Wales. They
were delivered
to Omaha beach on LCI(L) 88, (an infantry landing craft) operated
by members
of the US Coast Guard, as were many of the vessels in the invasion fleet.
In 2001, I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of interviewing several
of Little Boats' men and several of the equally brave Coasties (US Coast
Guard) who delivered them to the beach on that fateful day of June 6, 1944,
the memory of which should make all Americans, British, Canadians and other
allies stand tall with pride. Most of the following is excerpted
from those
interviews:
One of the seventeen-year-old riflemen, Seaman John Hanley, remembers, "We
formed up on the main deck of the LCI at the top of the port (left) ramp.
Ensign Vaghi was # 1, and his assistants, Ensign Wright # 2, BM/1C "Little
Boats" Strickland was # 3, I was # 4, and several of the other young
riflemen were immediately behind me. As we approached the line of
departure, we could see smoke from the shelling rising from the beach.
About that time, an LCT coming out of the smoke off the beach on our port
side let off a barrage of rockets. The German 88's had him straddled; you
could see the shells hitting the water 8 to 10 feet behind 'im. She was at
battle speed - 8 or 9 knots, and that's the last I saw of th
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
You can find those shows on the PBS web site and if you have an AppleTV
(and maybe other streaming devices) there is a PBS app that has them for
viewing. You can pause and check them out. If you watch on your
computer you can get a screen shot to save and study.
Amazing writeup BTW. I can't even imagine what that must have been like.
--R
On 6/10/15 11:22 PM, WILTON via Mercedes wrote:
I saw most of that show, too, though I missed first few minutes.
'Could be, if the craft were an LCI(L) with infantry ramps that come
down on each side near the bow (not a Higgins boat). Whenever I see
one of those scenes now, I try to study the person(s) for recognition;
so far, 'haven't recognized one as my brother, Lewis ("Little
Boats"). They're not usually in view long enough, unless one just by
chance matches my memory of him 70+ years ago.
Wilton
- Original Message - From: "Curly McLain via Mercedes"
To: "Mercedes Discussion List"
Cc: "Curly McLain" <126die...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
Watching part of a Nova program tonight about D Day. One of the
first scenes I saw had guys in a landing craft. The helmets had
white arcs on them. Maybe it is "little Boats" and his group!
Thanks Wilton!
Greg
-Original Message-
From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of
WILTON
via Mercedes
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 11:36 AM
To: Mercedes Discussion List
Cc: WILTON
Subject: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
And we should never florget. I wrote the folllowing several years ago.
Some of you may hjave seen it before.
"LITTLE BOATS" AND 6 JUN 1944
By Wilton W. Strickland
My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in
the US
Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man
platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha
Beach,
France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure
the
beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was
composed
of many specialties, including demolition, signalmen, radiomen,
riflemen,
doctors, medical corpsmen (medics), bulldozer operators and others -
whatever necessary to manage the beach. They wore army combat
uniforms and
trained with the Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to
distinguish them from army troops was an arc painted across the
front of
their helmets. Most of the men in his platoon were teenagers just
17, 18
and 19 years old.
Several of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a
few, such
as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa, where his ship
had been
sunk just offshore in Oct '42. Though small in stature, Lewis was a
giant
in courage, dedication to accomplishing the mission, determination
and care
for the men in his platoon. He served as their mentor, their "mother,"
their "father," their leader. They affectionately called him, "Little
Boats," in honor of his Navy specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate.
Ensign
Joe Vaghi, just out of college and new to the Navy when he became the
platoon's Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in
2001, "He taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy."
Little Boats died of pneumonia in 1997.
The platoon had trained extensively for several months with army
troops at
Camp Bradford, VA, Fort Pierce, FL, and Swansea, Wales. They were
delivered
to Omaha beach on LCI(L) 88, (an infantry landing craft) operated by
members
of the US Coast Guard, as were many of the vessels in the invasion
fleet.
In 2001, I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of interviewing
several
of Little Boats' men and several of the equally brave Coasties (US
Coast
Guard) who delivered them to the beach on that fateful day of June
6, 1944,
the memory of which should make all Americans, British, Canadians
and other
allies stand tall with pride. Most of the following is excerpted
from those
interviews:
One of the seventeen-year-old riflemen, Seaman John Hanley,
remembers, "We
formed up on the main deck of the LCI at the top of the port (left)
ramp.
Ensign Vaghi was # 1, and his assistants, Ensign Wright # 2, BM/1C
"Little
Boats" Strickland was # 3, I was # 4, and several of the other young
riflemen were immediately behind me. As we approached the line of
departure, we could see smoke from the shelling rising from the beach.
About that time, an LCT coming out of the smoke off the beach on our
port
side let off a barrage of rockets. The German 88's had him
straddled; you
could see the shells hitting the water 8 to 10 feet behind 'im. She
was at
battle speed - 8 or 9 knots, and that's the last I saw of the LCT - we
started passing 'im - we were coming up o
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
I saw most of that show, too, though I missed first few minutes. 'Could be,
if the craft were an LCI(L) with infantry ramps that come down on each side
near the bow (not a Higgins boat). Whenever I see one of those scenes now,
I try to study the person(s) for recognition; so far, 'haven't recognized
one as my brother, Lewis ("Little Boats"). They're not usually in view long
enough, unless one just by chance matches my memory of him 70+ years ago.
Wilton
- Original Message -
From: "Curly McLain via Mercedes"
To: "Mercedes Discussion List"
Cc: "Curly McLain" <126die...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 10:07 PM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
Watching part of a Nova program tonight about D Day. One of the first
scenes I saw had guys in a landing craft. The helmets had white arcs on
them. Maybe it is "little Boats" and his group!
Thanks Wilton!
Greg
-Original Message-
From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of WILTON
via Mercedes
Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 11:36 AM
To: Mercedes Discussion List
Cc: WILTON
Subject: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
And we should never florget. I wrote the folllowing several years ago.
Some of you may hjave seen it before.
"LITTLE BOATS" AND 6 JUN 1944
By Wilton W. Strickland
My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in the US
Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man
platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha Beach,
France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure the
beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was
composed
of many specialties, including demolition, signalmen, radiomen, riflemen,
doctors, medical corpsmen (medics), bulldozer operators and others -
whatever necessary to manage the beach. They wore army combat uniforms
and
trained with the Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to
distinguish them from army troops was an arc painted across the front of
their helmets. Most of the men in his platoon were teenagers just 17, 18
and 19 years old.
Several of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a few,
such
as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa, where his ship had
been
sunk just offshore in Oct '42. Though small in stature, Lewis was a giant
in courage, dedication to accomplishing the mission, determination and
care
for the men in his platoon. He served as their mentor, their "mother,"
their "father," their leader. They affectionately called him, "Little
Boats," in honor of his Navy specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate.
Ensign
Joe Vaghi, just out of college and new to the Navy when he became the
platoon's Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in
2001, "He taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy."
Little Boats died of pneumonia in 1997.
The platoon had trained extensively for several months with army troops at
Camp Bradford, VA, Fort Pierce, FL, and Swansea, Wales. They were
delivered
to Omaha beach on LCI(L) 88, (an infantry landing craft) operated by
members
of the US Coast Guard, as were many of the vessels in the invasion fleet.
In 2001, I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of interviewing
several
of Little Boats' men and several of the equally brave Coasties (US Coast
Guard) who delivered them to the beach on that fateful day of June 6,
1944,
the memory of which should make all Americans, British, Canadians and
other
allies stand tall with pride. Most of the following is excerpted from
those
interviews:
One of the seventeen-year-old riflemen, Seaman John Hanley, remembers, "We
formed up on the main deck of the LCI at the top of the port (left) ramp.
Ensign Vaghi was # 1, and his assistants, Ensign Wright # 2, BM/1C "Little
Boats" Strickland was # 3, I was # 4, and several of the other young
riflemen were immediately behind me. As we approached the line of
departure, we could see smoke from the shelling rising from the beach.
About that time, an LCT coming out of the smoke off the beach on our port
side let off a barrage of rockets. The German 88's had him straddled; you
could see the shells hitting the water 8 to 10 feet behind 'im. She was
at
battle speed - 8 or 9 knots, and that's the last I saw of the LCT - we
started passing 'im - we were coming up on the beach for the landing."
Ensign Vaghi adds, "On the beach were multiple rows of different types of
obstacles, some with mines on them - tank traps, landing craft traps and
amphibious truck (DUKW) traps. Later I learned that where we landed was
the
widest opening on the beach. The Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT)
certainly did their jobs well. We lucked out by off-loading at low tide,
too. If we had go
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
Watching part of a Nova program tonight about D Day. One of the first scenes I saw had guys in a landing craft. The helmets had white arcs on them. Maybe it is "little Boats" and his group! Thanks Wilton! Greg -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of WILTON via Mercedes Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 11:36 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Cc: WILTON Subject: [MBZ] 71 years and a day And we should never florget. I wrote the folllowing several years ago. Some of you may hjave seen it before. "LITTLE BOATS" AND 6 JUN 1944 By Wilton W. Strickland My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in the US Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha Beach, France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure the beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was composed of many specialties, including demolition, signalmen, radiomen, riflemen, doctors, medical corpsmen (medics), bulldozer operators and others - whatever necessary to manage the beach. They wore army combat uniforms and trained with the Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to distinguish them from army troops was an arc painted across the front of their helmets. Most of the men in his platoon were teenagers just 17, 18 and 19 years old. Several of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a few, such as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa, where his ship had been sunk just offshore in Oct '42. Though small in stature, Lewis was a giant in courage, dedication to accomplishing the mission, determination and care for the men in his platoon. He served as their mentor, their "mother," their "father," their leader. They affectionately called him, "Little Boats," in honor of his Navy specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate. Ensign Joe Vaghi, just out of college and new to the Navy when he became the platoon's Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in 2001, "He taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy." Little Boats died of pneumonia in 1997. The platoon had trained extensively for several months with army troops at Camp Bradford, VA, Fort Pierce, FL, and Swansea, Wales. They were delivered to Omaha beach on LCI(L) 88, (an infantry landing craft) operated by members of the US Coast Guard, as were many of the vessels in the invasion fleet. In 2001, I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of interviewing several of Little Boats' men and several of the equally brave Coasties (US Coast Guard) who delivered them to the beach on that fateful day of June 6, 1944, the memory of which should make all Americans, British, Canadians and other allies stand tall with pride. Most of the following is excerpted from those interviews: One of the seventeen-year-old riflemen, Seaman John Hanley, remembers, "We formed up on the main deck of the LCI at the top of the port (left) ramp. Ensign Vaghi was # 1, and his assistants, Ensign Wright # 2, BM/1C "Little Boats" Strickland was # 3, I was # 4, and several of the other young riflemen were immediately behind me. As we approached the line of departure, we could see smoke from the shelling rising from the beach. About that time, an LCT coming out of the smoke off the beach on our port side let off a barrage of rockets. The German 88's had him straddled; you could see the shells hitting the water 8 to 10 feet behind 'im. She was at battle speed - 8 or 9 knots, and that's the last I saw of the LCT - we started passing 'im - we were coming up on the beach for the landing." Ensign Vaghi adds, "On the beach were multiple rows of different types of obstacles, some with mines on them - tank traps, landing craft traps and amphibious truck (DUKW) traps. Later I learned that where we landed was the widest opening on the beach. The Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) certainly did their jobs well. We lucked out by off-loading at low tide, too. If we had gone in at mid or high tide amid all those obstacles and mines, we would have been in serious trouble. Other landing craft, LCI(L) #85, for example, took quite a beating - a direct hit on the bow and on the starboard side, but we were lucky, we made our landing, and all of our platoon got ashore." Hanley: "Yeah, we were surrounded by those mines on poles, but the Skipper found his way through an opening, or we were just lucky. As soon as I heard and felt the LCI hit bottom, the ramps on both sides went down. Vaghi was already going when the ramp hit the water. The seamen behind me were yelling, "Go, Go, Go!" I was trying to keep up with Vaghi and Little Boats as we flew down that ramp! It seemed like a long way down, too. When I saw tha
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
Thanks Wilton! Greg -Original Message- From: Mercedes [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of WILTON via Mercedes Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 11:36 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Cc: WILTON Subject: [MBZ] 71 years and a day And we should never florget. I wrote the folllowing several years ago. Some of you may hjave seen it before. "LITTLE BOATS" AND 6 JUN 1944 By Wilton W. Strickland My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in the US Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha Beach, France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure the beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was composed of many specialties, including demolition, signalmen, radiomen, riflemen, doctors, medical corpsmen (medics), bulldozer operators and others - whatever necessary to manage the beach. They wore army combat uniforms and trained with the Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to distinguish them from army troops was an arc painted across the front of their helmets. Most of the men in his platoon were teenagers just 17, 18 and 19 years old. Several of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a few, such as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa, where his ship had been sunk just offshore in Oct '42. Though small in stature, Lewis was a giant in courage, dedication to accomplishing the mission, determination and care for the men in his platoon. He served as their mentor, their "mother," their "father," their leader. They affectionately called him, "Little Boats," in honor of his Navy specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate. Ensign Joe Vaghi, just out of college and new to the Navy when he became the platoon's Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in 2001, "He taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy." Little Boats died of pneumonia in 1997. The platoon had trained extensively for several months with army troops at Camp Bradford, VA, Fort Pierce, FL, and Swansea, Wales. They were delivered to Omaha beach on LCI(L) 88, (an infantry landing craft) operated by members of the US Coast Guard, as were many of the vessels in the invasion fleet. In 2001, I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of interviewing several of Little Boats' men and several of the equally brave Coasties (US Coast Guard) who delivered them to the beach on that fateful day of June 6, 1944, the memory of which should make all Americans, British, Canadians and other allies stand tall with pride. Most of the following is excerpted from those interviews: One of the seventeen-year-old riflemen, Seaman John Hanley, remembers, "We formed up on the main deck of the LCI at the top of the port (left) ramp. Ensign Vaghi was # 1, and his assistants, Ensign Wright # 2, BM/1C "Little Boats" Strickland was # 3, I was # 4, and several of the other young riflemen were immediately behind me. As we approached the line of departure, we could see smoke from the shelling rising from the beach. About that time, an LCT coming out of the smoke off the beach on our port side let off a barrage of rockets. The German 88's had him straddled; you could see the shells hitting the water 8 to 10 feet behind 'im. She was at battle speed - 8 or 9 knots, and that's the last I saw of the LCT - we started passing 'im - we were coming up on the beach for the landing." Ensign Vaghi adds, "On the beach were multiple rows of different types of obstacles, some with mines on them - tank traps, landing craft traps and amphibious truck (DUKW) traps. Later I learned that where we landed was the widest opening on the beach. The Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) certainly did their jobs well. We lucked out by off-loading at low tide, too. If we had gone in at mid or high tide amid all those obstacles and mines, we would have been in serious trouble. Other landing craft, LCI(L) #85, for example, took quite a beating - a direct hit on the bow and on the starboard side, but we were lucky, we made our landing, and all of our platoon got ashore." Hanley: "Yeah, we were surrounded by those mines on poles, but the Skipper found his way through an opening, or we were just lucky. As soon as I heard and felt the LCI hit bottom, the ramps on both sides went down. Vaghi was already going when the ramp hit the water. The seamen behind me were yelling, "Go, Go, Go!" I was trying to keep up with Vaghi and Little Boats as we flew down that ramp! It seemed like a long way down, too. When I saw that Vaghi and Little Boats were in the water, I threw my pack over the side and took just my rifle. When I hit the water, Ensign Vaghi and Little Boats were still right ahead of me. Two or three other seamen w
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
No matter now, I sent the link to the video and if anyone wants they can find the picture. It was weird though... My computer said it was under 150 Kb, and the message from the okie mail said it was some huge number in the Gb range. I tried it over after I reduced the size of the picture to about 70k with the same result. I didn't think the picture would be worth seeing in the 40 size. Just a reminder: If you get a "needs approval" message from the list, drop me a private message so I know it's there. I try to check the incoming queue at least once a day, since if I don't it gets unbelievably backed up with all sorts of things you don't want to know about. If the spam that was sent to us got through, you would be seeing several hundred messages a day. Ugh. Dan On Jun 7, 2015, at 1:03 PM, Curly McLain via Mercedes wrote: I sent a post with a photo last night, but it has not cleared the listmom. so, without the photo: Today is D-Day plus 1 Remembering the monumental efforts of 1944. Defeat tyranny. Viva la liberte! The photo shows people on the beach below a cemetary. Never having been there, I'm guessing it is omaha beach. Can you imagine how people would freak out now if 120 men in each state were KIA? The people on the beach spell out in double rows "France will never forget." I have my doubts, but I do believe the French in rural Normady will have a long memory. There are also people holding large US and french flags. I am guessing the flags are 100' long and 60' tall.It is an interesting picture from the US embassy in France website. Here is a link to a video version: http://www.thefrenchwillneverforget.com/index.php?go=Photos%26amp%3BVideos Looks like the stunt was done in 2007. And they desecrated the American flag by letting it touch the ground. We did a halftime show with a similar size American flag a few years ago, and people were staged under the flag to be sure it never touched the ground. Respect to all Allied Forces who were there during that time 71 years ago. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] 71 years and a day
Just a reminder: If you get a “needs approval” message from the list, drop me a private message so I know it’s there. I try to check the incoming queue at least once a day, since if I don’t it gets unbelievably backed up with all sorts of things you don’t want to know about. If the spam that was sent to us got through, you would be seeing several hundred messages a day. Ugh. Dan > On Jun 7, 2015, at 1:03 PM, Curly McLain via Mercedes > wrote: > > I sent a post with a photo last night, but it has not cleared the listmom. > so, without the photo: > > Today is D-Day plus 1 > > Remembering the monumental efforts of 1944. > > > Defeat tyranny. Viva la liberte! > > The photo shows people on the beach below a cemetary. Never having been > there, I'm guessing it is omaha beach. Can you imagine how people would > freak out now if 120 men in each state were KIA? > > The people on the beach spell out in double rows "France will never forget." > I have my doubts, but I do believe the French in rural Normady will have a > long memory. There are also people holding large US and french flags. I am > guessing the flags are 100' long and 60' tall.It is an interesting > picture from the US embassy in France website. > > Here is a link to a video version: > > http://www.thefrenchwillneverforget.com/index.php?go=Photos%26amp%3BVideos > Looks like the stunt was done in 2007. > > And they desecrated the American flag by letting it touch the ground. > > We did a halftime show with a similar size American flag a few years ago, and > people were staged under the flag to be sure it never touched the ground. > > Respect to all Allied Forces who were there during that time 71 years ago. > > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] 71 years and a day
And we should never florget. I wrote the folllowing several years ago. Some of you may hjave seen it before. "LITTLE BOATS" AND 6 JUN 1944 By Wilton W. Strickland My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in the US Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha Beach, France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure the beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was composed of many specialties, including demolition, signalmen, radiomen, riflemen, doctors, medical corpsmen (medics), bulldozer operators and others - whatever necessary to manage the beach. They wore army combat uniforms and trained with the Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to distinguish them from army troops was an arc painted across the front of their helmets. Most of the men in his platoon were teenagers just 17, 18 and 19 years old. Several of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a few, such as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa, where his ship had been sunk just offshore in Oct '42. Though small in stature, Lewis was a giant in courage, dedication to accomplishing the mission, determination and care for the men in his platoon. He served as their mentor, their "mother," their "father," their leader. They affectionately called him, "Little Boats," in honor of his Navy specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate. Ensign Joe Vaghi, just out of college and new to the Navy when he became the platoon's Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in 2001, "He taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy." Little Boats died of pneumonia in 1997. The platoon had trained extensively for several months with army troops at Camp Bradford, VA, Fort Pierce, FL, and Swansea, Wales. They were delivered to Omaha beach on LCI(L) 88, (an infantry landing craft) operated by members of the US Coast Guard, as were many of the vessels in the invasion fleet. In 2001, I had the very distinct honor and pleasure of interviewing several of Little Boats' men and several of the equally brave Coasties (US Coast Guard) who delivered them to the beach on that fateful day of June 6, 1944, the memory of which should make all Americans, British, Canadians and other allies stand tall with pride. Most of the following is excerpted from those interviews: One of the seventeen-year-old riflemen, Seaman John Hanley, remembers, "We formed up on the main deck of the LCI at the top of the port (left) ramp. Ensign Vaghi was # 1, and his assistants, Ensign Wright # 2, BM/1C "Little Boats" Strickland was # 3, I was # 4, and several of the other young riflemen were immediately behind me. As we approached the line of departure, we could see smoke from the shelling rising from the beach. About that time, an LCT coming out of the smoke off the beach on our port side let off a barrage of rockets. The German 88's had him straddled; you could see the shells hitting the water 8 to 10 feet behind 'im. She was at battle speed - 8 or 9 knots, and that's the last I saw of the LCT - we started passing 'im - we were coming up on the beach for the landing." Ensign Vaghi adds, "On the beach were multiple rows of different types of obstacles, some with mines on them - tank traps, landing craft traps and amphibious truck (DUKW) traps. Later I learned that where we landed was the widest opening on the beach. The Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) certainly did their jobs well. We lucked out by off-loading at low tide, too. If we had gone in at mid or high tide amid all those obstacles and mines, we would have been in serious trouble. Other landing craft, LCI(L) #85, for example, took quite a beating - a direct hit on the bow and on the starboard side, but we were lucky, we made our landing, and all of our platoon got ashore." Hanley: "Yeah, we were surrounded by those mines on poles, but the Skipper found his way through an opening, or we were just lucky. As soon as I heard and felt the LCI hit bottom, the ramps on both sides went down. Vaghi was already going when the ramp hit the water. The seamen behind me were yelling, "Go, Go, Go!" I was trying to keep up with Vaghi and Little Boats as we flew down that ramp! It seemed like a long way down, too. When I saw that Vaghi and Little Boats were in the water, I threw my pack over the side and took just my rifle. When I hit the water, Ensign Vaghi and Little Boats were still right ahead of me. Two or three other seamen were with me. Little Boats and I were immediately in water up to our chins. There were dead infantrymen in the water all around me, and dead and wounded all around on the beach - lots of dead floating in the water. " Vaghi: "The sea bottom was undulating - sort of like a washboard with the ridges and valleys - called runnels -
[MBZ] 71 years and a day
I sent a post with a photo last night, but it has not cleared the listmom. so, without the photo: Today is D-Day plus 1 Remembering the monumental efforts of 1944. Defeat tyranny. Viva la liberte! The photo shows people on the beach below a cemetary. Never having been there, I'm guessing it is omaha beach. Can you imagine how people would freak out now if 120 men in each state were KIA? The people on the beach spell out in double rows "France will never forget." I have my doubts, but I do believe the French in rural Normady will have a long memory. There are also people holding large US and french flags. I am guessing the flags are 100' long and 60' tall.It is an interesting picture from the US embassy in France website. Here is a link to a video version: http://www.thefrenchwillneverforget.com/index.php?go=Photos%26amp%3BVideos Looks like the stunt was done in 2007. And they desecrated the American flag by letting it touch the ground. We did a halftime show with a similar size American flag a few years ago, and people were staged under the flag to be sure it never touched the ground. Respect to all Allied Forces who were there during that time 71 years ago. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
