D-Day
I don't precisely remember when I became fascinated in the subject of D-Day. The most likely moment is when I saw the movie
The Longest Day. I remember being fascinated that they would have to transport so many cooks and mess tents (can't remember the exact number, but it was north of 10,000), and it was then that I began to realize that war was not just about the fighting, but about the supply and maintenance operations. When you're a kid you might "play war" but when you get hungry you go home for lunch. When you're in a real war you can't go home and grab a bologna sandwich.
For some reason I found that compelling. I won't pretend to be a real scholar on D-Day, but I have read books, seen movies, and played a fair number of computer simulations of the event.
Tomorrow is the anniversary and we will remember the heroes of the actual fighting part of the invasion. But on the day before the anniversary, let's talk about all the folks who risked their lives in support duty:
Here's a D-Day reminiscence from a corporal in the Third Canadian
Postal unit.
Someone had heard what sounded like sub-machinegun bursts from the spire of the church and then we heard a shout that there was a sniper up there firing indiscriminately at whatever targets presented themselves. The eight of us gathered behind the hedge which was both high and thick and so close across the narrow road from the church that we were out of any line of fire. We all had our weapons with us of course ready for action and the man beside me, whose name I now remember was Ferguson, had a Sten gun. He was holding it pointed down, and I suppose either from excitement or nervousness, he pulled the trigger. The gun ripped off three or four rounds, one of which nicked the sole of my right boot. Another half inch and I would have been the first Postal Corps casualty and probably crippled for life.
Here's one about a
communications group:
I became a member of a Forward Intelligence Unit (FIU) comprising 1 officer + 5 EM, engaged in operations against bypassed German pockets of resistance, this was mainly in the Gironde estuary.
Evelyn Kowalchuk tells
her own story in audio (Win or Real) about evacuating wounded soldiers from Omaha Beach. Very moving--do not miss this one, but get the hankies out.
And just to remember that they also serve, here's one from
the home front, from the town that lost more men that day for its size than any other, and from the sister who lost two brothers.
