re: D-Day thoughts in a letter to my grandmother from my grandfather .. dated June 13, 1944

Both my grandfathers were WWII veterans. My mom’s dad was a naval medic in the South Pacific. He patched up many marines at Guadalcanal. He never talked about his time much. My mom said he witnessed some horrific shite that he took with him to his grave.

Side note my dad has some letters that my civil war ancestors wrote back to mom from the battlefield. They have been passed down. Very interesting reading.

Truly incredible. I wonder how many stories like this were just commonplace for vets 70+ years ago. I could spend days reading and learning about these heroes’ personal stories from all those years ago.

When I was in high school I remember one of the (very, very) few times my grandpaw talked about the war. (He was in the 82nd paratroopers and deathly afraid of heights- how he ended up in airborne is a story of its own).
I remember him pausing and going to his closet to retrieve something. It was a letter from a French broad wanting him to deliver it her lover (pop’s Captain) when he returned back to the states. He ended up keeping the letter for obvious reasons. Lol
The other thing thing that stood out from conversation, when he talked, was what he said he remembered most. His best friend that stayed together since Airborne school getting shot between the eyes- right next to him in his foxhole. Also walking chest deep in snow in the Ardennes for miles and miles, and his arms giving out trying to keep the rifle raised above wet snow. The tether’s reach being too low.

It's an Amazing story really... So much to see and deduce from both the photo and history documentary.

I believe that Spitfire were used because Naval Operations were under British Command, while Land forces were under control of US. So shoreline and beach implements were under british observation.

in "Jack's 45th" (Infantry History Book) Jack - Artillery Officer - His brother was a Spitfire pilot killed in combat in the earlier part of the war..

BTW- I have added these photos and written history to my museum. 4 is self explanatory, I wonder what the "X" significance was?

Invasion Stripes, Leather US Jacket, Mae West, headgear. awesome paint job...

Not trying to derail this fine thread about your grandfather, spitfire aviator...

I am bringing this ship photo back up for discussion and observations...

You can see 4 higgin boats.

2 - Midship and 2 Aft. ( I assume there are 4 more in the holds under those for a total of 8.
3" gun forward and 1 AA gun on each side forward and aft.

Notice the numbers on the side. 2-8.. The other side had to be 1-7... Loading areas for the higgins boats.

I did not know it when I obtained the Menu, But the Henrico carried the 16th Infantry Regiment in the first wave... That is 3,000 men.. note*- 16th INfantry loaded 3 ships... so 1K each ship. Plus Sailors too. Prolly 100 to 150.

D-Day was such an effort on a grand scale and we research one aircraft and one ship... But with two very important passengers.

We really need to clearly document your Unkles sacrifice and War effort to this country.




edit - here are the details..

Boats & landing
craft carried
12 × LCVP
4 × LCM
3 × LCP(L)
Capacity
4,500–4,800 tons
(175,000–200,000 cubic feet).
Complement
Crew: 51 officers 524 enlisted
Flag: 43 officers, 108 enlisted
Troops: 80 officers, 1,146 enlisted
Armament
2 × single 5-inch 38 caliber dual purpose guns, one fore and one aft
2–4 × twin 40mm cannon or 2 × quad 1.1-inch/75-caliber gun mounts
2 × single 40 mm cannon
18 × single 20mm cannon

Thanks so much for posting that. Had no idea our guys flew Spitfires!

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the Henrico carried the 16th Infantry Regiment 

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I had an uncle that was on a ship like the Henrico in the Pacific. He was a shipwright. Those ships carried wood, spare engines, and hardware to repair the landing craft. He told me that the landing craft would sometimes get shot up and damaged and they had a complete carpenter's shop and tools on board to repair the wooden landing craft, along with engine mechanics to repair the engines.

He said that after the invasion was over and the beach area was secure they would send a party onshore to inspect the landing craft that may have been left on the beach and inspect them to see if they could be salvaged and repaired and brought back into use.

The way he became a shipwright was he got a draft notice and when he reported they asked him if he had any skills and he told them that he worked for a boat builder in Amelia that built wooden fishing boats, and they needed personnel with that skill. It was such a sought after skill that during the Korean War he was recalled into the Navy.

On his forays he made onto the beaches he collected a good bit of Japanese items. Stuff like headgear, mess kits, first aid kits, ammunition belts, a few pistols, etc. He donated all that stuff to the WWII museum.

He was very proud of his service and considered that a high point in his life.

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In this epic two-part D-Day interview we speak with the last living Army Ranger Officer who was amongst the first to hit the beaches on June 6, 1944 and break into Fortress Europe.

John C. Raaen, Jr., graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1943. Commissioned as a 2nd. Lt. in the Corps of Engineers, he joined the newly activated 5th Ranger Battalion where he underwent extensive training in Florida, England, and finally Scotland in preparation for the invasion of occupied Europe.

On June 6, 1944, Raaen and his rangers were supposed to follow the 2nd Ranger Battalion and attack Pointe du Hoc, but delays and miscommunication saw Raaen and his Rangers rerouted directly to Omaha Beach. The 5th Rangers landed intact as a battalion and thus became the dominant influence on Omaha Dog Beach.

During his first time in combat, Raaen, who was an Army Captain at the time, distinguished himself on the beaches of Normandy France. He was awarded the Silver Star and Combat Infantryman Badge for his actions on that day.

Part II of General Raaen's interview will be released on 06/13/2023

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This guy is 100 years old and could easily pass for 25 years younger.

[link=( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYGh51ZgU5k)]LINK[/link]

He talks about coming ashore at the one place on the beach where they had some cover, plus all the smoke obscured them from the Germans. They didn't take many casualties until they moved inland.

He also talks about meeting General Cota on the beach, and how the Rangers Lead The way motto came to be that day.

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Speak for yourself mate. We still have 18 year olds every day that sign up to serve the country and still have them flying fighter jets as well

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I have a friend who rode around Mosul in unarmored vehicles with the intent of drawing small arms fire so they could call in retaliatory strikes.

Another friend who did a tour in Afghanistan in the bottom of a valley taking fire from two sides for months.

So maybe hold off on mistaking parts of the current command structure with those who are currently or who recently served?