67 years ago today.
All over? Well, not quite. Imagine the horror in the minds of those that were expecting to have to do a Normandy style landing on the island of Japan. We can ponder whether Romney would have OK'd the bin Laden raid, but I will say "Thank the almighty God, that Truman made the decision he made." Else, I might never have known my grandfather.
Won't hear a thing about this in 'the news' tonight. :-(
My father, now 93, served in the 8th and 9th Army Air Forces. He was an aircraft mechanic, and later flight engineer on C-47's. He made three flights over Normandy on D-Day, with paratroopers and gliders. When the war ended in Europe, he came home on leave. He was told to be prepared to report to a base "somewhere in the Pacific" to participate in an invasion of Japan. He was still in the US when the atomic bombs ended the war. He says he was extremely relieved; he was much more worried about fighting in Japan than he had been in Europe--not that it was a picnic over there either. He always tells people he wouldn't take a million dollars for his experiences but neither would he take a million dollars to do it again!
Fox covered it just a few minutes ago.
My father was with the 69th Div. Cavalry Recon. outfit in Europe. He drove an M-8 armored car made by (who else) Ford Motor Company.
On April 25th 1945 they meet the Soviet Army at the Elbe River in Torgau, Germany.
On the first day of the "East Meets West" link-up, the Soviets and the Americans were free to cross the river either way.
On the second day, the Soviets were free to cross the river to our side but, we were not allowed to cross to their side.
On the third day, a line was strung across the river from bank to bank and all meetings were then held on a raft in the middle of the river.
On July 3rd, 1987, Camel Joe took my father's life and took my best friend. After 15 years, I still miss him.
Is that not a model A in the 1st picture?
My father was with the 69th Div. Cavalry Recon. outfit in Europe. He drove an M-8 armored car made by (who else) Ford Motor Company.
On April 25th 1945 they meet the Soviet Army at the Elbe River in Torgau, Germany.
On the first day of the "East Meets West" link-up, the Soviets and the Americans were free to cross the river either way.
On the second day, the Soviets were free to cross the river to our side but, we were not allowed to cross to their side.
On the third day, a line was strung across the river from bank to bank and all meetings were then held on a raft in the middle of the river.
On July 3rd, 1987, Camel Joe took my father's life and took my best friend. After 15 years, I still miss him.
Mike, I'll bet your father was proud to see you doing so well in your work. Sounds like he had many good years after his service.
The Model A struck me as how they looked back then. Missing radiator shell emblem and replacement bumper clamp. Would love to have one like that now.
Rich
Hal, I heard them do it too. I should have said 'lame stream media'.
On this anniversary, let me just leave everybody with this.
http://www.militarytimes.com/blogs/broadside/2012/02/24/there-is-a-price-we-will -not-pay/