June 6, 1944 was a day like no other. It was ‘D Day’, the first day of Operation Overlord.
The invasion of Normandy’s beaches consisted of 5,333 Allied ships and landing craft embarking nearly 175,000 men.
The U.S. VII Corps sustained 22,119 casualties from 6 June to 1 July, including 2,811 killed, 13,564 wounded, 5,665 missing, and seventy-nine captured.
American personnel in Britain included 1,931,885 land, 659,554 air, and 285,000 naval—a total of 2,876,439 officers and men. While in Britain they were housed in 1,108 bases and camps.
The Allied forces for Operation Overlord comprised twenty-three infantry divisions (thirteen U.S., eight British, two Canadian); twelve armored (five U.S., four British, one each Canadian, French, and Polish); and four airborne (two each U.S. and British)—for a total of twenty American divisions, fourteen British, three Canadian, and one each French and Polish.
Air assets included 3,958 heavy bombers (3,455 operational), 1,234 medium and light bombers (989 operational), and 4,709 fighters (3,824 operational), for 9,901 total and 8,268 operational. Allowing for aircrews, 7,774 U.S. and British Commonwealth planes were available for operations on 6 June, but these figures do not include transports and gliders.
But planes and boats didn’t fight and win the war in Europe; the mean sons-of-bitches from America did.
Being just a little crazy helped with the butterflies, and it damn sure scared the crap out of the Germans. They called the troopers of 504 Infantry Regiment of the 82nd “devils in baggy pants”. They called (and still call) themselves ‘The Devils Brigade”
Think that these folk aren’t bad-ass? When they finished up in Europe, the Mediterranean, and island hopping in the Pacific, they returned home and built the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
Those that seek to destroy the nation from within might do well to note that the same grit and determination that won the second war to end all wars still lives on in the heartland of this country. Tread lightly.