D-Day Post Three,

D-Day Week: June 6, Post Three

“Along the roads and in the fields, dead cows, horses, and soldiers swelled in the hot sun, their mouths agape, filled with flies. Maggots crawled through their wounds. Tanks drove over men in that way – deal or alive. Human and animal intestines made the roads slippery. Maj. William Falvey of the 90th Division recalled seeing ‘six horses hitched to a large artillery gun. Four horses were dead and two were still alive. The driver was dead but still had the reins in his hands’…. The stench was such that even pilots in the Piper Cubs (500 feet elevation) threw up.” – Stephen Ambrose, Citizen Soldiers

The boys hit the beaches of hell. And then kept going.

D-Day was the beginning of a harrowing chapter in a longer story of war that had already been raging for years. Even after breaking through the beaches, both sides were talking stalemate within three weeks. The opening quotation of this piece is an observation from a month or two after D-Day as Allies fought to liberate France and move to defeat Hitler with unconditional surrender. The Battle of Normandy, in terms of facts and figures, lasted 75 days, with hundreds of thousands killed or wounded. It took horror and chaos to turn the tide.

You can read or watch more to grasp just how circumstantial and tragic this war and battle were; instead, I’d like to share some observations and special moments from the last couple of days, 80 years later. For me, it was heartening to see the life and goodness that emerged on the other side of tragedy, and most of all, the sense of duty and opportunity to continue to build and refresh freedom anew across generations.

Under 200 WWII veterans sat, mostly in wheelchairs, on stage. Even though they went through hell, in most cases, they grew into great men and women. We’re still living on the endowment of their values and actions. To that point, it was inspiring and fitting to see a young woman sailor close the ceremony by reading the poem, The Watch.

Today we are here to say 'Shipmate... the watch stands relieved Relieved by those You have trained, Guided, and Led Shipmate you stand relieved... we have the watch..."

In attendance were a high volume of young people from all over the world who were there to celebrate them. I especially noted the intentionality of today's soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Each time they met a WWII veteran, they were more than deeply respectful fans. I saw in their eyes a hopeful ambition to carry forward the WWII veterans’ sense of character and commitment to liberty’s advance.

One of the many things I appreciated about The Greatest Generations Foundation (TGGF) is how they bring together different generations and types of veterans. On this trip, we have female WWII veterans and a few female Vietnam veterans. Kevin and Brett, two Afghanistan veterans who are double amputees, bring a sense of modern depth and direction—even levity. And several wisecracking, deeply thoughtful, and fun Vietnam combat veterans are helping care for “the boys.”

From the TGGF program so far this week, here are a few special moments:

-       At the NATO command gala before D-Day, I watched top brass appropriately swoon over the delegation of veterans we’re here to support. One Marine from Vietnam joked that he never thought he’d meet someone at that level. He was giddy, but the generals of today were more so.

-       Helen Patton, General Patton’s granddaughter, was refreshing. She said she’d give our friend Jack Moran, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, a copy of Gen. Patton’s dog tags if they could meet. Jack got his dog tags! Jack, in his late 90s, was as lit up as my four-year-old on his best day.

-       Barney Barnum, a Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam, is a total stud and a complete firecracker. I shivered when he asked me to “fix his snaps” to fit his medal. We were surrounded by Medal of Honor recipients.

-       Tom Hanks approached Kevin and Brett, the double amputee Afghanistan veterans, and joked with and thanked them for a good while.

-       JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon paid respect to George from WWII and Kevin and Brett from Afghanistan. My heart dropped as Kevin told Jamie that losing his legs was the best thing that’s ever happened to him. It fundamentally changed his perspective on what matters in life. I piggybacked Kevin onto the bus with a renewed sense of duty and gratitude.

-       Steve Melnikoff, who hit the beaches of Normandy and fought all the way until meeting the Russians at the Elbe River, has a beautiful relationship with his daughter. They laugh, dance, and tease. I’m committed to having that relationship with my own girls throughout my life.

-       Several of our community’s friends were engaged in the cause and ceremony. Jack Carr was escorting veterans, as we were. Jack Moran was being escorted and got his dog tags.

-       Harold Radish told me about his time at the Battle of the Bulge and then being captured at the Siegfried Line. As a Jewish American soldier, he was in a POW camp for four months until it was liberated by the British. Harold, in effect, told me to always find the humanity and dignity in all people.

The food for the soul here is rich here on the other side of hell. And it’s accessible anywhere. I’m reminded to look for it and then serve it every single day of my life. It’s the least we can do.