D-Day - 2020

It was 76 years ago today - D-Day

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-d-day

Hitler (and others) were haters.  They hated the Jews, they hated people unlike themselves.  The German and Axis armies had conquered western Europe - with their partners in Japan - who had conquered much of eastern Asia.  England had survived the “Battle for Britain” (barely).  It was time to free Europe and get rid of this dictator.

I’m asking you to picture yourself on one of the thousands of little boats ferrying soldiers from England to the Normandy beaches.  You knew enough that it was going to be an invasion.  You were almost sick to your stomach from seasickness.

You heard the mortar rounds.  Maybe one hit your ship - but not enough to sink it.  (And, all of a sudden, you realize this could be your last day on Earth.)  

Your boat slowed - that must mean you were getting close to shore.  You remember the pictures - the sand cliffs overlooking the beaches.  It was hoped there wouldn’t be many Germans there - but you knew there would be some.   In a few minutes, you were to rush out of your boat, get to the shore, fight your way up the hill, and take out the enemy outposts there.  

You tried to remember your prayers from Sunday School or Catechism classes.  You called it the Lord’s Prayer, but your buddy called it the “Our Father”.  What was the other one you remembered - something about the Lord is My Shepherd.  Your buddy next to you was from Georgia - and he is white as snow.  His eyes are glassy and then he makes the sign of the cross.  He, too, has been praying. 

Then, the door opened - and you could see the water - and the shore and the cliffs.  You saw those in front of you jump into the surf - and you had a weird thought - what if the water is cold?  But cold or hot, you had to run through the water, with your 50-pound pack on your back, with your gun in the air so as not to get wet.  

You jump in (or really got pushed from behind).  There is an officer someplace yelling something - but you aren’t listening.  The water is COLD - and already you are soaked up to your chest.  You do have your gun above your head.  Looking around you see boats and soldiers all in the water.  You do hear shots - and shouts - and yelling - but you keep going. 100 feet - 50 feet - the water is getting shallower - 25 feet and you are sloshing through the surf and then - you are out of the water and on the sand!!

But, it isn’t a finish line to a race - but more of a starting line.  Ahead and slightly to the right you see a guy drop to his knees and then lay dead in the sand.  Farther ahead on the left there are two or three bodies.  As you move farther up on the shore, you can hear the machine guns.  You think about your gun, but you are too far away to shoot yet. 

You reach a point on the beach where the shooters can’t get you - you are under the cliffs and unless they lean over the cliffs, you are safe - for a minute anyway.  You look back at the sea as you take a short break - still lots of small craft in the water - still spewing out soldiers - and even more bodies on the sand - but along the base of the cliffs there are getting to be some numbers.  You see one guy that you kind of know from your squad and you two nod in the grim realization of the next step -  at each other and you say - ‘are you ready to climb?’.  

You know why you are here.  Back in South Dakota, you were in your second year as an agriculture major at South Dakota State University when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941,  You finished your sophomore year and then volunteered for the United States Army.  

While not quite propaganda, you understood the need for this war.  From the bombing of Pearl Harbor to understanding Hilter’s agenda for a superior race and both Japan and Germany invading peaceful countries - and spreading a message of hate.  

So, here you are - ready to climb a cliff and shoot at other human beings.  Like you, they aren’t the decision-makers - just ‘grunts’ in the Army.  You read “All Quiet on the Western Front” in a World History class in your senior year in high school.  Your own background is a mixture of German, Norwegian and English heritage.  But, if you don’t climb this cliff, the enemy is going to overrun England as it already has Norway.  “For the greater good,” you think as you find a winding path up the cliff.

*****

Ultimately you made it to the top - almost a minority since so many were killed.  You find a group and capture a German outpost.  You take the Germans soldiers as prisoners of war.  

In the next few months, you will work your way across northern France.  You will make it into Germany and hear of the atrocities done by the Germans to Jews, their opposition, and even religious leaders.  You learn that “War is Hell” - and you learn that you have changed.  

You survive - at least physically.  You have seen so many deaths - many young men just like you.  Your personal beliefs in a gracious God have been shaken.  

You go back to South Dakota and you finish your college degree and end up as an agricultural banker in Sioux Falls.  And, very rarely do you mention that you were in the Army on D-Day.  

There might be parallels between D-Day and the hatred still in the world today.  But, we still try to leave this Earth as a better place than when we were born.   

Let us love one another!!!

Karen