June 6th 1944 D-Day

[CashMan]

do a little research before you post next time

to be brutally frank we are weaker now. More pampered; more protected; awash in prescription medications for everything and everyone; offended by sports team titles; the list goes on and on.

Tom Brokaw was absolutely right in calling that group the greatest generation. They lived through the great depression and the most terrible war in history then built the US into the world power its been since. They were tougher and harder then any generation since because they had to be to survive.

I do not think you are getting what I am saying. As humans, I have no doubt, when put into a situation where you have to go to war, people will.

This "weaker" you speak of, PTSD was not even a thought then. Maybe give this a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqFaiVNuy1k&feature=player_embedded

Generation after generation things are figured out, times change, people live longer, but that doesn't mean people can not fight wars. Mental health is more understood. I am pretty sure, when the country was at war, if you had 2 arms and 2 legs, you were probably going to go off to war. Things are different in a time of need.

Do you think less about people went to Vietnam or Desert Storm or Iraq/Afghanistan? No, but a good amount of them come home with PTSD, and it is sad. It is more understood, and treatable, but not 100% curable.

I have a cousin who was a Sarge in the Army, who came a couple years ago, after being in Iraq. He can't eat in restaurants because of the PTSD. It is really sad, and I have a ton of respect for him.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Our last legit war...

 

[burmafrd]

I do not think you are getting what I am saying. As humans, I have no doubt, when put into a situation where you have to go to war, people will.

This "weaker" you speak of, PTSD was not even a thought then. Maybe give this a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqFaiVNuy1k&feature=player_embedded

Generation after generation things are figured out, times change, people live longer, but that doesn't mean people can not fight wars. Mental health is more understood. I am pretty sure, when the country was at war, if you had 2 arms and 2 legs, you were probably going to go off to war. Things are different in a time of need.

Do you think less about people went to Vietnam or Desert Storm or Iraq/Afghanistan? No, but a good amount of them come home with PTSD, and it is sad. It is more understood, and treatable, but not 100% curable.

I have a cousin who was a Sarge in the Army, who came a couple years ago, after being in Iraq. He can't eat in restaurants because of the PTSD. It is really sad, and I have a ton of respect for him.

this is actually somewhat hilarious. Either you cannot confront the question or you truly cannot understand it.

Hard times create hard people. Soft times create soft people. Do you get it now?

 

[Denim Chicken]

There is really no reason to try and compare generations. What the D-Day solders accomplished stands on its own.

 

[Reality]

The History Channel 2, (H2) is showing all 10 episodes of "WWII in HD" marathon today. They just started Ep 4.

It's really a very well done series, with almost all of it in color.

I just recently watched the series again and was still amazed. It was by far the best documentary on WWII I have ever seen.

/reality

 

[RastaRocket]

No reason to argue about generations on June 6th. Their are plenty of brave men out there fighting a war as we speak. June 6th is a day to remember those who fought on D-Day; a day this generation will never have to endure because of their sacrifice. This generation will have their own struggles to endure and they will have days to remember them later on, but June 6th is D-Day.

:honor:

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I just recently watched the series again and was still amazed. It was by far the best documentary on WWII I have ever seen.

/reality

Watch The World at War series narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier, for me that is the best of all time.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

well you certainly could not

awesome comeback

Soldiers have done what they did since the dawn of man.

People do what is necessary for them to do. Those guys did, just like your friends in Vietnam did, more recently soldiers did in Iraq etc

 

[Doomsday101]

awesome comeback

Soldiers have done what they did since the dawn of man.

People do what is necessary for them to do. Those guys did, just like your friends in Vietnam did, more recently soldiers did in Iraq etc

Soldier risk their lives but warfare is different. We would never storm a beach like that now days having waves of troops going over open terrain while the enemy is perched up high with machine guns and mortars. We lost 9,000 in one battle. In Iraq we did not lose 9,000 total

 

[MichaelWinicki]

We in the U.S. have been blessed with many great generations.

What the folks did during WWII is amazing... Starting with the guys waking up under attack at Pearl Harbor.

But you can't short-shift the generation that fought during the Civil War. Americans were totally unprepared for war at that scale... Totally unprepared.

The AEF during WWI kind of gets short-shift, getting caught between the Civil War soldier and the WWII soldier. Most have forgotten what the AEF accomplished.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Soldier risk their lives but warfare is different. We would never storm a beach like that now days having waves of troops going over open terrain while the enemy is perched up high with machine guns and mortars. We lost 9,000 in one battle. In Iraq we did not lose 9,000 total

That's a valid point.

Most countries/societies wouldn't put up with casualties like what happened during the D-Day campaign.

And as bad as the casualty list was during that front in June in 1944, compare it to what the Soviet's sustained at Kursk during July and August 1943... over 800,000 casualties. It's mind boggling to contemplate.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's a valid point.

Most countries/societies wouldn't put up with casualties like what happened during the D-Day campaign.

And as bad as the casualty list was during that front in June in 1944, compare it to what the Soviet's sustained at Kursk during July and August 1943... over 800,000 casualties. It's mind boggling to contemplate.

True and for the US fighting aginst Japan saw very bloody battles like Iwo Jima where over 6,000 US soldier were killed.

Iraq and I don't belittle the sacrifice but all allied forced lost a total of 4,800 through out the entire conflict.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

True and for the US fighting aginst Japan saw very bloody battles like Iwo Jima where over 6,000 US soldier were killed.

Iraq and I don't belittle the sacrifice but all allied forced lost a total of 4,800 through out the entire conflict.

Very true.

When I've thought about it a couple times in the past I've wondered what the response would be to a powerful country going on the offensive like what Germany/Japan did in the late 30's/early 40's. Not like an Iraq going into Kuwait, but something that would potentially create a much, much larger casualty list. Would the response match the aggressiveness or would it be more like the French/British response to Germany/Soviets marching on Poland?

Hard to say.

 

[CashMan]

I always chuckle when someone with your post history yaps about mine.

Of course, it is also funny that you are implying that you could not do what those soldiers did because you are too soft.

He seems to be comparing generations by wars, which I don't get, and advancement of mental health, which I do not get.

I must of missed the recession a few years ago, not saying it was as bad as the great depression, though.

 

[CliffnDallas]

... _

 

[Sarge]

There is really no reason to try and compare generations. What the D-Day solders accomplished stands on its own.

 

[burmafrd]

He seems to be comparing generations by wars, which I don't get, and advancement of mental health, which I do not get.

I must of missed the recession a few years ago, not saying it was as bad as the great depression, though.

of course you do not get it. Generations are judged by the major events that take place over their adult life.

The Greatest Generation faced the worst depression in history and the worst war in history.

I guess I am just surprised you cannot figure that out.

 

[WV Cowboy]

But you can't short-shift the generation that fought during the Civil War. Americans were totally unprepared for war at that scale... Totally unprepared.

I have seen it written where they were totally unprepared for "death" at that scale.

Which may be the same thing you are saying.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I have seen it written where they were totally unprepared for "death" at that scale.

Which may be the same thing you are saying.

Yeah, certainly the number of casualties was part of it.

The battle of Shiloh, which happened relatively early in the war, accounted for more deaths than all other wars the country had participated in up to that point– combined, which is an amazing statistic.

But the mobilization of such larges forces and the infrastructure needed to support them I'm sure was stunning for all involved.

 

[CashMan]

of course you do not get it. Generations are judged by the major events that take place over their adult life.

The Greatest Generation faced the worst depression in history and the worst war in history.

I guess I am just surprised you cannot figure that out.

You've argued a couple of things. I have no problem saying that is a great generation. I have a problem with you calling this one soft, considering how your acted towards the Vietnam vets. Two operate arguments. But, I think I am done, your only argument on this generation being soft, if the use of medication.

Comparing a World War to Desert Storm, or the Iraq/Afgan war, is crazy.