Your family D DAY stories 70 years on...

• Jun 6, 2014

• #1

PADDY

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As commemorations go on across Normandie today, I was moved to hear stories of that day from veterans and their families that truly moved me.

And... It reminded me of my father telling me that his best friend who was only 19, was a member of a tank crew. It was one of the specially adapted tanks that had a canvas skirt around it allowing it to drive into the water up to 3000 yards offshore.
Because of poor weather conditions on the day, most of these tanks sank killing the crew inside. This young man was one of those ...

We will remember them.

 

• Jun 6, 2014

• #2

carouselvic

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A 1984 Article...Uncle Clarence

 

• Jun 6, 2014

• #3

Big Man

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Remembering my Dad, T/Sgt Bill Brown, Jr. (1924-2008), on D-Day.

Dad was a Crew Chief on a C-47 that dropped paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne on 5-6 June 1944, and also flew several resupply missions on 6-7 June 1944. I remember him talking about how heavy the flak was, and about seeing so many tracers coming up from machine gun fire from the ground. I remember him talking about how heavy-laden the paratroopers were with gear, and how he thought surely they would fall straight to the ground due to their excessive load. I also remember him saying that he often wondered if any of the paratroopers made it through that day, as he never had occasion to see any of them again. I heard him tell a lot of "war stories", but the thing I remember most was he never spoke ill of the Germans. He never was angry, nor did he hold a grudge about the Germans in the war. I remember him saying, "They were boys just like us, all they really wanted to do was go home."

 

• Jun 8, 2014

• #4

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Stearmen

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Here is my Dad, upper right. He was in the 9th Air Force C47s, they towed the WACO gliders in. He said, he never saw so many airplanes in the air at once. He was terrified there would be a pileup on take off!

 

Last edited: Jun 8, 2014

• Jun 8, 2014

• #5

Shangas

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PADDY said:

As commemorations go on across Normandie today, I was moved to hear stories of that day from veterans and their families that truly moved me.

And... It reminded me of my father telling me that his best friend who was only 19, was a member of a tank crew. It was one of the specially adapted tanks that had a canvas skirt around it allowing it to drive into the water up to 3000 yards offshore.
Because of poor weather conditions on the day, most of these tanks sank killing the crew inside. This young man was one of those ...

We will remember them.

Click to expand...

They were called "Duplex-Drive" tanks, because they could be driven on land or sea. Shortened to "DD" tanks. Colloquially, they were nicknamed: "Donald Duck" tanks by the crews.

 

• Jun 8, 2014

• #6

Big Man

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Stearmen said:

Here is my Dad, upper left. He was in the 9th Air Force C47s, they towed the WACO gliders in. He said, he never saw so many airplanes in the air at once. He was terrified there would be a pileup on take off!

Click to expand...

What unit was your Dad with? My Dad, who was also on a C-47, was with the 442/305. Who knows, possibly their paths may have crossed all those years ago.

 

• Jun 9, 2014

• #7

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Stearmen

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Big Man said:

What unit was your Dad with? My Dad, who was also on a C-47, was with the 442/305. Who knows, possibly their paths may have crossed all those years ago.

Click to expand...

436/81. They sailed to England on the Queen Marry. They dropped the 101st Screaming Eagles on D Day, then towed gliders the next day.

 

• Jun 10, 2014

• #8

PADDY

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Amazing stories.

 

• Jun 14, 2014

• #9

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Monsoon

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My mothers cousin was killed on Omaha with the First Infantry Division.

 

• Jun 21, 2014

• #10

jkingrph

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Not D-Day but June 7. A close friend of my fathers rode ashore on a motorcycle. He had been drafted into the Marines, then somehow transferred to the army to serve as a bodyguard and courier for Gen Eisenhower. He was told on the transfer that he would be promoted to corporal and would remain in that rank for the duration, and he took the job. I have seen commendation certificates and a signed picture and letter of appreciation from Gen Eisenhower for his service through the war. This gentleman is still living and we plan on seeing him next month .

 

• Jun 23, 2014

• #11

galopede

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No stories from my late father. He was in the pacific on the carrier HMS Indefatigable so he missed it. He always said he was "Looking after the Yanks!"

A suicide bomber hit his carrier and there were several dead. He narrowly missed the shrapnel while he was heading to the galley for some late night sandwiches! He was nearly killed though. Bitten by a trapdoor spider when on leave in Australia when the ship was in for repairs!

He was also in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. I do remember him talking about friends who'd died on D Day though.

 

• Jun 28, 2014

• #12

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timothy d

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Dad talked about going ashore on Omaha D+2 and the rough seas bouncing the landing crft. timothy

 

• Jun 6, 2019

• #13

carouselvic

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Bump

 

• Jul 3, 2019

• #14

newsman

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I spoke to my mom at her house tonight. She was about 4 when France was liberated. I would not be here without that since she's French. My father met her in a USO about 1959.

MY mother's father: Was too young for WWI although he wore the nation's uniform. He was too old for WWII...so the family hid others from the Germans. They lived off a small farm where they raised olives, vegetables and rabbits.

My new wife (at the time) and i were there for the 60th. It was an amazing experience. That was a long time ago...and a wonderful memory.