Photographer Joe Rosenthal, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his immortal image of six World War II servicemen raising an American flag over battle-scarred Iwo Jima, died Sunday. He was 94.

Rest in peace sir!

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2336647

Hey Leo and Joe:

Man there are some very vindictive people on the OTHER forums, that shall remain nameless. Was reading some posts from some others tonight, and WHOA Nelly, there are some nasties out there. Even when the moderators jumped in, they kept taking their swipes. Well I promise that won't happen here, or if it ever does, I will step in and take action. OUCH!!! :pdt40: Two especially were pretty cutting on your take on WWII.

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Operation Overlord, the Allied codename for the invasion of Normandy, involved more than 150,000 men and 5,000 ships. It consisted of American, British, Canadian, Polish, and Free French Armies under command of General Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (the choice of Eisenhower was officially made by President Roosevelt in December 1943, and agreed upon by the British).

The Deputy Supreme Commander of the invasion was British Air Chief Marshal Arthur W. Tedder, who had been the commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean. While British Admiral Bertram H. Ramsay, was appointed naval commander. He had conducted the evacuation at Dunkirk and also planned the Torch landing in North Africa. British Air Chief Marshal Trafford L. Leigh-Mallory was appointed as commander of the air forces.

Montgomery was chosen as the ground forces' commander, despite his well-known personality problems. Eisenhower's first choice was in fact General Harold Alexander, but Churchill needed Alexander to remain in Italy. Montgomery arrived in Britain in January 1944 and began to evaluate the feasibility of the operation. He proposed the expansion of the invasion area to include landings west of the Vire River - allowing for the encirclement of Cherbourg (this would later become Utah Beach).

The Deception - Operation Fortitude

Elaborate efforts were taken in order to deceive the Germans into thinking that a massive Allied force was concentrated in Kent - just opposite Pas de Calais. Command of the fake army (known as the US 1st Army Group) was given to General George S. Patton in order to lend validity to the Army Group. Radio traffic was faked, plywood and canvas installations were constructed, inflatable tanks and vehicles were used extensively in order to deceive the Germans. In all, the plan called Operation Fortitude, was considered a great success in keeping the German High Command guessing about where the real invasion would come from. It would be instrumental in causing the Germans to withhold units once D-Day began. On a side note, Patton would later take command of the US Third Army in Normandy after the landings and during the breakout phase of the campaign.

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There was a "Pile up" on Omaha Beach of men,equipment,bulldozers,jeeps etc which had piled up uselessly on the beaches. The 1st;2nd;3rd;4th and 5th waves lay almost where they had fallen.

Around 8 AM Gen. Bradley who was monitoring events from the cruiser Augusta seriously considered calling off the Omaha assault.

Maj. Gen. Clarence R. Heubner was in charge of the assault troops and on his command ship received the message about the "Pile Up" and clogging on the beach. He decided Combat Troops were what was needed instead. He sent in reserve regiments with amphibious tanks and summoned the Navy to close in on the shore and pound the enemy strongholds.

Brig Gen. Theodore Roosevelt(son of the former Pres. Teddy Roosevelt) was in command of the troops on Utah. He did however take his orders from Bradley.

Sgtleo

While stationed near a town in England we were asked to provide transportation to a Decoration Parade to be held in the War Memorial park for some wounded Brit Vets from Africa.

Our Co. told us that we were to be 100% squared away because the local press were to follow the story and as all the Brit Vets were locals. I decided to go down the night before and with help we used a string line to place pegs where our Jeeps would be parked during the ceremony. (Perfectly straight line)

Next day I checked all the men and told them they would be required to dismount and face the Brit colors when their National Anthem was played. Some of the men didn't know the Brit Anthem so I tried to explain it this way "When you hear them playing "My Country Tis of Thee" dismount face the flag and render a Hand Salute". The music is the same.

Next day in a typical Brit fashion they sent a few "Bobbies(cops) to help us out. In case we didn't know what to do etc. The "Parade went off just as they/we wanted and just before the Anthem was played I reminded the men about "MY Country Tis of Thee". After the ceremony the Bobbie in charge came and asked "Sarge just what the hell is a "My Country Tis of Thee" and he was really PO'd when all of us broke out laughing. Never did get to tell him what it was!!

"God Damn Yanks" he muttered as we started to drive off.

Sgtleo

The "Oranges"

I have avoided telling stories about children I met and /or had to deal with in the ETO because to tell you the God's Honest Truth those stories are too painful even today to remember and talk about.

This one isn't maudlin so here goes.

The Krauts had, as many of you know, some very sophisticated submarine facilities at or near Dieppe France. Picture if you will, for those of you who have seen it, the many faceted sphere in EPCOT in Disney World ,FL but very much larger, and underneath at very precise intervals there were entrances for Submarines to dock,rearm etc. The shell was said to be about 6 feet of reinforced concrete with many rebars. Actually, the subs could enter and not be seen from the outside at any angle. The multi-faceted face made it impervious to bombs dropped from any height due to the many,many angles.

The Allies were very interested in this facility and wanted all the Intel they could get so three of us were sent to work with some Canadians to obtain something/anything of value. There was talk that this type of structure could be used to house the Rockets the Krauts were using - thus the interest.

On the way to meet the Canadians we stopped in a tiny auberge(inn) to take ten and have something to drink. We had "moonlight requisitioned" a lot of trading stuff as we had little or no money.We entered this auberge and the couple that ran it were walking on eggs in fear as they had never seen any GIs. While we were drinking our agreed upon two drinks and eating some cheese a little girl of about 5 or 6 came out and stood staring at us. The look in her eye was incredible when we offered her a couple of ORANGES and she called to her mother for permission to take the BALLS the Americans were offering.

That completely broke the mother up and she lost it right there. Astonished, I asked what she was so upset about and after much crying she finally got it out that her daughter had NEVER SEEN a real orange since she was born after the Krauts had taken over. We decided that we would give all the ORANGES to the little girl(6 or 7 as I remember) and then I saw the anxiety on the woman's face and she kept looking at her husband as she asked me what do you want in return. I was only 20 years old but I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know what she meant. Relief virtually flooded her face when I asked for cognac or for some good wine in trade only.

Laugh if you want but I can still see that little girl holding her mother's hand and waving au revoir to us and I probably always will see her.