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June 03, 2004

The Home Front

At eleven minutes after midnight on June 6, 1944, British Lieutenant Noel Poole jumped from a Stirling plane flying over the Cherbourg peninsula, the first of nearly 175,000 British, Canadian, and American forces to enter Normandy by air or by sea. A few hours later, people all over America listened, transfixed, to their radios as an announcer proclaimed, ?Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force has just announced that the invasion has begun. Repeat, D-Day has come.? In Britain, the announcement was just as terse; ?Under the command of General Eisenhower, Allied naval forces supported by strong air forces began landing Allied armies this morning on the coast of France.? These messages were confirmation of what had been widely surmised ? an immense invasion of the European continent from Britain had begun. By that evening, three airborne divisions of the allied air forces had joined the battle, bombed relentlessly in preparation for ground assault forces and provided protection for over 5,000 boats and ships (from small landing crafts to large battleships) in the English Channel. That armada provided essential cover for the allied troops who fought their way across the beaches of the Normandy coast.

And, all across America and Britain, those who waited at home listened, held their breath and prayed for a swift victory. A Montana news reporter having breakfast in a Helena caf頰ut it this way. ?The news was first met with unbelief and then rapt silence. Food was forgotten. Not a single voice was raised in request for service; no one wanted anything. They only sat and listened, and wondered.?

No one group wondered more than parents, relatives and friends of deployed troops. Unlike the current war on terror, many more people were directly impacted. With the draft, almost every family had a husband, son, daughter, nephew, niece, or friend serving. And, folks back home were willing and ready to do their part. They bought war bonds. Women rolled bandages and knitted socks and hats. Men who could not fight worked in defense plants, making rifles, airplanes, ammunition, and uniforms. Families planted Victory Gardens. Sugar, gasoline, and other commodities were rationed so that precious resources could be diverted to the troops.

In contrast, many current families have no direct connection with the current military operations taking part primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan. No one in their immediate or extended family is part of the armed forces. They are disconnected from the conflict. There are few sacrifices; indeed, there seems to be a concerted effort to make this war as painless as possible for folks back home. However, people want to be part of this. In the days following September 11, 2001, blood banks were standing room only. They?ve donated almost $2 million to the Spirit of America effort. Volunteers in Oregon and all over the country are sewing neck coolers and knitting socks and hats to provide comfort and a bit of home.

The warriors who fought the battle of Normandy had thoughts of home. The Band of Brothers HBO documentary included interviews with surviving heroes. Quite a few of them described their mothers as an inspiring force. Nights in foxholes were spent writing letters home.

During the major hostilities of Operation Iraqi Freedom, many of our troops carried pictures of their mothers, wives, and family members into battle. And, evening news clips showed tanks rolling into Baghdad with Marines and soldiers holding up signs that read Hi Mom!. Embedded reporters lent satellite phones to injured soldiers so that they could call family. E-mail brought instant communication. But the emotions of war do not change. Mothers and fathers of deployed troops worry as much today as they did 60 years ago.

On D-Day, America shut down. Macy?s Department store closed early. The president of Lord & Taylor announced, ?The store is closed. The invasion has begun. Our only thought can be of the men who are fighting in it. We have closed our doors because we know our employees and customers who have loved ones in battle will want to give this day to hopes and prayers for their safety.? Wall Street opened, following a two minute silent prayer. And the Wall Street Journal focused on the economic impact of the invasion. The headline on June 7 read,

Broadway closed its doors and actors performed for stateside troops. Donations were collected to benefit enlisted men and women. Not all entertainers stood in solidarity. A New Yorker correspondent noted that radio actors were upset that the day?s soap opera programming had been pre-empted by war news.

On the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, families all over America with loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan held their breath and prayed for the safety of our troops. At the same time, large anti-war rallies broke out in cities all across America. Business continued as usual. Some stores gave discounts to families with military ID. And the Academy Awards went on as scheduled, although celebrities eschewed glitter and jewels. And Michael Moore used his platform as a bully pulpit to denounce our troops' Commander in Chief. To the audience?s credit, there were boos throughout the crowd. That didn?t faze the boor on the stage, who owed his opportunity to speak freely to our troops who, for the past 230 years have bravely fought to preserve liberty for all.

On June 6, 1944, families and friend waited breathlessly for news. And there were far few reporters on the scene. None were embedded. Correspondents on board various ships could report what they saw, planes overhead, smoke on the beach, other ships, but could only guess at what was happening on shore. That did not stop broadcasters from reporting. If there were no news, they repeated previous reports. They mangled pronunciation of the French towns and regions. They provided armchair quarterbacking of the military effort. Sixty years later, some things haven?t changed much.

The cost, in human terms, was staggering. Almost 5,000 casualties, including approximately 2,000 dead on that one day, D-Day. One day. Families all across America received that dreaded knock at the door where a Western Union telegram notified them of their ultimate contribution to the war effort ? a beloved husband or precious son. Was it worth it? Twenty years later, General Eisenhower stood on Omaha Beach, looking out at the English Channel. He commented,

?You see these people out here swimming and sailing their little pleasure boats and taking advantage of the nice weather and the lovely beach, Walter, and it is almost unreal to look at it today and remember what it was.

But it?s a wonderful thing to remember what those fellows twenty years ago were fighting for and sacrificing for, what they did to preserve our way of life. Not to conquer any territory, not for any ambitions of our own. But to make sure that Hitler could not destroy freedoms in the world.

I think it?s just overwhelming. To think of the lives that were given for that principle, paying a terrible price on this beach alone, on that one day, 2000 casualties. But they did it so that the world could be free. It just shows what free men will do rather than be slaves.?

Sixty years after D-Day, American troops once again fight along brave British forces to bring those same freedoms to another part of the world. Will it take twenty years for their bravery and sacrifices to be recognized as a ?wonderful thing??

Don?t make them wait. Thank a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine today ? those who are serving or have served in the past. And, if you know of a family with a deployed service member, thank them too. Each of the thousands of men who fell on June 6, 1944 had loved ones at home. So do the troops of today. Instant communication has brought the battlefield into our living rooms but we worry about our loved ones as much as the families in 1944.

On November 15, 2003, the women behind the Marine Corps Moms website met several members of Easy Company. We shook the hands of Don Malarkey and Wild Bill Guarnere. They are true American heroes and it was a privilege to meet them. And, sixty years from now, people may be shaking the hands of our sons who serve with the 7th Marines. As mothers, we are filled with pride. As citizens, we are profoundly grateful.

Thanks to Matt from Blackfive
for sponsoring this blogger?s tribute to this defining day in American history. Check out his list of all participating bloggers here. Much of the information in this post was derived from Stephen Ambrose?s bestseller, D-DAY, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II.

Posted by Deb at June 3, 2004 08:42 AM

Comments

Wow, you two met some of my heroes! Bill Guarnere and Don Malarkey are LEGENDARY PARATROOPERS!!!

Posted by: Blackfive at June 3, 2004 08:48 AM

Deb what are you thinking putting old pictures on the website.....?

Posted by: connie at June 4, 2004 06:53 PM