Thank you Steven for forwarding this heartwarming and hopeful scene between 2 men who fought wars 80 years apart. It brought tears to my eyes, not only for the past and present that it represents, but also for the future of America and its allies.
Tears are still at the corners of my eyes, Steven. I just finished copying a comment on Dan Rather's post a few minutes ago that I made about my mother's experience upon landing on that beach on the third day. Seeing Zelinsky with one of the last of our vets ties the long struggle together. It is forevr on going. We forget and get too comfortable at our peril. I'll put it here also, just because.I recomend
TCin LA and Dan Rather's posts to all.
Thank you, Tom, for painting the picture in close feeling and detail. My mother would approve.I believe it was day three when she waded ashore from a stranded landing craft, big bag of medical supplies ballanced on her head. This twenty-three year old Iowa farm girl who had never seen the ocean before, saw a long flat beach, covered with human bodies, as her group fanned out to triage. The ones who could be saved were flagged, while those who could not, she held there hands until they went limp after she told them they were loved and would never be forgotten, as she pressed that long needle with morphine into them. She was with a front line field evac, all the way to the Elb River, waving to the Red Army soldiers on the other side. She never talked about the beach, that day. After thirty some years as a trauma nurse, strong would not be close in describing my Mom. She and many others like her, kept our guys alive to fight again. Lest we forget
God Bless your sweet Mom. That was certainly not an easy task, she was one beautiful person. Thank you for sharing, my heart has been hurting all day. I thought about my dad, who was on that beach on D-Day. Several years we went to his Army Reunion. I was so fortunate to meet all these guys, wonderful people, we became family. Of course they are all gone now. The stories they had were beyond words. Dad always talked (in later years with tears) about the Fox Holes. Such honorable hero’s, ALL. This War should always be studied in our schools. Our President did a wonderful tribute today, I admire him. We MUST all vote for Democracy on November 5th, 2024. THIS is a choice we must Honor. Again, thank you for sharing and I am happy to hear she injected her HUG (morphine) in his time of need. God Bless you all.
My "Iowa farm girl mother" and my aunts were only a very few years too young to have ended up on that beach as well. My father graduated from Staunton Military Academy and was in the pipeline to go to the Pacific but for the August 6 and August 8 bombings.
Note that given estimates of 100, 000 dying needlessly each month within the millions of square miles occupied in East Asia and the Pacific by the Imperial Japanese military, as well as those being killed in the war, those bombings not only ended the war, they saved thousands of lives practically immediately. Those facts must be taken into account as part of any putatively serious moral evaluation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings - both of which were legitimate military targets.
It was a wonderful moment. I’m glad you memorialized it.
I’ve said this before … My g-uncle (born in CAN) who had applied for citizenship but not yet received it was captured at Normandy. He survived the German POW camp(s) without bitterness. (Stalag 3C Alt Drewitz, Brandenburg, Prussia 52-14)
Never in my life did I believe a candidate for president would dare call people like him suckers and losers. Or that a substantial portion of the public - including some veterans - would go along with it. In high school we had a few students whose parents immigrated from Germany. We knew the parents defended Hitler at home because occasionally a comment gave them away. In college a professor like to tout his days in Mussolini’s army to get a reaction. None of them dared go where the criminally convicted former president went. When I heard his words disparaging John McCain and saw so little reaction, I knew we were in trouble.
We didn’t see it coming and now it’s in our face almost daily. One can only hope that his lack of mental acuity and disgusting lies will spare all of you and your allies from this hellscape that he is planning upon his return to power and perhaps for his plans for a future dynastic rule.
What are we to become, this country assailed from within by our very own? Will the millions who fought and the hundreds of thousands who died be all for naught? We are in a pickle, bracing for the worst while hoping and striving for the best. The very ideology that was fought against and won over now sits at the doorstep of America. It comes to us not by outlander or outlier, but by one of our very own prominent in his hate, his divisiveness; his cruelty and his dishonesty. Of all the battles we have fought and won, this one may be our greatest challenge. He calls those who died in battle “losers” and “suckers”. A man so vile, so repugnant, that his bloviate has the stench of death. He must not be allowed to define us.
Hi Keltik, Yes, our very own. But, I keep thinking about the 50 years since Ronnie started all this. It has not been the pretty face picked-up recently on on Main Street, that has been mind bending the people with negative anti American rhetoric, softening us up. He's just selling his body for a short motel trip. The bigger divisive, cruel, dishonest and long term are still slithering off stage. When fear and terror rule they will no longer afford his weirdness for consent... there will not be any consent.
Well said… as sad as it is “it is the truth” that in itself is heartbreaking ❤️🩹 for MOST of us. You are right, it would be easier to be able to slap them all the away … it is tough situation for us. So blatantly “in our face” each day. Be Well.🇺🇸
Steven, I had seen the video before but looked at it again on your page and tears welled up in my eyes. My dad was not at Normandy but in Papua New Guinea fighting the Japanese. He was in the trenches for 4 years. He told me when he was returning home, friends gave him Saki to drink. Said he had passed out on the floor of the train and had the worst hangover ever. He realized he was alive. Nothing came out of his mouth re: experiences he had there. He felt admiration for our country’s ultimate victory against the Nazis since he had been a victim of the Holocaust. He gave back to the country who gave him a place to stay and to prosper. He was forever grateful and glad to do his part.
I saw it earlier and I’ve watched it SO many times since. This is sincerity, spontaneity, admiration: understanding. Thanks for saving it here so I can watch again and again.
Thank you for this reminder that in the middle of so much chaos and distrust, there are Human beings who’s hearts and their truth are visible , respectful
How could anyone not be bawling their eyes out at this? The pathos and weight of the world were on the shoulders of one and are on the shoulders of the other. Just…no words. 😭
Grateful for the Sacrifices of many, MANY, who are being remembered, and Honored on this Day.
Grateful that this moment in History is being respected by the presence of such leaders as President Zellenskyy. And, the various other Leaders the world over who recognize and understand what Democracy means, and the Sacrifices necessary, sadly, to see this “experiment” to fruition.
Grateful that our President eloquently spoke of the importance of these Sacrifices made, and, those to come.
There is much for me to be Grateful for, Steven, and I Thank You for bringing this most important moment to the attention of many.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you @StevenBeschloss for sharing. Each man thanking the other for saving democracy. I wish that the messages these men shared would bring the same tears those messages brought to my eyes to the eyes of Americans who are in 45's cult and seem not to value democracy. Men and women have fought for and died for democracy. It is a wonderful concept, a concept that should be preserved for all generations in all countries. Let freedom and democracy live on. Let those values guide us now and forever. God Bless America 🇺🇸
Thank you Steven for forwarding this heartwarming and hopeful scene between 2 men who fought wars 80 years apart. It brought tears to my eyes, not only for the past and present that it represents, but also for the future of America and its allies.
Tears are still at the corners of my eyes, Steven. I just finished copying a comment on Dan Rather's post a few minutes ago that I made about my mother's experience upon landing on that beach on the third day. Seeing Zelinsky with one of the last of our vets ties the long struggle together. It is forevr on going. We forget and get too comfortable at our peril. I'll put it here also, just because.I recomend
TCin LA and Dan Rather's posts to all.
Thank you, Tom, for painting the picture in close feeling and detail. My mother would approve.I believe it was day three when she waded ashore from a stranded landing craft, big bag of medical supplies ballanced on her head. This twenty-three year old Iowa farm girl who had never seen the ocean before, saw a long flat beach, covered with human bodies, as her group fanned out to triage. The ones who could be saved were flagged, while those who could not, she held there hands until they went limp after she told them they were loved and would never be forgotten, as she pressed that long needle with morphine into them. She was with a front line field evac, all the way to the Elb River, waving to the Red Army soldiers on the other side. She never talked about the beach, that day. After thirty some years as a trauma nurse, strong would not be close in describing my Mom. She and many others like her, kept our guys alive to fight again. Lest we forget
God Bless your sweet Mom. That was certainly not an easy task, she was one beautiful person. Thank you for sharing, my heart has been hurting all day. I thought about my dad, who was on that beach on D-Day. Several years we went to his Army Reunion. I was so fortunate to meet all these guys, wonderful people, we became family. Of course they are all gone now. The stories they had were beyond words. Dad always talked (in later years with tears) about the Fox Holes. Such honorable hero’s, ALL. This War should always be studied in our schools. Our President did a wonderful tribute today, I admire him. We MUST all vote for Democracy on November 5th, 2024. THIS is a choice we must Honor. Again, thank you for sharing and I am happy to hear she injected her HUG (morphine) in his time of need. God Bless you all.
Really well said, Ruth. Your dad, RR’s mom, and the others sacrificed so much. Our blood was shed there.
My "Iowa farm girl mother" and my aunts were only a very few years too young to have ended up on that beach as well. My father graduated from Staunton Military Academy and was in the pipeline to go to the Pacific but for the August 6 and August 8 bombings.
Note that given estimates of 100, 000 dying needlessly each month within the millions of square miles occupied in East Asia and the Pacific by the Imperial Japanese military, as well as those being killed in the war, those bombings not only ended the war, they saved thousands of lives practically immediately. Those facts must be taken into account as part of any putatively serious moral evaluation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings - both of which were legitimate military targets.
It was a wonderful moment. I’m glad you memorialized it.
I’ve said this before … My g-uncle (born in CAN) who had applied for citizenship but not yet received it was captured at Normandy. He survived the German POW camp(s) without bitterness. (Stalag 3C Alt Drewitz, Brandenburg, Prussia 52-14)
Never in my life did I believe a candidate for president would dare call people like him suckers and losers. Or that a substantial portion of the public - including some veterans - would go along with it. In high school we had a few students whose parents immigrated from Germany. We knew the parents defended Hitler at home because occasionally a comment gave them away. In college a professor like to tout his days in Mussolini’s army to get a reaction. None of them dared go where the criminally convicted former president went. When I heard his words disparaging John McCain and saw so little reaction, I knew we were in trouble.
We didn’t see it coming and now it’s in our face almost daily. One can only hope that his lack of mental acuity and disgusting lies will spare all of you and your allies from this hellscape that he is planning upon his return to power and perhaps for his plans for a future dynastic rule.
Thanks for sharing this... it says so much.
Two heroes.
Well, of course it makes me cry too. So moving, so loving.
What are we to become, this country assailed from within by our very own? Will the millions who fought and the hundreds of thousands who died be all for naught? We are in a pickle, bracing for the worst while hoping and striving for the best. The very ideology that was fought against and won over now sits at the doorstep of America. It comes to us not by outlander or outlier, but by one of our very own prominent in his hate, his divisiveness; his cruelty and his dishonesty. Of all the battles we have fought and won, this one may be our greatest challenge. He calls those who died in battle “losers” and “suckers”. A man so vile, so repugnant, that his bloviate has the stench of death. He must not be allowed to define us.
Hi Keltik, Yes, our very own. But, I keep thinking about the 50 years since Ronnie started all this. It has not been the pretty face picked-up recently on on Main Street, that has been mind bending the people with negative anti American rhetoric, softening us up. He's just selling his body for a short motel trip. The bigger divisive, cruel, dishonest and long term are still slithering off stage. When fear and terror rule they will no longer afford his weirdness for consent... there will not be any consent.
Well said… as sad as it is “it is the truth” that in itself is heartbreaking ❤️🩹 for MOST of us. You are right, it would be easier to be able to slap them all the away … it is tough situation for us. So blatantly “in our face” each day. Be Well.🇺🇸
Steven, I had seen the video before but looked at it again on your page and tears welled up in my eyes. My dad was not at Normandy but in Papua New Guinea fighting the Japanese. He was in the trenches for 4 years. He told me when he was returning home, friends gave him Saki to drink. Said he had passed out on the floor of the train and had the worst hangover ever. He realized he was alive. Nothing came out of his mouth re: experiences he had there. He felt admiration for our country’s ultimate victory against the Nazis since he had been a victim of the Holocaust. He gave back to the country who gave him a place to stay and to prosper. He was forever grateful and glad to do his part.
A beautiful thing.
I saw it earlier and I’ve watched it SO many times since. This is sincerity, spontaneity, admiration: understanding. Thanks for saving it here so I can watch again and again.
Thank you for this reminder that in the middle of so much chaos and distrust, there are Human beings who’s hearts and their truth are visible , respectful
and loving.
How could anyone not be bawling their eyes out at this? The pathos and weight of the world were on the shoulders of one and are on the shoulders of the other. Just…no words. 😭
I am Grateful.
Grateful for the Sacrifices of many, MANY, who are being remembered, and Honored on this Day.
Grateful that this moment in History is being respected by the presence of such leaders as President Zellenskyy. And, the various other Leaders the world over who recognize and understand what Democracy means, and the Sacrifices necessary, sadly, to see this “experiment” to fruition.
Grateful that our President eloquently spoke of the importance of these Sacrifices made, and, those to come.
There is much for me to be Grateful for, Steven, and I Thank You for bringing this most important moment to the attention of many.
I am… “nourished”.
May The Lord bless this moment in time for His final battle over evil for all time.
When men of goodwill gather, all things are possible.
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you @StevenBeschloss for sharing. Each man thanking the other for saving democracy. I wish that the messages these men shared would bring the same tears those messages brought to my eyes to the eyes of Americans who are in 45's cult and seem not to value democracy. Men and women have fought for and died for democracy. It is a wonderful concept, a concept that should be preserved for all generations in all countries. Let freedom and democracy live on. Let those values guide us now and forever. God Bless America 🇺🇸
Heroes come in many forms…