A recent read for me was the book entitled, “D-Day, June 6, 1944, The Climatic Battle of World war ll.”
The invasion was a necessary in the second World War, that could not be denied. The leaders of the allied forces planned and planned. The fighting forces to be in this future action against the German army were trained and trained. When the time came to launch the invasion on the beached of Normandy, France, the plans became a nightmare, especially on the beach known in this battle as Omaha. Failures were everywhere. The Germans were in place and the results were destruction, chaos, casualties galore and death.
In my feeble mind, I find imagining what these brave young men faced almost impossible. I would fight tears more than once as I visualized the events and circumstances I was reading about. Humankind should never be required to endure such events but yet mankind has been forced to face the face of evil continuously over the countless centuries.
Of course, I had to think of my father, Allen K. Smail. He was involved on D-Day 13 if my memory is correct. Would he had survived D-day? Such a question is a humbling experience.
As per the training, the book records a number of times where training would eventually come together and counterattack the German wrath once those who survived the beach reached the tops of the cliffs and such.
Thank you, to all those brave young men, sacrificing so much on that day and the days following the invasion. It is a debt that cannot be ever repaid from America.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
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