On the 81st Anniversary of D-Day with Only Some 66,000 WWII Vets Still Alive, We Must Never Forget Their Sacrifices and Accomplishments

 Of the 5 beaches on D-Day Omaha received the short end of the stick
From the casualties the Germans from their 88's and M42 Buzz Saws in their pillboxes above would inflict
The bombers that were supposed to crater the beach and destroy the pillboxes overlooking the landings dropped their bombs too far inland in the fields
Leaving the assaulting infantry no cover but achieving a massive number of dead cows as their bombing yield
While the salvoes of rockets fired from the Higgins' landing craft landed in the surf
Far short of where the explosions were needed on the pillboxes and the beach's sandy turf
To many of the amphibious tanks what were land and provide fire support
Sank to the bottom in rough seas from the sandy beach far too short
13 destroyers finally bravely risked running aground neared the landing sites and at the pill boxes blazed away
The Germans soon exhausted ammunition and with allied air power blocking resupply of men and ammo were forced to retreat to try to fight again another day
The Americans seeking cover of the sea wall
With their advance off the beach in a deadly stall
Heard the words of Colonel George Taylor, commander of the 16th Regiment of the Big Red One
"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here" and they did and soon the Germans were starting to surrender or on the run
The butcher's bill at Omaha Beach on D-Day was far too long
The US Army has lost 3,686 casualties including around 777 killed plus 539 naval and 10 air forces casualties many of whom at the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach now belong
The 81st anniversary D-Day occurred on June 6, 2025
Some 66,000 veterans of WWII from 16.4 million who served are still alive
In addition to prayers that this nation's strength will prevent further wars
We should pray that memories and tributes to the sacrifices of the veterans who served will never fade away or be ignored
© 6/6/2025 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet