Kind Of Off Topic. June 6th 2004

[SgtMartin]

well, i know this isnt thompson related, but i assume you guys are more than likely to be interested in this and was just wondering if anybody will be travelling to normandy this june for the 60th anniversary of dday commemorations? or is anybody doing anything different? also, wondering if anybody has been before, as im taking a day trip next week and wondered how was best to go about it and what i should expect etc.

if this needs to be moved to the off topic nick, feel free mate. sorry, i just thought id get a better response here.

cheers.

[Walter63a]

Sgt.Martin, bring back some sand and post some pics here (of remaining beach barriers, pill boxes, museum artifacts, etc.)!I've never been there, but hope to one day! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif Regards, Walter

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Sgt,

I was in Switzerland when the 40th aniversary of D Day came up and traveled to Normandy. That was when Reagan was there for the ceremony. There was so much security that it was difficult to get near the event. It is inspiring to be around the Pas de Calaise Ciffs, beaches, cemetary, museum, etc.

[michael]

On the 60th anniversary of D-day, if all goes well I'll be aboard the LST 325. I serve on the volunteer crew of this ship. She operated around North Africa, the invasion of Sicily and the Normandy invasion and is now a musuem ship. We are the only ex-US Navy museum ship that is in and attempiting to stay in an operational condition.

 

The ship is currently is Mobile, we go into dry dock later this month, if all goes we'll travel up to Boston and DC this summer and have the ship open for tours. She is 328 ft long and fifty ft wide, her flat bottom (for beaching) makes her ride rough...

 

How about that... still operational 60 years after delivering her cargo to Omaha beach late June 6 - early June 7... After that she made another 44 trips across the channel.

 

today:

 

http://www.insidelst.com/ext325.2.JPG

 

June 12 1944 - from the national archives

 

http://www.insidelst.com/1016032507.jpg

[leid]

Hi Sgt.

If you go to the museum, ask for Andre Heintz. Andre fought with the underground and has to be almost 90 now, but I think he is still working at the museum part time.

leid

[21 smoker]

WOW!!!...what a great opportunity to take part in the D-Day Memorial. I wish I could attend... someday...I do have some stones from the beach my daughter brought back from a field trip years ago...that will have to do for now...enjoy the festiveties...and pay your respects...that`s what it really is all about...out.