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Maggie’s Motivational Pic Thread v2.0 - - New Rules - See Post #1

http://vcepinc.org/D-Day.htm


101-D-Day-Ministry-images-for-USA.jpg
 
Hell of a generation.
Could we do this today?

Highly doubtful. I'm sure that quite a few of our current enlisted men could/would nut up and do the job, but I can't help but question how much backup they would have. What would a draft look like with this generation? Then there is what the men & women back home did to support the "war effort". Would today's masses willingly do without their cheap imported Walmart goods? Or the next iphone?
As a whole, that generation would eat today's kids lunch.
 
Hell of a generation.
Could we do this today?

Could "we" yes, I think our armed forces possess the same drive as they've always had. Would we do it? I seriously doubt it as the losses that were acceptable then, from the country and the military would not be today.
 
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Thought this was a great tribute pic... Tomorrow is the 70th. Exactly 70 years ago, all over Normandy, Paratroopers were gathering together and trying to close on objectives... and infantry troops were packing into Landing Craft, many seasick and ill... and probably all afraid. Getting ready to step off ramps and do a really tough job.

Not many folks left walking the earth who were there... We should remember them and those lost since.



In greatest respect for real heroes, from many Allied nations,

Sirhr


I started "volunteering" to go on local Honor Flights because there aren't many of these great men left. I enjoy their company and hearing their stories. Truly a different breed.
 
Could you sophomoric fuckwits take one day off from the porn and show some respect to what so many gave to this nation and the rest of the world? Goddammit!
 
Highly doubtful. I'm sure that quite a few of our current enlisted men could/would nut up and do the job, but I can't help but question how much backup they would have. What would a draft look like with this generation? Then there is what the men & women back home did to support the "war effort". Would today's masses willingly do without their cheap imported Walmart goods? Or the next iphone?
As a whole, that generation would eat today's kids lunch.
Report Says 75 Percent of Young Americans Unfit for Military Service | Fox News

This report is five (5) years old but I recently saw an interview with a 3 star who said things are now pretty much the same. Obesity seems to be the biggest disqualifying factor..
He described it a the biggest(no pun) threat to our national security.
 
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Highly doubtful. I'm sure that quite a few of our current enlisted men could/would nut up and do the job, but I can't help but question how much backup they would have. What would a draft look like with this generation? Then there is what the men & women back home did to support the "war effort". Would today's masses willingly do without their cheap imported Walmart goods? Or the next iphone?
As a whole, that generation would eat today's kids lunch.

I can tell you what a draft would look like for "this generation" a nation wide revolt. This generation to an extent might as well be 7000 miles across the ocean because they're about as far from the American sense of idealism as it gets. Case in point our political system, gov't, and the direction the nation is heading. I'm twenty three going on twenty four and my "generation" might be the worst generation ever to call themselves "American" when they stand for the very idea of the opposite.

Sorry about the rant, people my age sicken me.

The point is there will likely never be another generation of men and women like them. That is both a compliment to them on their part and a negative on where we are.
 
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Could "we" yes, I think our armed forces possess the same drive as they've always had. Would we do it? I seriously doubt it as the losses that were acceptable then, from the country and the military would not be today.

Exactly what I was thinking.
 

There is actually a lot more to that speech than just a really great message and delivery. If you are interested, read The Boys of Point Du Hoc. It tells not only the story of the Rangers who scaled the cliffs, but about the behind-the-scenes creation of one of the most impressive and moving speeches Reagan ever delivered... written by a brand new, just hired from CBS speechwriter... assigned to write a speech that none of the other staffers could be bothered with. She caught the absolute essence of the moment. And it changed her career forever.

The book is a wonderful read and a counter-point between the crafting of the speech and the experiences of the Rangers.

One of the interesting points is that Cornelius Ryan in The Longest Day somewhat did the Rangers a dis-service when he stated that the guns they set out to capture/destroy had not been emplaced and the 'barrels' were just telephone poles. Because the guns were in the fight, just not on Pointe Du Hoc. They were further inland. The Rangers did move inland, did get 'their' guns and did make a major contribution to the D-Day landings. But if you read only Cornelius Ryan's impressions, the Rangers' mission was meaningless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet the 'myth' everyone remembers is that the guns were telephone poles.

BTW, for a sobering overhead, go to Google Maps and turn it to satellite. Then zoom in on Pointe du Hoc. That anyone survived there is a miracle. The satellite images are spectacular.

Thanks for posting, 168. Great moment in history.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
I can tell you what a draft would look like for "this generation" a nation wide revolt. This generation to an extent might as well be 7000 miles across the ocean because they're about as far from the American sense of idealism as it gets. Case in point our political system, gov't, and the direction the nation is heading. I'm twenty three going on twenty four and my "generation" might be the worst generation ever to call themselves "American" when they stand for the very idea of the opposite.

Sorry about the rant, people my age sicken me.

The point is there will likely never be another generation of men and women like them. That is both a compliment to them on their part and a negative on where we are.

I'm close in age and I want you to remember something. You are not one of a kind in our generation. Many are as you describe, but not all. I caution lumping us all into the do nothing generation mentality. Believe me, I know it is hard to keep faith but every generation has its warriors.
 
I'm close in age and I want you to remember something. You are not one of a kind in our generation. Many are as you describe, but not all. I caution lumping us all into the do nothing generation mentality. Believe me, I know it is hard to keep faith but every generation has its warriors.

I'd not only second this, but remind folks that the WW2 generation had plenty of draft dodgers and fortunate sons. It had a thriving black market and plenty of folks who wanted nothing more than to feather their own nests. It had the Zoot Suit Riots... and the sons of Senators and actors getting brand new Harley's and Jeeps diverted from the war effort into their driveways. Admittedly, the uniformed men and women of WW2 went through privations that seem unbelievable to us today, they did not march to the tune of a single patriotic drummer. There were lots of sh**birds then... just as we have some now.

I tend to think that we do have warriors who could do what earlier generations could do. And would rise to the occasion.

Whether we have the political will or the home front support to lose Americans at the rates we did in WW2... is another question. I think the answer to that is fairly obvious.

And while the casualties in WW2 and on D-Day appeared appalling, remember that in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the British lost 60,000 men in one day... and their total casualties were 630,000 for the battle. Add in German casualties and more than 1.2 million were killed and wounded for an offensive that... didn't move the front lines one iota.

Anyway... every generation has its greatest members. I tend to think that they are those who put on uniforms of any kind... And there's plenty of them out there today. They give me hope for America!

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
I'm close in age and I want you to remember something. You are not one of a kind in our generation. Many are as you describe, but not all. I caution lumping us all into the do nothing generation mentality. Believe me, I know it is hard to keep faith but every generation has its warriors.

It isn't that there aren't people like you and I. That's not my point. It's that there is an overwhelmingly amount that aren't. And that's where the attitude comes from. I never stated I was one of kind, I implied exactly what I am and you are as well or are quickly becoming: a minority. Then there is also the fact that I was venting which was my reason for apologizing for the "rant". While I get your point and do agree, you should know that I'm not summarizing every single person in our generation and excluding myself to be some self righteous diamond in the rough. Was just venting and am thankful there are many people out there like yourself.

Maybe your right though i might be overly cynical and negative about it.
 
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I've frequently pointed out that the Greatest Generation were likely considered by their elders to be pussies; what with their electricity, indoor toilets, radios, tractors, cars, airplanes, refrigeration, and so on.
 
There is actually a lot more to that speech than just a really great message and delivery. If you are interested, read The Boys of Point Du Hoc. It tells not only the story of the Rangers who scaled the cliffs, but about the behind-the-scenes creation of one of the most impressive and moving speeches Reagan ever delivered... written by a brand new, just hired from CBS speechwriter... assigned to write a speech that none of the other staffers could be bothered with. She caught the absolute essence of the moment. And it changed her career forever.

The book is a wonderful read and a counter-point between the crafting of the speech and the experiences of the Rangers.

One of the interesting points is that Cornelius Ryan in The Longest Day somewhat did the Rangers a dis-service when he stated that the guns they set out to capture/destroy had not been emplaced and the 'barrels' were just telephone poles. Because the guns were in the fight, just not on Pointe Du Hoc. They were further inland. The Rangers did move inland, did get 'their' guns and did make a major contribution to the D-Day landings. But if you read only Cornelius Ryan's impressions, the Rangers' mission was meaningless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet the 'myth' everyone remembers is that the guns were telephone poles.

BTW, for a sobering overhead, go to Google Maps and turn it to satellite. Then zoom in on Pointe du Hoc. That anyone survived there is a miracle. The satellite images are spectacular.

Thanks for posting, 168. Great moment in history.

Cheers,

Sirhr

I bought the book "The Boys of Pointe Du Hoc" by mistake (I thought it was about the Rangers!) after visiting Normandy (and Pointe Du Hoc) last year. The book was actually much better than I'd ever expected a book about a speech to be.

Pointe Du Hoc itself is absolutely awe inspiring! It must have been like hell on earth for both the defenders and the Rangers.
 

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View attachment 39927This is what motivates me! Taking my girl for a ride in the sky!

By jove, I think he's got it! Welcome aboard miss-a-lot. Cool picture. Some days one needs a bit of a thick skin around here... but SH folks are a first rate group with a lot of practical knowledge about shooting.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
Nice! What kind of plane do you have?

I don't own a plane. I have been working on them for nearly 30 years though. I usually fly whatever the company has available when I work on the little ones. Right now I am working the big iron (747's) so not much chance for stick time here. lol