340 Canadians soldiers killed on this day 62 year ago

[poedua]

I suspect no one is going to care.

But..... I'll post this in honour of a relative who is buried in in Itay...killed by the Germans in WW 2 ( 1944 ) anyway.

His buddy was killed on D-Day. The Canadian military deaths in Afganistan are dfficult to accept, but sadly our country has been there before.....340 Canadians died on this day a long time ago.Today is the anniversary of D-Day...62 years ago today. On that day, 340 Canadians died on Juno beach. 574 were wounded. For anyone who cares.....most of them just out of high school or university...late teens , early 20's.

- 14,000 Canadians landed on D-Day

- 450 jumped by parachute or landed by glider

- 10,000 sailors of the RCN ( Navy ) were involved

- During the first six days of the Normandy campaign, 1,017 Canadians died.

- By the end of the Normandy campaign, about 5,020 Canadians had been killed.

- About 5,400 Canadians are buried in France

...lest we forget.

[curtis]

These men died with honor. They deserve all of our respect and more.

I suspect no one is going to care.

But..... I'll post this in honour of a relative who is buried in in Itay...killed by the Germans in WW 2 ( 1944 ) anyway.

His buddy was killed on D-Day. The Canadian military deaths in Afganistan are dfficult to accept, but sadly our country has been there before.....340 Canadians died on this day a long time ago.Today is the anniversary of D-Day...62 years ago today. On that day, 340 Canadians died on Juno beach. 574 were wounded. For anyone who cares.....most of them just out of high school or university...late teens , early 20's.

- 14,000 Canadians landed on D-Day

- 450 jumped by parachute or landed by glider

- 10,000 sailors of the RCN ( Navy ) were involved

- During the first six days of the Normandy campaign, 1,017 Canadians died.

- By the end of the Normandy campaign, about 5,020 Canadians had been killed.

- About 5,400 Canadians are buried in France

...lest we forget.

[danfromwaterloo]

I watched Band of Brothers on Sunday on History Network...they had an all day marathon.

I watched "Day of Days", the episode where they were jumping into Normandy on D-Day. Now, I realize it is a fictional account of what it was like over there, but if it's remotely real, these men are heroes by even the strictest definition of the word. I watched as the men looked out their planes toward the jumpzone several kilometres out to see the clouds being lit up like a fiece lightning storm. I watched them dip under the clouds to witness the closest thing to hell on earth one can imagine. To look over and witness another plane of soldiers be shot, catch fire, and break up into a bunch of flaming pieces.

If that's even remotely what it was like on D-Day, I have a newfound respect for what these men went through. Not that I didn't before; but one can tell stories of how bad it was, and not truly grasp what they were saying. Then, to witness a recreation of it, and to feel an iota of what they were feeling.

We must never forget.

[konfusion666]

These men died with honor. They deserve all of our respect and more.

agreed & bump

[Montague]

It always kind of cheesed me off watching the movie "The Longest Day".

I mean Canada was barely given a mention (if at all) in the film - NO scenes of Juno beach.

I realize "in the big picture" Omaha/Utah beach were the important battles - but you would think Canada's contribution deserved at least SOME screen time.

(heck they found time to give the "Free French" forces some screen time).

[Howlader]

It always kind of cheesed me off watching the movie "The Longest Day".

Can you really see John Wayne playing a Canadian though?
"You can't give the enemy a break. Send him to hell. Eh?"

[poedua]

I watched Band of Brothers on Sunday on History Network...they had an all day marathon.

I watched "Day of Days", the episode where they were jumping into Normandy on D-Day. Now, I realize it is a fictional account of what it was like over there, but if it's remotely real, these men are heroes by even the strictest definition of the word. I watched as the men looked out their planes toward the jumpzone several kilometres out to see the clouds being lit up like a fiece lightning storm. I watched them dip under the clouds to witness the closest thing to hell on earth one can imagine. To look over and witness another plane of soldiers be shot, catch fire, and break up into a bunch of flaming pieces.

If that's even remotely what it was like on D-Day, I have a newfound respect for what these men went through. Not that I didn't before; but one can tell stories of how bad it was, and not truly grasp what they were saying. Then, to witness a recreation of it, and to feel an iota of what they were feeling.

We must never forget.

I agree.

My son will be 18 in 2 years.....I couldn't imagine him going over on D-day to lay his life on the line , to fight on foreign soil for the freedom of another country ..the sacrifice they were willing to give ....boggles the mind IMO.

I'm not too sure how many of today's 18/19/ 20 + year old kids would sign up overnight to fight in Europe if called upon.

The courage and sheer guts these " kids " had in 1944 is very difficult to fathom...and makes me feel very humble anytime I think about my life today and all the freedoms I enjoy because of kids like them back in 1944.

[poedua]

It always kind of cheesed me off watching the movie "The Longest Day".

I mean Canada was barely given a mention (if at all) in the film - NO scenes of Juno beach.

I realize "in the big picture" Omaha/Utah beach were the important battles - but you would think Canada's contribution deserved at least SOME screen time.

(heck they found time to give the "Free French" forces some screen time).

I know what you mean ...14,000 Canadians on D-Day is a LOT !!!

[konfusion666]

I watched Band of Brothers on Sunday on History Network...they had an all day marathon.

I only watched that about 2-3 wks ago, borrowed the DVD set off a friend.

Very well done. Although the best part is actually the real-life interviews with the characters of the series, shown before each episode.

[ronin893]

That was a war worth fighting.

BTW, Canadians also fought in the Pacific theatre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militar...g_World_War_II

[Crotchety Old Man]

If Harper remains in power long enough, we may unfortunately be able to match that number again, one day soon.

[mattpiloto]

I think a lot more people care than you think, although, unfortunately, maybe not enough remember. We quite literally owe our freedom and way of life to these people and the sacrifice they made. They literally went through hell. Those men are heroes.

[poedua]

If Harper remains in power long enough, we may unfortunately be able to match that number again, one day soon.

It would be interesting to note the public / Harper reaction if 1,017 Canadian soldiers died in 6 days fighting in Afgahanistan...just as 1,017 Canadian soldiers died in 6 days of fighting around D-Day.

Different enemy in 1944 I suppose.

[poedua]

I think a lot more people care than you think, although, unfortunately, maybe not enough remember. We quite literally owe our freedom and way of life to these people and the sacrifice they made. They literally went through hell. Those men are heroes.

I just think not too many kids actually know much about D-Day these days - apart from what they see in movies.

Although that opening scene in Saving Private Ryan does give kids a pretty good idea of how those 340 Canadian 18 year old kids ( and older ) died so bravely 62 years ago today - June 6, 1944.

unbeleivable really.....not sure I could have done it as an 18 year old...ride a landing craft knowing as you ride in toward the beach for an hour or so you may be dead in a matter of seconds after you hit the beach from a hail of bullets

[frugalman]

That was a war worth fighting.

BTW, Canadians also fought in the Pacific theatre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militar...g_World_War_II

canadians defended hong kong on christmas day