Saving Private Ryan - Omaha Beach
None of us can really imagine the horror of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Almost six thousand men died securing the beachhead over the first four days. But by the end of that first day- often called by historians "the day of days" 34,000 Americans led by General Omar Bradley had landed.
There would be no turning back. Fortress Europe was breached. The Americans had landed to free a continent.
Again.
We'd done it once before. Now we were back. Ten months later the war in Europe would be over. But between June 1944 and April 1945 there would be many bloody battles, including the Ardennes Forest on Christmas 1944 when paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, most without winter clothing, marched toward the German army while regular GIs fled in panic.
There's one simple reason why we can practice law, defend our clients, go to Heat games, worship with the religion of our choice, live our lives as we chose, raise our families as we see fit:
Because a generation of Americans- hundreds of thousands of them, many of them boys off farms from small towns, answered the call. Remember them today as they rest at Normandy.
There are 124,905 americans buried in American burial grounds in foreign lands. There's no other country in the world that can come close to matching that total of sacrifice. You can find a name here.
And don't forget to say thank you.
We're back. See you in court.
This post brought tears to my eye. Very moving Rumpole.
ReplyDeleteWhen you write like this I get weak in my knees and spend my day thinking about you and maybe me.
ReplyDeleteIf you have never been to the cemetary at Normandy, consider it a pilgrimage you should make before you are in a cemetary yourself. I was there about 10 years ago, and I was awestruck by not only the sheer number of those buried there, but when you look at the markers, you are devastated by the ages of those who lie there. I did not even know any of them, yet thinking of my son who has served and continues to serve, their deaths brought me to tears.
ReplyDeleteMany were teenagers who never had the chance to go home, meet the girl of their dreams, build a life, have children and grow old with the sense of satisfaction they saved the world. We owe so much to them and those who did come home.
All you have to do is walk down to the beach and look back up, imagine barbed wire, tank obstructions and 50 cal. machine guns firing down on them to be able to appreciate the enormity of what they did.
The sense of duty and self-sacrifice they felt during the war, carried over to their lives afterwards. They felt that was good for the country was good for them and those they loved. It was not what was good for them was good for them, I am out for me.
That generation is almost gone. Those of us who are known as the "Baby Boomers" are their legacy. The question is: Have we betrayed them? Each of us must answer for themselves.
JDS
Rump- It was all hands on deck this morning at the PDS office. Muffin man (ironically running around with a bagel and cup of coffee in his hand) storming up and down the hallways shouting orders to assistants: "get so and so on the phone NOW" "Are they done with arraignments in Miranda? I need to know NOW?" "Whose in bond hearings dammit?? Get them on the line NOW!!!"
ReplyDeleteTotal chaos. Total commotion and as quickly as the storm arose the whirlwind disappeared behind closed doors. Carlos- back from his cruise- was nowhere to be seen.
Something's up rump. Just not sure what.
Will keep you in the loop.
ReplyDelete69 years. Heroes all. Nice post. But just a bit surprising that you would post this given your comment last week to another that posted on Memorial Day whose family had members that fought in that war. Didn't you criticize that person for posting and challenge them that unless they wore the uniform that they were just a little over the top patriotic. Now it sounds like that would be a better description of you.
I booked a trip to visit these places and look forward to bringing my family and explaining to my children the sacrifices that were made by these brave young men and women.
Another six felony attorneys are leaving the PDs this month -- As and Bs all.
ReplyDeleteDidnt they used to pick As from among lawyers who spent years in the pits? That luxury is gone.
who in the PDs office is referred to as "Muffin Man?"
ReplyDeleteToo bad it's not Carlos or Rory. The Miami PD needs new blood.
ReplyDeleteThe verbal outbursts from most supervisors in front of others are not good for the already low morale in the office.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking the Heat Rumpole. They should take this thing in six or seven games.
What say you on the series. You have been called out a few times and we have not heard your prediction. We know how much love you have for the players and the fans, but what say you on the winner of this series.
Heat Fan
Can I get a Shumie on this rain?
ReplyDeleteIm sitting in f'ing traffic because the idiots in this town cannot drive when they see a drop of rain. So hell yes, I'll give you a shumie for the rain. Anything to get home before 9 pm.
ReplyDeleteMuffin man muffin man muffin man muffin man.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle died at Normandy so that I can be free. Every year at this time I think about the uncle who died before I was born and how much I would have liked to have known him.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how he would have felt about having to show an ID just to get into a very public federal courthouse?
Nice post. While recognizing the ultimate sacrifice of many of our men, let's not ignore a truth that no one likes to talk about. Had it not been for the Russian army, we would never have stood a chance against the Germans. What happened on D Day was a sideshow compared to the suffering on the eastern front.
ReplyDeleteIs there a list of all the potential jurors in the jury pool on any given day? If so when is it furnished?
ReplyDeleteKnow the Muffin, Fear the Muffin.
ReplyDeleteMore Germans than that number were lost invading Russia, and Russia returned the favor by having more of its soldiers die in Germany in 1945.
ReplyDeleteBut I do get your point -- even if you are wrong.
Rumpole, occasionally you do some real good. When I was in New England last month visiting my mother, who is 88 years old, she was telling me about her older brother who died over Europe in January 1944 when his plane was shot down. Your posting of the link to abmc.gov gave me a start in looking up info about my mother's brother. With a little further sleuthing, I was able to find a story about his final mission, and even a picture of his headstone at Ardennes. Now, thanks to your post, I will be able to show my mom a picture of her brother's final resting spot when I head up north to see her again next month. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteNice to have you back, when you go we do miss you a lot, does of us used to read your post every night before going to sleep. But we can not disregard that the Captain keeps the front well protected. It was really moving to read your Post of those that gave their young live for us, for this country, I never read such a heart felt explanation, Thank you .
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