loaderXI Posted February 5, 2016 Member ID: 252 Group: +++ COD2 Head Admin Followers: 71 Topic Count: 392 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 6418 Content Per Day: 1.20 Reputation: 6495 Achievement Points: 54343 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 30 Joined: 09/05/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: Monday at 06:32 PM Birthday: 03/22/1965 Device: Windows Share Posted February 5, 2016 June 6th, 1944, known as D-Day, was a historic day for France. Almost exactly four years from the date of the Nazi invasion of their country the French people were about to be liberated by an Allied forces combined naval, land and airborne assault on five Normandy beaches. Operation Overlord, as the operation was codenamed, had been planned in great detail. During the first half of 1944, almost 9 million tons of logistical supplies had arrived in Britain from America. Almost two million troops from America, Canada, and other countries had poured into the United Kingdom throughout late 1943 and early 1944. By late May 1944, the stage was set for what would be the biggest combined forces operation in history. Overlord was divided into two main operational phases. In the early hours of 6th June, an airborne assault force of more than 18,000 Allied paratroopers was dropped into territory just behind the beaches. Their primary purpose was to provide support for the 132,000 strong seaborne invasion force – men who would disembark from landing craft, directly onto the five beaches. Almost 7000 vessels were involved in the operation, from Battleships and destroyers to escort ships. Naval ships would bombard Nazi coastal defence positions. One of the British Army officers who took part in the airborne assault was Eric Woodman, commanding the 7th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Woodman and his men landed by parachute to support the glider-borne, coup-de-main force that had captured the bridges across the Orne River and the Caen Canal. Eric Woodman was just 23 years old when he led his men against German tanks and heavy artillery that night. The battalion had been spread over a wide area on landing, and was unable to fully reassemble in time – only half of the men had reached their assembly points and with few supplies retrieved, when they came under heavy fire. The fight went badly, and by nightfall that day, Woodman was the only surviving officer. Eric Woodman’s distinguished army career continued until the end of the war and beyond. All through WWII he served with the 7th Para battalion, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 to 1945 and, in March 1945, assault crossing of the Rhine he was dropped behind enemy lines. He was awarded a Military Cross for his actions before and on D-Day, and later, in Palestine and the Dutch East Indies. He also served on the British Army staff in Washington DC, finally retiring in 1975. Colonel Woodman died on January 14th, 2016 aged 94. Rest in Peace Great Warrior .... Sonovabich, Mule, JohnnyDos and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Sonovabich Posted February 5, 2016 Member ID: 82 Group: ** Registered Users Followers: 0 Topic Count: 1534 Topics Per Day: 0.29 Content Count: 5020 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 5171 Achievement Points: 131490 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 116 Joined: 09/02/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: Friday at 07:41 AM Device: Windows Share Posted February 5, 2016 Thanks for posting that Loader Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mule Posted February 5, 2016 Member ID: 390 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 32 Topic Count: 410 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 4251 Content Per Day: 0.80 Reputation: 3050 Achievement Points: 35625 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 7 Joined: 09/14/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 25 Birthday: 05/08/1959 Device: Windows Share Posted February 5, 2016 Nice post thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
codpiece Posted February 6, 2016 Member ID: 5470 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 52 Topic Count: 371 Topics Per Day: 0.09 Content Count: 2482 Content Per Day: 0.60 Reputation: 3552 Achievement Points: 22894 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 7 Joined: 02/04/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: Tuesday at 05:32 PM Birthday: 09/17/1968 Device: Windows Share Posted February 6, 2016 He's a stud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
little_old_man Posted February 6, 2016 Member ID: 1194 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 40 Topic Count: 436 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 6692 Content Per Day: 1.29 Reputation: 11691 Achievement Points: 53094 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 76 Joined: 02/27/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 16, 2023 Birthday: 04/15/1960 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Great post Loader. The greatist generation is quickly vanishing. If you happen to meet one in person take the time to talk to him. loaderXI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
ROOKIE Posted February 10, 2016 Member ID: 1405 Group: ***- Inactive Clan Members Followers: 29 Topic Count: 4 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 27 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 17 Achievement Points: 269 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 05/11/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 3, 2017 Birthday: 10/19/1965 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Thanks for posting this! Soon. TOO SOON, there will be no living veterans of WWII! I Stress the importance of knowing, honoring, celebrating and thanking veterans to my children and they get it! "Airborne, All The Way!!!" loaderXI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
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