This week’s blog is dedicated to the thousands of young men who set aside their fear and homesickness to finally make a foot-hold onto European soil. After five years of terror by a madman, on June 6, 1944, the allies finally initiated the long awaited invasion D-Day. This was the first day most of the people of Europe truly celebrated since Hitler began his horrible rein over most of a continent and into Africa. The day immortalized in such movies as Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day. D-Day which, hopefully, 90% of the baby boomer generation immediately call to mind heroic acts, and the horrible slaughter of thousands of young men on beaches far-away from their farms, schools and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, many European countries led by Americans, British, and Canadians. Strategic plans for the invasion were deliberated for almost 18 months to better assure victory for the Allies. We know that Eisenhower, Bradley, Montgomery, Leigh-Mallory and other generals and admirals were the brains for the invasion. However, I had never thought of how much tedious work was done so the most specific aspects of the five beaches of Normandy would be known. This was done to give the men coming ashore a better chance of survival. In her book The Sea Before Us, Sarah Sundin recounts the detailed work of British Wrens in painstakingly assembling vital information. As always, her much researched novel provides a different, mostly unknown look at the War in a compelling manner.  The book also details some of the drills and preparations of thousands of soldiers that were taking place in Great Britain. At 6:30 in the morning of June 6th, the assault began, and many died in floundering boats before reaching shore. For over a year, young men who had never seen action trained in England. Many were part of the 29th Division that would be in the first landing vessels because the generals knew they would be enthusiastic and also naïve as to the reality of battle. All were soaking wet from the waves splattering their crafts during the long night crossing the channel in secrecy. Hundreds were so sea-sick they thought they were dying without a shot being fired.  At 6:30 in the morning of June 6th, the assault began, and many died in floundering boats before reaching shore. Many more died as the landing craft ramps lowered and they were hit by German artillery. The young men who made it to shore expected to be able to take cover in craters created by allied bombing just for this purpose. Because pilots feared hitting the approaching landing craft, they failed to drop the bombs on the beach. Those who made it through the water faced wide-open space with no protection. The hamlet of Bedford, Virginia (3,200 people in 1942) has the unfortunate distinction of contributing the most young men from one town in the first minutes and hours on Omaha Beach. 19 of their beloved boys were killed on that day. Forming Company A,…