D Day: 75th anniversary of the turning point in World War II

Today marks the 75^th Anniversary of D Day. The Normandy Invasion in which Allied forces stormed the beach and began the turning of the tide of World War II. I heard on the news last month that most students in America do not know or have never heard of D Day. The idea that younger generations do not know this important piece of history deeply saddens me. While it is impossible to know every event in history, there are certain events that everyone should know and remember. D Day is definitely one of those events. Also known as Operation Overlord, the Allied Invasion of Normandy would be the largest seaborne invasion in history and began the liberation of German-occupied France and later the rest of Europe. While there is so much details surrounding the events leading to and including D Day, I will focus on the main facts. The film, Saving Private Ryan (1998), features the invasion with great detail. The D Day War Memorial has been dedicated to the efforts of the Allied forces and their role in the push to victory.

The original date for the invasion was June 5, 1944. Due to bad weather, it was delayed for the next day. Dawn on June 6, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines securing bridges and exit roads. The amphibious invasion began at 6:30 am. Strong winds blew many of the landing crafts off course and the men landed under heavy fire from the cliffs above as well as mine and other obstacles on the beach. The invasion target 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast. Divided up into 5 sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture the Gold, Juno and Sword beaches as well as Americans at Utah beach. However, Americans at Omaha beach faced the most resistance, resulting in the heaviest casualties. Only two beaches, Juno and Gold, were linked on the first day. By June 12, all five beaches were linked. And the push toward inland began.

The first 27 minutes of Saving Private Ryan depicts the intensity of the fighting of the Omaha Beach assault. Director Steven Spielberg wanted historical representation of the D Day events. The details seen in the film are very close to the historical record. There were many stories during its theatrical run of theaters needed to stop the film to allow viewers to collect themselves as the intensity of the opening scenes were too much. Many WWII vets stated that the film was the most realistic depiction of combat they had seen in a movie (Basinger, 1998). It was so realistic that combat vets of D-Day and the Vietnam left the theaters after watching the opening scenes and refused to watch the rest of the film. Vets visits to posttraumatic stress disorder counselors rose after the film’s release and many counselors advised the most psychological vulnerable veterans to avoid watching the film (Halton, 1998). According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, a nationwide hotline was set up for veterans who were affected by the film and within two weeks of its release, there were over 170 calls (McCray, 1998). Saving Private Ryan was inspired by the story of the Niland brothers from Tonawanda, New York. Frederick “Fritz” Niland (1920-1983) was a sergeant in the 501^st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101^st Airborne. He lost two of his brothers, Preston (1915-1944) and Robert (1919-1944), who were killed in action in the Normandy Invasion. A third brother, Edward (1912-1984) was originally believed to be killed in action but later was discovered in a Japanese POW camp in Burma.

The National D Day Memorial, in Bedford, Virginia, was dedicated on June 6, 2001 by President George W. Bush. According to the foundation which operates the memorial, the memorial is “In tribute to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of Allied Forces on D Day June 6, 1944” (National D Day Memorial). The memorial receives an average of 60,000 visitors a year. “At its center stands a monumental forty-four foot tall arch, embellished by the military name, “Overlord,” that was given to the crucial operation. The arch is highlighted by a reflecting pool that surrounds a captivating scene that is symbolic of the arduous trudge soldiers made onto the blood stained beaches of Normandy, France” (National D Day Memorial). The site of Bedford was chosen in memory of the Bedford Boys. Thirty-four Virginia National Guard soldiers from the town were part of the invasion. Nineteen would be killed during the first day and 4 more would be killed during the rest of the campaign. I visited the memorial in 2003 and it was a powerful experience. When I was there, there weren’t many people walking around, so the quiet stillness added to the solemnness of the memorial. I was taken on a tour of the memorial by a volunteer veteran who explained the significance of the various statues and displays. I highly recommend visiting the memorial if you ever travel to the area.

In conclusion, D Day is an important event to remember, not just for its historical significance in World War II, but for the men who fought on that day, those who died on those beaches, and those who survived to tell their stories. Saving Private Ryan gives us as accurate depiction of the battle as possible. Even after watching the film many times since its release, the opening 27 minutes still has an emotional impact. The National D Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia is a site many need to visit.

References

Basinger, Jeanine (October 1998). "Translating War: The Combat Film Genre and Saving Private Ryan". Perspectives, the Newsmagazine of the American Historical Association.

Halton, Beau (August 15, 1998). "'Saving Private Ryan' is too real for some". The Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, Florida. Retrieved June 2, 2019.

McCrary, Lacy (August 6, 1998). "Watching `Private Ryan,' Veterans Relive The Horrors Years From Omaha Beach, Pain Lingers". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved June 2, 2019.

National D Day Memorial. www.dday.org. Retrieved June 2, 2019.