'Tonight, is the night, of nights!'

[HetzersGonnaHetz]

'Soldiers of the Regiment, Tonight, is the night, of nights!'
Colonel Sink, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne.
Tonight, 72 years ago, approximately 13,000 US and 8,000 British Paratroopers would land in Normandy, to carry out impossible tasks for the normal man. These men knew Normandy, without ever being there, they overpowered, surprised, and weakened the German forces in the area of Normandy, so the troops landing the following morning could take a foothold in the Normandy coast. The British 6th Airborne would land at Pegasus Bridge, the first place to be liberated in France, whereas the 101st Airborne and the 82nd Airborne would land in areas such as Saint Mare Eglise and Saint Come du Mont. However, due to a piece of German Equipment called 'Rommel's Asparagus' many gliders and their men were killed once hitting the ground, tearing the glider to pieces. And for the Airborne, C-47 paratrooper drops scattered men all over Normandy, so Landing Zones would be missed. German Forces in the area also flooded the Normandy fields, this led to Airborne troops landing in the water and drowning. In saying this, the troops fought on, detached from the main body of men, some losing their weapons in the drop, due to the infamous leg bag, accomplishing their orders all the same. A perfect example of this was the attack on the German positions at Brecourt Manor on the morning of the 6th June, led by Richard Winters. Words cannot describe how well it was carried out, but the famous series 'Band of Brothers' can. Without men like this, our lives would be very different, the 101st would go on to fight in Operation Market Garden, liberating Eindhoven, but having to let it go due to overwhelming German Forces and badly planned missions by top brass, afterwards fighting in the Battle of the Ardennes, holding the line along with the 82nd, and taking the village of Foy.

Thank you for your service you brave men, who not many are left.
https://youtu.be/aCo6Dh08ayQ
https://youtu.be/UtG5KnKLH1o

[Gunny Hartmann]

Good post!...

[HetzersGonnaHetz]

Cheers Gunny! Thought I'd honour them, I was praying I did t get any info wrong.