No one cares this is the anniversary?

Albert-

I couldn't agree more.

These were truly the men who saved the world. No hyperbole there.

Everything we have come to love- and take for granted- would be nonexistent were it not for the sacrifice on D-Day 60 years ago. The 2,500 men we lost that day were of course only part of America's great sacrifice. US losses for WWII totaled about 400,000.

The men who survived the conflict returned home to perform yet another great feat. They set in motion the greatest economic prosperity our country has ever known, which all of us in some way benefitted from.

I think often that the greatest testament to the security and prosperity these men provided us is the fact that the vast majority of Americans can live day to day oblivious to how fragile our freedoms are.

Let's try to remember what they were fighting for. This fragile, imperfect idea we call the United States of America.

God Bless those who died and the families they left behind. We owe them more than we can ever repay.

There's absolutely no doubt that the Soviet Union fought with unbelievable tenacity and to great effect.

Unfortunately, Stalin chose to use victory to impose the nightmare that eastern Europe lived through until the fall of communism. The US on the other hand instituted the Marshall plan and facilitated the reconstruction of Europe.

What a contrast!

Albert- Great post.

I just returned today from a funeral in Virginia for my first wife's father. He died on Memorial Day at 79 years of age.

This man, John Horace Parrish, lied about his age and joined the Marine Corps at age 16. A year later, the guy was in the initial landing force at Tarawa and was wounded, receiving a Purple Heart at 17. He went on to work his way through the Pacific Theater.

John became a member of the US Navy's Underwater Demolition Training team 2- which later evolved into the US Navy Seals. John was one of the first men to be priviliged to work with the new SCUBA gear, and was later a certified Deep-Sea Diver for the USN. He finished out his career as a USN Seal Trainer.

John spoke very little about the war in the Pacific- except to say that:

1. It was beyond anyone's comprehension without being there

2. Japanese Imperial Marines were to be greatly feared!

3. US Marines quickly learned to love flame-throwers, and used them until their arms were blistered with burns.

4. Americans should never forget the sacrifice of those Pacific warriors.

Here's to the memory of John Horace Parrish.