Assault landing One of the first waves at Omaha Beach as photographed by Robert F. Sargent. The U.S. Coast Guard caption identifies the unit as Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.

“Men who have offered their lives for their country know that patriotism is not fear of something; it is the love of something.” Adlai Stevenson-1952 speech to American Legion

The Surge is not yet taken hold. Give it a chance to work. The QandO Blog links to the kind of nonsense General Petraeus is up against here in the states. Hat tip: The Mudville Gazette

The Surge of troops in Iraq is not yet in place and hasn’t been implemented fully, if at all. It is a change in the strategy and tactics of this war. In reality, it is an adaptation to defeat the tactics and strategy of our enemy. This has happened many times before in the history of war, the invasion of Normandy, being one such example.

On D-Day we utilized many innovative ideas. Diversions were accomplished by dolls floating down from the sky. In addition, the largest parachute operation up to that time was accomplished. Enemy communication lines far behind the front were disrupted by bombing raids and complete control of the air was achieved. These ideas were new at the time but have become great military lessons for wartime operations today.

There were, however, also failures. The Rangers attacked a dummy position and suffered a large amount of casualties for seemingly, very small gain. The invasion of Omaha Beach occurred as the Germans were practicing their defense for just such an invasion. The result was bloody Omaha.

New ideas and adapting strategy and tactics to an enemy is war! It does not work all the time! But the nation that wins will simply refuse to give up. On D-Day, after suffering horrendous casualties, our military and political leaders refused to admit defeat. The result was victory.

The Surge promises a new direction to combat the terror tactics of the enemy. In the early stages it seems to be working. This does not mean that it will win the war completely, nor can it be seen as a constant recipe for success. Just like D-Day, we must take the failures with the successes, and learn from them. Not how to quit, but how to persevere and win.

This is what our fathers and grandfathers did on the sixth of June, 1944. Perhaps we should ask those who laid on the beach at Normandy, seeing their brothers blown to pieces, if the price was too high to pay for the destruction of the Third Reich. Our generation must answer the question: What is the price for the destruction of Islamic terrorism and are we willing to pay it?

Another story, scarcely remembered, is the first fight of the 30th and 38th Regiments of the 3d Division in World War l. With the French in retreat, these regiments of the 3d Division held on.

Near Mézy, France, July 1918. Here the German Army made its last great attack of World War I. It struck in the Marne River area along the road to Paris, and the weight of the blow fell on the 30th and 38th U.S. Infantry Regiments of the 3d Division. This was their first fight. Firing in three directions, blasted by artillery fire, taking all flesh and blood could stand, the regiments held on doggedly and threw the enemy back across the Marne. This defense checked the Germans’ assault and made an Allied offensive possible. General Pershing called it “one of the most brilliant pages of our military annals.”

In Iraq, the greeting of the members of the 3d Division is, “Rock of the Marne.”

Today is the 63rd anniversary of D-Day. This day is fading into history but should be remembered by all Americans as the day many valiant American men gave their lives for freedom. Blackfive is remembering. So is Jules Crittenden.

Winston Churchill in his speech to the British House of Commons on June 6th, 1944.

There are already hopes that actual tactical surprise has been attained, and we hope to furnish the enemy with a succession of surprises during the course of the fighting. The battle that has now begun will grow constantly in scale and in intensity for many weeks to come, and I shall not attempt to speculate upon its course.

This I may say, however. Complete unity prevails throughout the Allied Armies. There is a brotherhood in arms between us and our friends of the United States. There is complete confidence in the supreme commander, General Eisenhower, and his lieutenants, and also in the commander of the Expeditionary Force, General Montgomery.

The ardour and spirit of the troops, as I saw myself, embarking in these last few days was splendid to witness. Nothing that equipment, science or forethought could do has been neglected, and the whole process of opening this great new front will be pursued with the utmost resolution both by the commanders and by the United States and British Governments whom they serve.

1944 was a Presidential election year and President Roosevelt was elected to his fourth and last term of office. It’s hard to imagine members of the Democrat Party distancing themselves from Roosevelt in a time of war as some Republican candidates are shamefully doing today with President Bush.

To the eternal shame of the British people, it happened to that great lion, Winston Churchill. While the war was still raging in the Pacific, the fickle British electorate turned out Churchill and his conservative party.

Michael Yon has a must-read post (with amazing photos) on his stay in the desert of Iraq with the British.

This guy has gone to fight the terrorists and will be back when the war is over.

Why is 2500 such an important number?

Hot Air is remembering.

UPDATE:
Some readers may be disturbed because I’ve included current events in this D-Day Remembrance post but, to me, the only way we can truly honor those who have given their all is to continue to strive to win the war on terror.

Republican candidates who continue to bash President Bush will not get my vote. Whether or not the Immigration Bill is vile (and I believe it to be terribly flawed and wrong) it comes off as petty and weak for the Republicans to bash the president as a method of attracting votes.

The Anchoress has written a very important article which attempts to reason with those who believe that President Bush has betrayed the right. It should be read.