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June 6, 2022 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary held a D-Day remembrance ceremony, on its 78th Anniversary, at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial beside the Historic 1885 Courthouse on June 6, 2022.
Kenneth Ramsey, Post Chaplain, gave the opening invocation and Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, led the program.
"D-Day was a turning point, June 6, 1944, in World War II and it saw the start of the largest air and sea operation in military history," said Hume. "On December 6 of 1943, President Roosevelt appointed General Dwight D. Eisenhower as commander of the cross channel operation."
Hume then played Eisenhower's preinvasion address for all to hear. After the audio finished, he described 156,000 troops were landed by the Allies, of which 73,000 were Americans.
"It's hard to conceive the epic scope of this battle that foreshadowed the end of Hitler's dream of Nazi domination," said Hume. "Overlord was the largest air, land and sea operation taken before or since June 6, 1944."
The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes and over 150,000 servicemen.
"After years of planning and seemingly endless training for the Allied forces, it all came down to this," said Hume.
Hume wanted everyone to imagine they were in one of those LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) going towards the shore, feel the vessel hit the bottom, the boat ramp going down. Then having to jump, swim, run, crawl through the cliffs. Many of those whoe were going to shore were not even 20 years old yet as they entered the surf carrying 80 pounds of equipment while facing over 200 yards of beach before reaching the first natural feature offering any protection to them.
"Blanketed by small arm fire and bracketed by artillary, they found themselves in hell," said Hume. "When it was over, the Allied forces had suffered nearly 10,000 casualties and more than 4,000 were dead; yet somhow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor and sacrifice of the Allied forces Europe had been breached."
There is no official tally of casualties for D-Day, but it's estimated at 10,000. U.S. Forces lost over 6,600 men.
Those present for the event read the following names aloud:
- Nolan Anderson, 507 Parachute Infantry, KIA June 12, 1944
- Richard D. Bray, 315 Infantry Regiment, Utah Beach, KIA July 11, 1944
- Maron L. Brittain, US Army, Normandy, Wounded
- Fred D. Dry, 1 Infantry Division, Omaha Beach BSM (Valor)
- Hulen M. Hardage, 117 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, June 11, 1944, KIA August 22, 1944
- John R. Jackson, 90 Infantry Division, Utah Beach June 6, Wounded in action June 10
- James R. Kirkland, 401 Glider Infantry, Jumped D-Day, KIA September 30, 1944
- Charles L. Mims, 1st Army, D-Day, Normandy
- Marlin D. Manshack, 117 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach June 11, 1944 BSM, PH
- John W. Minter, 9 Infantry Regiment, Utah Beach, KIA July 9, 1944
- Arlen R. Rhame, 67 Armor Regiment, Omaha Beach, June 11, 1944, KIA July 28, 1944
- Pershing Pate, 38 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, KIA June 8, 1944
- Jack T. Powell, 358 Infantry Regiment, D-Day, Utah Beach, KIA July 6, 1944
- Sidney E. Watson, 117 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, June 11, 1944, KIA August 22, 1944
- E.C. White, 507 Parachute Infantry, Jumped D-Day, Wounded, Died in accident July 4, 1944
Gerald Spradlin, District 19 President-Elect from the Lufkin Post, then laid a memorial wreath upon the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
Taps was then played, as presented by Gene Hutto, Post Commander.
During the program, Hume shared with everyone the passing of Post Life Member Webb Bates who passed away in Nacogdoches June 5. He was 74 and an Army Vietnam Veteran having served from December 1967 to December 1969.
