Live from Utah Beaxh its EXLRRP!!!
 

Well here I am, about 50 yds from Utah Beach
I took the train out to Caen day before yesterday, rented a car and drove along the Normandy Coast, from Pegasus Bridge west past all the beaches. Ben takng plenty of pictures, some of which I'll be posting when I get back next wek
This has been one of the most moving experiences of my life ( I know I always say that but this time I mean it)
Walked the entire length of Omaha beach yesterday and I think evry Army veteran should come see this. Ive reqd q lot about it, saw movies about it but you just don't realise how huge an undertaking this was untill you seee this. It was certainly THE defining battle of the 20th Century for the US Army. I also visited the British and Ca nadian beaches--sword, Juno, Queen; etc.
Got up this AM and Walked out to Point Du Hoche, the cliffs the Rzangers scaled to knock out the battery (which later turned out to have been moved)
I just came from the Airborne Museum at St Mere Eglise, it id spectacular
But the mosy moving thing I did so far was to go to the American ce,etery overlooking Omaha. You saw it in Saving Private Ryan. It choked me up and I wrote these words down then to exprss my sentiments. I call it :

Fields of Stone

" Lines of crosses in a row,
Hard as rock and cold as snow
And every cross a story tells
of a shortened life and a day of hell
Stories of honor and duty done
And a life too short for every one
Here I stand above their graves
Thingin of the lives they gave
And I feel grateful once again
Protected by these mighty men
Now I can only look with awe
On the battlefield that they saw
And now I'm standing here alone
Surrounded by these fields of Stone
And though my day has just begun
I'm saluting crosses one by one
Snow white crosses in a row
In a Norman field, where the flowers grow."

What a sacrifice. Theres nothing I ever did outside my fa,ily that I am prouder of than being a parattrooper

I been getting lots ofsouvenirs from all these places,if you want one PM me your address '(Dave E. you especially) I got shirts, hats, refr magnets, etc but what I got I would value the most is shells and rocks from Omaha beach.
The price for any of these souvenirs is whatever I send you-- a hat, shirt or whtever, I want the same thing back from your area. send it to the return address on the package

gotta go now

James

JAMES
 

This is probably the one part of your trip that I've envied the most. I, too, have read some of the books and grew up on the movies about these places and men. Especially the Airborne units. I fantasized at an early age about being a paratrooper. Like you, next to my kids, becoming a paratrooper has been the one accomplishment of my life that I've been most proud of, and the inspiration to do so came from those men you visited in the "Fields Of Stones" this morning.

PLEEESSE get me a tee shirt or hat from the Airborne Museum [XXL on the shirt]. I don't know if you'll see this request in time. I hope so. I'm looking forward to seeing you and the pictures when you get back. Kath and I are flying out the evening of the 6th to go stay with Packo and Deb for a few days, So will catch up with you on the way back. By then you should be over the jet lag and have the pictures printed up.

PROUD TO BE A PARATROOPER, AND CALL YOU "MY FRIEND."

AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!!!

James
 

Your heartfelt tribute to our fallen heroes brought a flurry of tears to this old soldier`s eyes this morning.You have walked on hallowed groung,for sure.

Wed. Night on the History Channel:The History of the Sreaming Eagles.

James :

Well Done. Take care.

Larry

James well done , Sid's son jumped with the 50th jump anniverisity

Re: JAMES
 

Tom---Too late!! I already did!!! You know I wouldnt go there and not get you something. I'm getting on a Freedom Bird and getting back to The World (Where does he come up with this shit??) on the 5th--any chance I can cruise by your house that evening and drop stuff off?? I got stuff for Packo too and our friend Dan and you can drop them off saving me some postage. I'll try and burn a CD with at least the picturs of Normandy for you guys

Griz John and Larry--make sure you send me your addresses I got stuff for all of you-- you too Andy and Dave E!! If your name does not appear here; don't be shy, I got plenty of stuff--again like after the Vietnam trip--don't matter whats been said before if you would value this, It would be an honr to send it to you

Ill be posting the pictures when I get back

James

Psycovets and Patriotfiles buy Omaha Beach a beer
 

I actually did this: Bought a beer and poured it out on the beach for Psycovets and Patriotfiles. Hope this doesnt upset my fellow friends of Bill W but I did not drink it, just poured it out on the ground in honor of all the guys who were scared shitless and still got the job done, the ol lrrp knows just how you feel
This Buds for YOU (actually a Heinie, hope that wasnt a bad thing)
I'll post the pictures when I get back

James

Re: James
 

I was crying like a baby when I wrote it. It seemed like the right thing to do; I wrote it down almost exactly as it came to me, only changed one line

Aint it nice to see we still got the ability to do it? maybe the war is finally over for us

John: I am considering coming back for the 60th anniv next year and doing the same

Hope its good where you are

Can't Help but shed a tear.
 

I have always wanted to visit those Beaches. Thanks friend!


Keith

P.S. I still love ya James.

James,...
 

...You have traveled far, and wide now,...

...Your tribute, and rememberence of our past's fallen warriors shall travel further they we will ever know,...

...Be well,...

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...I'll take a coffee in 7 3/8,... :D ,...

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