As we pause to mark the 82d Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion, it is important to understand what transpired on those early June days and nights of 1944, and why it is important today. There are very few remaining who participated in that operation, but what they accomplished forever changed the course of world history. Tens of thousands of Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen, in conjunction with our Allies conducted the largest amphibious and airborne operation in history. Their mission was to enter the continent of Europe and defeat Nazi Germany. America had five divisions in the initial assault: the 1st Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, 29th Infantry Division, 82d Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division. Many of the Soldiers of the 1st Division and 82d Airborne Division had already been bloodied in combat in North Africa and Italy. Most in the other divisions did not yet know the true face of combat.
The Soldiers in these divisions assaulted their objectives, but few had imagined the intense fire that awaited them at Omaha Beach, the perils of wading ashore at Utah Beach, or the confusion and missed dropped zones caused by German anti-aircraft fire. The weather was marginal, the surf unforgiving, the resolve of the combat hardened German defenders unshakable, and there was no guarantee of success. In fact the Allied Commander, General Eisenhower, had drafted his statement taking full responsibility for the failure of the operation.
The ensuing hours of unbelievable acts and heroism by incredible members of the Greatest Generation, who never considered themselves anything but ordinary, secured a tenuous toehold in France. It was the beginning of the end of the Third Reich. What those great Americans did the night of 5 JUN and the long day of 6 JUN is nearly impossible to comprehend, even for those who have been in combat. In that first 24 hour period, there were over 12,000 Allied casualties, including more than 4400 dead. Those are numbers that most of us have not seen in our lifetimes.
The actions during this operation set the standards for sacrifice and excellence that have motivated Service Members for the past 82 years. And true to that heritage, today’s Veterans are no less amazing or humble. They have deployed repeatedly to foreign lands to face an enemy that is intent on destroying our way of life. Our HFOT Veterans have suffered significant injuries defending our freedoms and independence in this current fight, but that has not diminished their resilience nor deterred their commitment to rebuilding their lives. You continue to play a significant role in HFOT’s efforts to Build Homes and assist these brave men and women to Rebuild their Lives, and for that, we at HFOT are eternally grateful.
Because of you, Homes For Our Troops is able to donate specially adapted custom homes to these brave men and women, providing them a fully accessible foundation on which to rebuild their lives. On June 6 of this year, Homes For Our Troops will be in Texas to donate its 439th specially adapted custom home to a severely injured Army Veteran, whose wife is also a wounded Army Veteran.
Thank you for helping us repay a debt to these amazing Americans that we can never fully repay.