Fought in Three Wars, WW II to Vietnam: Major General Salve H. Matheson (Vietnam Veterans Day 2022)

From Coffee or Die.

In honor of today being a much too late, much-ignored thank you to those who fought in Vietnam and came home to a country that didn't welcome them as they should have for the most part.

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

All my blogs but one will honor them today.

MAJOR GENERAL SALVE H. MATHESON

He participated in D-Day, liberation of Holland, Battle of the Bulge  and also helped seize Hitler's Eagle's Nest.

During the Korean War, he had instrumental involvement in the  amphibious landings at Inchon and Wonsan.

In Vietnam, he assumed command of the  1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division and participated in the Tet Offensive.

And, I notice his name is not on the list of names to pick from as the Confederate-named Army bases are renamed.

Five Places to Visit for Veterans Day-- Part 2: USS Constitution, Wright-Patterson AFB, National Museum of WW II

USS CONSTITUTION,  Boston.  The ship has the distinction of being  "the oldest commissioned warship in the world.  Launched in 1797.

Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" and defeated five British ships during the War of 1812.  Still manned by active duty U.S. Navy personnel and capable of sailing under her own power to this day.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Dayton

Houses the National Museum of the United States Air Force with nearly 400 aircraft, missiles, several Presidential Planes,

Artifacts dating from the Wright Brothers to creation of NASA.

D-DAY MUSEUM, New Orleans

Now called the National Museum of World War II.  "Dedicated to remembering the American Experience during the war that changed the world."

--Brock-Perry

AP Announces Allied Landings in Normandy

This was the first word to the rest of the world as to what had happened on June 6, 1944.

Wes Gallagher, AP General manager in London.  Word arrived at 9:32 a.m. and was sent out a minute later.

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (AP)

Allied troops landed on the Normandy coast in France in tremendous strength by cloudy daylight today and stormed several miles inland with tanks and infantry in the grand assault  which General Dwight D. Eisenhower called a crusade in which 'we will accept nothing less than full victory.' "

Just In Case D-Day Failed, Eisenhower Had a Prepared Statement

From Mental Floss.

General Eisenhower and his staff had prepared as much as they could for the invasion.  But, there is always the possibility that it might fail.  Just in case, Ike had these words:

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops.  My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available.  The troops, the air and the Navy did  all that bravery and devotion to duty could do.

"If any blame  or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

Sure Glad He Didn't Have to Read This One.  --Brock-Perry

Son of a Former President the Only General and Oldest to Storm Ashore In the First Wave D- Day: Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.

From Newsweek.

Among those  who landed at Normandy that day  were Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of the former president Theodore Roosevelt.

Also coming ashore was his son, Captain Quentin Roosevelt II.

At 56 years old, Theodore Roosevelt  was the oldest soldier and only general  in the first wave.  he and his son Quentin were also the only father-son pair in that wave.

Eisenhower's Words to the Men Attacking Normandy

From the June 6, 2018 Newsweek Magazine.

In his message to the Allied military, Eisenhower informed them that they were about to"embark upon a Great Crusade" and noted "the eyes of the world are upon you."

"The tide has turned!  The freemen of the world are marching together  to Victory!  I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle.  We will accept nothing less than full victory."

But, just in case things didn't turn out so well, he already had another message in case it failed.

Thankfully he didn't have to use it.

They Were There at Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944-- Part 2

Veteran Ray Wagner, 94, also spoke at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.  Wagner's Duck boat sank as his Army division landed on Omaha Beach during the D-Day assault.

Wagner, who grew up and still lives in Chicago, was hit in the knee by shrapnel and later received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

"I can only say that I am happy to be here.  I know a lot of people aren't.  If it wasn't for them, half of us wouldn't be either," he said.

They Were There At Omaha Beach-- Part 1

From the June 6, 2019, Chicago Tribune  "A Day Like No Other" by Ron Grossman.

Veteran Richard Rung, 94, spoke at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library on Wednesday.  Rung participated in the D-Day landing at Omaha Beach with the U.S. Navy and helped send ammunition supplies to the troops.

He spent two months in Europe and then served in the Pacific theater.  Rung grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., and now lives in Carol Stream.  "I am not only in history, but history is in me," he said.  "Omaha is not 75 years ago for me.  Periodically, it can be yesterday."

They Were There.

A Salute to D-Day: A Vanishing Generation

Continuing with today's Chicago Tribune article--  Part 3.  Part 1 was in today's Down da Road I Go blog and part 2 in today's Cooter's History Thing.

The War of 1812 was being fought 200 years ago today.  One hundred and thirty years ago, British, Canadian and American soldiers were also at war again, only this time fighting on the same side.

"About 15 million of the 16 million Americans who served in the war are now dead, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Each day, the government estimates, an additional 413 World War II veterans die.

Not so long ago, it seemed that most men of a certain age had served in World War II.  But there are only so many men in their late 80s or 90s, and that means there are only so many men like Rossetti who can speak firsthand about the war that freed Europe from Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

--Brock-Perry