June 6, 2014, Today in the US, we look back on an event in WW2, remembered as D Day.

Here is the original historic dispatch from Associated Press.

CNN brings us a fantastic retrospective on D Day in this Op Ed history based feature

If you were a young American, British or Canadian soldier landing on the shores of France on June 6 1944, chances are you went into a very well defended series of kill zones in an early variant of an AAV. You can read a bit on the history of the LVT craft here.

Or you jumped in.

Today, maybe have a little think about what these men experienced, as doors slammed open and they waded into what would be a maelstrom of metal and explosions. Maybe place yourself, in your mind’s eye, into that Historic moment, which would cull a large percentage of your brothers, and possibly you.

Or ponder what it would be like dropping in suspended by silk, a simple target for anyone with  a week’s training in marksmanship, let alone a hardened soldier.

Your life really was in God’s hands. Or was it? War is hell. As a Nation, we underscore that fact repeatedly,  with the stories of each one of our Veterans, who ever deign to share their experiences with us. I always count it an honor when one sits me down and tells me things only he or she could know. We all should.

Here is a fantastic collection of images of D Day. Our History is special, because it is simply that: ours.

I saw that Shawn was off training with the guys again this week, having just returned from leading a USCG course in Juneau Alaska. Coincidentally, I had just re processed this character portrait of her during 1st Recon training, and that was what she was up to again this week. Busy lady, Her service activity level is beyond anything I have ever seen.

Though she looks pretty tough here, she really cannot arm wrestle worth a damn.

Though it is an honor to serve, the service must go both ways, or our Nation will wind up as a footnote in History not unlike that of Rome.

Why those responsible for the disaster that is the care of our people through the VA, must be held to a high accounting.

And why  honoring the memory of the sacrifices of D Day should mean so much for us all here today.