Happy D-Day!

[superjames1992]

The largest amphibious assault in world history happened on this day 66 years ago. The crazy thing is that Y-Day and the 1946 invasion of Honshu would have dwarfed D-Day in size. Thank God for the atomic bomb.

[ProjectRipCity]

Quote: Originally Posted by superjames1992

The largest amphibious assault in world history happened on this day 66 years ago. The crazy thing is that Y-Day and the 1946 invasion of Honshu would have dwarfed D-Day in size. Thank God for the atomic bomb.

If only political debates were allowed.

[superjames1992]

Quote: Originally Posted by ProjectRipCity

If only political debates were allowed.

Well, I've seen estimates that the US would have suffered 1,000,000 casualities in the invasion of Japan and and millions of Japanese would have died, so I'd say that it worked out well for both parties in that instance. It sucks for the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, but it's a better tradeoff than the alternative.

The atomic bomb is the only thing that kept Operation Downfall from starting on November 1, 1945 and Olympic and Coronet (the two invasions) would have been likely been bloodbaths as Iwo Jima and Okinawa were.

[Cusefan]

Quote: Originally Posted by superjames1992

Well, I've seen estimates that the US would have suffered 1,000,000 casualities in the invasion of Japan and and millions of Japanese would have died, so I'd say that it worked out well for both parties in that instance. It sucks for the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, but it's a better tradeoff than the alternative.

Absolutely, We def. opened Pandora's box dropping the bomb but it saved millions of lives. We also found out the devastating power of the Atomic bomb when dropped on a city. The good part of dropping them on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is that those cities were mid sized and it only killed hundreds of thousands rather than Millions. If the US really wanted to kill as many Japanese as Possible they would have dropped it on Tokyo,Osaka, or Yokohama. Flash Toward 20 years to the Cuban Missile crises, without the knowledge of the Devastation of the Atomic bomb, maybe the US and USSR go to Nuclear War?

Either way, Thank god for everyone involved in D-Day. I simply cannot imagine what those soldiers in the landing boats were thinking as they were landing on the beaches of Normandy. I suppose the only way to get through it is realize that you will die and just try and accomplish as much of your mission as possible before you meet your fate.

[RAZRr1275]

Quote: Originally Posted by superjames1992

Well, I've seen estimates that the US would have suffered 1,000,000 casualities in the invasion of Japan and and millions of Japanese would have died, so I'd say that it worked out well for both parties in that instance. It sucks for the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, but it's a better tradeoff than the alternative. The atomic bomb is the only thing that kept Operation Downfall from starting on November 1, 1945 and Olympic and Coronet (the two invasions) would have been likely been bloodbaths as Iwo Jima and Okinawa were.

That's debatable.

but regardless RIP to those who lost their lives today

[Chip Douglass]

Quote: Originally Posted by superjames1992

Thank God for the atomic bomb.

A few of my distant relatives who perished in the atomic bombings strongly disagree.

My grandfather was there providing air support on D-Day, so on a lighter note, happy D-Day!

[Speedy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cusefan

I simply cannot imagine what those soldiers in the landing boats were thinking as they were landing on the beaches of Normandy. I suppose the only way to get through it is realize that you will die and just try and accomplish as much of your mission as possible before you meet your fate.

Tremendous thought, Cuse, to know death is seemingly inevitable but still have enough will power and patriotism to carry on the objective. The men/women of the armed forces truly don't get enough respect/honor as they should. It's amazing to think professional sports players (such as Ted Williams) left thousands of dollars to serve and protect this country. Now a days, that sort of action would be unheard of and deemed moronic by society.

[NoDakHusker]

Quote: Originally Posted by RAZRr1275

That's debatable. but regardless RIP to those who lost their lives today

Hardly. The Japanese were not going to give up. We would have been caught up in an endless blood bath with the Japanese, and many, many more Americans and Japanese would have lost their lives. (in comparison to lives lost in the dropping of the bombs)
Dropping the nukes was the silver bullet.

But anyway, that's opening a can of worms that we don't want to get into.
I am thankful to those who served and to all those who gave up their lives for the well being of our nation.