[June 6, 2026] A dozen years ago, I wrote about the most famous battle in the history of the Western world. The article got zero comments, only a handful of views, and seemed to go down as a flop. Now, I’m resurrecting it for today, as we remember the landing that day, D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Operation Overlord was the codename used for the invasion1 of German-occupied France. Today’s anniversary of those landings allows us to look back at a time that was very different when compared to our world today. However, we can see similarities across history that evil is not always recognized early for what it will do if not stopped soon enough.
As part of the overall invasion plan, the Normandy landings themselves (codenamed Operation Neptune) led to the restoration of the French Republic and were a major contributor to Allied victory in the war.
Prior to the Normandy landings, several things occurred months in advance of D-Day:
- A massive planning and logistical effort.
- A secretive military deception plan was executed (codenamed Operation Bodyguard).
- A fake radio traffic network designed to mislead the Germans (codenamed Operation Fortitude).
- Creation of a fictitious U.S. Army Group under General Patton.
- Aggressive French Resistance focusing on sabotaging key German-held infrastructure.
- A strategic bombing effort that hit key communication and transportation centers.
Immediately preceding the assault, a massive naval and aerial bombardment and an airborne assault inland were conducted. These were designed to destroy German fortifications, hold key transportation nodes (e.g., bridges, road junctions, airfields), and slow down German reinforcements.
The biggest problem however, after everything was ready, was the weather. Here is where guts, luck, and fortitude came into play when General Eisenhower made the decision to postpone the operation from June 5 to the next day, June 6.
The landings were split into zones of responsibility designed of course to reduce confusion. There were five beaches: Utah and Omaha (American zone) as well as Gold, Juno, and Sword (British and Canadian zones). While D-Day, the first day of the landing did not accomplish all its objectives, the overall operation was a success and casualties, while high, were not as bad as it could have been.
The world is fortunate that the leadership needed at a time of global crisis was able to step forward and make the decisions necessary to win the war against evil. For the soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and civilians of the U.S. military, we owe those heroes a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. For our allies in the fight against evil, we owe them more than history has ordained.
NOTE: Websites to learn about D-Day, June 6, 1944:
- http://www.army.mil/d-day/
- http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day
- http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0206/feature/
- http://www.dday.org/
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/sfeature/sf_info.html
- http://www.normandy1944.info/
- http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ratpit1/
- http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/index.htm
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- The invasion was designed to open a third front in the war in the European Theater; splitting the Axis enemy forces by making them fight in different directions. The other two were the Eastern Front (Russia) and the North African Campaign. Throughout most of the war, there had been a continuous and often acrimonious debate among the Allies as to how best to apply the limited friendly combat forces available. The war in the Pacific was also underway against Japan. Thus, the landings in France came with not just a risk of failure of the war effort against German and Italy but was conducted at a time where there was no complete agreement among the Allies. Failure with the landings could have meant a break-up of the alliance and less cooperation and synchronization of the total war effort against the Axis Powers.
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Honoring those who were there, so young, so patriotic, so much our heroes. 🫡 Never ever forget, forever our heroes.
Thank you for your heartfelt tribute to the Greatest Generation there, Susie Q. Their courage on D-Day embodies American resolve against tyranny. We owe our freedoms to those who stormed Normandy’s beaches. God bless our veterans and the United States of America. Let their sacrifice inspire us to defend liberty today. Freedom demands vigilance from every generation. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
TELL STORIES OF HEROES, YEP!
Gen. Satterfield, now you have comments, long overdue. Others have already said thanks for this rememberence. And I will add that not all our WW2 veterans are gone. But I will remember them as heroes of our time. Their legacies will echo through time. And I pray their sacrifice was worth what they gave to us. 🙏
🇺🇸 Great patriot Gen. Satterfield. Thank you for being one of the few who remember. 🇺🇸
**D-Day: The Longest Day That Saved Freedom**
On June 6, 1944, thousands of American, British, Canadian, and Allied heroes launched the greatest amphibious assault in history against Hitler’s Fortress Europe, striking the beaches of Normandy in a thunderous bid to liberate a continent. Young men from farms in Texas, factories in New Jersey, and small towns across America waded into hellish machine-gun fire and crashing surf, knowing many would never return home. Their courage on Omaha, Utah, Juno, Sword, and Gold beaches turned the tide of World War II and proved that free men, united in purpose, could shatter tyranny’s grip. The Greatest Generation—ordinary citizens answering the call of duty—embodied the American spirit of sacrifice, ingenuity, and unbreakable resolve that day. Behind the landings stood the immense logistics of Operation Overlord, the airborne divisions dropping behind enemy lines, and the naval armada that darkened the English Channel. We owe our postwar prosperity and security to those who stormed those blood-stained sands so that others might live in liberty. Their legacy reminds us that freedom is never guaranteed; it must be defended with steel and faith whenever evil rises. Today, as we honor their memory, let us recommit to the values they fought for: God-given rights, self-reliance, and a strong national defense. From the foxholes of Normandy to the battlefields of Iraq and beyond, America’s warriors have carried the torch of liberty across generations. May we teach our children this story of valor so that future Americans will always stand ready to answer freedom’s call. God bless the brave souls of D-Day and God bless the United States of America!
As a proud Texan, I want to thank you Nick for this powerful tribute to the heroes of D-Day. We in the great state of Texas remember well the factories here in Texas that churned out the ships, planes, and munitions that supported that historic invasion. Young men from our towns and cities stood shoulder to shoulder with their brothers from Texas and the South on those blood-soaked beaches, proving that America is strongest when North and South unite. The courage displayed on Omaha Beach that day still inspires us to defend the same freedoms our fathers and grandfathers fought for. On this 82nd anniversary of D-Day, let us honor their sacrifice by rejecting division and recommitting to the unity that won World War II. God bless the Greatest Generation and God bless the United States of America!
D-Day, 82 Years On:
If you get the sense that America’s 18-21 year olds aren’t quite what they once were, I think you are right. So does Michael Ramirez.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2019/06/mrz060519-color-1-6-mb_orig.jpg
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Just to say i appreciate you post today, Gen. Satterfield. Other than that, I don’t have much to say but thanks for remembering when most folks don’t.
Thank you sir, for remembering.
…and we all should not need a reminder to remember …that is why the stories of heroes must be told and retold. That is our moral obligation. For in remembering, we also embolden those who come after us to step up to be counted in times of national need.