"Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
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"They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest - until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
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"For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate.
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"Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
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"We shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Almighty God, lead us to the saving of our country, and a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil."
[END]
77 years later, we thank the men of D Day for ensuring this peace we've been granted, a peace that allows all to live in freedom.
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More than 3,000 US Paratroopers jumped into Normandy on #DDay. Among them: Father Francis Sampson, chaplain for the @101stAASLTDIV's 501st PIR.
Francis, an Iowa native and Notre Dame grad, landed in the Douve River and had to cut off all his gear to avoid drowning.
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Hours later, Francis along with 27 US Soldiers (from various units) were captured by German forces in Saint-Come-du-Mont.
Francis refused efforts by his captors (some of whom were Catholic) to move him to safety.
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Francis remained at an exposed medic station at Saint-Come-du-Mont and helped treat both German and American Soldiers in the face of an artillery bombardment.
He also gave his own blood in a transfusion to a wounded American Soldier.
Tomorrow, the 77th anniversary of #DDay, the stories of Utah Beach, Pointe de Hoc, and Carentan will be retold. These are all important stories that MUST be remembered.
But perhaps we should also reflect on Waverly Woodson and the Soldiers he represents.
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Waverly, a medic assigned to the 320th BBB (Barrage Balloon Battalion), was among the more than 2,000 US black Soldiers who landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
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The 320th [621 troops] was the lone African-American combat unit to fight on D Day.
Mission: raise hydrogen-filled barrage balloons to protect assaulting infantry, armor from being strafed by enemy aircraft [the balloons provided air defense by strafing Axis planes].
[1 of 4][#SoundOn🔈] Meet Travis Bell. For the 70th anniversary of the XVIII Airborne Corps, we're releasing this, the world's first #Twitter#Docuseries, to introduce you to a living legend. Travis Bell has been a part of the 18th Airborne for 53 years. WATCH this 4 part series
[2 of 4] The world's first #Twitter#Docuseries continues. Who is Travis Bell and why does everyone love him? Keep watching to find out.
[3 of 4] The legend of Travis Bell continues in part 3 of this 4 part docuseries. Video by @jtwarmy !
#TDIDCH: May 23, 1967 - A public controversy erupts over the M-16, the basic combat rifle in Vietnam, when Congress hears reports that Soldiers in Vietnam are killed in firefights as a result of their new M-16 rifles jamming.
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By this time, the M-16 had replaced the heavier M-14 as the standard rifle in Vietnam. The new rifle fired the lighter, faster, more destructive 5.56mm cartridge at the same effective range.
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The M-16 was already a source of controversy in Vietnam. Troops were writing home with stories of Soldiers killed due to the inferior rifle. 54 years ago today, some of those letters were read on the House floor.
Today, we're continuing the story of Ralph Puckett, the legendary Ranger awarded the Nation's highest honor by President Biden in the White House yesterday.
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Yesterday we told the story of his valorous action in the Korean War that earned him that ceremony.
But the 94-year-old has already lived many lives, more than we could tell in a single tweet thread.
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Ralph's story only begins with the fight for Hill 205 in November, 1950. Ralph was grievously wounded three times in that fight, ending his Korean War. He was evacuated to this US Army hospital in Japan the next day.