Thread by @Clintau24

🧵| Shug Jordan in #DDay

When 156,000 Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, Ralph Shug Jordan was one of them. In fact, Shug was one of the few people to know the secret details of the landings prior to June 6, 1944. (1/8)

Jordan helped plan many amphibious landings during World War II. He was mainly in charge of the logistics portion as a member of the U.S. Army's First Engineer Special Brigade.

The D-Day dress rehearsal code name was "Exercise Tiger." Shug didn't have any input on the name (2/8)

"There were no atheists on those boats," Shug said of the moments just before storming Utah Beach.

Tucked inside his boot was a clipping of the Jan 1. 1944 Auburn Plainsman. It featured one of the first printings of the Auburn Creed, written by Shug's mentor George Petrie. (3/8)

Jordan was injured in the D-Day invasions, taking shrapnel to his left arm & shoulder.

Despite the fever and losing the usage of his arm, Shug fought on, refusing to be evacuated to the hospital ship. (4/8)

When he returned to get treated for his wounds, the doctor recognized his southern drawl and only spoke of Auburn-Georgia football.

Shug was awarded a Purple Heart following the D-Day invasions. (5/8)

Jordan also participated in the Okinawa landing, working closely with leaders to help plan the invasion. The invasion was ultimately canceled when the US dropped the atomic bombs on Japan.

Shug claimed those events saved his life. (6/8)

Shug didn't speak of his time at war often. When he did, he never spoke to glorify himself or his actions. Those experiences were often used in times to motivate his teams.

Jordan even credited playing football as allowing him to survive the war. (7/8)

One of the best tributes to Shug came from Bear Bryant.

Bryant described his rival as having "more courage in his little finger than I've got in my entire body." (8/8)

Shug was a total bad ass and this is always one of my favorite stories to share.