NORMANDY, France — As I walked through the American cemetery at Omaha Beach, I found it difficult to wrap my mind around a battle so large and brutal that thousands of American Soldiers died in a single day. I imagined thousands of Soldiers pouring onto the beaches 65 years ago; the magnitude of the
conflict must have been overwhelming to them as well.
I suppose that for many people an invasion like D-Day is so far removed from reality it starts to become just a series of old photos, film footage or a favorite scene in a movie.
But for others, the connection to Normandy is as real as the blood flowing through their veins. For some of the Soldiers who came to pay their respects to the veterans of D-Day, it is more than just a bond between Soldiers – it is a family bond.
I have worked with Spc. William Hubbard, a native of Richmond, Va., and command group driver for the 18th Military Police Brigade, for more than six months now, but until we spoke at the cemetery at Omaha Beach, I had never heard Specialist Hubbard recount the story of his great-uncle, “Chief” Chavis.
Mr. Chavis was among the men who stormed the beaches 65 years ago. Specialist Hubbard said his uncle manned a landing craft on D-Day, transporting platoon-sized groups of Soldiers to the beach. For Mr. Chavis, June 6, 1944, was “the hardest day of his life.”
As I heard Specialist Hubbard talk about his uncle, I began to wonder about Soldiers then and Soldiers now.
The generation of men who fought in World War II was undoubtedly different than the generation of men and women who fight today. But surely they can’t be that much different. We live the Army values – we live loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
As Specialist Hubbard told me more about his great-uncle, I tried to imagine the scene in my head; I tried to place myself in his boots.
“He would lower the ramp and have to watch as maybe one or two of the 20 Soldiers made it to sand,” Specialist Hubbard said.
He then had to head back to the main ship, rinse off his boat, sweep away any evidence of what had just happened and bring back the next group of Soldiers.
I thought about the job Mr. Chavis did that day; it was not glamorous and certainly not one to be envied, but he did it. As difficult as it must have been, it was essential.
Then Specialist Hubbard said aloud what I had been thinking myself.
“It … makes me wonder if I could suffer through something like that,” he said.
As I mulled this idea over in my head, I thought that perhaps what Specialist Hubbard and I had failed to consider was that our connection to D-Day is more than just family or occupation; it is a connection of ideals. We each raised our right hands and took the oath to serve our country. It takes rare individuals to be willing to sacrifice everything for their country.
As one of thousands of Soldiers who volunteered to enter the Army during a time of war, I reached a point in my decision-making process where I had to ask myself how much I would be willing to sacrifice. Not knowing if today’s war would turn for better or for worse, I had to ask myself if I was willing to take the risk.
Like every other servicemember, I chose my values over everything else; I chose my country and my fellow Soldiers.
After hearing Specialist Hubbard’s story, I have come to the conclusion that, while wars may be fought differently now than they were 65 years ago, the troops who fight in them have not. So, as we remember the men who fought so valiantly and the thousands who lost their lives 65 years ago, we cannot fail to remember those who follow in their footsteps and fight so bravely today in their honor.
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NORMANDY, France — As I walked through the American cemetery at Omaha Beach, I found it difficult to wrap my mind around a battle so large and brutal that thousands of American Soldiers died in a single day. I imagined thousands of Soldiers pouring onto the beaches 65 years ago; the magnitude of the
conflict must have been overwhelming to them as well.
I suppose that for many people an invasion like D-Day is so far removed from reality it starts to become just a series of old photos, film footage or a favorite scene in a movie.
But for others, the connection to Normandy is as real as the blood flowing through their veins. For some of the Soldiers who came to pay their respects to the veterans of D-Day, it is more than just a bond between Soldiers – it is a family bond.
I have worked with Spc. William Hubbard, a native of Richmond, Va., and command group driver for the 18th Military Police Brigade, for more than six months now, but until we spoke at the cemetery at Omaha Beach, I had never heard Specialist Hubbard recount the story of his great-uncle, “Chief” Chavis.
Mr. Chavis was among the men who stormed the beaches 65 years ago. Specialist Hubbard said his uncle manned a landing craft on D-Day, transporting platoon-sized groups of Soldiers to the beach. For Mr. Chavis, June 6, 1944, was “the hardest day of his life.”
As I heard Specialist Hubbard talk about his uncle, I began to wonder about Soldiers then and Soldiers now.
The generation of men who fought in World War II was undoubtedly different than the generation of men and women who fight today. But surely they can’t be that much different. We live the Army values – we live loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
As Specialist Hubbard told me more about his great-uncle, I tried to imagine the scene in my head; I tried to place myself in his boots.
“He would lower the ramp and have to watch as maybe one or two of the 20 Soldiers made it to sand,” Specialist Hubbard said.
He then had to head back to the main ship, rinse off his boat, sweep away any evidence of what had just happened and bring back the next group of Soldiers.
I thought about the job Mr. Chavis did that day; it was not glamorous and certainly not one to be envied, but he did it. As difficult as it must have been, it was essential.
Then Specialist Hubbard said aloud what I had been thinking myself.
“It … makes me wonder if I could suffer through something like that,” he said.
As I mulled this idea over in my head, I thought that perhaps what Specialist Hubbard and I had failed to consider was that our connection to D-Day is more than just family or occupation; it is a connection of ideals. We each raised our right hands and took the oath to serve our country. It takes rare individuals to be willing to sacrifice everything for their country.
As one of thousands of Soldiers who volunteered to enter the Army during a time of war, I reached a point in my decision-making process where I had to ask myself how much I would be willing to sacrifice. Not knowing if today’s war would turn for better or for worse, I had to ask myself if I was willing to take the risk.
Like every other servicemember, I chose my values over everything else; I chose my country and my fellow Soldiers.
After hearing Specialist Hubbard’s story, I have come to the conclusion that, while wars may be fought differently now than they were 65 years ago, the troops who fight in them have not. So, as we remember the men who fought so valiantly and the thousands who lost their lives 65 years ago, we cannot fail to remember those who follow in their footsteps and fight so bravely today in their honor.