D-Day Plus 80

It was eighty years ago that the Western Allies landed on the coast of Normandy to bring the war to that part of Hitler's short-lived empire.

Seven divisions of soldiers. Twenty thousand paratroopers. Ten thousand airplanes, an unbelievable number by prewar standards. Over five thousand ships. The tide had already turned against Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union's forces were slowly rolling up the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS. D-Day meant that now the jaws were closing in on both sides. Ten months of hard fighting later and the war in Europe was won.

Ten Medals of Honor and one Victoria Cross were awarded for bravery on D-Day.

None of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought there and who still live are under 95 years old. They will soon fade into history. But what they did in their fight against fascism will not soon be forgotten.

(And no, they were not "suckers" and "losers". Regardless of what someone else thinks.)