Friday, August 14, 2020

Friday Smiles 384: Back to the Eisenhower Museum


As of 6 p.m. Thursday, I still have no internet, but my phone is back on.  I nearly jumped out of my skin when the phone rang and AT&T let me know my phone was back, but my internet still had problems.  Apparently the grid that feeds the neighborhood has been sabotaged.  The repairman (not sexist, simply the caller's word) had repaired what he thought was the problem only to learn that several parts had been removed, including a crucial board that was needed to connect to the main server.  Now we wait longer, apparently.  Hopefully, I will be back online this weekend sometime.  I've asked three people to link me, so I'm hoping one of them will do so.  I want to thank Sally for loaning me her iPad device, which I HATE.  Now for the normally scheduled post.

It's Friday and time to join Annie (at A Stitch in Time) along with the wonderful ladies at Friday Smiles.

D-Day has arrived.

As I mentioned last week, this is the first of three short films and this one documents D-Day, including its planning.

The first film, D-Day: Leading to Victory, explains the challenges of organizing the Invasion of Normandy and the impact of the successful invasion on turning the tide of the war.

D-Day, also known as Operation Overlord, is often considered synonymous with the Normandy invasion.

As I mentioned last week, Ike called the operation a crusade in which, “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”  More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by end of the day, the Allies gained a foot-hold on the beaches.  The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded, but their sacrifice allowed more than 100,000 Soldiers to begin the slow, hard journey across Europe, to defeat Adolf Hitler’s troops. Note the various boats, ships, and what appears to be a bridge in the photo above.

What looked like a bridge, was actually one of the Mulberry Harbors, a feat of engineering that was so outlandish, many felt it would not be possible. Manufacturing of the components was completed in just 6 months, by hundreds of contractors, in dozens of locations, under wartime conditions, and a serious shortage of skilled labor.

The Mulberry Harbors (shown in the lower left photo) were two artificial harbors designed and constructed by the British in World War II to facilitate the unloading of supply ships off the coast of Normandy immediately following the invasion on D-Day.  One harbor, known as Mulberry A, was constructed at Omaha Beach in the American sector, and the other, Mulberry B, was built at Gold Beach in the British sector.  Each harbor, when fully operational, had the capacity to move 7,000 tons of vehicles and supplies per day from ship to shore.  Each Mulberry harbor consisted of roughly 6 miles (10 km) of flexible steel roadways that floated on steel or concrete pontoons.

Although it's hard to read, Operation PLUTO was vital to the war effort.  Napoleon is  credited with saying an army marches on its stomach, but in both World War I and World War II, an army runs on its gas and oil.  Ike realized they had to get oil and gas to the beaches as quickly as possible.  PLUTO was the code-name/acronym for “Pipeline Under-water Transport Of Oil."


Once the beaches and beachheads were secured, moving inland was slow and difficult.  Finally there was a gap and Patton broke through it with his troops.

About a week after the beachheads were secured, Chiefs of Staff toured the hard won Normandy beachheads.

You can better read about it above.

Ike visited the beachheads and the troops, much like he did before the invasion.  His presence was always a boost to the troops' morale.

Ike talked to the soldiers before they worked their way toward Paris.

Between Patton and Omar Bradley, Paris was soon liberated.  I read somewhere that Hitler had ordered Paris defended to the last man, and demanded that the city not fall into Allied hands except as “a field of ruins.” von Choltitz dutifully began laying explosives under Paris’ bridges and many of its landmarks, but disobeyed an order to complete the destruction. He did not want to go down in history as the man who had destroyed the “City of Light,” Europe’s most beloved city.


I hope you can read this, because the spotlights overhead were dreadful and blinding.



Ike used a number of staff cars including a Packard and this Cadillac that’s on display.

This was his favorite staff car, though.  It's a 1942 Cadillac Fleetwood made by Chrysler.


Now that Paris was liberated, Generals Patton and Montgomery persuaded Ike to take Berlin.


Ike has often been called the peacemaker.  

We could use his wisdom now.

Here are a few more "politically correct" school funnies.

You’re not shy…
You’re “conversationally selective.”
You don’t talk a lot…
You’re “abundantly verbal.”
It’s not called “gossip” anymore…
It’s “the speedy transmission of near-factual information.”
The food at the school cafeteria isn’t awful…
It’s “digestively challenged.”
You’re not being sent to the principal’s office…
You’re “going on a mandatory field trip to the administrative building.”

Thanks so much for your visit.  I realize some of you wish I'd move away from this museum, while others are learning something new each week about this great leader.  

Now let's head over to Annie's because she knows how to put a smile on everyone's faces.  And whatever you do, please don't forget to start your weekend off right with a few Friday Smiles of your own.  And remember, if you would like to play along, Annie would love to have you join us. 


14 thoughtful remarks:

Iris Flavia said...

And I wonder, I really do, why people "play" those war games on the PC.
"I HATE WAR". That goes for everyone, I think...
One of my cousins was one of the first to say "no" in the 70´s, my Brother hence did not join Bundeswehr later but worked his duty-time off in a hospital. I am proud of both.

Mae Travels said...

Again good luck with the repair of your neighborhood grid! It's shocking that the cause is vandalism or theft.

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Lynn Holland said...

I think it’s good to find things that spark your imagination and intrigue you.
It’s a good job we are all different or the world would be a boring place.
Enjoy your week
Lynn xx

Annie said...

We all find something different to make us smile and that's good because if we were all the same it would be a boring world we live in.
I'm really sorry to hear you've been having problems with your internet still....hope it's resolved quickly.
Take care and keep on smiling.
Hugs,
Annie x

My name is Erika. said...

Nice descriptions of D day and Pluto. I had vaguely some knowledge of this but not enough to tell you what it was. Sorry about your internet also. I’ve been keeping Ajj all up to date commented and if you need me to link anything let me know. Been thinking of you. Hugs Erika

kathyinozarks said...

Hi I am wondering if the sabatogers stole copper elements-that was a "thing" around here a couple years back
always nice to visit more of this museum happy friday
oh when this is all over call for a refund for the days you were down. I did that when everything went down here for almost a week Kathy

Karen said...

Sorry your still having internet issues ~ I hope your crafting & I that you enjoy the weekend!

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

I know I've said it before but I am just amazed at the amount of stuff they have collected in the museum. Sorry to hear about the internet still not getting fixed. I believe that there is some valuable metal wiring inside the boxes and some naughty people break into them and remove it. We've had this problem in the past here too. Loving the school funnies...obviously! Have a great weekend. Hugs, Angela xXx

mamapez5 said...

Sorry you are still having such problems with your internet. We realise how much we use it when it isn't working! I hope it is properly fixed soon.
I am not wishing you away from your museum. It clearly means so much to you.I am not drawn to it but I admire your passion. Kate x

Lisca said...

Another interesting episode of the museum. I enjoy learning about Ike and what he did. I'm sure that the people that do not care for it, scroll straight down to the funnies.
I'm sorry to hear that you are still having Internet issues. But by the sounds of it, more people in your neighbourhood must have the same problems. Vandalism is really horrible.
Yes, I agree, ipads are not suited to blogging. For other things they are wonderful and I use mine all the time.
Well, I hope your internet gets sorted soon.
Have a lovely weekend,
Lisca

Jeanie said...

You must have spent hours here to be able to document it so well. I think the Eisenhower should hire you! Your posts onthis are really excellent and so well done and photographed. Very nice, Elizabeth. (Again!)

da tabbies o trout towne said...

tech is great when it works; how long have we said that. glad you got
the phone back anyway Elizabeth; just in case bleu & squiggles wanna order pizza pie delivery !!!! ;) enjoy the weekend and thanx for sharing this tour ☺☺♥♥

jenclair said...

I'm a committed reader about WWII and would love to visit someday. Last year one of my favorite books was The Liberation of Paris: How Eisenhower, De Gaulle, and Von Choltitz Saved the City of Light

Divers and Sundry said...

What a shame about the sabotage!

I can't get over how much material is in this museum. Fascinating. Daddy fought in WW2, so I'm glad we're making an effort to keep alive that history and time period in museums like this. Thx!