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Post by sojoh on Aug 23, 2011 10:13:01 GMT
Latin Crosses: 9,238; Stars of David: 149; Missing in Action: 1,557; Sets of Brothers: 41; Women: 4 Seeing row after row of crosses and Stars of David at the American Cemetery in Normandy, it's hard to hear the individual voices of the men who lost their lives while fighting to liberate France from Nazi Germany. There are thousands of dead soldiers, each with his own story. Here's the tale of one of them, Private John A. Daum, a paratrooper from a small town in Wisconsin. According to the testimony written by John's nephew, John worked for a farmer and at the Weinbrenner Shoe Factory in Marshfield, Wisconsin before enlisting. After completing his basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, he joined the paratroopers. Letters home told of the daily five to ten mile runs and how he was taught to pack his parachute, to jump from towers and finally from a plane. In a letter to his father, John proudly mentioned that even though it was "really hot and a lot of soldiers were getting sick" that the "Daum blood kept him going." John received his wings on October 2, 1943 and joined the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne at Camp Mackall. From there he traveled to Northern Ireland and then to Nottingham, England, where he said that there wasn't much to do except train and go to town. Fortunately, the young man from Wisconsin found the girls from England to be "nice". In the last letter to his family, John thanked them for the candy that they had sent and asked them to send socks. He told them not to worry and that he hoped to return to Wisconsin in a year. John never did return home. He was killed in battle at the age of 20. John A. Daum was just a regular guy. So, why did I pick him out of the 9,387 people who are buried at the American Cemetery? I didn't. But since I found myself fighting back tears when our tour guide read the following letter that a visitor left by John's grave in 2007, I wanted to learn more about one soldier, who just happened to be John, as a way of honoring all of the men and women who lost their lives during World War II. Pvt. John A. Daum The following letter was written by a man from Saint-Symphorien, Belgium and was left on John A. Daum's grave at the American Cemetery. Our tour guide kindly gave me a copy of it. Le 1 november 2007
Dear John,
We don't know each other, we know nothing of each other's lives and even so, I feel I owe you so much. I know nothing of you or so little.
I don't know what were your tastes, your hobbies, your favorite music or if you had a girlfriend back home. I don't know what you loved in life, your too short life.
John, you've been buried here for over 60 years, in this land of France that saw your last days. These last days where you fought for the liberation of a country, a whole continent and a civilization. When I found your picture, I started thinking a lot about you, your face, your pink cheeks, almost the face of a child. Your smile tells me you must have been mischievous, cheerful and full of life.
Then I felt a deep sorrow because I know that on that day of June 6 th, 1944, when you jumped into the cold black night on the Normandy beach, you must have been terrified. Terrified before the unknown, terrified at the thought of never seeing your family again, of loosing your army companions, of being alone, of death itself. Nevertheless, you survived that historic night and fought for two long days, before you fell on June 8 th.
I wonder how were the last moments of your life, with who you were. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that you were not alone. Because I know that your comrade-in-arms must have done everything to protect you, reassure you and comfort you.
I read the letters that were addressed to your parents when you passed away and realized that you were very much appreciated by your army companions.
Before I leave John, I would like to tell you how much I am aware that your ultimate sacrifice and the one of thousand of men like you has allowed me and all of us, to live in a land of freedom and peace.
For all of this, I am sincerely grateful. So, I promise you that every time I will travel to Normandy, I will come visit you to honor your memory. I will lay my hand on your white cross, so that youare not alone in the dark anymore. I will keep your memory alive in my heart and I will never forget what you have done for me, for our liberty, for all of us.
See you soon and may god bless you. Yvan -----
BelgiqueThe average age of the soldiers buried in the American Cemetery is 24 years. The families of 60% of the 30,000 American soldiers killed during Operation Overlord decided to have the bodies of their loved ones repatriated. Others, like John Daum's mother, did not bring the body of her son back to the United States "because a neighbor had brought her son home for burial and it was like losing him all over again....Plus, Bud [John] was resting where they had buried him." John's body is buried in Plot F, Row 23, Grave 42 in the American Cemetery in Normandy. While it's distressing to see the graves of so many young men, the American Cemetery and Memorial is a beautiful tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives. If you're going to visit Normandy, be sure to schedule enough time to see the excellent exhibits in the Visitor Center, to walk through the cemetery, and to watch the film, Letters. Free guided tours are offered in English at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. during the summer and at 2:00 p.m. during the winter. For additional information, please visit the official website of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The reflecting pool overlooking Omaha Beach at the Visitor Center at the American Cemetery in Normandy The view of Omaha Beach from the American Cemetery in Normandy Our tour guide telling us about the divisions that landed on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword Beaches Lines of Latin Crosses at the American Cemetery with Omaha Beach and the English Channel in the background Statue symbolizing the spirit of American youth rising from the sea at the American Cemetery
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Post by sojoh on Aug 23, 2011 10:18:22 GMT
Phew, this is the first time that I've posted pictures and I was so worried that something would go wrong. Sorry that some of them are so large. It's the next thing that I'll have to figure out. In the meantime, I'm just relieved that it actually worked. My brain was working hard this morning!
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Post by sojoh on Aug 23, 2011 12:15:01 GMT
OK, I managed to reduce the photo of Pvt. John Daum and am still trying to reduce the last photo so that the size doesn't pose a problem for the speed of the forum. It either comes out too large or really tiny. Back to editing!
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 23, 2011 12:23:31 GMT
Thanks for taking the effort, they are beautiful pictures.
The death of John Daum is heartbreaking, as are the deaths of everyone buried there. That was such a touching letter that the visitor wrote. Thank you for sharing it.
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Post by sojoh on Aug 23, 2011 12:50:15 GMT
Thanks, nycgirl. Yvan's (the visitor's) letter truly touched me, especially since I was standing next to John Daum's grave when our guide read it to us. After returning home from my visit to Normandy, I was fortunate enough to find both John Daum's nephew and the visitor, Yvan by doing a bit of online research. Their story and the friendship that has grown out of John's death is a truly remarkable one that I hope to share here in the near future.
I still couldn't figure out how to make John's photo and the last picture the "right" size but I guess that I'll have to go with smaller rather than too big.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2011 17:11:30 GMT
Excellent, sojoh. I might be returning in December because I missed it with my brother and sister-in-law 3 years ago trying to combine it with Mont Saint Michel in the same day. We arrived about 20 minutes after the cemetery closed. Last year, I took one of my nephews there, and he was really moved in spite of being generations removed from the event in question.
It was the first time that I saw the new visitors center, which is excellent, although I felt it was trying to compete with the fabulous Caen Memorial (which I must admit is expensive to visit). I do admit that I prefer the Caen Memorial, though, because it gives total credit to all of the nations that helped in this effort and even shows all of the (unavoidable) collateral damage -- such as the total destruction of Caen by allied bombs. While the "boys on the beach" images are unforgettable and heartbreaking, there was a lot more going on than just that.
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Post by sojoh on Aug 23, 2011 19:44:37 GMT
Kerouac, If you do return in December, I would highly recommend taking the free guided tour at the American Cemetery. The French guide was excellent and told about how the cemetery had always been a part of her life because she grew up in Colleville-sur-Mere. She also told us about the extensive collateral damage - 18,000 civilians were killed during the Allied bombing. Visiting Point du Hoc really made me realize the force of the bombs and the number that were dropped, which is something that I truly did not understand before our visit to Normandy.
We also had a very good French guide who took us to the German Cemetery, Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Omaha and Utah Beaches and Point du Hoc. You're absolutely right, there was so much going on that we shouldn't just focus on one aspect. I'm thankful that our guide told us about some books and movies about life in France during the Occupation.
After struggling to upload the photos for this post I wasn't planning on uploading anything else soon, but perhaps I will post the photos from the German Cemetery.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2011 20:06:52 GMT
I was very briefly in Luxembourg on Friday, and I had to struggle with my tight schedule. I really wanted to go and see the American and German cemeteries in Sandweiler (again, maybe the 4th time), which was only about 5 km off the road. Hamm Military Cemetery in Sandweiler is where General George S. Patton is buried. In a break from the tradition of these cemeteries, his tomb is placed alone, facing his thousands of troops. Next time I absolutely must throw away my schedule and go anyway.
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Post by fumobici on Aug 23, 2011 23:19:32 GMT
Quite touching story and the photos are very good as well. Thank you.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 24, 2011 2:03:08 GMT
You fixed the pictures! Looks great. Wow, Pvt. Daum sure looks like a baby.
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Post by sojoh on Aug 24, 2011 6:40:29 GMT
K2, I didn't realize that Patton was buried in Sandweller. If you go, please take your camera and do a photo report. Or perhaps you already did one after a previous visit. I'll have to do a search.
Thanks, fumobici!
nycgirl, It took me hours to fix the pictures so many, many thanks for noticing! I really wanted people to get a sense of Pvt. John Daum and it wasn't possible when the photo was so small.
I've been in touch with John's family and it's heart wrenching to know that he was a scared 20 year old who had a premonition that he would die in battle the next day. Yet he still went. What's equally sobering is to think that there are still battles being fought around the world by people much younger than John. I used Eisenhower's words in another post but am putting them here because they're so true: I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 26, 2011 2:40:08 GMT
Beautiful and moving, Sojoh. I can't wait to send it on to my dear stepfather, who captained a landing craft on D-Day.
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Post by sojoh on Aug 26, 2011 9:12:36 GMT
Thank you, Bixarellana. Please send my thanks and gratitude to your stepfather. I never understood the challenges that the soldiers faced until visiting Normandy. And I'm sure that I only have a very small idea of what they went through. It must be fascinating to talk with your step father and to hear a first hand account of D-Day.
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Post by yvan on Aug 27, 2011 22:42:54 GMT
Hello everyone,
Just wanted to say that your words are very touching. While this story affect me much. Thank you all. Thank you Mary Kay.
Yvan. Belgium...
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Post by sojoh on Aug 28, 2011 15:35:05 GMT
Hello everyone, Just wanted to say that your words are very touching. While this story affect me much. Thank you all. Thank you Mary Kay. Yvan. Belgium... Yvan, I'm so pleased that you joined Any Port and commented! As you know, it is the words in your letter to Pvt. John A. Daum that prompted me to write the post about him because I was so moved while listening to them at the American Cemetery. I'm not sure if you ever post your photographs on any websites other than your own, but it would be wonderful if you felt like sharing some of them here. Your photos truly capture the spirit of the American cemetery. Mary Kay (sojoh)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 16:40:07 GMT
I agree that it would be great. While it is totally normal to see the American flag flying everywhere in Normandy, not much publicity is given to places far from the D-Day beaches which nevertheless benefited from the events that began there.
I know that one Belgian city that flies the American flag proudly is Bastogne.
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Post by yvan on Aug 28, 2011 19:06:09 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Aug 28, 2011 19:17:41 GMT
Incredible photography, these photos express so much feeling. Thank you, Mich
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Post by sojoh on Aug 28, 2011 19:34:59 GMT
Yvan, Your photos of the American Cemetery and Omaha Beach are beautiful. As Mich said, they really express so much feeling. I remember you telling me that learning about John Daum opened your eyes for your trip to Normandy and it comes through in your photos. Thank you so much for posting them.
Mary Kay
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Post by yvan on Aug 28, 2011 20:55:56 GMT
Here are 3 slide shows .... This is my story with John Daum and his family. In the slide there is the pictures of Normandy. Almost all the pictures were taken with tears ... because my sensitivity has exploded ... my heart exploded ... Slideshows executable file for windows ... no stress they are not viruses. These slideshows are on my website ... so no problem. To understand history we must look at the slide in the order ... 1 - John 2 - johnv2 3 - John v3 links ... a link ... www.yvanleriche.be/diapo/john_v_english.exelink 2 ... www.yvanleriche.be/diapo/johnv2_english.exelink 3 .. www.yvanleriche.be/diapo/johnv3.exe
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 29, 2011 1:01:19 GMT
Extremely beautiful and deeply moving photography, Yvan. Thank you so much for showing it.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 30, 2011 1:44:02 GMT
I don't seem to be able to open the links. Spectacular photos, though. Thank you very much for sharing them.
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