Today, marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

A momentous day that was the culmination of years of planning, preparation, and tireless work.

Eight decades ago in 1944, the United States had undergone a massive transformation after officially entering World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Not only had millions of young American servicemembers been deployed across the Pacific and Europe, but the focus of our manufacturing base and other industries shifted to supporting the war effort. Men, women, and people of all ages rallied to this historic cause.

With more than one million U.S. servicemembers, overwhelming airpower, and an armada of naval ships positioned in southern England, America and our allies were ready to retake and liberate Europe.

In his message to American troops before the launch of the D-Day mission, codenamed Operation Overlord, then General Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed: “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.”

With the expectations of the world on their shoulders, Allied soldiers set off for the heavily fortified shores of Normandy, France. There was no guarantee of success.

In the early morning hours, paratroopers and glider planes from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions of the U.S. Army rained down from the sky behind enemy lines. At daybreak, soldiers from the U.S. Army’s First, Fourth, and Twenty-Ninth Infantry Divisions climbed down into Higgins boats and other landing craft for a one-way journey to their designated beachhead in Normandy.

The soldiers were met with a hellacious welcome by Nazi soldiers in fortified defenses. When that fateful moment arrived and each Higgins boat ramp lowered, soldiers were instantly met with a chaotic mixture of gunfire, explosions, and blood-stained waters. There was simply no choice for the living except to move forward, fight bravely, act daringly, and secure the beach at all costs.

While the mission proved successful and nearly 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy by sea and air, the casualties were devastating with more than 9,000 Allied soldiers killed or injured during the invasion.

D-Day was not just a tipping point in the war, it was a tipping point in the course of human history. The Nazi stronghold in Europe suffered a great blow. Paris was liberated less than three months later. Hitler would be dead and the Nazi’s defeated within a year. The hopes and prayers of those liberty-loving people around the world had been answered in the form of brave American and Allied soldiers.

On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, we remember, and we honor those who sacrificed and served in this great endeavor. May God Bless them and may God Bless America.  

KEN CALVERT
Member of Congress