A dwindling memory

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

(6/2019) As summer approaches and things begin to calm down, it’s important to reflect on the long chain of events that brought us to where we are. Even though I am just 21 years old, I can think of so many examples of decisions that have been made or events that have happened that put me where I am now.

Sometimes I forget to think of those events that happened well before I even came into existence. The decisions and life events of my parents and grandparents that led indirectly to me. I could keep going forever and ever back, as the probability of each of our lives is the result of an infinitely minuscule possibility.

We will remember the most influential events of our country and beyond forever, especially for those who were around. Many of us remember the events of 9/11 and where we were and how we felt. I even remember the events, although I was only three years old when the attacks occurred. When talking to generations older than I am, I get a better idea of the other events that people still remember. This includes the events of D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944.

As the anniversary of the notable event is approaching, we were asked to watch the film "The Longest Day" and to talk to someone who may have a recollection of the events. The film was, like the day, long. As the film concluded, I wondered if it had just dragged on, but as I began doing more research, I realized how much realistic detail had been incorporated into the film. Even the little things, like the Frenchman on the beach giving away champagne, were actual recorded events and put into the film. After studying the event further, as history has never been my strength, I concluded that the film was very well done and gave me a much more thorough understanding than anything else I looked at.

In summary, on June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces of Britain, America, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France. At 6:30 a.m., the first American soldiers arrived at the beach of Omaha with other nations closely following on other beaches throughout Normandy. Other beaches included Utah beach, Juno beach, Sword beach, and Gold beach. With numbers over 150,000, the Allied Forces gained a victory that became the turning point for World War II throughout Europe.

Of course, this important day in history did not follow through without many challenges and problems throughout the day. Many aircrafts missed their targets, as they could not be signaled because of their supplies being elsewhere. Some planes were scattered due to enemy attacks. The paratroopers were not dropped in the right locations as they were either dropped too high and drifted elsewhere, sometimes being shot down without having a way to escape or fight back, and others were dropped too low and faced injuries when landing as their parachutes did not slow them down enough before reaching the ground. In certain locations, the water was choppy, boats took on water, and some ended up in locations they were not meant to land in. Despite the challenges, the operation was a success.

Although it was a challenge for me to find someone who had any recollection of the events, as most of the people I know in my family, even one of my grandparents, were born after the year that D-Day took place, what I gathered was that it was a period of uncertainty. No one knew when the war would end, nor what the results would be. D-Day gave the Allied Nations hope that things were now in their favor.

When asking my grandmother if she has any memories, even though she was only a young child, she remembered the excitement of the people. She said she was living in California at the time with her father and step-mother, only four years old and outside riding on her tricycle. She also said that the following year, shortly after the war, she remembers traveling back to her home town in Utah by bus and seeing the soldiers on the bus travelling home.

An interesting note my grandmother made was that she wasn’t sure if Americans were truly in it for the win anymore, but just wanted the war to end. They were tired of the war and thrilled to see it begin to turn for a better and had hope it would soon be coming to a close.

My grandfather, however, was a bit older when these events took place. He says he was living in Idaho at the time, fourteen years old. He was on a farm and driving the tractor in the field, cutting wheat. His aunt came running out and told him what had occurred. He recalled that many celebrated as there was now hope for the future of the war. When the war finally came to a conclusion, the whole of the small Idaho town held a dance in celebration. The excitement could be heard throughout the whole country.

It was very interesting for me to hear the perspectives of the older generations in my life, and to listen to them talk of the events that are memorable to them. I think about the things I’m worried about and how different those things are from the worries people had during the second World War. I think of my grandparents’ memories as very precious, as there won’t still be many first-hand memories of events like this in the coming years, whenever that may be. This, however should not be something we forget just because the first-hand memories will dwindle. Our lives are forever changed because of it, even though we may not think of it.

I am confident, however, that D-Day will never be forgotten, as it was only the most important event of the great war that completely shaped the world and our future forever.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney